What were the key events that triggered the Arab Spring?

The Arab Spring was a series of pro-democracy uprisings and protests that took place across several countries in the Middle East and North Africa region. The key events that triggered the Arab Spring can be summarized as follows:

1. Tunisia: The Arab Spring began in December 2010 when a young Tunisian street vendor named Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire in protest against police harassment and economic hardships. This incident sparked widespread anger and led to mass protests demanding political change.

2. Egypt: Inspired by the events in Tunisia, Egyptians took to the streets in January 2011, demanding an end to President Hosni Mubarak's authoritarian regime. The protests gained momentum, and after 18 days of demonstrations, Mubarak stepped down from power.

3. Libya: In February 2011, protests erupted in Libya against the long-standing rule of Muammar Gaddafi. The demonstrations quickly turned into a full-blown armed conflict between Gaddafi's forces and rebel groups, leading to a NATO intervention and ultimately the overthrow and killing of Gaddafi.

4. Yemen: Yemen also witnessed mass protests in early 2011, with demonstrators demanding the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who had been in power for over three decades. The protests escalated into a violent conflict, resulting in Saleh's eventual resignation in 2012.

5. Syria: In March 2011, protests erupted in Syria, initially calling for political reforms. However, the government's brutal crackdown on demonstrators led to an escalation of violence and the outbreak of a full-scale civil war that continues to this day.

6. Other countries: The Arab Spring also had significant impacts in other countries such as Bahrain, where protests were met with a harsh government crackdown, and in countries like Jordan, Morocco, and Kuwait, where governments implemented some political reforms to appease public discontent.

Overall, the key events that triggered the Arab Spring were the initial protests in Tunisia, which inspired similar movements across the region, and the widespread dissatisfaction with authoritarian regimes, corruption, economic inequality, and lack of political freedoms.