1492-Christopher Columbus learns how to grow and harvest maize (corn) from Cuba's indigenous population
1556-Second Battle of Panipat: Hindu Emperor of North India Hem Chandra Vikramaditya is defeated by forces of Mughal Emperor Akbar, who captures and later beheads Hem Chandra
1605-Catholic conspirator Guy Fawkes attempts to blow up King James I and the British Parliament in the Gunpowder Plot. The plot is discovered, and Guy Fawkes is caught, tortured, and later executed along with seven others. Celebrated ever since as Guy Fawkes Day, his effigy is traditionally burned on a bonfire, accompanied by fireworks.
1937-Adolf Hitler informs his military leaders in a secret meeting of his intention to go to war
1956-Britain and France land airborne forces at Port Said in Egypt, escalating the Suez Crisis
1979-Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Khomeini describes the United States as "The Great Satan" amid accusations of imperialism and the sponsoring of corruption
2006-Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, along with co-defendants Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti and Awad Hamed al-Bandar, are sentenced to death in the al-Dujail trial for their role in the 1982 massacre of 148 Shiites from Dujail