- 1292 17 Nov Edward I of England makes John Balliol king of Scotland, marking the start of increased English control.
- 1869 17 Nov The Suez Canal in Egypt opens, taking thousands of miles off the journey by sea from Europe to Asia.
- 1903 17 Nov The Russian Social Democratic Party splits into the 'Mensheviks' and 'Bolsheviks' at its London conference.

