The Late Bronze Age Collapse occurred during the 12th century BC, leading to the disintegration of state systems across the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. This event is considered one of the most significant collapses in history, surpassing the fall of the Roman Empire in severity.

"Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds" by Charles Mackay is a seminal study on crowd psychology published in 1841. The work analyzes humanity's tendency toward collective manias, covering topics such as financial bubbles, religious crusades, witch trials, and alchemy.

Napoleon Bonaparte led 685,000 soldiers into Russia in June 1812, marking the largest military force in European history at that time. This campaign is considered one of the most significant military failures.