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  • King James


    King James (James I) (June 19, 1566 – March 27, 1625) was the first monarch to style himself the King of Great Britain. The only child of Mary, Queen of Scots, and her second husband, Henry Stuart, the Duke of Albany (commonly known as Lord Darnley), James became the King of Scotland on July 29, 1567, when his mother Mary was forced to hand over the throne in his favor. James went on to become the first monarch of England from the House of Stuart, when he succeeded Elizabeth I as the King of England and Ireland on March 24, 1603.

    King James was a strong believer of the divine power of kings, which he believed was sanctioned by the apostolic succession. James’ political absolutism was accepted by the docile Scottish Parliament, but it led to bitter conflicts in the English Parliament. Though the governments of the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland were relatively stable in his reign. James’ dictatorial governance and his mismanagement of the kingdom’s funds is known to have destabilized the royal finances. His unpopularity among the English nobility is seen as one of the prime reasons leading to the English Civil War. 

    King James’ rule, however, has more pleasant sides to it than its darker aspects. Culturally, England continued to evolve in this period. Be it in the field of art or literature or science, with contributions from people like William Shakespeare and Sir Francis Bacon, the Elizabethan tradition was continued. James himself was very learned and produced such scholarly works as the Daemonologie (1597), The True Law of Free Monarchies (1598), Basilikon Doron (1599) and A Counterblaste to Tobacco (1604). In fact, he was acclaimed as ‘the wisest fool in Christendom’.

    King James’ religious tolerance (compared to that of his predecessors) also made his reign a success. In spite of being a Protestant, he never attempted to abolish Catholicism. His religious tolerance also allowed for the continuation of Calvinism in Scotland and the growth of Puritanism in England. He also encouraged reformation of the Anglican Church and the growth of ‘High Church’ practices. He also authorized an official translation of the Bible. Known as King James’ Bible, known for the beauty of its language, this version has replaced other translations of the Bible as the standard version.

    King James’ artistic genius found expression in the British Flag, which he designed (in 1603) by combining England’s red cross of St. George with Scotland’s white cross of St. Andrew, following the ‘Union of the Crowns’. Quite fittingly, the British Flag is christened the Union Jack – where Jac stands for Jacobus, Latin for James and represents the Union effected by King James.


  • Nile Cruise


    A Nile cruise in actuality, is a journey through the history and culture of Egypt. As you stroll along the Nile river and gaze over the river valley, you will be greeted with myriad motifs, patterns, colors and textures of life and be surprised to discover that there are many parts of the country that still bear the remnants of the ancient Egyptian style of living. Nile cruises bring you up, close and personal to an diverse, vibrant and inspiring culture, that had once been the cradle of humanity.

    Nile Cruises In Their Various Forms

    There’s no one Nile river cruise. The cruises come in quite a range, with the platter spanning the entire range from the short three or four nights tours to the lengthy seven nights cruises. These tours are hectic to say the least and you can be sure that you will see and experience quite a chunk of Egypt within a short span of time.

    To elaborate, the three nights Nile cruises, from Aswan to Luxor, will take you through the High Dam at Aswan, the temples of Philae, Kom Ombo Edfu and Esna and the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut in Luxor. Besides, the cruise will also cover the famed and the legendary Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens and the Unfinished Obelisk.

    The four nights Nile cruises, apart from the destinations covered by the three nights tours, will additionally include the temples of Luxor and Karnak. Herein you also have the option of visiting a Nubian village and the Botanical Island aboard the “falucca” (a traditional Egyptian sailing boat commonly seen on the Nile) and the Elephantine Island and the Tombs of the Nobles.

    The seven nights Nile river tours have the same itinerary as the aforementioned two, but you get to do your sightseeing at an easier pace, with two nights of complete rest.

    Your choice of a cruise will also include the kind of conveyance: boats or ships. You can either opt for the conventional Nile cruiser that is more along the lines of a floating hotel providing you all conceivable forms of amenities or go in for the “falucca”. 

    To harp more on the kind of accommodation package that the various Nile river cruises have in store for you; the Nile cruiser is basically a mammoth ship with amenities and services that will put even the Ritz-Carlton to shame. The cruiser will have on offer luxurious rooms and opulent suites with private bathrooms, air conditioning and varied entertainment options, exotic and extensive choices in terms of the cuisine offered on board and even libraries, swimming pools and stores.

