The construction of the first Templo Mayor began sometime after 1325. It was rebuilt six times, and destroyed by the Spanish in 1521 In the year 1390, John VII Palaiologos becomes the new Byzantine Emperor (Apr 14), Robert III becomes King of Scotland (Apr 19), the Kingdom of Kaffa is established in present day Ethiopia, Templo Mayor is built in the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan, construction begins on San Petronio Basilica in Bologna, the Lithuanian Civil War goes on - and all these fine people were born: Continue reading

In the year 1585, the Spanish seize Brussels (Feb), Antwerp is captured by Spanish forces whereby its role as an important trade city is overtaken by Amsterdam (Aug 17), **a first group of colonists lands in the New World to create Roanoke Colony **on Roanoke Island, off the coast of North Carolina (Aug 17), Toyotomi Hideyoshi invades the island of Shikoku, the first recorded commercial importation of chocolate to Europe occurs with shipment from Veracruz in Mexico to Seville, Spain - and all these fine people were born: Continue reading

[caption id=“attachment_3112” align=“alignleft” width=“382”]Wheelchair built by Stefan Farfler in 1655[/caption] In the year 1650, Oliver Cromwell defeats a Scottish army in the Third English Civil War, (Sep 3), Einkommende Zeitungen becomes the first newspaper published in Germany, Ethiopia deports Portuguese diplomats and missionaries, three-wheeled wheelchairs are invented in the German city of Nuremberg, cafés begin to become popular in Europe - and all these fine people were born: 1650-xxxx Rowland Ellis* Welsh Quaker leader/emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1686 - Wales (1731/c. Continue reading

In the year 1652, Dutch sailor Jan van Riebeeck founds Cape Town in South Africa (Apr 6), Rhode Island passes the first law in North America, making slavery illegal (May 18), George Fox preaches to a large crowd on Firbank Fell in England, leading to the establishment of the Religious Society of Friends, a.k.a. Quakers (Jun 13), disastrous fire destroys almost everything in Oulu, Finland (Oct 2), John Milton loses the last of his eyesight, the lymphatic system is first described by both Olaus Rudbeck in Sweden and Thomas Bartholin in Denmark - and all these fine people were born: 1652-0107 Pavao Ritter Vitezović* polymath/historian/political theorist - Senj, Croatian Military Frontier, Habsburg Monarchy (1713/61) Continue reading

The Lingsberg runestone known as U 240, from the 11th century. near Vallentuna, Sweden This time in Language Day an interesting, but not a very current subject: rune stones and the rune alphabet. A fitting subject nevertheless, and certainly something that most of us don’t know a whole lot about! Most runestones date from the late Viking Age and are located in Scandinavia, notably in Sweden. But a few are scattered elsewhere, in places visited by Norsemen. Continue reading

This site is mainly about life. About celebrating and commemorating the lives and all the various journeys of life that we people have, and have had throughout time. An intricate part of that journey, of anyone’s life, is death, and the way each and one of us perceives it. This is about celebrating that fact. Not in any macabre manner, but out of respect for the life we were given. Continue reading

Magdeburg hemispheres In the year 1654, England and Sweden sign a commercial treaty (Apr 11), Oliver Cromwell creates a union between England and Scotland (Apr 12), the German scientist Otto von Guericke demonstrates the power of atmospheric pressure and the effectiveness of his vacuum pump, using the Magdeburg hemispheres, before he Imperial Diet in Regensburg (May 8), 23 Sephardic Jews arrive as refugees from Brazil in New Amsterdam and settling there, form a nucleus of what will be the second largest urban Jewish community in the history of New York City (Aug 22), construction of the Skokloster Castle in Sweden begins - and all these fine people were born: Continue reading

In the year 1531, the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro defeats the native inhabitants in the island of Puná, not long before the fall of the Inca Empire (Apr), Christian II’s failed invasion of Oslo begins (Nov), an enormous drought and locusts in Henan province in China results in some farmers turning to cannibalism, a witch-hunt is conducted in the German town of Schiltach, Kõpu Lighthouse in the Estonian island Hiiumaa is completed – and all these fine people were born: Continue reading

This time in First Names First we have** Brenda!** Pick one name below, and then follow the Wikipedia link to see what if anything the person could contribute your life with. Why not give a couple of minutes of your life to this for lives lived have something worthwhile to tell us – let them! Brenda Bell* pioneer amateur radio operator – Otago, New Zealand (1891) Brenda Bruce* actress – Prestwich, Lancashire, England (1919) Continue reading

