164 BCE
Judas Maccabeus, son of Mattathias of the Hasmonean family, rededicates the Temple in Jerusalem, an event that is commemorated each year by the festival of Hanukkah. (25 Kislev 3597 in the Hebrew calendar.)
In 164 BCE, Judas Maccabeus rededicated the Temple in Jerusalem, an act later celebrated as Hanukkah.
Judas Maccabeus, son of Mattathias, led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire.
On this day in 164 BCE, he purified and rededicated the desecrated Second Temple in Jerusalem.
The ceremony marked the restoration of Jewish worship at the sacred site.
According to tradition, the Temple's oil lamp miraculously burned for eight days on a single day's supply.
This event inspired the annual festival of Hanukkah, celebrated with lights and prayers.
Hanukkah remains a symbol of faith, hope, and perseverance.
164 BCE
Judas Maccabeus
Mattathias
Hasmonean family
Temple in Jerusalem
Hanukkah
Kislev
Hebrew calendar
235day.year
Pope Anterus succeeds Pontian as the nineteenth pope.
In 235, Pope Anterus became the nineteenth pope, succeeding Pontian and leading the early Christian community.
Pope Anterus was elected following the resignation of Pope Pontian.
His pontificate began amid the persecutions of Christians in the Roman Empire.
Despite his short tenure, he focused on strengthening the Church's organizational structure.
He is remembered for his dedication to the clergy and care for persecuted Christians.
Anterus served as pope for just a few months before his death, possibly as a martyr.
235
Pope Anterus
Pontian
pope
1386day.year
Timur of Samarkand captures and sacks the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, taking King Bagrat V of Georgia captive.
In 1386, Timur of Samarkand captured and sacked Tbilisi, taking King Bagrat V of Georgia captive.
Timur, a Turco-Mongol conqueror, led his forces into the Caucasus region.
On this day he stormed Tbilisi, the capital of the Kingdom of Georgia.
The city was plundered and its king, Bagrat V, was taken prisoner.
This assault marked a brutal episode in Timur's campaigns of expansion.
The fall of Tbilisi weakened Georgian resistance against the Timurid Empire.
The event had lasting impacts on the region's political dynamics.
1386
Timur of Samarkand
captures and sacks
Georgian
Tbilisi
Bagrat V of Georgia
1620day.year
Plymouth Colony settlers sign the Mayflower Compact (November 11, O.S.)
On November 21, 1620 (O.S.), Plymouth Colony settlers signed the Mayflower Compact, establishing self-government.
Arriving on the Mayflower, the settlers faced the challenge of creating a lawful society.
On this day they drafted and signed the Mayflower Compact aboard their ship.
The Compact pledged cooperation and rule by majority among the colonists.
It became a foundational document for democratic governance in New England.
The agreement set a precedent for future colonial charters and American political thought.
1620
Plymouth Colony
settlers
Mayflower Compact
November 11
O.S.
1676day.year
The Danish astronomer Ole Rømer presents the first quantitative measurements of the speed of light.
In 1676, Danish astronomer Ole Rømer presented the first quantitative measurements of the speed of light.
Ole Rømer analyzed the eclipses of Jupiter's moon Io to study light's behavior.
He observed discrepancies in the timing of these eclipses from Earth.
From these anomalies, he deduced that light travels at a finite speed.
Rømer's calculations marked the first experimental estimate of light's velocity.
His work laid the groundwork for future breakthroughs in optics and physics.
This milestone changed scientific views on the nature of light.
1676
astronomer
Ole Rømer
presents
measurements
speed of light
1783day.year
In Paris, Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent d'Arlandes make the first untethered hot air balloon flight.
In 1783, Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent d'Arlandes made the first untethered hot air balloon flight in Paris.
Pilâtre de Rozier and d'Arlandes lifted off from the Jardin des Tuileries.
Their Montgolfier balloon flight marked humanity's first free flight by air.
They soared over Paris for about 25 minutes, covering around 5 miles.
The flight demonstrated the potential of lighter-than-air aviation.
Their pioneering venture paved the way for modern ballooning and flight exploration.
This achievement captured public imagination and advanced aeronautical science.
