History

History

"Air superiority was something that the Air Force has been a big part of since its inception. You still see that today, and that's one of the things that you will see all the way through," Prichard said. "The same with global reach - making sure that the aircraft that we have can go any place, anytime, right now. All of the aircraft that you see on display here will do that."

The story of the diamond industry is one of monopolies, marketing and monthly salaries. For decades, men in many countries were expected to spend two or even three months' salary on a diamond engagement ring. This notion and the iconic status of this gem did not come about by accident. The story goes back to 1870, when an Oxford University dropout named Cecil Rhodes set off to try his luck in the Cape Colony modern-day South Africa, then a key British domain.

Neuenburg Castle was founded around 1090 by Louis the Springer, a Thuringian noble also responsible for building the Wartburg. Perched above the Unstrut River, the "new castle" ( novum castrum) was strategically positioned to secure power in the region. Its earliest construction phase included imposing fortifications, among them a round tower and two unusual octagonal towers-possibly inspired by Byzantine architecture.

Many of the phrases we casually toss around today have surprisingly long histories, with roots that stretch back to the medieval world. From English law to Chaucer's poetry, from French allegories to Irish chronicles, these expressions reveal just how much of our everyday language was shaped by the Middle Ages. Here are 20 phrases that originated in the Middle Ages - and are still alive and well today.

It may sound anachronistic to use terms like espionage, counterintelligence, secret services, or double agents in relation to ancient times. But activities, organizations, and personnel that largely fit our current concepts were widely deployed by the civilizations of the ancient world, giving truth to the saying that there is nothing new under the Sun (or, in this case, the shadows). To provide a few examples: Ramses II was nearly defeated at the Battle of Kadesh (which ended in a stalemate)

I was standing onstage at the University of Puget Sound, preparing to give a talk about anti-Chinese violence in the American West, when a man I'd never met stepped up beside me. He was introduced as a member of the Tacoma City Council. Without preamble, he turned to the audience-and then to me. "I tell my kids reconciliation begins with an apology," he said. "On behalf of the city of Tacoma, I am sorry."

Meatloaf. Mashed potatoes. Breakfast all day, every day. A cup of coffee that always seems to be full. These are the menu hallmarks of the American diner. Throw in a countertop with stools, booths with laminate countertops, and a lot of stainless steel, and the nostalgic vibe is complete. The first iterations of diners popped up in the mid-1800s, and have been a national staple ever since.

"When reading the words \"medieval music,\" what thoughts initially come to mind? Perhaps thoughts may wander to images of monasteries where monks sing Gregorian chant, or the mind may turn to royal celebrations. Music was certainly prominent both in the medieval church and at court, and these are typically the images that are inextricably linked with the performance of medieval music; however, like today, musical activities were not restricted to public entertainment."

The War of 1812 remains one of the most obscure major conflicts in US history, often overshadowed by the monumentous events that came before and after. Indeed, when it is remembered at all, it is often as a minor spat between the United States and the United Kingdom that ended with the burning of the White House and the victory of Andrew Jackson at New Orleans.

Part of the reason a lot of people figure nothing much went on during the Middle Ages is because we've lost a whole lot of sources telling us what actually did happen. Through malice and misfortune, medieval manuscripts have been destroyed in their thousands. So, how do we know what may have gone up in smoke? And what can we do to keep our beloved manuscripts safe?

In the extant myths of the Norse people and in the archaeological record alike, Mjölnir seems to have had several meanings. From its creation by dwarves to Bronze Age rock carvings, through the Christian conversion of Scandinavia to Thor's dressing as a bride after its theft by a giant, and into the mythic aftermath of Ragnarök, Mjölnir's symbolism reverberated through time.

Civilization moved past the use of castles long ago, but their imagery endures in popular culture. Even young children here in the twenty-twenties have an idea of what castles look like. But why do they look like that? Admittedly, that's a bit of a trick question: the popular concept of castles tends to be inspired by medieval examples, but in historical fact, the design of castles changed substantially over time, albeit slowly at first.

The entire complex has been undergoing a comprehensive restoration, and while the work is still ongoing, the end is in sight and the Park is offering visitors the unique opportunity to see spaces that have never been open to the public before. A visit to the Suburban Baths will offer the opportunity to observe not only the monumental spaces, but also the restoration techniques applied to the floors, stuccoes, and structures .

The peasantry, working classes, middle classes, and nationalist movements sought fundamental change to issues such as land redistribution, workers' rights, and political representation. Although the tsar survived the first Russian Revolution of 1905, his failure to realise his promises of reform led to a second revolution in March 1917 and the obligation to abdicate. A third revolution in November 1917,

You wanted more quizzes, and we've delivered! Now you can test your wits every day of the week. Each weekday, your host, Ray Hamel, concocts a challenging set of unique questions on a specific topic. At the end of the quiz, you'll be able to compare your score with that of the average contestant, and Slate Plus members can see how they stack up on our leaderboard.

