Egypt: Missing Blocks of the Colossi of Memnon Found

The link below is to an article reporting on the important discovery of the missing blocks of the Colossi of Memnon in Egypt.

For more visit:
http://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/missing-parts-of-colossi-of-memnon.html

Article: Archaeology in 2012

The link below is to an article that looks at important discoveries in 2012.

For more visit:
http://www.geeksaresexy.net/2012/12/10/2012-in-review-9-important-archaeological-discoveries/

Article: Cell Phone/Mobile Phone History

The link below is to an article that looks at 5 important moments in cell/mobile phone history.

For more visit:
http://www.dirjournal.com/info/the-5-key-moments-in-the-history-of-the-cell-phone/

Article: Sinking of the Titanic – Who Missed the Boat?

The following link is to an interesting article on the sinking of the Titanic, which happened almost 100 years ago (15 April 1912). This article is about a number of important people who missed the boat for one reason or another.

For more, visit:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Seven-Famous-People-Who-Missed-the-Titanic.html

Today in History: 05 March 1770

USA: War of Independence – Boston Massacre

On this day in 1770, the Boston Massacre took place and became an important incident in the lead up to the American War of Independence. The massacre was really something of a ‘beat up,’ with five men being killed when British troops fired into a crowd that was harassing them and throwing objects at them.

Also of major interest in this incident, was the court case in the trial of the British troops, as  John Adams (second president of the USA) defended the British troops in their trial.

For more, visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Massacre

Also, a newspaper report:
http://www.archive.org/details/bostonmassacre00good

Today in History: 18 February 1546

Martin Luther Died

On this day in 1546, Protestant Reformer Martin Luther died in Eisleben, Saxony, which was then
part of the Holy Roman Empire.

Luther was an extremely important figure in the Reformation, challenging the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church in a number of key areas.

Today in History – 17 April 1524

Giovanni da Verrazzano: Discovery of New York Bay

On this day in 1524, navigator Giovanni da Verrazzano, discovered New York Bay. Verrazzano was employed by the French king, Francis I, to find a sea route to the Pacific Ocean in order to reach China. After a failed first expedition, Verrazzano in the ‘La Dauphine,’ left France on the 17th January 1524 for the North American mainland. Once in American waters he explored the east coast of North America, including the area from North Carolina to New York. During his journey he came into contact with native American Indians and entered the Hudson River. The area explored by Verrazano was named ‘New France.’

Verrazzano is thought to have been born in 1485, south of Florence in Italy, though more recent research would suggest he was born in Lyon, France. Verrazzano died during a third trip to America, when he was killed and eaten by native Carib Indians on the island of Guadeloupe in 1528.

As with any other day, there was plenty more that happened on this day in history. Among the more important events on this day in the past were:

• In 1492, Christopher Columbus signed a contract with Spain to find the Indies.
• In 1521, Martin Luther was excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church.
• In 1534, Sir Thomas Moore was confined in the Tower of London.
• In 1970, Apollo 13 sucessfully returned to earth.