1783
Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier
François Laurent d'Arlandes
hot air balloon
1789day.year
North Carolina ratifies the United States Constitution and is admitted as the 12th U.S. state.
On November 21, 1789, North Carolina ratified the United States Constitution, becoming the 12th state.
North Carolina was the last of the original colonies to ratify the Constitution.
The state initially hesitated over the lack of a Bill of Rights.
Its ratification secured the framework for the United States federal government.
By joining the Union, North Carolina ensured its representation under the new system.
The state's entry influenced the promise of amendments that became the Bill of Rights.
This event helped shape the early political landscape of the young nation.
1789
North Carolina
United States Constitution
U.S. state
1851day.year
Mutineers take control of the Chilean penal colony of Punta Arenas in the Strait of Magellan.
In 1851, mutineers seized control of the Chilean penal colony at Punta Arenas in the Strait of Magellan.
Prisoners aboard the ship Tres Amigos led a revolt against their captors.
They overpowered guards and took command of the Punta Arenas settlement.
The mutiny disrupted the Spanish colonial administration in the region.
Although temporary, the uprising exposed vulnerabilities in penal systems.
It remains a dramatic example of resistance within isolated colonies.
The incident highlighted tensions in mid-19th-century colonial governance.
1851
take control
penal colony
Punta Arenas
Strait of Magellan
1861day.year
American Civil War: Confederate President Jefferson Davis appoints Judah Benjamin Secretary of War.
On November 21, 1861, Confederate President Jefferson Davis appointed Judah Benjamin as Secretary of War.
During the early months of the American Civil War, leadership was crucial.
Jefferson Davis selected Judah P. Benjamin to oversee the Confederacy's war efforts.
Benjamin, originally Attorney General, faced challenges in organizing resources.
His appointment aimed to improve military administration and strategy.
Benjamin served as Secretary of War before later becoming Secretary of State.
His role influenced Confederate policy and wartime governance.
1861
American Civil War
Confederate
Jefferson Davis
Judah Benjamin
1877day.year
Thomas Edison announces his invention of the phonograph, a machine that can record and play sound.
In 1877, Thomas Edison announced his invention of the phonograph, the first machine to record and play sound.
Edison unveiled the phonograph in his Menlo Park laboratory.
The device used tinfoil-wrapped cylinders to capture sound vibrations.
Listeners heard recorded voices and music played back for the first time.
This breakthrough revolutionized audio recording and entertainment.
The phonograph laid the foundation for the modern music industry.
Edison's innovation transformed communication and sound reproduction.
1877
Thomas Edison
phonograph
1894day.year
Port Arthur, China, falls to the Japanese, a decisive victory of the First Sino-Japanese War; Japanese troops are accused of massacring the remaining inhabitants.
In 1894, Japanese forces capture Port Arthur during the First Sino-Japanese War, securing a pivotal victory amid allegations of civilian massacres.
The fall of Port Arthur marked a turning point in the First Sino-Japanese War, demonstrating Japan’s emerging military prowess. The strategic naval base on the Liaodong Peninsula was besieged for months before its defenders surrendered. Reports of widespread violence against civilians and prisoners sparked international outcry. The victory weakened Qing China’s hold on Manchuria and forced the cession of territory in subsequent treaties. The event reshaped regional power dynamics and foreshadowed Japan’s imperial ambitions.
1894
Port Arthur, China
falls to the Japanese
First Sino-Japanese War
massacring
1900day.year
Claude Monet's paintings shown at Gallery Durand-Ruel in Paris.
Claude Monet exhibits his Impressionist works at Gallery Durand-Ruel in Paris, showcasing his revolutionary approach to light and color.
The 1900 exhibition at Gallery Durand-Ruel brought together Claude Monet’s latest canvases, highlighting his mastery of atmospheric effects and fleeting moments. Durand-Ruel, a key patron of the Impressionists, provided Monet with critical support and exposure to collectors. Visitors were captivated by scenes of water lilies, gardens, and urban landscapes bathed in sunlight. The show reinforced Monet’s status as a leading figure in the avant-garde and influenced subsequent generations of artists. It remains a milestone in the acceptance of modern art in France.
1900
Claude Monet