    For the more wild-at-heart traveler looking for a taste of how Egyptians lead their lives, a trip along the waters of the Nile atop the “falucca” is a must. Herein accommodation arrangements are basic and you will have to sleep out in the deck. But that would be a whole new way of experiencing Egypt: the sphinx might just reveal its long-held secrets to you as you glide past the sandy dunes and valleys or you might spot Ra moving across the night sky as you gaze up from the deck.

    Handy Tips To Think Over Before Your Nile River Cruise

    Before you book the tours and sign the check, there are certain things to be kept in mind about a Nile river cruise:

    • The stretch between October and middle of April is the ideal time for a cruise on the Nile. You will not have to contend with the scorching sun and the Nile river locks will be open.
    • Expect a rise of 25-50% in the usual prices of the tours during peak tourist seasons like Christmas and Easter.
    • Ensure that your cruise is “all-inclusive”, that is to say, the package includes accommodation, sightseeing and also the transportation.
    • Accommodation in the lower decks come cheaper than the ones on the upper deck.

    The Nile cruise is an excellent way of experiencing the magic and mystery of Egypt.


  • Weather Forecast


    Around The World Climates
    Click on a continent and find out whether it has a subarctic, highland, humid oceanic, or other form of climate.

     

     

    Climate
    What exactly is a climate? An overview with an explanation of changes in climate and examples of different climates is given.

     

     

    Climate – The Introduction
    There are descriptions of the seven different climatic regions of the United States, and online activities, giving basic information explaining the difference between climate and weather.

     

     

    Dan’s Wild Wild Weather Page
    This fun site is specially designed for kids. It has easy to understand explanations on clouds, tornadoes, humidity, wind, precipitation and much more. Check out the games and puzzles, too.

     

     

    How do Hurricanes Work?
    Read the simple explanation of how hurricanes form, and then learn about the radar images. There are plenty of activities, including making a pair of 3-D glasses, so you can see the pictures in 3-D.

     

     

    Ice and Snow
    Learn about ice and snow. What makes ice slippery and why is snow white? You can make your own snowflakes, too.

     

     

    What Causes the Earth to Experience Different Seasons
    Simple explanations and clear graphics demonstrate why we have seasons.

     

     

    What Forces Affect our Weather?
    This simple explanation of the forces affecting our weather includes explanations of the atmosphere, the water cycle, powerful storms and ice and snow. There is also a section on our changing climate.


  • Jewish Calendar


    The Jewish calendar is a religious calendar used by Jews all over the world and is also the official calendar of Israel. This particular calendar commands quite an ancient lineage, dating back to the Sanhedrin president Hillel II, who brought it into being in around C.E. 359.

    A Few Facts About The Jewish Calendar

    A regular (non-leap) Jewish year with 12 months can have 353, 354 or 355 days, while the Jewish leap year can have 383, 384 or 385 days. These various years are respectively known as “deficient”, “regular” and “complete”.  It is also worth noting here that a Jewish leap year has 13 months.

    The Jews use a lunisolar calendar, or a calendar that is a cross between the lunar calendar and the solar one. In this respect, the Jewish calendar is akin to the Chinese calendar. This particular type of calendar has its years corresponding to those in the tropical year and its months concurring with the synodic months. Obviously the architects of the calendar had quite a lot in their minds and it is not hard to imagine that the calendar incorporates rules that are quite intricate.

    To elaborate, the 12 months in the Jewish calendar comes to about 11 days short than the typical tropical year. And as a countermeasure, a leap month (also known as an intercalary month) is included after every third year to have the calendar in sync with the seasons. Now this may sound too much of an effort, but the ancient Israelites found ingenious ways to make way around the problem. 

    For instance, in the days of yore, the Israeli religious leaders would estimate the approximate date for Passover in spring based on whether the roads were suitably dry for the pilgrims to take on and also whether the lambs were ready to be slaughtered. If they didn’t find the conditions appropriate or the time ripe, they would add a month to the calendar.

    But this practice is not surprising, for throughout history there have been sundry people who have looked to nature to give them the requisite signals. Thus there was an aboriginal tribe in Taiwan who went out to the sea at around the time of new moon at the commencement of spring. If they spotted the very elusive migratory flying fish, they knew New Year’s day was nearing.

    The Jewish calendar is also known to yield itself to numerous modifications depending upon when the Jews would want their holidays and special ceremonies to be held. Thus for instance, they would holdup their New Year by a day if it falls on a Sunday, Wednesday or Friday during the normal course. This is done to ensure that Yom Kippur doesn’t occur on a Friday or Sunday and Hoshanah Rabba, on a Shabbat (Saturday).

