The Discovery of Gravity

1666: Legend is that Isaac Newton was inspired to study falling objects by an apple falling from a tree and hitting him. The significance was an overall theory of gravity and the relationship of mass and force. His big book was the Principia Mathematics.

Pictured is a tree from seed that descended from the legendary tree of the dropped apple.

Series on Discovery of Gravity ended a couple of days ago.
More Science History.

Merry Christmas, 2018

Washington Irving first published this essay on “old time Christmas” in England. Then he collected it in his famous Sketchbook.

"There is nothing in England that exercises a more delightful spell over my imagination than the lingerings of the holiday customs and rural games of former times. [Snip] The traditionary customs of golden-hearted antiquity, its feudal hospitalities, and lordly wassailings, have passed away with the baronial castles and stately manor-houses in which they were celebrated. They comported with the shadowy hall, the great oaken gallery, and the tapestried parlor, but are unfitted to the light showy saloons and gay drawing-rooms of the modern villa." 

http://dld.bz/hjYgn

First Transcontinental Railroad Completed

1869: ’69 has been a great year for technology. In 1869, the first railroad across the North American continent (north of Mexico) was completed. So was the Suez Canal. In 1969 the first manned spacecraft landed on the Moon.

As for the railroad story, writers and public speakers of every class have well-nigh exhausted their resources of expression in detailing the attributes of the project, its promotion, accomplishment, and effects.

From the series at History Moments http://dld.bz/hgc4P

More Economic History https://historyweblog.com/h/economic-history

Bismarck Consolidates German Empire

Berlin in 1890

1881-1890: On the map Germany was unified after centuries division but under the surface divisions of the people remained. How to unify the German people in their hearts and minds? Military/police methods would not solve the problem alone.

This series tells the story of how Otto von Bismarck addressed the problem.  It ended just a couple days ago. http://dld.bz/hjMJe

More German History at https://german.historyweblog.com

Britain Tightens Control of Egypt

1885: In this time two of the most ancient and glorious civilizations had come under the control of Great Britain: India and Egypt. Like those ancient natives of those storied lands, expansion beckoned. This is the story not only of British Empire but how Egypt led to expansion up the Nile.

Nominally, the government was stilled headed by legitimate monarchs. The British exercised control through them.

Read more: http://dld.bz/hgc4J

More Mideast History at https://mideast.historyweblog.com

Canadian Front in the War of 1812

1812: The USA began the war chiefly to conquer Canada.  The US army performed below the bar set by the Revolution while the British/Canadians performed better. Even though the victories of the last year of the war, the US did not have the strength to offset the reverses of the first year. Moreover, by 1814, the British navy had blockaded the US coastlines. When the peace treaty was received in Washington, President Madison was relieved that the USA did not need to make territorial concessions.

From Canada Versus USA series at History Moments
More Canadian History at the Canadian History website

Japan Repels Mongols Podcast

1281: After conquering most of Asia, the Middle East, and China, the Mongols, under their greatest leader, Kublai Khan, turned east to the island nation of Japan. This podcast says how the Horde faced the seas and islands beyond.

Listen to the Podcast:

Major Wars of My 7 Decades Course

1806-1875: What major wars occurred during these years? January begins my class. Among topics will be military history.

Napoleonic Wars, War of 1812, Greek Independence, Latin-American Independence Wars, Texas Independence, Mexican-American War, Chinese Opium Wars, Crimean War, Indian Sepoy Mutiny, American Civil War, Franco-Prussian War, American Indian Wars. Anything I left out?

More Military History at https://military.historyweblog.com

Dante Composes The Divine Comedy

1300-1318: The reason his tour of Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven is so interesting to read, even now, is that Dante himself led such an interesting life. He was immersed in the life of his Italy and he used that in his poems.

I wonder what a contemporary American would write in his version of the divine afterlife. Where would you place today's celebrities? --Donald Trump? Meghan Marckle? or …?

Series on Dante Composes The Divine Comedy ended this week. http://dld.bz/hjdKu

The Cultural History website here.

