Historical
Constantine I, Emperor of Rome
Constantine was one of the most influential of all the emperors of Rome. His reign marked a definite turning point in the history of the empire, which would never be the same again. He must also be counted as the last “great” emperor of Rome. Nobody who followed was of anything like the same quality.
By John Welford5 years ago in FYI
History of the Olympics
While the modern Olympic Games go back to 1896, the ancient Olympic Games reach back as far as 776 B.C. and beyond. Though historians hang the beginning on that date, it seems the Games had been going on for several centuries before the 8th century B.C. Held originally in Olympia, Greece — a sister city of my town of Colorado Springs, the home of the U.S. Olympic Training Center — the games were dedicated to Zeus, father of the Olympian gods, and the site was one of the most important religious centers in Greece.
By Bill Petro5 years ago in FYI
Hanging Gardens of Babylon
Many ideas about the structure and location of the gardens continue. A study of the historical significance of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, has led Oxford historians to conclude that the foundations of the great Assyrian Empire Sennacherib, whose palace was a major rival of Babylon in Nineveh, show trees growing on the balcony of Babylon. Layard painter hired by bass authorized by Dr. Dalley, who imitated gardens and produced Layard's book Nineveh, published in London in 1853.
By Sita Dahal5 years ago in FYI
Commodus, Emperor of Rome
The Roman Empire was led by a series of thoroughly worthy emperors after the death of Domitian in 96 AD. According to the 18th century historian Edward Gibbon, there were then “five good emperors”, the last of them being Marcus Aurelius, who died in 180.
By John Welford5 years ago in FYI
Nobel Prize Winners of 2020
On Tuesday, the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2020 was presented to Roger Penrose (UK), Reinhard Genzel (Germany), and Andrea Ghez (USA) for a discovery that has influenced our modern understanding of the world and black holes. Drs. Penrose was honored for his work of discovering the existence of black holes, which is a direct result of Albert Einstein's theory of relativity. Meanwhile, Dr. Genzel and Dr. GheZ have been honored for decades of their research by gathering compelling evidence of large black holes in our galaxy.
By Sita Dahal5 years ago in FYI
Slaveowner Madame Lalaurie Tortured and Killed her Slaves for Fun
Madame LaLaurie whipped her slaves, gauged their eyes out, and poked holes in their skulls, leaving maggots to infest the openings. This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the sickening acts of torture this eighteenth-century slave owner committed against her slaves. Why she was so cruel remains a mystery to many and perhaps the most tragic aspect of Madame LaLaurie’s life is that she never faced justice for her heinous acts.
By Perfectmess5 years ago in FYI
Royal Navy Force
Royal Navy Force For two centuries, the Royal Navy (RN) was the most powerful force in the world. For the first time since the removal of HMS Ark Royal in 2011, the Navy has deployed an aircraft controller, 65,000 tons HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08). Today, the Navy is a shadow of what it was before, and the Department of Defense estimates that only 30 ships will be equipped and returned to work by 2020.
By Aayush Alphonz5 years ago in FYI
Queen Anne furniture
The reign of Queen Anne (1702-14) marked a period in English furniture design that was characterised by functionality, comfort and elegance. Queen Anne furniture is generally regarded today as the most popular of all English styles, although it derives more from the work of independent craftsmen than professional designers.
By John Welford5 years ago in FYI
Portrait of Charlotte du Val d'Ognes by Marie-Denise Villers
Not everyone agrees that this portrait of an artist at work is by Marie-Denise Villers. There was a time when it was believed to be by Jacques-Louis David and then a strong case was made for Constance Marie Charpentier being the portraitist.
By John Welford5 years ago in FYI
Jean Jacques Rousseau
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was an enlightened philosopher who was deeply concerned about justice. He asserted in his work that life was in harmony with nature and beauty, with full respect for the neighbors, even though they seemed to have different values and ideas, and with the great determination needed to consider the contradictions that exist in modern society. Rousseau himself was often involved in defending his views against those who felt misunderstood.
By Radha Karki5 years ago in FYI
River Nile
A few days after the discovery of the rosetta stone and the news of the pharaohs and crocodiles eating people, it was in the fertile banks of the Nile that one of the most remarkable civilizations on Earth, ancient Egypt, was born about 3000 BC. For thousands of years, the Egyptians relied on the Nile for water, which flowed through the Ethiopian highlands of Central Africa. The water and mud of the flood plains form the basis of civilization and serve as an inspiration to the people who lived in Northeast Africa during this critical period of history.
By Radha Karki5 years ago in FYI
