Your favorite small piece of History.

[Perine]

In 1864 during the American Civil War, General John Sedgwick of the Union, on the front lines at Spotsylvania, took a good look at the Confederate artillery encampment almost a kilometre away, and stated:

"They couldn't hit an elephant from this dis-"

*ptnk*

Wasn't he talking about confederate sharp shooters that his fellow officers and men were ducking from?

[The Europan Union]

The excellent kill ratios of Italian aircraft against Russian aircraft in WWII.

[Utilitarian Garibaldi]

in 1453 when Mehmed II conquered Constantinople let his troops rape pillage and loot the city for three days until he came out told them to stop and told the Citizens of Constantinople to act as if nothing had happened and that they weren't just conquered.

[Galactic Russian Empire]

Sometime in the early 17th century, when Dionysius the Philosopher was executed by the Ottoman Empire after attempting to revolt against them in Greece, his body was hollowed out and stuffed with hay, marched through the city of Constantinople as citizens called him "skylosophos" instead of "philosophos" (Skylos meaning dog)

[Boomhaueristan]

The Winter War.

Because the Finns had the balls, the Russians had the numbers.

Guess the balls outweighed the manpower.

[The Archregimancy]

That from 1701 to 1772, the Prince-elector of Brandenburg/ Duke of Prussia was also King in Prussia, done this way so as not to anger nearby Poland who also considered themselves to be Kings of Prussia. After 1772, they became Kings of Prussia and lost the Prince-elector title when the Holy Roman Empire was dissolved in 1806.

This is not entirely accurate.

The title "King in Prussia" wasn't adopted to avoid angering the Poles - in fact it did anger the Poles (whose monarchs continued to hold the title Kings of Prussia until 1742) - but rather because of the internal politics of the Holy Roman Empire.

The Hohenzollern dynasty held both the Electorate of Brandenburg and the Duchy of Prussia in personal union. The Duchy of Prussia was technically a Polish vassal state until the mid 17th century, while the Electorate was de facto independent, but de jure a vassal state of the Holy Roman Empire. By the beginning of the 18th century, the Hohenzollerns felt significant enough to claim the title king, but knew that they couldn't raise the Electorate to a Kingdom under HRE rules (only Bohemia was allowed the status of a kingdom). The Emperor Leopold I gave Elector Frederick III (subsequently King Frederick I) the right to call himself king in thanks for Frederick's support in the War of the Spanish Succession on the condition that the title explicitly recognise that Brandenburg was still part of the Empire. Prussia, however, had never been part of the HRE, so the compromise formula was that Frederick was 'King in Prussia' only, but remained an Elector under the hypothetical overlordship of the Emperor in Brandenburg.

The title King of Prussia was adopted when Frederick II annexed most of Polish Royal Prussia following the First Partition of Poland in 1772.

[Wisconsin9]

Watching the Space Shuttle Endeavour being trekked through the streets of Los Angeles on its way from LAX to the Science Center. As an article in the LA Times quoted about the event, it wasn't even a "once in a lifetime" event, it was a "once" event, moving a friggin' SPACESHIP through city streets is not something anybody is liable to attempt a second time. Plus the sheer level of the undertaking; there were many instances along the route where there were just inches of clearance between the edge of the wings and obstacles like trees.

Perhaps smaller than most of the other "small pieces of history" folks are sharing, but it's still my favorite.

I cannot even begin to express my envy right now.

[Soldati Senza Confini]

The year I was born (1989)

More seriously though, I found out the other day as I was sifting through contributions from Salvadorans that a Salvadoran and an honorary Salvadoran citizen (Jose Castellanos Contreras and Gyorgy Mandl who changed his name to George Mantello) helped develop and deploy a mass media campaign in order to stop deportations of Jewish people to Auschwitz.

I thought it was pretty cool.

