By Tim Lambert The area that is now Iraq was once divided into city-states. One of them was called Babillu. (It was known to the Greeks as Babylon). For centuries Babylon was an unimportant city. However, under the famous leader, Hammurabi (C. 1792 BC-1750 BC) Babylon rose to greatness. However, after his death, it declined… Continue reading The Babylonians
Author: Tim Lambert
A Short History of Honduras
By Tim Lambert Early Honduras For thousands of years, indigenous peoples lived in Honduras. The greatest of them was the Mayans. However, the first European to reach Honduras was Christopher Columbus on 30 July 1502. Columbus later sailed as far south as Panama. The area became known as Honduras from the Spanish word for depths.… Continue reading A Short History of Honduras
A Short History of Haiti
By Tim Lambert Colonial Haiti Haiti forms part of the island of Hispaniola. Before the Europeans arrived a people called the Arawaks lived there. However, on 6 December 1492, Christopher Columbus landed at Mole Saint-Nicolas on the northwest and called the island Espanola, which was later anglicized as Hispaniola. Columbus built a fort on the… Continue reading A Short History of Haiti
A Short History of the Dominican Republic
By Tim Lambert The Early Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic forms part of the island of Hispaniola. Before the Europeans arrived a people called the Arawaks lived there. However, on 6 December 1492, Christopher Columbus landed in the northwest and called the island Espanola, which was later anglicized as Hispaniola. Spanish settlers founded San Domingo… Continue reading A Short History of the Dominican Republic
A Short History of Cuba
By Tim Lambert Early Cuba The first European to reach Cuba was Christopher Columbus in 1492. At that time the indigenous people lived by farming. They grew cassava, maize, and yams. They also smoked tobacco. In 1511 Diego Velasquez conquered the island of Cuba and he founded several settlements including Havana. The natives were devastated… Continue reading A Short History of Cuba
A Timeline of Chocolate
By Tim Lambert 1,500 BC The people of Central America begin to drink chocolate 1500 AD The Aztecs drink chocolate 1500s The Spanish bring chocolate to Spain. Later chocolate drinking spreads to other parts of Europe. 1657 A chocolate house opens in England where you can buy a drink of chocolate 1765 The first chocolate factory in America opens 1795 Steam engines… Continue reading A Timeline of Chocolate
The Indus Valley Civilization
By Tim Lambert The Rise of the Indus Valley Civilization The first Indian civilization arose in the Indus Valley about 2,600 BC. It straddled northwest India and Pakistan. By 6,500 BC the people of the area had begun farming. By 5,500 BC they had invented pottery. By about 2,600 BC a prosperous farming society had… Continue reading The Indus Valley Civilization
Tooth Worms
By Tim Lambert For centuries people thought that tooth decay was caused by worms. About 50 AD a Roman called Scribonius Largus wrote about them. He recommended putting henbane seeds on a hot metal plate over burning charcoal and inhaling the seeds to fumigate your mouth then rinsing your mouth with cold water. Henbane was… Continue reading Tooth Worms
A Timeline of Christianity
By Tim Lambert c. 30 On the day of Pentecost Peter preaches a great sermon and about 3,000 people are added to the church C 35 AD Saul is converted and changes his name to Paul 43 AD The Romans invade Britain C 46-48 AD Paul and Barnabas sail to Cyprus and what is now Turkey C. 48-51… Continue reading A Timeline of Christianity
A History of the Waldensians
By Tim Lambert The Waldensians are a Christian sect that began in the 12th century and continues to the present day. By the Middle Ages, the Church was rich and powerful and some people criticized its worldliness. About 1175 a merchant of Lyons called Peter Waldo gave away his wealth and began preaching. He soon… Continue reading A History of the Waldensians