The date 24 November holds a series of turning points across global history. In 1859, Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species, which introduced his theory of evolution by natural selection and transformed the scientific understanding of life. Earlier, in 1221, the Battle of the Indus ended the Khwarezmian Empire as Genghis Khan’s forces overtook Jalal ad-Din, shifting regional power in Central Asia.

Military history records the 1863 “Battle Above the Clouds” at Lookout Mountain, where Union troops in the American Civil War gained a strategic victory. On the governance front, 1932 saw the official opening of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation’s crime lab, laying foundations for modern forensic science. Additionally, Mohawk chief Joseph Brant passed away in 1807 after defending Indigenous peoples’ rights and aligning with British forces in North America. 

These events, spanning science, empire, war and rights, remind us how 24 November has been a catalyst for change. Reflecting on such days enriches our understanding of past dynamics and the forces that continue to shape our world.