13 Historical Timeline Facts That Bent Our Brains
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The passage of time often reveals connections and contrasts that are nothing short of mind-boggling, forcing us to reassess our understanding of history and the world around us. This collection of 13 historical timeline facts is designed to do just that, shedding light on extraordinary juxtapositions that traverse centuries and civilizations, leaving us in awe.
From ancient marvels to contemporary technological breakthroughs, these facts disrupt our perceptions of what is distant and what is near, underscoring the intricate interplay of past and present. They challenge us to go deeper into the complexity of history, keeping us engaged and curious.
The Great Pyramids of Giza: Ancient Engineering Marvels (2580-2560 BCE)
Constructed without modern technology, the Great Pyramids of Giza continue to astound us with their meticulous precision and awe-inspiring grandeur. These ancient structures, standing tall as a testament to the incredible ingenuity of early civilizations, have weathered the test of time.
According to Britannica, the pyramids of Giza were built as royal tombs for three different pharaohs. The northernmost and oldest pyramid in the group was constructed for Khufu (known as Cheops in Greek), the second king of the 4th dynasty. Referred to as the Great Pyramid, it is the largest among the trio.
Cleopatra’s Birth and the Moon Landing: A Surprising Connection
Cleopatra, the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, was born in 69 BCE, a date closer to the moon landing in 1969 than to the construction of the Great Pyramids. Talk about a time warp!
Woolly Mammoths Were Still Roaming The Earth When The Great Pyramid Of Giza Was Being Built
The BBC mentions that most mammoth populations had disappeared by about 10,000 years ago. However, a small group of 500-1000 woolly mammoths survived on Wrangel Island in the Arctic until 1650 BC, roughly 1000 years after the construction of the pyramids at Giza.
Guillotine and Star Wars: An Unlikely Pair
The final person executed by Guillotine in France was Hamida Djandoubi, a Tunisian immigrant, in September 1977. Interestingly, this was the same year the iconic Star Wars movie by George Lucas debuted on the big screen.
The University Of Oxford Is Older Than The Aztec Empire. Oxford Was Established Around 1096, While The Aztec Empire Began In 1428
Oxford University has quite the age advantage over the Aztec Empire! Established in 1096 AD, 250 years before the empire, it proudly stands as the oldest university in the English-speaking world, nestled in the charming city of Oxford, England.
Boston Latin School Predates Harvard University
The first public school in the United States, Boston Latin School, was founded in 1635, a year before Harvard University in 1636. Education has deep roots in American history.
The town of Boston established it on April 23, 1635, over a year before Harvard College. The school’s curriculum focuses on the humanities, and its founders aligned with the ancient Greeks in the belief that the true treasures are those of the soul.
Dinosaur Discoveries Before “Dinosaurs”
The first dinosaur fossils were discovered in 1824, but “dinosaur” wasn’t coined until 1842. Early paleontologists must have had quite the challenge explaining their findings!
Before that, dinosaur bones were commonly mistaken as the remains of reptiles and other large creatures.
Marilyn Monroe and Queen Elizabeth II
They were born in the same year and less than two months apart in age. The British monarch came into the world on April 21, 1926, and the American actress followed suit 41 days later, on June 1, 1926. By the mid-1950s, they were making strides along their unique journeys.
Elizabeth and Monroe crossed paths publicly just once, at the 1956 Royal Film Performance in London’s Leicester Square. Stars like Brigitte Bardot, Anita Ekberg, and Joan Crawford graced the event. Monroe, who was filming The Prince and The Showgirl in Britain with Laurence Olivier, happily joined the celebrations.
Nintendo and Jack the Ripper
Nintendo, the renowned Japanese multinational consumer electronics and video game company, was founded in 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi.
Interestingly, this was the same period when the infamous serial killer Jack the Ripper was terrorizing the streets of London with his gruesome acts.
Ottoman Empire and the BBC: A Year of Endings and Beginnings
The official end of the Ottoman Empire in 1922 marked a significant historical turning point that coincided with the establishment of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
As the sun set on the era of the Ottomans, a new dawn emerged in media history with the inception of the BBC, symbolizing a transition from one chapter to another in the global narrative.
First Fax and Oregon Trail
A Scottish mechanic named Alexander Bain invented the first fax machine in 1843, the same year the ‘Great Migration‘ on the Oregon Trail kicked off across America.
The Moon Landing and Aviation’s Short History
The 1969 moon landing occurred only 66 years after the Wright brothers’ first flight in 1903. To symbolically connect the first airplane flight with the first human Moon landing, the Apollo 11 crew brought a piece of wood and fabric from the Wright Flyer to the lunar surface.
Anne Frank And Martin Luther King Jr. were Born In The Same Year (1929)
Martin Luther King, Jr. and Anne Frank were born in the same year, 1929! It’s incredible how recent the Civil Rights Movement and the Holocaust were, right?
As we ponder these timeline facts, time emerges as a masterful storyteller, skillfully weaving together the threads of human achievement and innovation in ways we often fail to notice. These historical paradoxes offer a fresh perspective on the past, inspiring us to contemplate the unpredictable nature of the future. They remind us that history is not a linear progression but a rich tapestry of interconnected events, constantly shaping our world perception. Let these revelations ignite your curiosity and deepen your appreciation for the fascinating journey of human history.
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10 of the Best Historic Sites in Washington D.C.
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