Today in History - October 31, 1517 - Martin Luther Posts 95 Theses

 Today in History - October 31, 1517 - Martin Luther Posts 95 Theses

On this day in 1517, the priest and scholar Martin Luther approaches the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, and nails a piece of paper to it containing the 95 revolutionary opinions that would begin the Protestant Reformation.

In his theses, Luther condemned the excesses and corruption of the Roman Catholic Church, especially the papal practice of asking payment—called "indulgences"—for the forgiveness of sins. At the time, a Dominican priest named Johann Tetzel, commissioned by the Archbishop of Mainz and Pope Leo X, was in the midst of a major fundraising campaign in Germany to finance the renovation of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Though Prince Frederick III the Wise had banned the sale of indulgences in Wittenberg, many church members traveled to purchase them. When they returned, they showed the pardons they had bought to Luther, claiming they no longer had to repent for their sins.

Luther's frustration with this practice led him to write the 95 Theses, which were quickly snapped up, translated from Latin into German and distributed widely. A copy made its way to Rome, and efforts began to convince Luther to change his tune. He refused to keep silent, however, and in 1521 Pope Leo X formally excommunicated Luther from the Catholic Church. That same year, Luther again refused to recant his writings before the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V of Germany, who issued the famous Edict of Worms declaring Luther an outlaw and a heretic and giving permission for anyone to kill him without consequence. Protected by Prince Frederick, Luther began working on a German translation of the Bible, a task that took 10 years to complete.

Read more at:  http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history

True History - Veritas Card #39 - Samson and Delilah

Samson and Delilah - Judges 13-16

   There was a time period when the Philistines were Israel's enemy. The Philistine people were into idolatry and could have led Israel into sinful practices. One thing that God told His people, was that they were not to intermarry. That means they were to marry people who were Israelites, not people from the other groups of people. We see that when Solomon did this, he was led astray as he had to cater to his wives idols, and ended up turning away from God himself. So God gave warnings to Israel for their own protection.
   About 1080 B.C., Israel had turned against God once again, and God allowed the Philistines to rule them for forty years.
   At this time, there was a man named Manoah, and his wife was unable to conceive children. But an angel came to her and told her that she would have a son, and this son was to be a Nazarite. Two things about a Nazarite were; they would not cut their hair, and they would not drink strong drink. A Nazarite was not the same as a Nazarene, which is a person who lived in a town called Nazareth.
   Manoah's wife gave birth to a little boy and his name was 'Samson'. Samson grew up to be a man and he was very strong. He would experience incredible strength when the Holy Spirit would come upon him. One time, he destroyed some Philistines by burning down their fields. He also took the jawbone of a donkey and killed a thousand Philistines. Another thing that he did was to take the gate of the city off! He was definitely a strong man!
   Samson, like all of us, had times when he would fall into sinful traps. He had a weakness for women. One of the women he fell in love with was named 'Delilah', who was a Philistine, and he wanted so bad to marry her. His wish was granted. But it did not turn out well for him. She tricked him into telling his secret of his strength by not cutting his hair. When he was asleep, she cut his hair! Then she called for the Philistines and they captured him and poked out his eyes.
   Even though Samson was deceived, God still was at work. The Philistines were gathered together and Samson, even though he was now blinded because of his not having his eyes anymore, had a great victory over the Philistines again. They brought him into their gathering to make fun of him. They were also mocking the True and Living God. God gave Samson his strength back again. Samson found his way to the pillars in the room and pushed on them until they were completely down. Then the whole building fell down on top of everyone, including Samson, and killed many Philistines. God used Samson to kill many of the Philistines that day, even though Samson lost his own life. God worked in Samson's life even when Samson was not faithful. But Samson had a very difficult end to his life. That's why God's rules are good for us, even though we might not see it now. We need to listen to what God says and do what He tells us. We might not understand or we might think that we know best, but God has a much bigger picture of our lives, and we need to be faithful to Him. It is always for our best.