Democratic Candidates Ranked by Age

Have you seen this chart of the ages of the Democratic Presidents through history compared to today’s potential candidates? They are color coded by their tier in the polls. Biden and Saunders are in the top tier.

As for the old ages, I do not believe that this is such a bad factor. I remember them from the 1980’s. They were just as dumb then as they are now (and just as smart, too.) I rather want to see new ideas than new people.

Herodotus the “Father of History”.

During the 5^th. century BC few people could read, so Herodotus made his living by going from town to town telling stories. Either he took stories from his book to perform or he incorporated his performances into his book or he did both. This is why his book is episodic – it could be presented in a television series. In fact, I used that for my website History Moments.

The best edition of his book is here.

China's Decisive Loss to Britain in Opium War

1840: In light of the narcotics problem around the world, Britain’s causus belli in this war was despicable. Two things stand out in this war. (1) How little the narcotics problem was viewed in those days and (2) how small detachments of Britain’s army and navy was able to defeat (and to decisively defeat) huge armies and navies China. China and the Ottoman Empire were the top two non-western civilizations on the planet at that time. The West enjoyed decisive military superiority and global dominance.

From The Opium War of 1840: http://dld.bz/hgc2G

Oriental History at https://oriental.historyweblog.com/

The Last Kingdom

871-901: Binge Watching the series on Netflix about the conflict between the Viking invaders and the Saxon natives. Alfred of Wessex won but the later conquest of William the Conqueror meant that the Vikings won, too. What Alfred’s victory won was time and time meant assimilation. A westernized Scandinavian invaders together with the natives made medieval and modern Britain.

The benefit of historical fiction is that it can convey the mood of the times more than factual narrative can. Watching shows like this immerses the audience in those times and places.

For the true story of King Alfred’s reign:http://dld.bz/hhxmt

Obama’s Re-election, 2012

Worked my new Current History landing page today and came across an old article I wrote back in 2011 on why President Obama would not win re-election. Shows what a great political analyst I was.

Current History: http://dld.bz/hhrde.qr

Mexico Rejects Maximilian

1867: When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. That's what Maximilian learned the hard way in Mexico. Napoleon III of France wanted a foothold in the Americas and Mexico was one giant base. Maximilian, with a French army backing him, proclaimed himself Emperor of Mexico in 1864. The idea of Mexico becoming a de-facto vassal of the French Empire did not sit well with the Mexicans. As important, the USA did not want a major European power on its border. With the Civil War winding down, President Abraham Lincoln sent a warning to Paris and an army to the Texas border.

Napoleon caved and pulled the French army out. Emperor Maximilian lost his army, his government, his empire, and his life. He was executed by firing squad at Cerro de las Campanas on June 19, 1867

Series on Mexico Rejects Maximilian ends today. http://dld.bz/hhcFk

Britain Acquires Cape Colony

The Dutch lost it to the British in 1795.  The peace Treaty of Amiens gave it back to the Dutch but when war broke out again in 1805 the British conquered it for good the following year. When the Union of South Africa was formed in 1910, the colony was absorbed into it.

Pictured is a model of Cape Town circa 1800. http://dld.bz/hgcye

George Bush, Sr. RIP

I join in all the praise for all of the good things that he did. But there is one event that is noteworthy in the decline of American politics and the road to Trump. That was when he broke his “no new taxes” promise

Except for the worst extremists, Americans understand the need for compromise. They still expect the leaders they vote for to at least try to do what they say. The significance of his promise, was that it was made in such a way so it was to be the one thing that his supporters could count on.

After the election, the press reported that he began looking for ways to dump that promise. While many of the reports were based on unnamed sources, he did nothing to deny them. Then he did.

Who can you trust to keep his/her word anymore? If the responsible behave irresponsibly, then is an irresponsible person so different?

This event was not the cause but a milestone in the road to Trumpism.

Factual article in Wikipdia

Jenner Introduces Vacinnation

1798: Combatting disease by injecting vaccine into the bloodstream was a major breakthrough in medical science. Edward Jenner used “cowpox” to combat smallpox. His contribution was not only discovering the remedy but then proving that his patients were immune from smallpox.

