1764

Today in History

Today in History
(1581) A new art form debuts in De’ Medici’s court
1581 Great art patron, former queen of France, mother of kings, and continual power-broker, Catherine de’ Medici enjoys a new spectacle put on for her court in Paris. The mixture of story, song, and dance, titled the ‘Ballet Comique de la Reine,’ is history’s first true work of ballet..
(1764) A moment in Rome inspires a colossal work of history
Not yet 30, English writer Edward Gibbon arrives in Rome and experiences a life-changing epiphany. As he watches friars singing their vespers within the Temple of Jupiter’s ruins, the idea of writing a history of Rome first strikes him, and he’ll later date the ‘vision’ to this day.. 1764

The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire is a book of history written by the English historian Edward Gibbon, which traces the trajectory of Western civilization from the height of the Roman Empire to the fall of Byzantium. It was published in six volumes. Volume I was published in 1776 and went through six printings. Volumes II and III were published in 1781; volumes IV, V, and VI in 1788–89. The original volumes were published in quarto sections, a common publishing practice of the time. The work covers the history, from 98 to 1590, of the Roman Empire, the history of early Christianity and then of the Roman State Church, and the history of Europe, and discusses the decline of the Roman Empire in the East and West. Because of its relative objectivity and heavy use of primary sources, unusual at the time, its methodology became a model for later historians. This led to Gibbon being called the first “modern historian of ancient Rome”.

Author: Edward Gibbon
First published: 1776
Genre: Non-fiction

— Source: wiki/The_History_of_the_Decline_and_Fall_of_the_Roman_Empire
(1917) An alluring spy faces a French firing squad
1917 Courtesan, exotic dancer, and WWI spy, Margaretha Geertruida Zelle stands in front of a firing squad after her conviction on espionage charges. Dutch-born but inspired to adopt a new name and persona after living in Java, ‘Mata Hari’ is executed for her role as a German spy..

Lived: Aug 07, 1876 – Oct 15, 1917 (age 41)
Height: 5′ 10″ (1.78 m)
Spouse: Rudolf John MacLeod (m. 1895 – 1907)
Children: Norman-John MacLeod (Son) · Louise Jeanne MacLeod (Daughter)
Parents: Adam Zelle (Father) · Antje van der Meulen (Mother)
Siblings: Cornelis Coenrad Zelle (Brother) · Johannes Henderikus Zelle (Brother) · Ari Anne Zelle (Sister)

— Source: wiki/Mata_Hari
(1969) Millions take to the streets, protesting for peace
With some 40,000 American troops killed in the Vietnam War, millions of people across the US and the world gather in a Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam, a mass demonstration calling for peace and a withdrawal of forces from Southeast Asia. It will be called history’s largest peace rally.. 1969

The Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam was a massive demonstration and teach-in across the United States against the United States involvement in the Vietnam War. It took place on October 15, 1969, followed a month later by a large Moratorium March on Washington.

Date: Oct 15, 1969

— Source: wiki/Moratorium_to_End_the_War_in_Vietnam
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