    For the westerners accustomed to the rules of the Gregorian calendar, the following tidbits about the Jewish calendar would seem fascinating:

    • A conventional Jewish day begins either at sunset or the very time when three mid-sized stars are visible in the horizon, instead of midnight.
    • Depending on the particular season, the duration of the night might be different from the day. This is because sunset is taken to herald the commencement of the 12 night hours and sunrise, the start of the 12 day hours.

    An understanding of the influences that shaped the calendar, be it the Jewish calendar or the Hebrew calendar, will in turn help you appreciate man’s efforts to bring time within its shackles.


  • Egyptian Pyramids


    The Egyptian pyramids are one of the grandest edifices of ancient world architecture indicating a grand leap of human civilization.

    In Egypt, pyramids were built as the tombs of the pharaohs. The first Pharaohs erected simple tombs called ‘mastabas’, which consisted square rooms with coffins, mummies and some belongings. Then came the stylish step pyramid. In the Fourth Dynasty, during the rule of king Snefru pyramids became smooth sided. The scholars accept that pyramids were built as monuments of royal solar and stellar cults.

    Some Popular Pyramid Sites:

    Lepsius in 1842 made a list of pyramids, which counted the number of pyramids at 67, but since his time more pyramids, has been discovered. The present number of Egyptian pyramids as per the sources ranges from 80 to 110.

    Some Important Pyramid Sites As Per The Archaeologists:

    Abu Rawash

    Abu Rawash is the most northerly pyramid site. Present archaeological surveys regard this as the third largest pyramid about the same size of the pyramid of Menkaure, the third largest Giza pyramid.

    Giza

    Pyramid of Khufu, popularly known as The Great Pyramid is located in Giza, in outer reaches the city of Cairo. Pyramid of Khafre, which is relatively small and Pyramid of Menkaure are also located here. Great Sphinx also resides here. Giza also consists of a number of satellite edifices called the Leen pyramids.

    Giza Necropolis became popular since the Hellenistic era when Antipater of Sidon listed the Great Pyramid as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It has been a hotspot tourist destination since the yore and is the only remaining wonder of the ancient world.

    Zawyet el Aryan

    This is the site of two unfinished Old Kingdom Pyramids. The northern monument is believed to be of Pharaoh Nebka’s and the southern one is of the Third Dynasty Pharaoh Khaba’s.

    Abu Sir

    Abu Sir was the main royal necropolis during the Fifth Dynasty. Seven Egyptian pyramids adorn this site. Though the architectural excellence is not up to the level of the Fourth dynasty. This site speaks of a less glorious period in rule and of economics. All the chief pyramids of Abu Sir are built as step pyramids. The three prominent pyramids are Sahure, Neferirkare Kakai and Niuserre.

    The other famous pyramid sites are Saqqara, Dahshur, Hawarra , El- Lahun, Mazghuna, Lisht and Meidum. Some archaeologists opine that the Meidum pyramid, one of the three pyramids constructed during the reign of Sneferu, might be the first failed attempt of constructing a ‘true’ or smooth sided pyramid.

    The great Egyptian Pyramids exudes the charm and mystery and arouses the curiosity and interest of the travelers and scholars worldwide. It is the mystifying edifice of the mystic ancient Egypt.


  • Cairo Egypt


    Cairo, Egypt is one of the great capital cities of the world, an absolute melting pot of cultures, ancient and new. Add to it, the illustrious history that the city has stood witness to and you have a heady place that is rich in charm, elegance, peppiness and aristocracy, all at the same time. 

    About Cairo’s Geography

    Cairo, the capital of Egypt and the largest city in Africa, stands on the banks of the mighty river Nile in the northern part of the country. To be more precise, Cairo lies to the south of the place where the Nile branches out into the Nile Delta region.

    Cairo is a popular tourist destination and if you have the destination in your itinerary, then it is always worthwhile to gather the facts about the best times to travel to the place. And in this context, you have to take into account the weather of the place. The hot and dry summers are definite no-nos when it comes to visiting Cairo. The cooler months between November and March are the times to travel to Cairo and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the city.

    A Short History Of Cairo, Egypt

    The roots of Cairo can be traced back to Memphis, established around 3100 B.C. and went on to become the erstwhile capital of Ancient Egypt. The capital of Egypt further changed locations with Heliopolis to the south of Thebes and later to Alexandria under the rule of the Ptolemaic dynasty.

