History

Refine Search

Why do pirates have parrots?

Parrots and parrot cages have been found listed among the inventory of ships and lists of personal possessions of pirates of the late 17th and early 18th centuries. With their bright coloration and the ability of some species to mimic human speech, parrots were popular as exotic pets in Europe and were more likely being transported for sale than kept as personal pets.\nStevenson admitted he got the idea for a pirate with a pet parrot from "Robinson Crusoe," in which the stranded narrator captures a parrot and keeps it as a pet. Depictions of pirates with parrots have been common since the pub..

Continue Reading

Who were the three U.S. presidents from Tennessee?

Prior to becoming president, Polk served in congress as representative of Tennessee and as the state's governor. He was a member of the Democratic party. Andrew Jackson is considered a founder of the state of Tennessee. He died in Nashville, Tenn, where he is buried. Andrew Johnson joined Lincoln on the National Union ticket. Prior to serving, he lived in Greeneville, Tenn.

Continue Reading

When was the first VCR invented?

The fruit of Ginsburg and his team's labor resulted in the Ampex VRX-1000 videotape recorder. This device was introduced in March of 1956 and cost approximately $50,000. With the price tag, mostly news stations purchased the devices early on. However, these VTRs gave news stations the power to replay broadcasts at later times, effectively changing the landscape of network news. RCA and Ampex joined forces to create a machine for home use. Sony released its home model in 1964 and RCA/Ampex followed suit one year later. Three VCR formats emerged in the late 1970s: the Betamax (Sony), the VH..

Continue Reading

What did Theodore Roosevelt do?

Theodore Roosevelt was a progressive who put many programs into place such as the Square Deal. This program reformed and regulated the workplace for the benefit of both the workers and the owners. He also believed it was his job to keep an eye on big business, becoming the trust buster. At his impetus, the Northern Securities Company was dismantled. He passed the Elkins Act and Hepburn Act to regulate the railroads. He passed the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act as a result of the book "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair.\nTheodore Roosevelt was the first U.S. president to partici..

Continue Reading

When was the keyboard invented?

The first typewriter keyboard featured the same QWERTY layout used on most keyboards in contemporary times. In 1964, the video display terminal was added to computers, allowing users to see data from their keyboards as they typed it. This led to the development of keyboards with direct digital input into the computer to speed up the input process. Keyboards with direct electronic input became the standard for all computer input in the late 1970s.

Continue Reading

Where can you access the Vietnam Memorial names list?

Each name includes a frame that contains details regarding the rank, age, gender and date of birth along with other personal information. Visitors may click the info tab to access additional details, including the location, date, manner of death and status of remains recovery. Each soldier's information page includes a link to comments and photographs and invites visitors to leave comments.

Continue Reading

What were the effects of the Industrial Revolution?

Initially, these changes took place in the landscape of nations, as rural and formerly agricultural workers moved into urban settings. The population shift prompted the growth of large municipalities, and with this, a need for municipal services.\nWith the advent of large-scale factories, the worker was now much more dependent on an individual employer. Relationships between the capital employers and the laboring class became tense, driving the rise of Marxism in response. Eventually, the dominant political doctrines of both the United States and Great Britain adjusted from lassaiz-faire, in w..

Continue Reading

What happened after Charlemagne's death?

After defeating the Saxons, Charlemagne forced conversion to Catholicism on those whom he had conquered, killing the ones who would not comply. After consolidating his power by taking the crown of the Holy Roman Empire on Christmas morning in 800, he established a new monetary standard, making the liver (pound) worth 20 sous (the shilling later) and 240 deniers (which would become the penny). He split the empire into 350 counties, each with its own court, and he established the "Envoys of the Lord" to ensure loyalty throughout his lands.\nThe reign of Charlemagne is considered the Carolingian ..

Continue Reading

What is St. Augustine famous for?

St. Augustine is the son of St. Monica. He was born in Africa and spent much of his life living an unsaintly existence, despite his Christian upbringing and intelligence. He was often guilty of the sins of pride and impurity. The Catholic Church regards the prayers of his mother and the spiritual lessons of St. Ambrose in his conversion.It is said that St. Augustine did not convert to Christianity right away, even after acknowledging that God was the one true god. However, he soon asked God for forgiveness of his sins and head a child singing a song with the lyrics, "Take up and read!" Believi..

Continue Reading

Why were spices expensive for Europeans in the past?

The spice trade is a very important part of European and Asian history. Christopher Columbus discovered America while trying to find a shorter route to India so the Spanish could import their spices for a cheaper price instead of paying a large amount for transport. Many of the spices used in Europe were transported on land from Africa or India, making the cost of transport and labor extremely high.

Continue Reading
Showing 5411 to 5420 of 8554 (856 Pages)