Before Jenner’s time, an estimated 10-20% of the human population died from that disease. He is the father of immunization.

Series on Jenner Introduces Vacinnation ends today.  http://dld.bz/hgD2J

Early Years of Independent Switzerland

1499: We think of Switzerland as the neutral, peaceful country but during Medieval years the land was anything but. They fought the Holy Roman Empire for independence for many years. How did the Swiss come under Imperial rule? Their prince became Holy Roman Emperor.

Pictured is the town of Hapsburg, the ancestral home of the Hapsburg emperors. The remnants of their castle is on the hill to the left. Read more: http://dld.bz/heBzP

My history website:  http://historyweblog.com/

Ottomans Conquer Constantinople

1453: The thousand-year Byzantine Empire finally ended. The conquering Ottomans founded an empire that was to last half as long. Constantinople was the most heavily fortified city on the planet. But the centuries had worn both walls down and the inhabitants’ spirit. The Turks, on the other hand, had occupied the main part of modern Turkey (Asia Minor) since 1300 and they were in a conquering mood.

With the fall of Constantinople, the path of conquest into and through the Balkans had been opened wide. The opportunity for the Muslims to invade and conquer the heart of Europe would be exploited for centuries to the climatic siege of Vienna in 1683.

From Ottomans Conquer Constantinople http://dld.bz/heBzN

More Byzantine History at https://byzantine.historyweblog.com/

Kavanaugh Confirmed to Supreme Court

2018: As this event recede into history and before the Democrats’ promised Congressional hearings into Trump’s family and associates begins: a few thoughts.

How many more Democrats would be in the next Congress but for the “Kavanaugh Effect”?  Facts matter but partisanship, especially too blatant and too much, can backfire.  As much as hostile hearings can please the majority’s base, so can it arouse sympathy for the witnesses.  Anyone remember Oliver North?  Bill Clinton?  Any others you may remember? http://dld.bz/heBz3

More American Hisktory at https://american.historyweblog.com/

North Pole Discovered

Men have explored the ice flows of the far north since ancient days. In 1909 men finally reached the Pole. Peary may not have led the expedition that first reached the Pole but he got the credit.

A quote from the series:

The start on the heroic “dash for the Pole” was made from Cape Columbia on Feb. 28, 1909. The expedition, in addition to about twenty Eskimos with their sledges and their many teams of dogs, consisted of seven men from the Roosevelt’s company.
Series on North Pole Discovered ends today.  http://dld.bz/heB8z

More Explorers in History at https://explorers.historyweblog.com/

President Washington Retires

1797: Washington’s put the federal government on a sound basis and thereby kept the country together.  Before the Constitution was adopted the states were flying apart.  It was adopted but would it work in practice?  This is where Washington’s new role from President of the Constitutional Convention to President of the government came in.  The people were deeply ambivalent about both the Constitution and the federal government it created.  This was especially true in the south and in the west.  When he retired, attitudes had much improved; the federal government placed on a sound basis.

This was his greatest accomplishment.

Read more:  http://dld.bz/heBxB

More American History at http://american.historyweblog.com/

Thanksgiving, 2018

1620:Pilgrims Settle Plymouth.  The first Thanksgiving in America traces its origin to this story. Modern perspectives on European settlers and American natives should not overlook the hardships that this group underwent.

After a passage of 66 days, and subsequent journeyings until the middle of December, they land on the ice-clad rocks of Plymouth, worn out with suffering, weak and weary from the fatigues of the voyage, poorly armed, scantily provisioned, surrounded by native strangers, without prospect of human succor, without the help or favor of their king, with a useless patent, without assurance of liberty in religion, without shelter, and without means!

Read more:  http://dld.bz/hfN4Z

King John Signs Magna Charta

1215: While the Great Charter is criticized for granting rights to the aristocracy and not to the commoners, its true legacy is that it marks the transition from the age of traditional rights to the age of written legislation, — of parliaments and statutes, which was soon to come.  King John, the villain of the Robin Hood legends, had oppressed England in three ways: (1) the remaining oppressions of the Norman kings after the Conquest; (2) the necessity of raising taxes and other measures for wars against France; and (3) his own odious personal and official conduct.