    Cairo, Egypt as it stands today, had its moorings in the Babylon Fort, a Roman fort built in and around AD 150, in the vicinity of a canal running from the river Nile to the Red Sea. The proximity to a water body and the security provided by the fortified structure lead to the establishment of a miniscule town, inhabited mostly by Coptic Christians, in the region.

    This town was later occupied by the Arabs under the leadership of Amr Ibn Al-As in AD 642. Their garrisons eventually came to constitute the permanent base of the Arab forces in Egypt under the Umayyads and Abbasids. This predominantly military base also houses the first mosque in Africa.

    Egypt had a new capital when in the year ad 972, the North African Shi’i Fatimid dynasty invaded the country and built their capital north of the old Arab garrison, at Al-Mansuriyyah.

    Throughout its history, there has been no dearth of foreign invaders setting foot on the soil of Egypt and with them the fortunes of the country’s capitals have swayed. Thus in the mid-1100s, Cairo was taken over by the Seljuks and Saladin and his descendents brought about a massive expansion in the structural dimensions of the city.

    Cairo, Egypt was brought under the aegis of the Ottoman Empire by Selim I in 1517, only to see the ruling Mameluks take over the reins in the capacity of vassals of the Ottoman Sultan. Henceforth, Cairo has been under the control of Napoleon, who took over Egypt in 1798 and General Kleber, who took upon the mantle of the ruler after defeating Napoleon in the Battle of Aboukir Bay in August 1798.  

    Ismail Pasha And The Fortunes Of Cairo

    The prosperity and the progress of Cairo, as you witness it now, owes its origins to a certain visionary named Ismail Pasha. During his rule, Ismail Pasha wrought in radical changes in the city’s landscape with the construction of the Suez Canal in 1863. This, in turn opened up Cairo and Egypt, for that matter, to the world and had the westerners flocking to this exotic land.

    It was also during the reign of Ismail Pasha that an extensive network of gas lighting was installed and the railway lines were expanded to bring in far-flung areas into the fold.

    Westernization of Cairo in the true sense of the term took place with Ismail Pasha deciding to revamp Cairo in the lines of Haussmann, a booming European city that he was greatly impressed with. His grand dreams with the city were carried on by his successor Ali Pasha Mubarak.

    Cairo: From The Perspective of The Tourist

    Holidays in Cairo promise loads of fun and frolic by way of the hordes of historical remains and sites to visit, reveling in the eclectic culture of the region and of course, immersing oneself in the vibrancy and exuberance of the population.

    Cairo is the chosen base of the countless millions of tourists who visit Egypt every year, lured by the magic and mystery of the Pyramid at Giza, the majesty of the sphinx and the fabulous tales that abound about the gods and goddesses of Egypt.

    When you travel to Cairo, Egypt be sure to take the trip to its old (Coptic) and the medieval (Islamic) quarters to understand the influences that shaped the city. The Hanging Church and the Ben Ezra Synagogue (Egypt’s oldest synagogue) are the places to visit when you are wandering down the cobbled streets of the Coptic regions of the city.

    The Islamic quarters of the city is home to the Ibn Tulun, one of the largest mosques in the world and the oldest university in the world, which is housed inside the Al-Azhar mosque. Besides, you can also roam about the colorful bazaars herein.

    Other places worth a visit when you are in Cairo are the Egyptian Museum, that houses amongst other lavish and stunning exhibits, the exquisitely crafted solid gold mask belonging to Tutankhamen; Qarafa or the City of the Dead, a one-of-a-kind “living cemetery” and of course, the massive Citadel wherein you can also catch the Whirling Dervishes giving a soul-stirring and entrancing performance.

    Cairo, Egypt presents a wonderful kaleidoscope of colors and motifs and there are not many cities in the world that can offer this exhilarating blend of sheer spiritual and sensorial pleasure. 


  • Harriet Tubman


    Harriet Tubman was born a slave. No one is quite sure of
    which year she was born, dates vary from 1819 – 1821. When a slave master died
    the slaves were either sold or taken over by whoever inherited them. Harriet’s
    master died, and all his property, including the slaves, was to be sold. Harriet
    escaped from the property in Maryland. She went to Pennsylvania where she could
    be free.

    After Harriet was free she wanted to help other people to
    be free. First, she rescued her sister and children, and then she helped many
    more people. She then worked as a “conductor” on the underground railway. It
    was a way of smuggling people to freedom. Each trip was very carefully planned.
    People were passed along from “conductor” to conductor. The conductors were
    people who helped the escaping slaves. They provided them with food and shelter
    and passed them on to the next person in the chain. The “passengers” were
    hidden in churches and homes along the way. It was very dangerous for anyone who
    helped them. If they were caught they could be sent to prison. Harriet could
    have been returned into slavery, if she was caught.

