The world’s largest database of social change milestones from throughout human history
We are building the world’s largest database of social change milestones, from the first fire to today’s good news. Change is not only possible, it has happened consistently throughout human history.
Filter by era, country, topic, actor, source, and more. Submit your own milestones!
3899
social change milestones archived
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Era
- Agriculture (10000 - 3000 B.C.E.)
- Civilization (3000 B.C.E. - 500 C.E.)
- Modernity (1500 - 1945 C.E.)
- Post-classical (500 - 1500 C.E.)
- Post-modernity (1945 - 2016 C.E.)
- Prehistory (250000 - 10000 B.C.E.)
- Today (2017 C.E. - ???)
Year
Topics
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State/Province
Institution
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Search
Era
- Agriculture (10000 - 3000 B.C.E.)
- Civilization (3000 B.C.E. - 500 C.E.)
- Modernity (1500 - 1945 C.E.)
- Post-classical (500 - 1500 C.E.)
- Post-modernity (1945 - 2016 C.E.)
- Prehistory (250000 - 10000 B.C.E.)
- Today (2017 C.E. - ???)
Year
Topics
Region
Countries
State/Province
Institution
Sources
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2018 C.E.£1.4M prize awaits UK circular plastics flagship projects
This competition aims to engage Britain's best scientists and innovators to help move the country towards a more circular economy and sustainable approaches to plastics.
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2018 C.E. October 13Japan to add 17 GW of new solar by end of 2020
The Japanese solar sector grew from 13.6 GW at the end of 2013 to 48.6 GW by the end of 2017, making it one of the fastest growing solar sectors in the world.
-
2018 C.E. October 13The world’s largest collection of rice is now permanently funded
Like the doomsday seed vault in Norway, the purpose of the IRRI gene bank is to ensure we never find ourselves in a position where our food supply isn't secure and diverse.
-
2018 C.E. October 13Washington state abolishes death penalty
Washington has become the 20th US state to ban the death penalty, after its Supreme Court ruled the punishment was applied in an "arbitrary and racially biased manner".
-
2018 C.E. October 10New report finds raising the minimum wage reduces prison recidivism
Economics professors found that a minimum wage increase of $.50 an hour reduced the chance that a person would end up back in prison within a year by 2.8%.
-
2018 C.E. October 10The first Hyperloop passenger capsule is unveiled in Spain
A feasibility analysis by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) estimates that Hyperloop routes could be up to six times more energy efficient than air travel on short routes, and over three times faster than the world's fastest high-speed rail system.
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2018 C.E. October 9Taylor Swift’s Instagram post has caused a massive spike in voter registration
The singer waded into politics on Sunday with a social media post encouraging her fans to register to vote before it was too late.
-
2018 C.E. October 8Commercial fishing banned across much of the Arctic
International agreement will protect vast areas of sea that have opened up as the ice melts.
-
2018 C.E. October 8World’s first hydrogen-electric passenger plane to take off in 2025
Designed to fly up to four passengers for distances between 500km to 5,000km, the Element One is described as a quiet, ultra-light, zero carbon aircraft "several orders of magnitude better" than battery-electric aircrafts.
-
2018 C.E. October 7Minnesota now offers ‘X’ for gender option on driver’s licenses
In addition to "M" and "F," "X" can now be checked by any applicant who does not want to identify as male or female.
-
2018 C.E.£1.4M prize awaits UK circular plastics flagship projects
This competition aims to engage Britain's best scientists and innovators to help move the country towards a more circular economy and sustainable approaches to plastics.
-
2018 C.E. October 13Japan to add 17 GW of new solar by end of 2020
The Japanese solar sector grew from 13.6 GW at the end of 2013 to 48.6 GW by the end of 2017, making it one of the fastest growing solar sectors in the world.
-
2018 C.E. October 13The world’s largest collection of rice is now permanently funded
Like the doomsday seed vault in Norway, the purpose of the IRRI gene bank is to ensure we never find ourselves in a position where our food supply isn't secure and diverse.
-
2018 C.E. October 13Washington state abolishes death penalty
Washington has become the 20th US state to ban the death penalty, after its Supreme Court ruled the punishment was applied in an "arbitrary and racially biased manner".
-
2018 C.E. October 10New report finds raising the minimum wage reduces prison recidivism
Economics professors found that a minimum wage increase of $.50 an hour reduced the chance that a person would end up back in prison within a year by 2.8%.
-
2018 C.E. October 10The first Hyperloop passenger capsule is unveiled in Spain
A feasibility analysis by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) estimates that Hyperloop routes could be up to six times more energy efficient than air travel on short routes, and over three times faster than the world's fastest high-speed rail system.
-
2018 C.E. October 9Taylor Swift’s Instagram post has caused a massive spike in voter registration
The singer waded into politics on Sunday with a social media post encouraging her fans to register to vote before it was too late.
-
2018 C.E. October 8Commercial fishing banned across much of the Arctic
International agreement will protect vast areas of sea that have opened up as the ice melts.
-
2018 C.E. October 8World’s first hydrogen-electric passenger plane to take off in 2025
Designed to fly up to four passengers for distances between 500km to 5,000km, the Element One is described as a quiet, ultra-light, zero carbon aircraft "several orders of magnitude better" than battery-electric aircrafts.
-
2018 C.E. October 7Minnesota now offers ‘X’ for gender option on driver’s licenses
In addition to "M" and "F," "X" can now be checked by any applicant who does not want to identify as male or female.
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Submit a Milestone
Did we miss a social change milestone? What social progress have you seen around the world that I should include? Let us know!
NOTE: We cannot guarantee we will post all stories submitted here. We only post stories that represent milestones in human development (as opposed to “feel good” stories). We want something that would make sense to put on a timeline of human progress. For example, a story like “Random customer leaves a huge tip” isn’t a great fit. “Country X passes economic inequality reform bill” is a great fit.