This Week in Technology - The Debut of the iPhone

This Week's Historical Theme: Technology

 

9 January 2007

 

A significant event throughout the history of technology that occurred in January was the debut of the iPhone by Steve Jobs. This occurred at the Macworld convention in San Francisco, where Jobs called the new invention a "revolutionary and magical product that is literally five years ahead of any other mobile phone." Six months later, when it went on sale in the United States, thousands of customers lined up at Apple shops across the country in order to be among the first to ever purchase an iPhone. By November, more than 1.4 million had been sold, and it was named by Time magazine as the invention of the year.

 

With its launch, the iPhone joined a list of other innovative Apple products, such as the Macintosh and the iPod portable music player, that became part of everyday modern life. The App Store was later launched in 2008, which allowed people to download software applications that included games, social media, travel planning, and many other activities. The launch of the iPhone helped Apple transform into one of the planet's most valuable corporations, even after Jobs' death in 2011. In 2012, more than 200 million iPhones had been sold.

 

Want to find out more about the debut of the iPhone? Click here for more information, or here for more about Jobs' original plan for the iPhone.

November 22 - Angela Merkel Becomes the Chancellor of Germany

This Day in History: 22 November 2020

 

22 November 2005

 

15 years ago, today, Angela Merkel became the Chancellor of Germany, marking her as the first woman to hold the position. She also serves as the 'de facto' leader of the European Union. Educated and raised in East Germany, she earned a doctorate in quantum chemistry and worked as a research scientist. She only entered politics after the fall of the Berlin Wall. After serving as a spokesperson for the caretaker East German government, she was elected to the Bundestag in the first election after unification in 1990. When Helmut Kohl's Christian Democratic Union was voted out in 1998, Merkel became the party's Secretary-General, then its Leader.

 

Her time in power had been characterised by her desire for a strong EU. However, she generated criticism from the left after the 2008 financial crisis, as people viewed Germany as imposing severe measures upon Greece. She also made the controversial announcement in 2015 that Germany would process asylum applications for Syrian refugees and those forced out of Hungary. Merkel also held good relations with American Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. She is currently the longest-tenured head of government in Europe and has emerged as one of the strongest forces in European politics over the last decade, being called the most powerful woman in the world.

 

Want to find out more about Angela Merkel? Click here for more information, or here for more about her rise to power.

September 25 - The IRA Officially Disarms

This Day in History: 25 September 2020

 

25 September 2005

 

15 years ago, today, the IRA officially disarmed. The removal of the group's substantial arsenal took place in secret locations in the Republic of Ireland. One Protestant and one Catholic priest, as well as officials from Finland and the United States, served as witnesses for the event. In their supply, automatic weapons, ammunition, missiles and explosives were found. Although many Northern Irish Protestants did not believe that the IRA was actually giving up all of its weapons, the disarmament represented an important step towards peace in the region. After the demilitarisation, IRA splinter groups did, however, threaten to continue the violence.

 

The IRA was originally founded in 1919 to militarily oppose British rule in Ireland. Since the 1960s, the group had operated as the military arm of Sinn Fein, the Irish nationalist party. For more than 30 years, the IRA had used terrorist tactics and assassinations to free Northern Ireland from British rule. In April 1998, a peace accord called the Good Friday Agreement was finally signed. This agreement included power-sharing among both Catholics and Protestants in government, a commitment to peace and democracy, and a pledge by paramilitary groups to decommission weapons within two years. The IRA initially refused, despite the fact a ceasefire had been put in place since 1997. This led to the peace process being stalled for almost six years.

 

Want to find out more about the IRA? Click here for more information, or here for a video that explains more about them.

September 11 - The Attack on America

This Day in History: 11 September 2020

 

11 September 2001

 

19 years ago, today, the Attack on America, also known as 9/11, occurred when two American Airliners crashed into the north and south towers of the World Trade Centre in New York City. The collisions caused massive explosions that showered burning debris over surrounding buildings and the streets below. Hundreds of people were instantly killed and hundreds more were trapped in the building's higher floors. At first, it seemed like a freak accident, but when the second plane hit, it was clear that the attackers were Islamic terrorists, reportedly financed by al Qaeda.

 

The terrorists were reportedly acting in retaliation for America's support of Israel, its involvement in the Persian Gulf War, and its continued military presence in the Middle East. After the attack was over, it was revealed that only six people in the World Trade Centre towers at the time of collapse survived. 10,000 other people were treated for injuries, and close to 3,000 people died. In order to oust the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and destroy Osama bin Ladin's terrorist network there, Operation Enduring Freedom was launched in October. Ten years later, bin Laden was killed during a raid of his compound in Pakistan by US forces.

 

Want to find out more about the 9/11 attacks? Click here for more information, or here for more about how the attacks changed America.