In 1879, the world witnessed significant advancements in science and technology. One notable event was the invention of the light bulb by Thomas Edison, which would later revolutionize how people illuminated their homes and workplaces. This year also marked the beginning of the Anglo-Zulu War in South Africa, a conflict between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom. Additionally, 1879 was the year when Albert Einstein was born in Ulm, Germany. His later contributions to physics, particularly the theory of relativity, would profoundly change our understanding of space and time. This year was pivotal in shaping modern history and scientific thought.