file under: today's headlines
on january 9th:
in 475 AD, unpopular byzantine emperor zeno is forced to flee his capital (then known as constantinople).
874 years after that (1349), the jewish population of basel, switzerland, is rounded up and incinerated, believed by residents to be the cause of the ongoing bubonic plague.
82 years after that (1431), judges' investigations for the trial of joan of arc begin in rouen, france, the seat of the english occupation government.
337 years after that (1768), philip astley stages the first modern circus (in london).
25 years after that (1793), jean-pierre blanchard becomes the first to fly in a balloon in the united states.
54 years after that (1822), portuguese prince pedro I of brazil decides to stay in brazil against the orders of the portuguese king joão VI, starting the brazilian independence process.
17 years after that (1839), the french academy of sciences announces the daguerreotype photography process.
19 years after that (1858), anson jones, the final president of the republic of texas, commits suicide.
3 years after that (1861), the "star of the west" incident occurs near charleston, south carolina. it is considered by some historians to be the "first shots of the american civil war."
21 years after that (1882), oscar wilde gives his first lecture on "the english renaissance of art" in new york.
23 years after that (1905), russian workers stage a march on the winter palace that ends in the massacre by czarist troops known as "bloody sunday", setting off the russian revolution of 1905.
11 years after that (1916), the ottoman empire prevails in the battle of gallipoli, as the last british troops are evacuated.
13 years after that (1929), the seeing eye is established in nashville, tennessee, with the mission to train dogs for assisting the blind.
22 years after that (1951), united nations headquarters officially opens in new york city.
21 years after that (1972), the rms queen elizabeth is destroyed by fire in victoria harbour, hong kong (a photo of which amazes and creeps me out at the same time, of course).
[fun fact! the wreck was featured in the 1974 james bond movie the man with the golden gun, and was portrayed in the film as a covert base of operations for the british secret service.]
14 years after that (1986), kodak leaves the instant camera business after losing a patent battle with polaroid.
9 years after that (1995), valeri poliakov completes 366 days in space while aboard the mir space station, breaking a duration record.
12 years after that (2007), i read about all this for the first time (via wikipee).
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it might be nothing more than a hallmark of middle age, but over the last 6 or 7 years i've become much more affected by history's sweeping vistas. the happy confluence of living in nyc and meeting a gang of smart-plus-staunch marxists got that particular ball rolling, and now i'm finding more and more of the past to be incredibly involving.
[and while we're at it, bon anniversaire to les demoiselles, whose tough countenances once gave a young man pause.]
in 475 AD, unpopular byzantine emperor zeno is forced to flee his capital (then known as constantinople).
874 years after that (1349), the jewish population of basel, switzerland, is rounded up and incinerated, believed by residents to be the cause of the ongoing bubonic plague.
82 years after that (1431), judges' investigations for the trial of joan of arc begin in rouen, france, the seat of the english occupation government.
337 years after that (1768), philip astley stages the first modern circus (in london).
25 years after that (1793), jean-pierre blanchard becomes the first to fly in a balloon in the united states.
54 years after that (1822), portuguese prince pedro I of brazil decides to stay in brazil against the orders of the portuguese king joão VI, starting the brazilian independence process.
17 years after that (1839), the french academy of sciences announces the daguerreotype photography process.
19 years after that (1858), anson jones, the final president of the republic of texas, commits suicide.
3 years after that (1861), the "star of the west" incident occurs near charleston, south carolina. it is considered by some historians to be the "first shots of the american civil war."
21 years after that (1882), oscar wilde gives his first lecture on "the english renaissance of art" in new york.
23 years after that (1905), russian workers stage a march on the winter palace that ends in the massacre by czarist troops known as "bloody sunday", setting off the russian revolution of 1905.
11 years after that (1916), the ottoman empire prevails in the battle of gallipoli, as the last british troops are evacuated.
13 years after that (1929), the seeing eye is established in nashville, tennessee, with the mission to train dogs for assisting the blind.
22 years after that (1951), united nations headquarters officially opens in new york city.
21 years after that (1972), the rms queen elizabeth is destroyed by fire in victoria harbour, hong kong (a photo of which amazes and creeps me out at the same time, of course).
[fun fact! the wreck was featured in the 1974 james bond movie the man with the golden gun, and was portrayed in the film as a covert base of operations for the british secret service.]
14 years after that (1986), kodak leaves the instant camera business after losing a patent battle with polaroid.
9 years after that (1995), valeri poliakov completes 366 days in space while aboard the mir space station, breaking a duration record.
12 years after that (2007), i read about all this for the first time (via wikipee).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
it might be nothing more than a hallmark of middle age, but over the last 6 or 7 years i've become much more affected by history's sweeping vistas. the happy confluence of living in nyc and meeting a gang of smart-plus-staunch marxists got that particular ball rolling, and now i'm finding more and more of the past to be incredibly involving.
[and while we're at it, bon anniversaire to les demoiselles, whose tough countenances once gave a young man pause.]
posted by pf at
11:32 PM
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