“La Bastille en 1420”, a painting by Théodore Hoffbauer (1839-1922) In the year 1370, the Treaty of Stralsund ends the war between Denmark and the Hanseatic League (May 24), Hugues Aubriot begins construction of the fortress of the Bastille in Paris, and the steel crossbow is first used as a weapon of war, and the Hundred Years' War (1337–1453) goes on. 1370-0411 Frederick I* Elector of Saxony - Dresden, Margravate of Meissen, Holy Roman Empire (1428/57) Continue reading

This time Streets & Squares goes to Den Haag, or The Hague as it is called in English. It is the third-largest city in the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam. The Hague was first mentioned as Die Haghe in 1242, and in the 15th century the name des Graven hage (The Count’s Wood) came into use. The spelling “’s-Gravenhage” was officially used for the city from the 17th century onward. Today, this name is only used in certain official documents. Continue reading

Saul Attacking David by Guercino (1591-1666) In the year 1646, Roger Scott is tried in Massachusetts for sleeping in church (Feb 28), King Charles I of England surrenders his forces to a Scottish army in Nottinghamshire (May 5), France takes Dunkirk from the Spanish Netherlands for the first time (Oct 10), global temperatures begin to decline, as part of the Little Ice Age (Dec 21), Scottish Covenanters hand over King Charles to the Parliamentarians (Dec 23), the Italian painter Guercino paints Saul Attacking David - and all these fine people were born: Continue reading

All territories once possessed by the Ottoman Empire In the year 1299, Alauddin Khalji, sultan of Delhi, sends his generals to conquer Gujarat (Feb 24), the Scots take Stirling Castle from the English (Apr), the Ottoman Empire - lasting till 1922 - is founded by Osman I (Jul 27), Marco Polo is released from captivity by the Genoans (Aug) and becomes a wealthy mechant in Venice, Håkon V Magnusson becomes king of Norway (Nov 1), the city of Florence bans the use of Arabic numerals for commerce, allowing only Roman numerals - and all these fine people were born: Continue reading

Did you ever wonder as a child how Scrooge McDuck could dive in his money vault full of coins, and not get hurt? And why would he do that? Simply for fun and to relish the fact that he was rich? Even a child could understand though that all those coins didn’t appear there by chance, but through some sort of effort. Perhaps work. Or by being very thrifty. A characteristic that many a parent tries to instill in their offspring. Continue reading

In the year 1657, the Jews of New Amsterdam in New Netherlands are granted freedom of religion, as full citizens (Apr 20), Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell confirms his refusal of the crown of England (May 8), the first eleven Quaker settlers arrive in New Amsterdam, and are allowed to practice their faith (Jun 1), England’s first chocolate house is opened in London, tea is introduced to England, and coffee to France - and all these fine people were born: Continue reading

One World Trade Center After a longer while, another Latin phrase. This time a very short one, but one full of promise, with its meaning “toward better things”. And suits today, as it is the 20th Anniversary Commemoration of what happened in the United States on September 11th, 2001. Ad meliora is actually part of the sentence Ad meliora (toward better things) et (and) ad maiora (toward bigger things) semper (always). Continue reading

This time in **First Names First it is about Brent! **Not a very common name, but pretty popular in Canada, seems like. Take your pick, and find some inspiring stories behind the names. Give this a couple of minutes for lives lived have all something worthwhile to tell us. Let them! Brent Ashabranner* Peace Corps administrator/ children’s books writer – Shawnee, OK USA (1921) Brent Spiner* actor/ musician/singer – Houston, TX USA (1949) Continue reading

There is always more than meets the eye. Don’t we know that! What goes on up front is seldom the same as what goes on beneath the surface at any given moment. No matter how good you are at analyzing the surface level, you still may remain totally in dark about the things happening underneath when there is no way of checking out what is or isn’t. Appearances deceive. Let’s go through some of the ways they do. Continue reading

is it gonna end? It’s The Question millions of people ask these days. When can we live and go about our lives in a normal manner again? Finally cast away all this protective gear, and breathe normally? Like we used to not that long ago. There are definite signs in the air and everywhere that - no, not of it being over - but that we, so many of us, are getting so so fed up with having to gear up and be extra cautious. Continue reading

In the year 1402, Welsh rebels defeat the English on the England/Wales border (Jun 22), the English Parliament passes penal Laws against Wales (Sep), Northern English nobles defeat a Scottish raiding army and capture their leader (Sep 14), the University of Würzburg is founded, the colonization of the Canary Islands marks the beginning of the Spanish Empire - and all these fine people were born: 1402-0206 Louis I* the Landgrave of Hesse - Spangenberg (1458/55) Continue reading