The world in
What happened in 2023?
15 events across 6 world regions, each with its sources.
West Asia
- Outbreak of the Syrian Civil War
In March 2011, large-scale anti-government protests demanding democratic reforms broke out in Syria as part of the Arab Spring. The Assad regime's lethal crackdown led to the formation of armed opposition groups, turning the uprising into a civil war. The conflict lasted nearly 14 years until the regime's fall in December 2024.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
- Mahsa Amini protests erupt
In September 2022, the death of Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the morality police sparked nationwide protests. Demonstrations erupted first in Tehran and cities in Kurdistan province, then spread across the country, becoming the largest anti-government movement since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Protesters condemned the compulsory dress code, with many women removing their hijabs publicly. By spring 2023 the unrest had largely subsided without political change.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
- Gaza War Begins
On 7 October 2023, the Gaza War began when Palestinian militant groups led by Hamas attacked Israel, prompting the Israeli military's Operation 'Iron Swords'. The conflict unfolded in the Gaza Strip and parts of Israel, marking a major escalation in the long-running Israeli–Palestinian conflict. The war resulted in heavy casualties and had significant regional repercussions.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
- Outbreak of the Red Sea Crisis
Starting October 2023, the Houthis launched missile and drone attacks against Israel and Red Sea shipping in support of the Gaza war, sparking a multi-national armed conflict and maritime security crisis.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
- 2023 Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh
On 19–20 September 2023, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale military offensive against the breakaway Artsakh, violating the 2020 ceasefire agreement, with the stated goal of disarming it and securing its surrender. The offensive took place in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, de jure part of Azerbaijan but with a predominantly Armenian population. The escalation was preceded by a months-long Azerbaijani blockade that caused severe shortages of food, medicine and other essential supplies.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
Europe
- Russian full‑scale invasion of Ukraine
On 24 February 2022, Russia launched a full‑scale military invasion of Ukraine, a major escalation of the conflict that began in 2014. The war became the largest and deadliest in Europe since World War II, with hundreds of thousands of military casualties and tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilian deaths. It displaced about 8 million people internally and forced 6–7 million to flee, creating Europe’s largest refugee crisis since 1945. By July 2026, Russian forces occupied roughly 20% of Ukraine.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
- Wagner Group rebellion
On 23 June 2023, Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner Group, a Russian private military company, launched a rebellion against the Russian military leadership after accusing the Russian Defense Ministry of attacking a Wagner camp. The uprising was a climax of the Wagner–Ministry of Defense conflict, and Prigozhin stood down a day later after reaching an agreement.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
Founding of the Jewish-Medieval Heritage buildings in ErfurtThe Old Synagogue, Mikveh, and Stone House in Erfurt, Thuringia, were founded in the High Middle Ages, reflecting the coexistence of Jewish and Christian communities from the late 11th to mid-14th centuries. The synagogue is the oldest intact one in Europe. The buildings were later inscribed as a World Heritage site.
SourcesUNESCO World Heritage listing ↗Wikipedia ↗Image: Michael Sander / CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
Formation of Evaporitic Karst in the Northern ApenninesThe evaporitic karst landscape of the Northern Apennines developed in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy through the dissolution of evaporite rocks such as gypsum. It features a very high density of caves—over 900 within a relatively small area—totaling more than 100 km in length, and includes some of the deepest known gypsum caves, extending to 265 meters below the surface. The area is recognized as the first karst to be studied academically, with work beginning in the 16th century. It was later inscribed on the World Heritage List, though its geological formation is ancient.
SourcesUNESCO World Heritage listing ↗Wikipedia (FR) ↗Image: Paolo Carboni / CC BY-SA 2.5 ↗
Sub-Saharan Africa
- 2023 Nigerien coup d'état
On 26 July 2023, Niger's President Bazoum was detained by the presidential guard. That evening, the military announced the coup on television, formed a junta called the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, suspended the constitution, closed borders, and imposed a curfew.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
- 2023 Gabonese coup d'état
On 30 August 2023, the Gabonese military staged a coup after rejecting the results of the presidential election. It was the eighth successful coup in West and Central Africa since 2020.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
East Asia
- White Paper Protests erupt
In late November 2022, nationwide protests against China's zero-COVID policy erupted, triggered by a memorial for Urumqi fire victims. Protesters held up blank sheets of paper as a symbol; the movement began at the Communication University of China, Nanjing, then spread across the country. It is considered the largest anti-government demonstration since 1989.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
- Global COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, began in Wuhan, China, in late 2019 and spread globally by early 2020. The WHO declared it a pandemic on 11 March 2020. By early 2025, over 777 million confirmed cases and more than 7 million deaths had been reported worldwide.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
Central & South America
- 2023 Argentine general election
Argentina held general elections on 22 October 2023 to elect the president, vice president, National Congress members and most provincial governors. As no presidential candidate secured a majority, a run-off was held on 19 November, in which Deputy Javier Milei defeated Economy Minister Sergio Massa to become president.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
Central Asian steppe
- Launch of the Belt and Road Initiative
In 2013, the Chinese government launched the Belt and Road Initiative, an infrastructure and economic development strategy to connect Asia, Europe, Africa, and beyond. The initiative comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, evoking the historic trade routes. It has since involved agreements with numerous countries and organizations for global connectivity projects.
SourcesWikipedia ↗