From the myth of Prester John to the character of Tarzan, the idea of a Western white person living among jungle natives has always been intriguing. Thus, the legend that emerged in mid-19th-century Australia isn’t surprising. It began when a Scottish shepherd emigrant wrote a letter to the press reporting the discovery of several European-origin […]
Modern Era
Posted inAge of Exploration
Hongzhi, the ‘Great Ruler’ of the Ming Dynasty and the Only Monogamous Emperor in Chinese History
He lived at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries, becoming one of the most unusual emperors in Chinese history—not only as the first to renounce any military glory but also the only one to have a single wife, in contrast to the usual collection of consorts and concubines. A devout follower of Confucius, […]
Posted inSecond World War
A German Junkers Ju 88 Plane from World War II, Found 51 Meters Deep in the Sea South of Sicily
In a recent discovery that adds yet another piece to the complex mosaic of World War II in the Mediterranean, a Junkers Ju 88 plane was found 51 meters deep on the seabed near the small island of Capo Passero, located at the southern tip of Sicily. This aircraft, identified by its serial number, belonged […]
Posted inModern Era
The World’s Richest Man in the First Half of the 19th Century Was a Chinese Merchant Who Lent Money to American Millionaires
If we asked who the wealthiest person in the world was in the first half of the 19th century, many would likely think of Queen Victoria or an American multimillionaire like Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, Morgan, or Ford. But the queen did not ascend the throne until 1837 and thus needed decades to amass her fortune, estimated […]
Posted inAge of Exploration
George Anson, the British seafarer who circumnavigated the world to capture the Spanish Acapulco Galleon
The War of Jenkins’ Ear pitted Britain against Spain from 1739 to 1748, leaving three particularly noteworthy episodes in its wake. One was the incident that sparked it, leading the British to name it that way while Spanish call it Guerra del Asiento. Another was Admiral Howard Vernon’s disastrous attempt to conquer Cartagena de Indias, […]
Posted inModern Era
The First Company in History to be Listed on a Stock Exchange
The world’s first multinational company was also the first to be listed on a stock exchange. Of course, there’s a bit of a twist here, since the first modern stock exchange — that is, one with a public market for bonds and shares — was actually founded by…yes, that very company. Not only that, but […]
Posted inFirst World War
White Friday: The Avalanches That Buried Thousands of Soldiers in the Alps in World War I
Many people are eagerly watching the calendar, awaiting the arrival of Black Friday on November to take advantage of tempting deals, even if it means braving the crowds to do so. But, while each year we laugh at the videos circulating of these scuffles, the truth is that the White Friday was much worse. Unlike […]
Posted inFirst World War, Second World War
The Spectacular Fort Built by the Italians Atop Mount Chaberton in the Alps is the Highest in Europe
Located at 3,130 meters above sea level at the summit of Mount Chaberton in the Cerces Massif of the French Alps, the fortified complex known as the Chaberton Battery is the highest military fort in Europe. Built between 1898 and 1910 by the Kingdom of Italy, it played a relevant, though brief, role during World […]
Posted inModern Era
How the Siege of Paris in 1871 Enabled German Unification, Proclaimed in Versailles
On October 7, 1870, one of those minor, anecdotal episodes that pepper History amidst greater events took place. A hydrogen balloon named Armand-Barbès lifted off from Paris, setting out towards Tours with an unusual passenger: none other than Léon Michel Gambetta, Minister of the Interior and War in the National Defense Government, a provisional administration […]
Posted inArchaeology, Second World War
German WWII Soldier’s Grave Found in Poland with Mesolithic Tools, Roman and Byzantine Coins, and Other Artifacts
The Tuchola Forest in northern Poland continues to reveal its secrets as archaeologists explore its vast woods and lakes. A team of archaeologists led by Olaf Popkiewicz made an exceptional discovery near Grzybek, in Wdecki Landscape Park, on the shores of the Żur Reservoir. What began as a routine expedition quickly turned into a surprising […]
