War of The Worlds, Stock Market Crash and Crisis in the Suez
Giving you the full scoop on the historical events of this week and keeping you up to date with the latest news and finds about history.
This Week In History
October 29th, 1929 : Black Tuesday.
The New York Stock Exchange crashes, ending the Great Bull Market of the 1920s and beginning the Great Depression, which was a severe economic downturn, that led to widespread bank failures, and the implementation of new financial regulations to prevent future crises. This impacted both the United States and the global economy significantly.
October 30th, 1938: The War of the Worlds.
Orson Welles broadcasts a radio adaptation of H. G. Wells's The War of the Worlds, causing a massive panic in some of the audience in the United States. Despite being clearly identified as a radio drama, many people who tuned in late or missed the initial disclaimer mistook it for real news, leading to panic in certain areas. The incident highlighted the power of mass media and the importance of responsible reporting. It also raised questions about the potential influence and responsibility of broadcasters when presenting fictional content in a realistic manner.
October 31st, 1956: Suez Crisis.
The United Kingdom and France begin bombing Egypt to force the reopening of the Suez Canal. Egypt's President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal, leading to a military intervention by the UK, France, and Israel. Pressure from the United States and the Soviet Union forced the withdrawal of the invading forces, marking a shift in the balance of power and decolonization in the post-World War II era.
November 1st, 1512: Sistine Chapel
The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, painted by Michelangelo, is exhibited to the public for the first time.
November 2nd, 1795: The Beginning of the French Directory.
he French Directory, also known as the Directory, was a period of government in France from 1795 to 1799 following the end of the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution. It was characterized by a five-member executive called the Directory. The Directory was marked by political instability, economic difficulties, and military conflicts, ultimately paving the way for Napoleon's coup d'état in 1799 and the establishment of the Consulate.
November 3rd 1838: The Times of India,
The world's largest circulated English language daily broadsheet newspaper is founded as The Bombay Times and Journal of Commerce.
November 4th, 1677 : The Perfect Match
The future Mary II of England marries William, Prince of Orange; they later jointly reign as William and Mary.
Looking Back In Time
Land of the free, they say. Well you are not free to be in a marriage with multiple people, according to Utah state law. Captured below is a photo of Mormon polygamists in the Utah Penitentiary in 1889. Their crime? Polygamy. Polygamy or “plural marriage” is the act of being married to multiple people. Today it is still declared a felony.
Mormons did actively practice polygamy, but in 1890, the church banned it due to pressure from the US Government. Despite still being illegal there are an estimated 30,000 Utahns that practice Polygamy.
History Headlines
Two Million Years Ago, This Homo Erectus Lived the High Life
Archaeologists have redefined the story of an early human child found in the Ethiopian highlands. High-tech imaging reveals that Homo erectus lived in this high-altitude area two million years ago, dispelling the notion that early humans were limited to warm lowlands. Their findings in Science suggest the child was H. erectus, and they used both Oldowan and Acheulean tools, showing a swift adaptation to high-altitude living.
Margherita Mussi, a co-author of the study and an archaeologist at Sapienza University in Rome, collaborated with her colleagues to employ two dating techniques: argon-argon dating and recently completed paleomagnetic dating analysis to enhance the precision of the site's age determination. Previously, the fossil and accompanying Oldowan artifacts were dated to be around 1.7 to 1.8 million years old. However, after the revisions, these findings now place them at approximately two million years old. Additionally, the team harnessed advanced imaging technology to scrutinize the fossil and make informed speculations regarding its species. Mussi explains, "This analysis provided us with exceptionally detailed information within the teeth and allowed us to make comparisons with numerous teeth already identified as Homo erectus."
Much like Homo erectus, the jawbone of a prehistoric child embarked on a remarkable journey, reappearing some two million years after their passing. Mussi received permission to personally transport this precious find to a high-tech imaging facility in France. Analysis suggests it's Homo erectus, a species with body proportions similar to our own, known for being highly successful and persisting for nearly two million years. However, confirming its species isn't certain due to a lack of comparative teeth.
One clear aspect of Homo erectus’ flexibility was the wide variety of areas, geographical and now topographical, that they were able to call home. The species was the first great disperser in human evolutionary history and not your ordinary primate. “Not only is it bipedal, not only does it make and depend upon stone tools, but it’s also moving into all sorts of non-tropical environments
Great history update! Thanks for sharing.