Today in History - October 29, 1877 - Hancock Resigns as President of Congress

Today in History - October 29, 1877 - Hancock Resigns as President of Congress

John Hancock resigns his position as president of the Continental Congress, due to a prolonged illness, on this day in 1777. Hancock was the first member of the Continental Congress to sign the Declaration of Independence and is perhaps best known for his bold signature on the ground-breaking document.

First elected to the Continental Congress in 1774 as a delegate from Massachusetts, Hancock became its president upon the resignation of Peyton Randolph in May 1775. During his tenure as president, Hancock presided over some of the most historic moments of the American Revolution, culminating in the signing of the Declaration of Independence in July 1776.

After resigning his position as president, Hancock returned to his home state of Massachusetts, where he continued his work in public service. After helping to establish the state's first constitution, Hancock was elected first governor of the commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1780 and served for five years. He declined to run for reelection in 1785, but returned after a two-year absence and was elected governor for a second time in 1787. He held the position until his death in 1793.

You can read the rest of this article at:  http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hancock-resigns-as-president-of-congress

Today in History - October 28, 1965 - Gateway Arch Completed

Today in History - October 28, 1965 - Gateway Arch Completed

On this day in 1965, construction is completed on the Gateway Arch, a spectacular 630-foot-high parabola of stainless steel marking the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial on the waterfront of St. Louis, Missouri.

The Gateway Arch, designed by Finnish-born, American-educated architect Eero Saarinen, was erected to commemorate President Thomas Jefferson's Louisiana Purchase of 1803 and to celebrate St. Louis' central role in the rapid westward expansion that followed.

Read more at:  http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history

True History - Veritas Card #38 - Naomi and Ruth

Naomi and Ruth - Ruth 1-4

   Long ago, there was a woman named Naomi. Naomi lived in Israel, and had to leave because there was a famine (a time that food was not available). She went to a place called 'Moab' with her two sons. The sons got married to women who lived in Moab. One woman's name was Ruth and the other one was Orpah. While they were in Moab, Naomi's husband died, along with both sons. That left Naomi alone with Ruth and Orpah. Naomi decided to go back to Bethlehem, and Ruth came with her.
   Naomi became very sad and bitter because of the deaths of her sons and husband. So she called herself 'Mara' which means 'bitter'. This is what she wanted everyone to call her from that point on.
   God cared for Naomi and did not forget about her or leave her in despair. Since Ruth was no longer married, she was qualified to find the nearest kinsman and would be eligible to marry him, if he were willing.
  Naomi counseled Ruth to go to a man named Boaz, since he was the closest kinsman that was known to her. Boaz showed compassion to Ruth by leaving grain for her so that she and Naomi would have something to eat and survive. Ruth went to the threshing floor where Boaz was sleeping and she lay at his feet.
  Now Boaz knew that there was a kinsman that was closer to the family than he. So he went to the kinsman and was able to get the approval to go ahead and marry Ruth himself. The other kinsman gave up the right to marry her.
  Ruth was a Moabitess. That means that her ancestors were Moabites. The Moabites came from a man named Lot, who was Abraham's nephew. In an interesting way, Ruth became the grandmother of King David, and was also an ancestor of Jesus.
    In Deuteronomy 25:5-10 it explains the law of the kinsman-redeemer. The kinsman-redeemer was a close relative who was responsible for the care of women who had lost husbands. They also were given the job of avenging enemies. They played an important part in the history of Israel.

Today in History - October 27, 1904 - New York Subway Opens

Today in History - October 27, 1904 - New York Subway Opens

At 2:35 on the afternoon of October 27, 1904, New York City Mayor George McClellantakes the controls on the inaugural run of the city's innovative new rapid transit system: the subway.

While London boasts the world's oldest underground train network (opened in 1863) and Boston built the first subway in the United States in 1897, the New York City subway soon became the largest American system. The first line, operated by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT), traveled 9.1 miles through 28 stations. Running from City Hall in lower Manhattan to Grand Central Terminal in midtown, and then heading west along 42nd Street to Times Square, the line finished by zipping north, all the way to 145th Street and Broadway in Harlem. On opening day, Mayor McClellan so enjoyed his stint as engineer that he stayed at the controls all the way from City Hall to 103rd Street.  