Also, during the 1986 Earthquakes in El Salvador, my grandmother was there and my father helped people out there. We got to know a lot from my grandma from that period of time. The 2001 Earthquake in El Salvador is also another small piece of history I actually lived through. Also, the 1998 hurricane in El Salvador, which has been the worst in my lifetime.

[Reploid Productions]

The year I was born (1989)

More seriously though, I found out the other day as I was sifting through contributions from Salvadorans that a Salvadoran and an honorary Salvadoran citizen (Jose Castellanos Contreras and Gyorgy Mandl who changed his name to George Mantello) helped develop and deploy a mass media campaign in order to stop deportations of Jewish people to Auschwitz.

I thought it was pretty cool.

Also, during the 1986 Earthquakes in El Salvador, my grandmother was there and my father helped people out there. We got to know a lot from my grandma from that period of time. The 2001 Earthquake in El Salvador is also another small piece of history I actually lived through. Also, the 1998 hurricane in El Salvador, which has been the worst in my lifetime.

Oh, if we're adding disasters to the roster, put me down for the 1994 Northridge quake. Good times, that. High-fives to all my earthquake homies out there in different parts of the world.

Certainly any disaster you live through is going to leave a impression (though maybe not a favorite one!) and be an important piece of personal history at least, and history overall if it's a big enough event. 'Course, 20 years later, I can look back on the quake and think more of the funny and entertaining bits, and not just the adrenaline and blind terror of being bodily hurled out of bed accompanied by a deafening sound that still defies description.

[Wisconsin9]

The year I was born (1989)

More seriously though, I found out the other day as I was sifting through contributions from Salvadorans that a Salvadoran and an honorary Salvadoran citizen (Jose Castellanos Contreras and Gyorgy Mandl who changed his name to George Mantello) helped develop and deploy a mass media campaign in order to stop deportations of Jewish people to Auschwitz.

I thought it was pretty cool.

Also, during the 1986 Earthquakes in El Salvador, my grandmother was there and my father helped people out there. We got to know a lot from my grandma from that period of time. The 2001 Earthquake in El Salvador is also another small piece of history I actually lived through. Also, the 1998 hurricane in El Salvador, which has been the worst in my lifetime.

Oh, if we're adding disasters to the roster, put me down for the 1994 Northridge quake. Good times, that. High-fives to all my earthquake homies out there in different parts of the world.

Certainly any disaster you live through is going to leave a impression (though maybe not a favorite one!) and be an important piece of personal history at least, and history overall if it's a big enough event. 'Course, 20 years later, I can look back on the quake and think more of the funny and entertaining bits, and not just the adrenaline and blind terror of being bodily hurled out of bed accompanied by a deafening sound that still defies description.

I remember Hurricane Isabel, back in '03. I was living in Virginia Beach, pretty much right smack in her sights, although not quite the eye or eyewall.

[Spoder]

Oh, if we're adding disasters to the roster, put me down for the 1994 Northridge quake. Good times, that. High-fives to all my earthquake homies out there in different parts of the world.

Certainly any disaster you live through is going to leave a impression (though maybe not a favorite one!) and be an important piece of personal history at least, and history overall if it's a big enough event. 'Course, 20 years later, I can look back on the quake and think more of the funny and entertaining bits, and not just the adrenaline and blind terror of being bodily hurled out of bed accompanied by a deafening sound that still defies description.

I remember Hurricane Isabel, back in '03. I was living in Virginia Beach, pretty much right smack in her sights, although not quite the eye or eyewall.

I was but a wee baby when the 2001 earthquake in the Puget Sound hit.

[Occupied Deutschland]

A family friend flew for Wien Air Alaska in the 1970s. During April of '75 they instituted 'temporary commercial service' to Tansan Noot (Tan San Noot? Unsure of the spelling), South Vietnam, and flew regular flights out evacuating refugees, government officials, and the like to Guam, the Phillipines, and Japan before the country collapsed.

*Tan Son Nhut and/or Tan Son Nhat it seems from a google search.

[Bodobol]

Finnish Winter War. When I first read about it, I had an overwhelming desire to join the Finnish Army to help the cause.

