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Events that change world can be defined as paradigm shifts, not necessarily as trends or cycles but rather major structural change. Thus, I would contend that there are events that are of great significance that do not denote a trend or cycle.
One example would be the notion of nationhood as we know it today. The nation-state sharply changed the way people viewed themselves and organized their socio-political groups. Instead of viewing this "event" as a trend or a cycle, it should be viewed as a major change in the fundamental structure of human history. To support this idea, a specific event can be cited as a the catalyst for this paradigm shift. To wit, the French Revolution, triggered by the American Revolution created a nation-state based on the idea of a distinct political grouping of people, Frenchmen, and a defined political border comprising the nation-state. This idea contrasts with the previous norm of empire, kingdoms - that is, suzerainty defined by a ruling monarch governing subjects, not citizens in a defined grouping with no real borders to speak of other than a taxable peasent base.
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