Read more at:  http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history

Trivia Question - Lichtenstein

What is the capital of Lichtenstein?

True History - Veritas Card #4 - Phoenician Civilization and the Alphabet

Phoenician Civilization and the Alphabet Around 1200 B.C. - 1000 B.C.

   A, B, C, D, E, F and G.......X, Y, and Z. How did we get out alphabet? Let's find out about the people who created the first known alphabet, the Phoenicians.
   The Phoenicians were originally desert nomads. They traveled the desert. These people were also known as the Canaanites in the Bible. Their name came from the Greek word, phoinos, which means 'red'. They were merchants and traders who used the sea as their main means of transportation. They produced a reddish-purple dye which they traded. This group of people were also known as the greatest seafarers of the ancient (very, very old) world.
   The first known alphabet came from the phoenicians. It was their greatest contribution to civilization. The difference between their alphabet and ours is that theirs had 30 consonants and was without vowels! Our alphabet has 26 letters.
   Colonies were started by the Phoenicians at Sardinia, Utica, and Carthage. Carthage became a powerful trading center, which resulted in conflicts with Rome and eventually led to the Punic Wars.

Today in History - October 26, 1825 - Erie Canal Opens in Upstate New York

Today in History - October 26, 1825 - Erie Canal Opens in Upstate New York

                  The Erie Canal opened in upstate New York, linking Lake Erie and the Hudson River.

The Erie Canal opens, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean via the Hudson River. Governor DeWitt Clinton of New York, the driving force behind the project, led the opening ceremonies and rode the canal boat Seneca Chief from Buffalo to New York City.

New York legislators became interested in the possibility of building a canal across New York in the first decade of the 19th century. Shipping goods west from Albany was a costly and tedious affair; there was no railroad yet, and to cover the distance from Buffalo to New York City by stagecoach took two weeks. Governor Clinton enthusiastically took up the proposal to build a canal from Buffalo, on the eastern point of Lake Erie, to Albany, on the upper Hudson, passing through the gap in the mountains in the Mohawk Valley region. By 1817, he had convinced the legislature to authorize the expenditure of $7 million for the construction of a canal that he proposed would be 363 miles long, 40 feet wide, and four feet deep.

Sources: Tribune Newspapers and www.history.com

True History - Veritas Card #28 - Later New Kingdom in Egypt

Later New Kingdom in Egypt

We have had some information about Egypt and the Pharaohs that ruled. The periods in which they ruled were called 'Dynasties'. Under Aknaton's rule, Egypt had lost some of its powerful influence and became weaker. But after this period was over, during the 19th and 20th Dynasties, Egypt recovered some of its lost power. They battled the Hittites from Asia, and the Philistines from Palestine.
    The first Pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty was Ramses I. He and his son, Seti, were not warriors, but were dedicated more to domestic affairs.
  The son of Seti was Ramses II, and he began to rule at the age of 18. The Egyptians were in battle against the Hittites and he led this battle (the Battle of Kadesh). There are some pictures that were done by the Egyptians which depicted this battle. But it is not clear who actually won this battle.
   Egypt began to die again once this period was over.
Ramses II built the Temple that was in Abu Simbel. This temple had four great statues of Ramses II which guarded the entrance to the temple. He also had seven major temples built in Nubia.
  The time period for this was from around 1300 B.C. to 1090 B.C.

Today in History - October 25, 1415 - Battle of Agincourt

Today in History - October 25, 1415 - Battle of Agincourt 

   Let's go way back into History today. 

     During the Hundred Years' War between England and France, Henry V, the young king of England, leads his forces to victory at the Battle of Agincourt in northern France.