Then I remembered I'm underage, American and over 70 years too later.

[Sebastianbourg]

Finnish Winter War. When I first read about it, I had an overwhelming desire to join the Finnish Army to help the cause.

Then I remembered I'm underage, American and over 70 years too later.

I don't think they'd mind the first two; the 3rd one however is a bit of a problem.

[The Blaatschapen]

The year I was born (1989)

More seriously though, I found out the other day as I was sifting through contributions from Salvadorans that a Salvadoran and an honorary Salvadoran citizen (Jose Castellanos Contreras and Gyorgy Mandl who changed his name to George Mantello) helped develop and deploy a mass media campaign in order to stop deportations of Jewish people to Auschwitz.

I thought it was pretty cool.

Also, during the 1986 Earthquakes in El Salvador, my grandmother was there and my father helped people out there. We got to know a lot from my grandma from that period of time. The 2001 Earthquake in El Salvador is also another small piece of history I actually lived through. Also, the 1998 hurricane in El Salvador, which has been the worst in my lifetime.

Oh, if we're adding disasters to the roster, put me down for the 1994 Northridge quake. Good times, that. High-fives to all my earthquake homies out there in different parts of the world.

Certainly any disaster you live through is going to leave a impression (though maybe not a favorite one!) and be an important piece of personal history at least, and history overall if it's a big enough event. 'Course, 20 years later, I can look back on the quake and think more of the funny and entertaining bits, and not just the adrenaline and blind terror of being bodily hurled out of bed accompanied by a deafening sound that still defies description.

Earthquakes? I'm only theoretically aware of the concept.

There was one back in the early 90s. 5.8 on the Richter scale, heaviest ever since they started measuring it. I slept right through it.

Now, floods, that I know a bit about, mid90s, though not in my home, but rather in the area to the north of it.

The only natural disaster I have suffered from is my brother

[The Risen Jaguar Warriors]

Shapur II was the only known sovereign to be crowned in-utero.







The crown was placed on his mother's belly and NOT forced in.

[Greater Beggnig]

Attila the Hun bled to death... from a nosebleed.

Wow. Talk about an embarrassing way to go!

On his last wedding night...

[Greater Beggnig]

The excellent kill ratios of Italian aircraft against Russian aircraft in WWII.

My reaction:

If you don't like Hetalia well just shoot me, or rather don't. If anything I should be the one doing the shooting. Capish?

[New East Norfolk]

England expects that every man will do his duty :-: signal from HMS Victory at the battle of Trafalgar.

[Pope Joan]

N.F.S. Grundtvig (d. 1872), a Dane, laid the groundwork for the successful Folkschool Movement in Scandanavia. In 1895 (after success had already been demonstrated based upon private initiatives), the Danish Government offered the first supportive grants.

"These “schools for life,” as he called them, would not mold the masses into predefined shapes, but challenge and assist people “to grasp their own identity and look after their own affairs and interests.” They stress national history and culture.

They do not grant degrees, which is consistent with the philosophical position that they seek to enlighten and educate, not train students for industry, technology, bureaucracy or academia.

Students have contact with local citizens, thus contributing to the experience-based philosophy of the schools while
offering local people the opportunity for information, debate and discussion. This framework has placed the folk schools among the most progressive and dynamic learning centers in Europe. They help shape the issues confronting a changing world and stimulate active participation in society, thus promoting a living democracy."

They are a major but overlooked factor in the shaping of the modern Scandanavian personality.

http://www.scandinavianseminar.org/?id=101

[Kavamkao]

The death of Karl Marx. On his deathbed, he was asked if he had any last words. He said:

"Go away, last words are for fools who haven't said enough."

Those were, ironically, his last words

[Macedom]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emu_War

^this

[Greed and Death]

the sacking of Rome.

[The Blaatschapen]

the sacking of Rome.

I doubt that counts as a small piece of history.

[Imperium Nova]

Well this thread is just golden