    Harriet was a master planner. She thought of all the small
    ways they may be discovered. She even gave babies something to make them sleep,
    so they wouldn’t cry and be discovered. Harriet was not afraid to protect
    herself or her passengers. She carried a gun, and would threaten any passenger
    who looked like giving trouble, or returning. If any slave changed their mind,
    Harriet would force them to continue at gunpoint. She could not afford for them
    to return and say where they had been.

    When the Civil War started Harriet helped out as a nurse, a
    cook and a scout for the Union Army. She was respected by most people for her
    work, but did no receive a pension, because she was black.

    She set up charities to help former slaves and she raised
    money for schools and to help the poor and sick. She started a home for elderly
    colored people. She dies in that home in 1913.

    Read about

    Harriet’s early life

    Take a
    virtual trip on the Underground Railroad

    Join our Black History Month Challenge:

    Learn more about the challenge.

  • Ancient Art


    Ancient art includes the diverse forms of arts developed primarily in the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece, Mesopotamia, Rome, India and China. Each civilization had its particular style and has influenced later arts of different cultures. They also give us an insight into how ancient artists worked.

    As history reveals, The Jomon’s of ancient Japan first founded pottery as an art form. Ancient art of the Arabs and Persians were a combination of paintings and writings with architecture. In Mesopotamia, the mother of all civilizations, writing and agriculture were discovered. They also enriched the later civilizations with their arts. Sumerians embellished their pottery with paintings and created beautiful jewelry. One of the most fascinating artifacts from that period is a wooden box decorated with lapis lazuli.

    As history suggests, Babylonians were said to have discovered the making of bricks which developed into architectural splendors like columns and pillars. Frescoes, tiles and walls were all beautiful and colorful. They also created fantastic artifacts in metal, gems and embroidery. The later Assyrians used stone slabs and sculptures for architecture. Also jewelry making with copper and gold attained perfection.

    One of the most artistically rich civilizations is that of Egypt. This civilization was based on religion. Their gods and pharaohs were worshipped devotedly and were depicted widely in their arts. In ancient Egyptian art a sense of proportion and balance was maintained by using orderly lines and shapes. Hierarchy was of vital importance in ancient Egyptian art and the pharaoh was the most important personage and was painted larger than any of the others.

    Gods, goddesses and animals as symbolic elements were widely used in ancient Egyptian art. Color was also an important aspect in the arts. Their art reflects a profound knowledge of human and animal anatomy. This ancient art survived through many centuries due to the dry climate of Egypt.

    Like Egypt, Greece was the hotbed of civilization. In the ancient art of Greece, pottery sculptures and architecture was prevalent. Greek art is distributed among three periods- Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic. The history of Greek pottery also includes periods like Protogeometric, Geometric, Archaic, Black Figure and Red Figure. The architecture and sculptures of ancient Greece have lasted through the ages.

    Ancient Greek paintings have unfortunately not survived long. You can find only a few examples of Greek paintings on terracotta and on tombs and walls. The paintings on pottery are aesthetically pleasing and have survived longer than on any other medium.

    Ancient Roman art was inspired by Greek and Etruscan arts. When the villas of Romans were excavated in Pompeii, strong affinity for Greek art was found to be present. Most Greek art survives through their copies by the Romans. The difference lies in the fact that Greeks depicted insights into human life whereas Romans glorified great events and personages through their art.

    Apart from these civilizations, ancient art of Minoa during the Bronze Age is famous for its ceramics, frescos, landscape paintings and stone carvings. The ancient Mycenaean specialized in working with gold. Scythian art consisting of gold jewelry are found from Hungary to Mongolia. Their art is small, characterizing their migratory lifestyle. Also ancient Chinese art has significantly influenced all arts of the Far East.

    From every conceivable medium like pottery, stone, glass, metal to textiles and categories such as architecture, paintings, jewelry and weapons, ancient art spans all ages and various cultures and civilizations.


  • Ancient Egyptian


    Ancient Egyptian civilization started from the Nile Delta in the north and stretched out far south to Jebel Barkal at the Fourth Cataract of the Nile. Moreover, areas of the southern Levant, the Eastern Desert and the Red Sea coastline, the Sinai Peninsula and the Western Desert also fit the geographical range of ancient Egyptian civilization.

    Ancient Egypt matured for more than three and a half millennia. It came into being with the unification of Nile Valley polities in about 3500 BCE. However, this civilization is believed to have ended in 51 BCE when the Roman Empire took over Ptolemaic Egypt.

