• HISTORY
    19 July 2023: This day in history

    1595: Astronomer Johannes Kepler has an epiphany and develops his theory of the geometrical basis of the universe while teaching in Graz 1843: The steamship SS Great Britain is launched, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, is the first ocean-going craft with an iron hull or screw propeller and the largest vessel afloat in the world 1848: 1st US women’s rights convention held in […]

  • HISTORY
    18 July 2022: This day in history

    64: Great Fire of Rome begins under the Emperor Nero 1334: Bishop of Florence blesses the first foundation stone for the new campanile (bell tower) of the Florence Cathedral, designed by artist Giotto di Bondone 1925: Adolf Hitler publishes Mein Kampf, original title was the catchy “Four and a Half Years (of Struggle) Against Lies, Stupidity and Cowardice” 1936: Spanish Civil War: […]

  • HISTORY
    17 July 2023: This day in history

    180: 6 inhabitants of Carthage, North Africa executed for being Christians. Earliest record of Christianity in this part of the world. 1203: Siege of Constantinople begins during the fourth Crusade; Roman Catholic Crusaders aboard a Venetian fleet attack the city 1762: Catherine II becomes Tsarina of Russia following the murder of Peter III 1918: The Romanov royal family and several of their […]

  • HISTORY
    16 July 2023: This day in history

    622: Muslim Era begins – Muhammad begins flight from Mecca to Medina (Hijra) 1519: Public debate between Martin Luther and theologian Johann Eck at Pleissenburg Castle in Liepzig, during which Luther denies the divine right of the Pope 1809: La Paz, Bolivia declares its independence from the Spanish Crown and forms the Junta Tuitiva led by Pedro Domingo Murillo, the […]

  • HISTORY
    The History of the Ancient Greek City of Smyrna

    Smyrna was once one of the most illustrious of all ancient and Hellenistic-era Greek cities. One of the main centers of Greek settlement in western Anatolia, it once had a temple dedicated to Athena and was the residence of the epic poet Homer.

  • HISTORY
    15 July 2023: This day in history

    1099: City of Jerusalem is captured and plundered by Christian forces during the First Crusade 1381: John Ball, a leader in the Peasants’ Revolt, is hung, drawn and quartered in the presence of Richard II of England 1410: Battle of Grunwald (First Battle of Tannenburg, Battle of Žalgiris), one of Medieval Europe’s largest battles during Poland-Lithuanian Teutonic War. Polish King Władysław […]

  • HISTORY
    14 July 2023: This day in history

    1789: Bastille Day – the French Revolution begins with the storming of the Bastille Prison in Paris (now celebrated as France’s national day) 1798: US Sedition Act prohibits “false, scandalous & malicious” writing against government 1850: 1st public demonstration of ice made by refrigeration by Florida physician John Gorrie 1933: All non-Nazi parties are banned in Germany 1941: 6,000 Lithuanian Jews […]

  • HISTORY
    13 July 2023: This day in history

    1772: Captain James Cook begins his second voyage to the South Seas aboard HMS Resolution to search for Terra Australis (Southern continent) 1832: Source of Mississippi River discovered by American geographer Henry Schoolcraft 1835: Swedish-American inventor John Ericsson files for a patent for his screw propeller design 1870: King Wilhelm I of Prussia sends the “Emser Depeche (Ems Telegram)” to Otto von Bismarck who publishes an edited version […]

  • HISTORY
    12 July 2023: This day in history

    1679: Britain’s King Charles II ratifies Habeas Corpus Act allowing prisoners right to be imprisoned to be examined by a court 1690: Battle of Boyne: in Ireland, Protestant King William III defeats English Catholic King James II 1790: French Revolution: The Civil Constitution of the Clergy is adopted, putting the Catholic Church in France under the control of the state 1804: Former United States […]

  • HISTORY
    11 July 2023: This day in history

    1405: Chinese fleet commander Zheng He sets sail on his first major expedition, to the Spice Islands, leading 208 vessels, including 62 treasure ships with 27,800 sailors 1533: Pope Clement VII excommunicates England’s King Henry VIII 1818: English poet John Keats writes “In the Cottage Where Burns is Born”, “Lines Written in the Highlands”, and “Gadfly” 1877: Kate Edger becomes New Zealand’s first woman […]