By Alexis Cheney – @akcheney

Before we get too caught up in 2017 – already a busy year as far as history is concerned – let’s take a look back at a few top 10s of last year. After all, shaping the future is impossible without learning from the past (just got super deep there).

10 Major World Events

Hillary Clinton on the campaign trail
Hillary Clinton on the campaign trail
  1. A major U.S. political party elected a female for the first time to run for president.
  2. Britain voted to leave the EU (“Brexit”).
  3. Colombia reached a peace deal with FARC, the Marxist guerilla group which has plagued the country for more than 50 years.
  4. Donald Trump won the Electoral College, thus winning the election.
  5. Eastern Aleppo fell, allowing rebel forces and civilians to leave the city.
  6. German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung leaked the Panama Papers from Mossack Fonseca, a major law firm.

    Donald Trump at a campaign event
    Donald Trump at a campaign event
  7. Global temperatures reached a record high.
  8. Russia hacked the Democratic National Committee and the emails of John Podesta, Chair of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.
  9. Terrorists attacked Brussels, Belgium; Nice, France; Berlin, Germany; Lahore, Pakistan; and Orlando (FL), United States.
  10.  The Zika virus affected more than 4,000 babies.  

Influential Women Who Died in 2016

Charmian Carr in The Sound of Music
Charmian Carr in The Sound of Music
  1. Charmian Carr: Liesl in “The Sound of Music” (Dec. 27, 1942 – Sept. 17, 2016)
  2. Carrie Fisher: Actress, screenwriter, author and producer (Oct. 21, 1956 – Dec. 27, 2016)
  3. Zsa Zsa Gabor: Actress (Feb. 6, 1917 – Dec. 18, 2016)
  4. Gwen Ifill: Peabody Award-winning journalist, television newscaster and author (Sept. 29, 1955 – Nov. 14, 2016)
  5. Harper Lee: Novelist (April 28, 1926 – Feb. 19, 2016)
  6. Janet Reno: Former attorney general of the United States (July 21, 1938 – Nov. 7, 2016)

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    Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher at the 2015 SAG Awards
  7. Debbie Reynolds: Actress, singer, film historian and humanitarian (April 1, 1932 – Dec. 28, 2016)
  8. Nancy Reagan: Actress and 40th first lady of the United States (July 6, 1921 – March 6, 2016)
  9. Vera Rubin: Astronomer (July 23, 1928 – Dec. 25, 2016)
  10.  Pat Summitt: Women’s college basketball head coach (June 14, 1952- June 28, 2016)

Top 10 TV Shows of 2016

  1. The Americans

    Keri Russell, Holly Taylor, and Matthew Rhys in the Americans
    Keri Russell, Holly Taylor, and Matthew Rhys in the Americans
  2. American Crime Story
  3. Atlanta
  4. Black Mirror
  5. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
  6. The Crown
  7. Game of Thrones
  8. Stranger Things
  9. Transparent
  10.  Westworld

10 Top Movies of 2016

  1. Arrival
  2. The Handmaiden 

    A shot from Moonlight
    A shot from Moonlight
  3. I Am Not Your Negro
  4. La La Land
  5. Manchester by the Sea
  6. Moonlight
  7. My Golden Days
  8. No Home Movie
  9. O.J.: Made in America
  10.  Toni Erdmann

10 Top Pop Songs

  1. Closer – The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey
  2. Starboy – The Weeknd
  3. One Dance – Drake
  4. Cheap Thrills – Sia
  5. What Do You Mean – Justin Bieber
  6. Stitches – Shawn Mendes
  7. Work – Rihanna featuring Drake
  8. Pill in Ibiza – Mike Posner
  9. Sorry – Justin Bieber
  10.  Pillowtalk – Zayn