in History
Time itself is given a starting point
According to tradition, the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar, the sophisticated timekeeping system used by the Maya and other pre-Columbian civilizations, marked its beginning on this date. The calendar, which measured time in cycles spanning thousands of years, reflected a cosmic understanding of existence. Its 2012 cycle-end famously sparked global apocalypse speculation.
The fastest human of his era
In Gainesville, Texas, Charles William Paddock was born with speed that would astonish the world. He became a two-time Olympic champion and was widely regarded as the fastest human alive in the early 1920s. Known for his dramatic leap at the finish line, Paddock's fame extended beyond the track, and he is believed to have inspired films about speed.
The Latvian–Soviet Peace Treaty, which relinquished Russia's authority and pretenses to Latvia, is signed, ending the Latvian War of Independence.