Two months before, Henry had crossed the English Channel with 11,000 men and laid siege to Harfleur in Normandy. After five weeks the town surrendered, but Henry lost half his men to disease and battle casualties. He decided to march his army northeast to Calais, where he would meet the English fleet and return to England. At Agincourt, however, a vast French army of 20,000 men stood in his path, greatly outnumbering the exhausted English archers, knights, and men-at-arms.

The battlefield lay on 1,000 yards of open ground between two woods, which prevented large-scale maneuvers and thus worked to Henry's advantage. At 11 a.m. on October 25, the battle commenced. 

You can read the rest of this story at:  http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-agincourt

True History - Veritas Card #27 - Reign of Tutankhamon

Reign of Tutankhamon - Around 1333-1323 B.C.

  Have you ever heard of King Tut? Well that is who we are going to learn about today. There was a man who did archaeology work and found King Tut's tomb in 1922.
    King Tut (Tutankhamon) began to reign around the year 1334 B.C. from what we can tell. He was probably about nine years old. He may have had a half brother named Akhnaton, or perhaps Aknaton was his father. Even while he was very young, he married Ankhsenpaaton, who was a daughter of Nefertiti. He may have reigned for nine years and then died at the age of eighteen. What a short life for a king!
   King Tut's name originally was Tutankhaton, but was changed to Tutankhamon. It  could have been changed because he wanted to change back to the old religion which allowed for worshipping many gods.
   There is not much known about this king, but, what was discovered in his tomb helps us to understand about the riches of the Egyptian pharaohs.
   This is a good lesson on the foolishness of thinking how riches can make us happy and fulfilled. We can be very rich and still be in poverty when it comes to spiritual things. We need to be rich in God. That is where true riches are found.

Today in History - October 24, 1861 - First Transcontinental Telegraph Message was Sent

Today in History - October 24, 1861 - First Transcontinental Telegraph Message was Sent

  Well, today in History many things happened and I will write about three of them. The first one happened the year before my great grandfather was born. The first transcontinental Telegraph message was sent as Justice Stephen Field of California transmitted a telegram to President Abraham Lincoln. My great grandfather was born when Lincoln was President? Wow. That sounds really old.
   Another event that occurred in the year of 1931, was that the George Washington Bridge which connected New York and New Jersey, opened to traffic. We went over that bridge in July of this year.
  In 1964, northern Rhodesia became the independent republic of Zambia.

Source: Tribune Newspapers.

True History - Time Line of Events from 1377 B.C. to 1337 B.C.

Here are some world events that occurred during the time period from 1377-1337 B.C.

Judges Othniel and Ehud (1377-1337 B.C.)
Amenhotep IV and Monotheism (Egypt 1361-1344 B.C.)
Deborah the Prophetess (around 1350 B.C.)
Gideon delivers Israel (around 1350 B.C.)
Jepthah makes a foolish vow (around 1350 B.C.)

According to the Kingfisher History Encyclopedia, the Shang Dynasty was taking place during this time period as well, although the dates are much broader for that (1766-1122 B.C.) The Shang Dynasty was the earliest Dynasty known in China. It was founded by Emperor Tang, and was eventually replaced by the Zhou Dynasty in 1122 B.C.

Today in History - October 22, 1962 - Cuban Missile Crisis

Today in History - October 22, 1962 - Cuban Missile Crisis 

     In a televised speech of extraordinary gravity, President John F. Kennedy announces that U.S. spy planes have discovered Soviet missile bases in Cuba. These missile sites—under construction but nearing completion—housed medium-range missiles capable of striking a number of major cities in the United States, including Washington, D.C.Kennedy announced that he was ordering a naval "quarantine" of Cuba to prevent Soviet ships from transporting any more offensive weapons to the island and explained that the United States would not tolerate the existence of the missile sites currently in place. The president made it clear that America would not stop short of military action to end what he called a "clandestine, reckless, and provocative threat to world peace."

What is known as the Cuban Missile Crisis actually began on October 15, 1962—the day that U.S. intelligence personnel analyzing U-2 spy plane data discovered that the Soviets were building medium-range missile sites in Cuba. The next day, President Kennedy secretly convened an emergency meeting of his senior military, political, and diplomatic advisers to discuss the ominous development.

