AncientPages.com – The Battle of Englefield occurred around 31 December 870, marking a significant conflict where the West Saxons successfully defeated a Danish Viking army near Reading in Berkshire. A page from the C manuscript of the en:Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. It

AncientPages.com – On December 30, 1924, American astronomer Edwin Hubble announced that there are other galaxies in the cosmos. Our home galaxy Milky Way is not alone; it has companions. It was one of the most significant scientific discoveries of the

AncientPages.com – On 28 Dec 1895, Auguste and Louis Lumière brothers presented their first film in Paris. The Lumière brothers, Auguste (1862 -1954) and Louis Jean (1864 – 1948), were among the first filmmakers in history. The Lumiére brothers –

AncientPages.com – On December 27, 1571, Johannes Kepler, ‘Father of Modern Astronomy,’ was born. His three fundamental statements about planetary motion represent his work, which he based on detailed observations of the planets made by Tycho Brahe (1546-1601). They are:

AncientPages.com – On December 27, 1571, Johannes Kepler, ‘Father of Modern Astronomy’ was born. His three fundamental statements about planetary motion represent his work, which he based on detailed observations of the planets made by Tycho Brahe (1546-1601). Portrait of Johannes

AncientPages.com – On December 26, 1606, William Shakespeare performed his play ‘King Lear’ before the court of King James I at Whitehall Palace. Shakespeare’s friend and noted fellow actor, Richard Burbage, was the original Lear. King Lear, George Frederick Bensell. Image

AncientPages.com – On Christmas Day, December 25, 1950, four young Scots retrieved the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey. Used as the Coronation Stone of the Scottish kings from the 10th century and supposedly a relic from biblical times, the

AncientPages.com – On December 24, 1165, William I, the second son of Henry of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon, succeeded his brother Malcolm IV as King of Scotland. He was known as “The Lion” because of his standard, a red lion rampant

Conny Waters – AncientPages.com – Yohl Ik’nal was the queen of the Maya city-state of Palenque, who ruled until she died in 604. She was also known as Lady Kan Ik. She ascended to the throne on December 23, 583, and

AncientPages.com – On December 22, 1911, Grote Reber, amateur astronomer and radio engineer, was born in Chicago. He was a ham radio operator, studied radio engineering, and worked for various radio manufacturers in Chicago from 1933 to 1947. He self-financed

AncientPages.com – On December 21, 1872, the HMS Challenger sailed from Portsmouth, England, in the first scientific voyage, which would last almost three and a half years. This scientific expedition was organized to examine the deep-sea floor and shed more

AncientPages.com – On December 20, 1963, two years after construction of the Berlin Wall began, 4,000 West Berlin citizens were allowed to visit their relatives and friends in East Berlin for the first time. Berlin Opened For One Day. This

AncientPages.com – On December 19, 1154, Henry II (also known as Henry Curtmantle) was crowned King of England. Henry II was born in 1133 in France and was the grandson of Henry I. He was the first Plantagenet King of all

AncientPages.com – On December 17, 1790, the Sun Stone (Stone of the Five Eras), sometimes called the Aztec calendar stone, was rediscovered during repairs in Mexico City. The artifact is a late post-classic Mexica sculpture, probably the most famous work

AncientPages.com – On December 16, 1707, Mount Fuji,  Japan’s tallest mountain, erupted. It was the last confirmed eruption of Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest volcano and peak, which is still active today. Views of Mount Fuji from Ōwakudani. Image credit: Suicasmo