Kor's father, Mickey, survived a Latvian ghetto before being deported to the Buchenwald concentration camp. He was able to escape the camp and eventually immigrate to America. His mother, Eva, ended up in Auschwitz. Due to her being a twin, she was sent to Dr. Josef Mengele, who is known for the inhumane experiments he performed. Miraculously, she survived and would later become known for forgiving the Nazis.

On Sept. 10, 2008, the Large Hadron Collider at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) was powered up for the first time, successfully firing the first beam of protons through its 17-mile underground ring tunnel. Also on this date: In 1608, John Smith was elected president of the Jamestown colony council in Virginia. In 1846, Elias Howe received a patent for his sewing machine.

Mohamed Dib (1920-2003) was one of Algeria's most celebrated novelists who wrote in French to reclaim his people's literary voice. His novels exposed poverty and injustice under French colonial rule and embraced people's aspirations for freedom. He was exiled from Algeria by the French authorities in 1959, and though he spent the rest of his life in Paris, Dib always carried his homeland in his heart and his work.

Music thumps. Boots stomp. Smoke swirls. It rises like a dry mist from red-glowing cigarettes. It ebbs around an elk's skull, five-point antlers still attached, and a muzzle loader hanging on the wall. A potbellied stove washes its warmth over strutting men, women and children. A skinned-out bobcat dangles from the ceiling. A two-man chain saw with a 12-horsepower engine roosts on a canopy over the bar. A sign says: "This Business is Supported by Timber Dollars."

The region of Mexico was taken as a colony of Spain in the 16th century and held until the Mexican War of Independence (1810-1821). After winning independence, however, Mexico's economy was in ruins, and it struggled to form a working government. The northern territory of Coahuila y Tejas faced constant threats from Apache and Comanche raids and, consequently, was sparsely populated. In an effort to revive the economy and win popular support for the government, Anglo-Americans were invited to settle in the region.

In the Middle Ages, the moon was often imagined as a radiant and alluring deity. We will look at medieval literary and artistic depictions of two moon goddesses from different parts of the world: Chang'e and Diana. Both Chang'e and Diana are presented as deeply powerful and immensely beautiful, and they appear in many different contexts. What follows draws on research from my new book The Medieval Moon: A History of Haunting and Blessing, which studies the moon from a global perspective.

An Etruscan cinerary urn carved with a high-relief face of Medusa has been revealed to contain no ashes or bones as expected, but rather three terracotta vessels. The vessels, two handled jugs and one cup, are simple and undecorated. The urn is part of the collection of the Palazzone Necropolis, and while it was discovered in the 19th century, it is only now being thoroughly studied.

Madinat al-Zahra spotlights the cultural accomplishments of the Umayyads and their capital through architectural elements, luxury goods, pottery, coins, and scientific instruments. These not only showcase how fashions and tastes were shaped through contemporary diplomacy, politics, and trade, but also vividly illustrate the significant cultural impacts of Islamic traditions in al-Andalus. These impacts are explored further in this catalogue, which delves into the pursuits of caliphal court culture such as astronomy, poetry, and medicine, as well as the multicultural nature of society at the time.

Lotta's Fountain was gifted to the people of the City and County of San Francisco 150 years ago by Lotta Crabtree. The over 18-foot tall bronze cast fountain was formally dedicated on September 9, 1875, and since then, has become an annual early morning remembrance meeting point for the April 18, 1906 earthquake and fire, and was voted as one of San Francisco's most favorite monument in 2023.

Car enthusiasts will no doubt be zooming over to the Santa Clara Valley Model T Ford Club's 25th annual Cars in the Park celebration, which the club says has grown into the largest antique and classic car show in the west. All of the cars displayed were made no later than 1949, and the emphasis this year is on race cars made in 1931 or earlier.

Born in New York in 1847, Lotta and her mother joined her father in Grass Valley in 1853, where she was "discovered" by the notorious dancer Lola Montez. Lotta honed her talent by dancing, singing and playing the banjo at gold and silver mining camps, and by 1856 her family had moved to San Francisco. The tiny performer became known as "Miss Lotta, the San Francisco Favorite."

Sultan Razia (Raziyyat-Ud-Dunya Wa Ud-Din, r. 1236-1240) was one of the few women rulers in the Indian subcontinent and the first and only female Sultan of Delhi. Despite facing Herculean challenges in a patriarchal society, Razia distinguished herself as an able and courageous leader. She held a formidable position of authority in one of the most politically significant Islamic kingdoms of medieval northern India.

It was supposed to be just another masquerade. As daylight turned to dusk on 28 January 1393, servants rushed through the halls of the Hôtel Saint-Pol in Paris, making the final arrangements for what promised to be an evening of fun and revelry. Large spreads of food were set out on tables; musicians readied their instruments. And, in an adjoining room, six young noblemen were being sewn into costumes of linen and flax, to resemble the wild wood savages of fairy tale legend.

Lea Ypi was scrolling through social media when she stumbled across a black-and-white image of two glamorous newlyweds honeymooning at a luxury hotel in the Italian Alps. In the picture - taken in 1941, as World War II raged - a man reclines beside a woman, draped in fur and smiling warmly. Ypi recognised her instantly: it was her grandmother, Leman Leskoviku.