Read more at: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history

Today in History - October 21, 1797 - USS Constitution Launched

Today in History - October 21, 1797 - USS Constitution Launched

The USS Constitution, a 44-gun U.S. Navy frigate built to fight Barbary pirates off the coast of Tripoli, is launched in Boston Harbor. The vessel performed commendably during the Barbary conflicts, and in 1805 a peace treaty with Tripoli was signed on theConstitution's deck.

During the War of 1812, the Constitution won its enduring nickname "Old Ironsides" after defeating the British warship Guerriére in a furious engagement off the coast of Nova Scotia. Witnesses claimed that the British shots merely bounced off the Constitution's sides, as if the ship were made of iron rather than wood. The success of the Constitutionagainst the supposedly invincible Royal Navy provided a tremendous morale boost for the young American republic.

Read more at: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/uss-iconstitutioni-launched

True History - 1400-1050 B.C. Events

Here are some events that happened in the very early History.

Israel was Given the Promised Land   around 1400- 1350 B.C.
Joshua's last words  around 1390 B.C.
The Judges of Israel around 1389-1050 B.C.
Othniel and Ehud around 1377-1337 B.C.
Amenhotep IV and Monotheism (Egypt) around 1361-1344 B.C.

Today in History- October 20, 1947 - Congress investigates Reds in Hollywood

Today in History - October 20, 1947 - Congress investigates Reds in Hollywood


   On October 20, 1947, the notorious Red Scare kicks into high gear in Washington, as a Congressional committee begins investigating Communist influence in one of the world's richest and most glamorous communities: Hollywood.

After World War II, the Cold War began to heat up between the world's two superpowers—the United States and the communist-controlled Soviet Union. In Washington, conservative watchdogs worked to out communists in government before setting their sights on alleged "Reds" in the famously liberal movie industry. In an investigation that began in October 1947, the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) grilled a number of prominent witnesses, asking bluntly "Are you or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?" Whether out of patriotism or fear, some witnesses—including director Elia Kazan, actors Gary Cooper and Robert Taylor and studio honchos Walt Disney and Jack Warner—gave the committee names of colleagues they suspected of being communists.

On a side note: I wish they would still be aware and vigilant concerning Reds, not only in Hollywood, but in government, education, and media, in particular.

To read more of this article, go to: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history

True History - Events from 1450-1406 B.C.

Here are some of the events in ancient History dating from around 1446-1406 B.C.

Mycenaen Culture (Greek)

The wilderness wanderings

Balaam and his donkey

Spies to Canaan

Moses dies; Joshua assumes command

The Battle of Jericho

Today in History - October 19, 1781 - Cornwallis Surrenders at Yorktown

Today in History - October 19, 1781 - Cornwallis Surrenders at Yorktown

Hopelessly trapped at Yorktown, Virginia, British General Lord Cornwallis surrenders 8,000 British soldiers and seamen to a larger Franco-American force, effectively bringing an end to the American Revolution.

Lord Cornwallis was one of the most capable British generals of the American Revolution. In 1776, he drove General George Washington's Patriots forces out of New Jersey, and in 1780 he won a stunning victory over General Horatio Gates' Patriot army at Camden, South Carolina. Cornwallis' subsequent invasion of North Carolina was less successful, however, and in April 1781 he led his weary and battered troops toward the Virginia coast, where he could maintain seaborne lines of communication with the large British army of General Henry Clinton in New York City. After conducting a series of raids against towns and plantations in Virginia, Cornwallis settled in the tidewater town of Yorktown in August. The British immediately began fortifying the town and the adjacent promontory of Gloucester Point across the York River....

Read the rest of the story at: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history

True History - Historical Events from 2066 B.C.- 2026 B.C.

