1315day.year
The Great Famine of Europe becomes so dire that even the king of England has difficulties buying bread for himself and his entourage.
The onset of the Great Famine reaches a critical point where even the English king struggles to procure bread amidst severe food shortages.
By August 11th, 1315, the Great Famine that began with heavy rains and crop failures had intensified across Europe, plunging communities into starvation. Unseasonal weather destroyed harvests, leading to soaring grain prices and widespread hunger among peasants and nobility alike. Reports from England indicate that King Edward II and his court faced difficulty in securing basic supplies of bread. Malnutrition and disease spread as people consumed bark, roots, and other inedible materials to survive. Famine exacerbated social tensions, prompting theft, violence, and migration in search of food. It is estimated that up to 10 percent of the population perished during this multi-year crisis. The Great Famine had long-lasting impacts on demography, agriculture, and feudal labor relations throughout medieval Europe.
1315
Great Famine of Europe
1920day.year
The 1920 Cork hunger strike begins which eventually results in the deaths of three Irish Republicans including the Lord Mayor of Cork Terence MacSwiney.
Irish Republicans launch the Cork hunger strike, protesting British rule and ultimately claiming lives including that of Lord Mayor Terence MacSwiney.
Beginning on August 11, 1920, republican prisoners in Cork Jail undertook a hunger strike to demand recognition as political prisoners and protest British authority in Ireland. Among the strikers was Lord Mayor Terence MacSwiney, whose international profile rose as news of his deteriorating health spread. After 74 days, MacSwiney died in British custody on October 25, becoming a martyr for Irish independence. Two more strikers also perished before the strike ended, highlighting the brutal conditions of imprisonment. The protest drew global attention to the Irish struggle for self-determination and increased pressure on British authorities. The Cork hunger strike became a symbol of non-violent resistance and influenced future political activism in Ireland.
1920
1920 Cork hunger strike
Irish Republicans
Terence MacSwiney
1965day.year
Race riots (the Watts Riots) begin in the Watts area of Los Angeles, California.
On August 11, 1965, a confrontation with police sparked the five-day Watts Riots in Los Angeles, one of the largest urban uprisings in U.S. history.
Tensions over racial discrimination, poverty, and police practices in the Watts neighborhood burst into violence on August 11, 1965. What began as a traffic stop escalated into days of clashes between residents and law enforcement. The unrest resulted in 34 deaths, over a thousand injuries, and widespread property damage. The California National Guard was deployed to restore order, highlighting deep socioeconomic divides. The Watts Riots prompted national debates on civil rights, policing reform, and urban renewal policies.
1965
Watts Riots
Watts
Los Angeles, California