Video: '28th November 1520: Magellan sails from the Atlantic to the Pacific'

(Wednesday, November 28, 1520; during Magellan’s circumnavigation) — On his way around the world, Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan became the first European to sail into the Pacific Ocean from the Atlantic Ocean today after passing through the South American strait that now bears his name.
Continue reading Ferdinand Magellan becomes first European to sail Pacific Ocean 500 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 28 1520) →

Video: 'Born in the USA?'

(Monday, October 5, 1829) — Chester A. Arthur, the 21st president of the United States (1881-1885) and the 20th vice president of the United States (1881) during the administration of James A. Garfield (and succeeded to the presidency upon Garfield’s assassination), was born Chester Alan Arthur today in Fairfield, Vermont. Continue reading U.S. President Chester A. Arthur born in Fairfield, Vermont 190 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 5 1829) →

Video: '20 and Odd: Africans' Arrival in 1619'

(Friday, August 20, 1619) — The English ship White Lion docked today at Port Comfort (now Fort Monroe) in the British colony of Virginia, carrying “20 and odd” kidnapped Angolans who had been prisoners on a Portuguese ship that was captured by the White Lion’s crew. Continue reading First enslaved Africans arrive in British North America 400 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 20 1619) →

Video: 'Guardians of Jamestown, 1619: The First General Assembly Meeting in Virginia'

(Friday, July 30, 1619) — The first elected legislative assembly in America — the House of Burgesses — convened today in Jamestown in the Virginia Colony in the choir loft of the town’s church. Continue reading First representative assembly in America convenes in Jamestown, Virginia 400 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 30 1619) →

Video: '22nd November 1718: The pirate Blackbeard killed by sailors under Robert Maynard'

(Saturday, November 22, 1718) — English pirate Edward Teach — better known as Blackbeard, an English pirate who operated around the West Indies and the eastern coast of Britain’s North American colonies — and several of his crew were killed today by a small force of sailors led by Lieutenant Robert Maynard during a battle off present-day North Carolina. Continue reading English pirate Blackbeard killed 300 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 22 1718) →

Video: 'Nero Roman Emperor (Documentary)' (June 9, A.D. 68, at 43:57)

(Thursday, June 9, A.D. 68) — Roman Emperor Nero, 30, died today outside Rome after he learned that he had been tried in absentia and condemned to death as a public enemy and then forcing his private secretary, Epaphroditos, to stab him. Continue reading Roman Emperor Nero commits suicide 1950 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 9 A.D. 68) →

Video: 'Global History Review: The Ming Dynasty'

(Sunday, January 23, 1368) — China’s 276-year Ming dynasty, described as “one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history,” began today as Zhu Yuanzhang was formally acclaimed emperor following the collapse of the Yuan dynasty. Continue reading China’s Ming dynasty begins 650 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 23 1368) →

Video: 'St Paul's Cathedral, London - Unravel Travel TV'

(Thursday, December 2, 1697) — St. Paul’s Cathedral, an Anglican cathedral designed by Sir Christopher Wren, was consecrated today in London for use even though the building was still under construction. Continue reading London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral consecrated for use 320 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 2 1697) →

Video: '31st October 1517: Martin Luther reputedly posts his 95 Theses'

(Saturday, October 31, 1517) — Martin Luther today sent his Ninety-five Theses or Disputation on the Power of Indulgences denouncing what he saw as the abuses of the Catholic Church, especially the sale of indulgences, to the Archbishop of Mainz, Germany (by some accounts, Luther also posted the Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg), marking the start of the Protestant Reformation, a schism in the Catholic Church which profoundly changed Europe. Continue reading Martin Luther publishes his 95 Theses 500 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 31 1517) →

Video: 'VIRGINIA DARE (FINAL)'

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(Friday, August 18, 1587) — Virginia Dare, granddaughter of Governor John White of the Colony of Roanoke, today became the first child of English parents to be born in present-day America, on what is now Roanoke Island in North Carolina (Virginia and the other Roanoke colonists ended up mysteriously disappearing). Continue reading Virginia Dare becomes first English child born in Americas 430 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 18 1587) →