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When was the Berlin Wall built?

The Berlin Wall was 15 feet high and completely surrounded West Berlin. The East Germans fortified the wall with barbed wire, mines and machine guns. The wall remained until 1989, when the East German government failed and civilians were allowed to safely cross the border. Shortly after the borders were opened, the wall was dismantled by East German soldiers and civilians from both sectors.

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Who was Justinian?

Justinian I was born a barbarian in Tauresium. His uncle, Justin I, adopted him and moved him to Constantinople where he was educated. Justin I became emperor when Anastasius died, and he made Justinian a chief adviser. Later, Justin appointed Justinian as co-emperor, and when Justin died, Justinian became emperor.\nHis reign was marked by war because he wanted to restore Rome to its former glory. Under his rule, much of the land lost by the collapse of the Western Roman Empire was regained. As a Christian, he worked to suppress pagan religion, writing laws to protect the church. He also intro..

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What caused the fall of the western Roman Empire?

Many historians put the fall of Rome as happening at some time during the fifth or sixth century. Historians disagree as to what was the ultimate cause of Rome's demise, and so they each ascribe different dates that correspond to their own particular theories. Some see the end as the result of the Visigoth king Alaric's sack of Rome in 410, whereas others date it to Odoacer's deposition of the last Roman emperor in 476. Still others tie the Empire's ultimate collapse to Eastern Emperor Justinian's failed attempt to regain control of the West.\nThose who ascribe the fal..

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Why is the Great Wall of China so famous?

The construction of the Great Wall of China began in the third century B.C. Soldiers, commoners and convicts worked on this building project. It is believed that approximately 400,000 people died during its construction. This construction project was completed in the 16th century. In the 17th century, the Manchus were able to break through this fortification. In 1987, the Great Wall of China was designated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Although its official length was given as 5,500 miles in the past, a recent archaeological survey estimates that the entire length of the Great Wall was 1..

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Who was the last president to have a child born in the White House?

The only president to have a healthy child while occupying the oval office was President Grover Cleveland. Frances Cleveland gave birth to their daughter in the White House on Sept. 9, 1893. They named her Esther, and she remains the only child born in the White House to this day. The birth took place during Cleveland's second term as President of the United States.

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What did Ramses II accomplish?

In his second year as pharaoh, Ramses II engaged in several sea battles, defeating the Shekelesh, Lukka and Shardana peoples. After these victories, he engaged in battle with the feared Hittites. Ramses II defeated the Hittites in battle by a narrow margin several times. Realizing that he might not be able to continue his victory streak, Ramses opted to make peace with the Hittites by marrying a Hittite princess and by agreeing to the world's first peace treaty in 1258 B.C.\nRamses II's contributions to the realms of architecture and religion are intertwined. He issued the constructi..

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Why did the barbarians invade the Roman Empire?

The barbarians played a role in the Roman Empire falling, but they are not the only cause. Other reasons for failure include a failing economy, splitting the empire in two, high taxes and the soldiers being more loyal to military leaders than the emperor. The intolerance of Christians is also important because they did not tolerate other religions and cultures.

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Who was Elizabeth Cady Stanton?

Stanton was president of the National Woman Suffrage Association for 20 years, a group that she formed with Susan B. Anthony in 1869. The group fought for women's rights in general, which included the right to get a divorce and the right to vote.\nStanton was born on November 12, 1815 in Johnstown, New York. Her involvement in advocating for rights began with fighting for the abolishing of slavery in the Civil War.

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What are some facts about the history of cars?

Carl Benz created the first modern gasoline-powered automobile in Germany in 1886. Benz' wife, Bertha, took the car out without telling her husband and drove it 66 miles over two days, the first long-distance road trip. Along the way she fixed and invented solutions for any problems that arose.\nIn 1902, Ransom Olds created the first large-scale production line to increase efficiency and lower vehicle manufacturing costs. In 1914, Henry Ford developed an improved production line system that cut manufacturing time from 12.5 hours to just 1.5 hours per car. These lines, in which each worker..

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What was the name of Samuel de Champlain's boat?

During the course of his exploration, de Champlain discovered and founded the city of Quebec and helped colonize French North America. He sailed to Canada in 1603 to explore the St. Lawrence River by directive of the King of France, and he became one of the first explorers to write about Niagara Falls. Because of his discovery, de Champlain is often referred to as the "Father of New France."

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