Important Events From This day in History – 17th December

Today in History

• 2010 Mohamed Bouazizi sets himself on fire

  Tunisian street vendors self-immolated in protest of Tunisia’s economic conditions. He passed away 18 days later at the age of 26. His protest and death sparked the Tunisian revolution and similar revolutions and protests across the Arab world.

• 2010 The beginning of the Arab Spring

  The Arab world’s multi-country protests and demands for change are thought to have started with street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi’s self-immolation in Tunisia. Bouazizi’s assassination attempt and death 18 days later sparked the Tunisian Revolution, forcing then-President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to resign.

• 1989 First episode of The Simpsons aired

  The popular American animated series directed by Matt Groening is set in the fictional town of Springfield and follows the Simpson family’s life.

• 1903 First flight of the Wright Flyer

  The Wright brothers made the powered aircraft and was the first such aircraft to take flight.

• 1790 Discovery of the Aztec calendar stone

  Also known as the Stone of the Five Eras, the sculpture was excavated in Mexico City.