   Here are some events taking place around the same time period. Isaac was born around 2066 B.C.  to Abraham and Sarah in their old age. When Isaac was around 16 years old, the Middle Kingdom in Egypt was starting. This kingdom lasted around 250 years. During this time period in Egypt, Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and taken into Egypt. Eventually, the whole family was brought over to Egypt because of the famine, and the Twelve Tribes of Israel stayed in Egypt from that time on until the Exodus. Going back to Isaac, when he was about forty years old, he found a wife, Rebekah. So it was during this time that Isaac lived and met Rebekah that this Middle Kingdom in Egypt was beginning to roll. That was what was taking place in the Middle East from 2066-2026 B.C. on Planet Earth.

Today in History - October 18, 1767 - Mason and Dixon Draw A Line

Today in History - October 18, 1767 - Mason and Dixon Draw a Line

On this day in 1767, Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon complete their survey of the boundary between the colonies of Pennsylvania and Maryland as well as areas that would eventually become the states of Delaware and West Virginia. The Penn and Calvert families had hired Mason and Dixon, English surveyors, to settle their dispute over the boundary between their two proprietary colonies, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

In 1760, tired of border violence between the colonies' settlers, the British crown demanded that the parties involved hold to an agreement reached in 1732. As part of Maryland and Pennsylvania's adherence to this royal command, Mason and Dixon were asked to determine the exact whereabouts of the boundary between the two colonies. Though both colonies claimed the area between the 39th and 40th parallel, what is now referred to as the Mason-Dixon line finally settled the boundary at a northern latitude of 39 degrees and 43 minutes. The line was marked using stones, with Pennsylvania's crest on one side and Maryland's on the other.

Read more at: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mason-and-dixon-draw-a-line

True History - Timely Events in History - 2200 - 1450 B.C.

Today I am going to recap some of the events that happened in ancient History according to the time period from around 2200 B.C. to 1450 B.C.
 
   The Minoan culture started around 2200 B.C. on the island of Crete. It was a Greek culture and lasted until 1450 B.C.
   Around the same time period, 2200 B.C., the First Intermediate Period in Egypt was taking place. This period of time lasted until around 2050 B.C.
  Just before this culture was ending, was the time Abram, who later was renamed 'Abraham' was called by God to leave his family and country to begin the journey to a place called Canaan. The time period for that was around 2091 B.C.
   The Middle Kingdom in Egypt began forty years after Abram began his journey in 2050 B.C. and lasted about 250 years.
  All of these things were going on during similar time periods. This shows us that after people were dispersed from the Tower of Babel, some had arrived at Egypt and were settling in and populating the area, as well as others settling in at Greece.
  This is the beginnings of early civilization.

Today in History - October 17, 1931 - Capone Goes To Prison

Today in History - October 17, 1931 - Al Capone Goes To Prison

On this day in 1931, gangster Al Capone is sentenced to 11 years in prison for tax evasion and fined $80,000, signaling the downfall of one of the most notorious criminals of the 1920s and 1930s.

Alphonse Gabriel Capone was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1899 to Italian immigrants. He was expelled from school at 14, joined a gang and earned his nickname "Scarface" after being sliced across the cheek during a fight. By 1920, Capone had moved toChicago, where he was soon helping to run crime boss Johnny Torrio's illegal enterprises, which included alcohol-smuggling, gambling and prostitution. Torrio retired in 1925 after an attempt on his life and Capone, known for his cunning and brutality, was put in charge of the organization.

Read more at: www.history.com/this-day-in-history

True History - Columbus Image

I thought this was interesting. It has more to do with Medieval History than early world History.

He discovered America! -- sort of. He never admitted it, and he wasn't the first European to get here... But he sailed boldly across the uncharted sea as no one had done before.

