This Week in History · 10 Aug 2026 · 9 min

Magellan Sets Sail, Hip-Hop Is Born & Social Security Signed | Aug 10–14

From Magellan's world-circling fleet to the Bronx party that invented hip-hop, this week in history is packed with moments that reshaped civilisation. Plus: Babe Ruth's 500th home run, Hedy Lamarr's secret Wi-Fi patent, the fall of the Aztec Empire, and FDR's Social Security Act.

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Magellan Sets Sail, Hip-Hop Is Born & Social Security Signed | Aug 10–14

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On October twelfth, fourteen ninety-two, somewhere in the chain of islands now known as the Bahamas, a lookout aboard one of Christopher Columbus's three ships spotted land. Columbus had sailed west from Spain convinced he could reach Asia that way.

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