In May 1919, the American businessman, Raymond Orteig, wanted to promote the first flight across The Atlantic Ocean. He announced, “As a stimulus to the courageous aviators, I desire to offer … a prize of $25,000 to the first aviator of any Allied country…
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The 1948 Arab-Israeli War, also known as the War of Independence or Nakba , depending on one’s perspective, erupted immediately following the declaration of the State of Israel on May 14, 1948, and lasted until early 1949. It marked the culmination of decades of tensions between…
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On May 13, 1981, as Pope John Paul II greeted the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square, Mehmet Ali Ağca emerged from the throng, brandishing a handgun. In a matter of seconds, shots rang out, shattering the tranquility of the moment and plunging the square…
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On May 11, 1997, history was made in the world of chess when IBM’s supercomputer Deep Blue defeated the reigning world chess champion, Garry Kasparov, in a six-game match. The victory of a machine over a human grandmaster marked a significant milestone in the development of…
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The passage of the Tea Act by the British Parliament on May 9, 1773, served as a pivotal moment in American history, providing a catalyst for the American Revolution. The Tea Act was essentially designed to bail out the struggling British East India Company by granting it a monopoly…
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Joan of Arc’s pivotal role in lifting the Siege of Orléans during the Hundred Years’ War marked a turning point in the conflict and solidified her as a legendary figure in French history. Born into a peasant family in Domrémy in 1412, Joan experienced divine…
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On May 7, 1915, during World War I, the British ocean liner RMS Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine, U-20, off the coast of Ireland. The attack resulted in the loss of over 1,100 lives, including civilians and neutral passengers, triggering…
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Roger Bannister’s conquest of the four-minute mile barrier on May 6, 1954, stands as one of the most iconic moments in sports history. It was a feat that transcended athletics, embodying the relentless pursuit of human potential and the triumph of determination over perceived…
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On April 30, 1492, Christopher Columbus, an ambitious navigator from Genoa, was named admiral of the ocean, viceroy, and governor of any territory he claimed for Spain. The move by the two Spanish monarchs, Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile, launched…
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In 1789, the crew of the HMS Bounty launched one of the most famous mutinies of all time. Led by Acting Lieutenant Fletcher Christian, several members of the crew rebelled against the commanding officer, Captain William Bligh. The voyage of the HMS Bounty was commissioned by the British…
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