Christopher Columbus uses a lunar eclipse to frighten indigenous Jamaicans into provisioning his stranded expedition.
In History, Today on February 29
Today we explore events from the year 1504 to the year 2016. Events span the globe, from the countries of Switzerland, Jamaica, United States, Morocco, South Africa, Haiti, Afghanistan, Japan.
1504
Jamaica, Jamaica
1692
Salem, United States
The first warrants are issued in the Salem witch trials.
1940
Los Angeles, United States
Hattie McDaniel becomes the first African American to win an Academy Award, for her role as Mammy in 'Gone with the Wind'.
1960
Agadir, Morocco
An earthquake in Agadir, Morocco, kills a third of the population and injures thousands.
1988
Cape Town, South Africa
South African archbishop Desmond Tutu is arrested along with 100 clergymen during a five-day anti-apartheid demonstration in Cape Town.
2004
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the President of Haiti, was ousted from power and fled the country amid a rebellion and political crisis.
2008
Helmand Province, Afghanistan
The United Kingdom's Prince Harry was withdrawn from Afghanistan after news of his deployment leaked, raising concerns for his safety and that of his fellow soldiers.
2012
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo Skytree, the tallest structure in Japan and the second tallest in the world at the time, was completed, marking a significant achievement in engineering and architecture.
2016
Lausanne, Switzerland
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that it would allow transgender athletes to compete in the Olympics without undergoing sex reassignment surgery, a significant policy change aimed at promoting inclusivity in sports.