THE DAY IN HISTORY · DECEMBER 25
December 25 in history
What happened on December 25: 4 moments from the Maps of History atlases, in 800, 1915, 1954 and 1991, each linked to the map that shows it.
In St Peter’s, Charlemagne is crowned Emperor of the Romans — resurrecting a title that will haunt European politics for a thousand years.
— National Protection War
25 Dec 1915 — Yunnan’s generals declare war on Yuan’s monarchy, and the southwest follows. They win — but the precedent is fatal: provincial armies have unmade a central government, and they will remember that they can.
READ THIS MOMENT → · SEE IT ON THE CHINA IN REVOLUTION MAP → · THE FULL STORY →
— Qinghai–Tibet and Sichuan–Tibet highways
25 Dec 1954 — The Qinghai–Tibet and Sichuan–Tibet highways open to Lhasa, built largely by soldiers over passes above 4,000 metres; Golmud grew from the road-builders’ tent camp. For the first time a Chinese government could move an army and its supplies into Tibet by truck, which made the 1951 agreement enforceable on Beijing’s terms.
READ THIS MOMENT → · SEE IT ON THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC UNDER MAO MAP → · THE FULL STORY →
— Dissolution of the Soviet Union
25 Dec 1991 — Gorbachev resigns a country that no longer exists; the red banner over the Kremlin is lowered at 7:32 p.m. The Cold War ends not with a treaty but with a flag.
READ THIS MOMENT → · SEE IT ON THE COLD WAR MAP → · THE FULL STORY →
THE FREE PRINTABLE STUDY GUIDE
Join the Dispatch — a short welcome series, then a letter when a new atlas opens — and a printable atlas study guide of your choice is yours now, free.
NO TRACKING · YOUR ADDRESS IS USED FOR THE DISPATCH AND NOTHING ELSE · UNSUBSCRIBE ANYTIME