Individually, his personal scandals could have been tolerated; his constant demands of war measures could have been tolerated (if there were any success); indeed, the Norman tyranny had in fact been tolerated since 1066. It was the combination of all these together which brought on the crisis.

A conference between the King and the barons was appointed at Runnymede, between Windsor and Staines; a place which has ever since been extremely celebrated, on account of this great event. The two parties encamped apart, like open enemies; and after a debate of a few days, the King, with a facility somewhat suspicious, on June 19, 1215, signed and sealed the charter which was required of him. http://dld.bz/heBvH

More British History at http://british.historyweblog.com/

Battle of Hastings Podcast

1066: Normans Land in England.  Harold’s Army Marches from Far North (Yorkshire).  Battle of Hastings.  Norman Conquest.  William the Conqueror Enters London.

These would be the headlines if you lived in England in 1066.  William instituted a tyrannical rule.  For decades, the peasantry was worse off than the rest of Europe.  Good things happened, too, and events moved on.

Listen to the podcast here: http://dld.bz/heAWE

History Moments Progress Report

My website presents the most important events in history told by: the greatest historians; the greatest writers; eye-witnesses, and others with insights to give.  It features original podcasts and the syllabuses for the courses that I teach.  There’s more multi-media: links to videos and books.  Three million words so far.

All that but it needs to go to the next level.  Does anybody know who can support this website financially?  I am preparing applications for grants and sponsorships.  There are only so many hours the day and only so much that a part-time endeavor can do.  Copyrighted material has to be paid for.  Multi-media needs equipment. More website improvement needs professional developers.

So, know any ideas for prospecting for sponsors?

History Moments Website: http://historyweblog.com/

History of Printing

The written words that you’re reading right now is on the latest media that is the end result of what began with chisels and stones millennia ago.  Gutenberg and his printing press transformed the process and world history.  It made the rebirth of learning, the Renaissance greater than it would have been.

Perhaps printing in its latest iteration may take the life of the human mind to a higher level in our time as old Gutenberg’s press did in his.

Series on History of Printing ends today.  http://dld.bz/heBE7

More Science History at https://science.historyweblog.com/

Outbreak of the Fronde in France

1648: At the end of the Thirty Years War, a civil war broke out in France.  Cardinal Mazarin, the prime minister of the young king Louis XIV was driven from power.  This conflict is called “The War of the Fronde”.  Mazarin won and got back into power but this outbreak that, if successful, would have limited the king’s power helped explain Louis XIV’s policy of absolute monarchy later in his reign.

“The Fronde” is the name that was given to the anticourt party. The word “fronde” means a sling, and the origin of its use as a party name is attributed to an epigram. http://dld.bz/heAWf

My French History website: https://french.historyweblog.com/

Italy Kingdom Proclaimed

1860: Since the fall of the Roman Empire Italy was broken up into pieces with many of those pieces controlled by outsiders.  There had been bright periods, such as the Renaissance and the influence of Florence but even then, disunity and foreign invasion – until now, in 1860.  With heroes such as Garibaldi and help from Napoleon III Italy was finally united under one government.  This series tells that story.

Unification of Italy http://dld.bz/heASv

Italian History website: http://italian.historyweblog.com/

LaSalle and the Discovery of the Great West

LaSalle explored the Mississippi Valley and brought the plains west of the river to Europe’s attention.  From Texas to Illinois he pioneered settlement.  Francis Parkman considered him to be so important that he devoted an entire volume of his epic series of books The French in North America to him.

"The discovery of the "Great West," or the valleys of the Mississippi and the Lakes, is a portion of our history hitherto very obscure. Those magnificent regions were revealed to the world through a series of daring enterprises, of which the motives and even the incidents have been but partially and superficially known. The chief actor in them wrote much, but printed nothing; and the published writings of his associates stand woefully in need of interpretation from the unpublished documents which exist, but which have not heretofore been used as material for history.

