November 20: Facts & Historical Events On This Day

FIFA World Cup 2022 kicked off in Qatar.

After much controversy regarding human rights violations, corruption, and climate concerns over Qatar hosting the world-renowned FIFA World Cup, the most prestigious tournament in the world kicked off with a match between Ecuador and Qatar.

Snake fossils found in Rio Negro Province, Argentina, showed snakes with hind legs that lived over 70 million years ago.

The species was named Najash rionegrina.

A 15-week abortion ban in Mississippi was declared unconstitutional.

It was determined to be against women's constitutional rights.

The Georgia Dome in Atlanta was blown to smithereens in a controlled demolition.

The area was replaced with the $1.6 billion Mercedes-Benz stadium.

English singer-songwriter Adele released her third studio album, “25.”

It won Album of the Year from both Billboard and The Grammys.

Toshiba rolled out a four-legged robot designed to clean up after nuclear disasters.

MTV and Harmonix released Rock Band for PS3 and Xbox 360 in North America.

Harmonix created the first two Guitar Hero games and already had the idea in mind for Rock Band when MTV Music bought them out. Unable to continue the Guitar Hero series, they created Rock Band.

Zarya, the first International Space Station module, was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Otherwise known as the Functional Cargo Block, it was originally designed for the Russian MIR space station. It was crucial during the initial stages of the ISS, as it provided electrical power, guidance, propulsion, and storage. It was named Zarya, meaning "Dawn" in Russian, to celebrate the dawn of a new era of international cooperation.

Queen Elizabeth II married Philip Mountbatten at Westminster Abbey in London.

The two were actually related to each other, both being Queen Victoria's great-great-grandchildren. Despite this, the wedding went ahead as planned. They met when Elizabeth was just 13 and Philip was 18.

DC Comics released Flash Comics Issue 1, featuring Flash Gordon.

French inventor Pierre Lallement was awarded his patent for a pedal bicycle.

Lallement moved to Connecticut, USA, in July 1865, where he continued to develop his designs for a rotary crank bicycle. Lallement was funded by James Carroll and filed the first and only American patent application for the pedal-bicycle in April 1866.

Beethoven premiered Fidelio in Vienna, Austria, which was his only opera.

The American state of New Jersey was the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights.

Zumbi, the last of the Quilombo dos Palmares kings, was killed.

The Afro-Brazilian King Zumbi was known for his great powers and possibly immortality as he was believed to have been a demigod. He fought for the Palmares' independence, and after many battles with the Brazillian Indian fighters, he was killed, then decapitated on this day.

Roman soldier Diocletian was appointed the new Roman Emperor after Roman Emperor Carus’s death.

Diocletian was born into a low-status family; however, he rose through military ranks and became a cavalry commander of Emperor Carus's army. Following the death of Carus and his son Numerianus, the army named Diocletian the new emperor.