True History - Veritas Card #26 (Blue top) - Amenhotep IV and Monotheism

Amenhotep IV and Monotheism

   We are back at the country of Egypt and our subject today is Amenhotep IV, who ruled during the 18th Dynasty. The son of Amenhotep III, he was married to Nefertiti.
   Amenhotep changed his name to Akhnaton, after a god named Aton. The Egyptians worshiped several gods. Amenhotep IV believed that Thebes was dominated by a god name Amon, and he built a new city and called it Akhetaton.
   Amenhotep IV believed that the was one god named Aton. He established monotheism and had all the temples closed down. He possibly did this because he wanted to decrease the power of the priesthood of Amon.
   When Amenhotep died, his wife Tiy, came to see her son, Akhnaton, and also his wife Nefertiti. It sounds like Amenhotep IV had more than one wife! The story gets very confusing after this. Tiy probably had an argument with her son about monotheism, and he became ill after that. Then Nefertiti was sent away from the palace with her servants and possibly a half-brother to Akhnaton.
   Some time later, someone named Smenkhkare married Akhnaton's oldest daughter. He became co-ruler of Egypt. They were found dead three years later, along with Pharaoh Akhnaton. Tutankhaton, who was probably a half-brother to Akhnaton, had his name changed to Tutankhamon, then became Pharaoh.
   It was interesting that Amenhotep believed in just one god (monotheism), but he didn't believe in the one True and Living God.
   The time period for this was around 1361 - 1344 B.C.

Today in History - October 15, 1917 - Mata Hari Dies

Today in History - October 15, 1917 - Mata Hari dies

On this day in 1917, the exotic dancer Mata Hari is executed by a French firing squad at Vincennes, outside of Paris, for the crime of espionage.

Born Margueretha Gertruida Zelle in a small town in northern Holland and formerly married to a captain in the Dutch army, Mata Hari had performed in Paris as a dancer since 1903. She adopted an elaborate stage persona, claiming she was born in a sacred Indian temple and taught ancient Indian dances by a priestess who gave her the name Mata Hari, which meant "eye of the dawn." Her exotic dances soon earned her fans all over Europe, where she packed dance halls from Moscow to Berlin to Madrid, largely because of her willingness to dance almost entirely naked in public.

A courtesan as well as a dancer, Mata Hari amassed an impressive catalog of lovers, including high-ranking military officers and political figures from both France and Germany. 

Read more at: www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mata-hari-is-executed

Today in History - October 14, 1066 - The Battle of Hastings

Today in History - October 14, 1066 - The Battle of Hastings

King Harold II of England is defeated by the Norman forces of William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings, fought on Senlac Hill, seven miles from Hastings, England. At the end of the bloody, all-day battle, Harold was killed--shot in the eye with an arrow, according to legend--and his forces were destroyed. He was the last Anglo-Saxon king of England.

Just over two weeks before, William, the duke of Normandy, had invaded England, claiming his right to the English throne. In 1051, William is believed to have visited England and met with his cousin Edward the Confessor, the childless English king. 

Read more at: www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-battle-of-hastings

True History - Veritas Card #20 (blue top) - Hyksos Invasion of Egypt

Hyksos Invasion of Egypt 

   Please bear with me as I try to arrange the sets of cards that I have on hand. I have three different sets that I am working from, and trying to get the cards in order as best as I can. Some of the cards seem to be missing, but I am trying to get them in chronological order from the different sets. I would like to show what was happening in Greece, Egypt, and Israel during the same time periods. So now the time period for the Hyksos Invasion of Egypt was between the times of the Twelve Tribes of Israel and the birth of Moses. It was also happening when the Minoan culture was thriving.

   The time period for the Hyksos invasion of Egypt was from around 1730-1570 B.C.  Many of the conflicts that arose in Egypt had come from within its own country. But this time a group of people from Asia called the Hyksos, invaded Egypt. They took Egypt by surprise and came with horses and chariots and advanced tools that the Egyptians did not have. The capital of Egypt became Avarias, which was in the delta area. They ruled the land for at least one hundred-fifty years. If a local ruler paid tribute, the Hyksos would leave them alone. The local rulers from Thebes, which was in the south, refused to pay the tribute and made war on the Hyksos. The Hyksos were defeated by a ruler named 'Almose' who also founded the 18th Dynasty.