This volume attempts to supply the defect."

From LaSalle and the Discovery of the Great West http://dld.bz/heVSz

Francis Parkman’s series of books on the French in North America http://dld.bz/heARQ

Teaching Seven Decades 1806-1875

Working on my 7 Decades 1806-1875 course for Winter Quarter starting January.  One lifetime begins with Napoleon and ends with Disraeli.  Europe and Western Civilization rises to world dominance.  USA emerges from Civil War to the Second Industrial Revolution and the settlement of the old west. 

Together with my Autumn Course 1876-1945 this will cover 140 years of the change.  My Spring course 1946-2015 will see the Western Civilization challenged by the rest of the world as old powers reassert themselves and new ones arise.

The courses cover culture, science, and economics, as well as politics.  The Autumn Course is done but the other courses are in development.  Here is my gateway page for the course topics. http://dld.bz/heASq

I teach at the ELM school in Marietta, Georgia.

Death of Lord Byron

When the Greeks began their great and final war for independence it truly seemed like the battle between David and Goliath. The Ottoman Empire had been the feared and great power for centuries. Lord Byron, the great poet of the Romantic School joined the Greeks and later died in that war.

“I cannot calculate,” he said to Gamba, during one of their latest rides together, “to what a height Greece may rise. Hitherto it has been a subject for the hymns and elegies of fanatics and enthusiasts; but now it will draw the attention of the politician. At present there is little difference, in many respects, between Greeks and Turks, nor could there be; but the latter must, in the common course of events, decline in power; and the former must as inevitably become better. The English Government deceived itself at first in thinking it possible to maintain the Turkish empire in its integrity; but it cannot be done — that unwieldy mass is al ready putrefied and must dissolve. If anything like an equilibrium is to be upheld, Greece must be supported.”

From Lord Byron and the Greek War of Independence, http://dld.bz/heAPy

Trump Celebrates Armistice

One hundred years ago, the Germans agreed to an armistice, that is an end to the fighting in WWI pending a final peace treaty. The armistice agreement effectively prevented the German army from re-starting the war. Some quarter century later, the Germans under Adolph Hitler negotiated an new armistice but with only the French Army. World War II continued.

Today Donald Trump said, "We want to help Europe but it has to be fair."

Back in America this is holiday is known as Veterans Day.

Tatars Invade China Podcast

200 BC: At the beginning of the Han Dynasty of China the Tatar tribes invaded.  The new emperor was still trying to organize his empire and establish himself.  As for the tribes beyond he border, they were united under a strong leader, Meha.  Here's my podcast on this.

http://dld.bz/heAHx

More Oriental History at http://oriental.historyweblog.com/

Charles I Executed

He behaved like a king to the last.  But there was a reason that he had lost the English Civil War.  Could he be trusted to keep his word?  There was a huge credibility gap.  Times were changing and he had not adapted.  As he went to his doom two things were in the air:  his son was safe in France and would his enemies over-reach once they held absolute power?

"His purposed address to the people was delivered only to the hearing of those upon the scaffold, but its purport was that the people “mistook the nature of government; for people are free under a government, not by being sharers in it, but by due administration of the laws of it.” His theory of government was a consistent one. He had the misfortune not to understand that the time had been fast passing away for its assertion."

From The English Civil War http://dld.bz/he8uC

More British History at http://british.historyweblog.com/

Hildebrand Proclaimed Pope Gregory VII

Are the churches to be creations of government? Was the clergy selected by kings or by popes? The Investiture Controversy was about these very questions. Pope Gregory forced the issue. Hence, his career was a significant milestone towards the separation of church and state.

How it began in 1073:

“From the funeral procession Hildebrand flew to the pulpit, and with impassioned gestures seemed to be imploring silence. The storm, however, did not cease till one of the cardinals, in the name of the sacred college, declared that they had unanimously elected him whom the people had chosen. Arrayed in scarlet robes, crowned with the papal tiara, Gregory VII ascended the chair of St. Peter."

From Hildebrand’s Papal Triumph  : http://dld.bz/he73Y

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