Article: World War I – The Ottoman Empire and the Balkan Region

The following link is to an article that looks at the lead up to World War I and the military situation in the Balkans region.

For more visit:
http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/132566

Today in History – 24 May 1830

Mary Had a Little Lamb is Published

OK, just a little trivial history for today perhaps – though I am sure that some people will see this as very interesting news. ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb,’ that is the nursery rhyme, was first published on this day in 1830 by publishers Marsh, Capen & Lyon. The nursery rhyme was written by Sarah Josepha Hale
and was apparently based on a real life situation.

For a book of poems for children by the author Sarah Hale, including Mary Had a Little Lamb –

Visit the Internet Archive at:
http://www.archive.org/details/poemsforourchild00haleiala

 

Today in History – 29 April 1672

Louis XIV: Franco-Dutch War – France Invades the Netherlands

The Franco-Dutch War was more than a war between France and the Netherlands, then known as the United Provinces. It involved a host of other nations including Sweden, Spain, England and other less known regions/countries. The war lasted from 1672 to 1678 and ended with the Treaty of Nijmegen.

This day in 1672 saw the beginning of the war with the French invasion of the United Provinces and they quickly made progress into the country. However, as the war continued it quickly became a stalemate-type situation, though the French did gain territory from the Treaty of Nijmegen.

For a more detailed treatment of the war, see the Wikipedia page at:
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco-Dutch_War