    The ancient Egyptian civilization thrived well due to the river Nile. The dawn of Egyptian culture began with the wandering hunter-gatherers who embarked on living along the Nile during the Pleistocene. The artifacts and rock carvings that have been unearthed tells us about these early people. Human occupancy has also been traced in the southwestern corner of Egypt in close proximity to the Sudan border during this period.

    What’s more, in 6000 BCE well planned agriculture and huge building construction featured in the Nile Valley. There was somewhat a similar picture in the southwestern corner of Egypt where people were engaged in herding cattle along with erecting big buildings. The Egyptians were fashionable people and their clothing was quite prominent. Mortar i.e. masonry came about in 4000 BC. Egypt’s Predynastic Period that stood between 5500 and 3100 BCE witnessed small settlements that mushroomed along the Nile. And just before the first Egyptian dynasty stepped in Egypt, it was separated into two kingdoms namely, Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt. Narmer was the first king and he is credited for unifying Upper and Lower Egypt.

    The theories on the subject of the origin of the early Egyptians are a victim to controversy. The Egyptian society was a culmination of North and East African and not to mention the Southwest Asian peoples. Egyptian mythology tells us that religion played a very significant part in Egyptian lives. In fact, the religious beliefs held by the people of Egypt started from the predynastic times and continued all the way till the advent of Christianity and Islam in the Greco-Roman and Arab epochs. The ancient Egyptians worshipped sun as the most important deity. They believed that the sun’s passageway across the sky symbolizes the undying cycle of birth, death and rebirth. They also believed that they would become eternal beings after death. Customs and rituals were important to early Egyptians. The temple was considered a very holy part where only priests had admittance except for only special occasions, when entry of common people into the temple patio was acceptable.

    Interestingly, the religious side of ancient Egyptian civilization had it’s own influence on the arts of the times. Whether it was the pharaohs, who were also considered divine, or the gods or goddesses, everything formed a part of the great works of ancient Egypt.

    It was found that Egyptian beliefs and values spread far and wide to different antediluvian cultures, thanks to the evidence of mummies and pyramids outside ancient Egypt. Egypt in those times extended links with Nubia and Punt to the south, the Aegean and early Greece to the north, the Levant and other areas in the Near East to the east, and Libya to the west.

    According to the Egyptians, human existence in life and death revolved around the body and soul. They believed that mummification and burial in tombs was a means for the departed to find their way in the afterworld. Not just that, you will be surprised to find that tombs were crammed with food, tools, domestic wares and treasures. This was to ensure that the departed would subsist blissfully ever after.
     
    Pyramid is the most famous tomb of all. They come in a shape similar to the holy mound where the gods first came into view in the creation tale. The best of architects and engineers of those times had put in their heart and soul to erect these giant architectural marvels. Pyramids were obvious targets for tomb robbers. In fear of robbery, the kings concealed their tombs in the Valley of the Kings. British archaeologist Howard Carter discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922. It is indeed one of the greatest archaeological finds in history whatsoever. Archaeologists are still finding their way to newer discoveries while the scientific study of imperial mummies is helping to uncover facts about the genealogy of the pharaohs.

    Ancient Egyptian civilization like no other civilization has made it’s own mark in world history. Be it their religion, culture, people or even architectural wonders like the pyramids and the Sphinx, the Egyptians were simply great achievers.


  • Elizabeth Blackwell


    Elizabeth Blackwell, born in 1821, was the first woman
    doctor in the United States. She was also the first woman to be entered into the
    Physicians’ Register in the UK.

    She was born in Bristol, England in 1821. At that time it was
    not common for girls to receive a proper education. They were taught good
    manners and useful household and social skills. They were not considered as
    anything more than homemakers. Elizabeth Blackwell’s father, Samuel Blackwell,
    had different views. He thought girls should receive the same education as boys.
    Elizabeth, her four sisters and her four brothers all received the same,
    extensive education.

    Samuel Blackwell was against the Church in England. He also
    suffered business losses. He decided that he should move with his family to
    America. In 1832, the family immigrated to America. The entire family became
    involved in the abolitionist movement. They even hid escaping slaves in their
    home. Samuel Blackwell was unable to make much money. By the time he died, in
    1838, there was very little left for his family to live on. Elizabeth, along
    with two of her sisters, started a small private school for girls, to help bring
    in money.

    Elizabeth was interested in becoming a doctor. She was
    convinced that women would rather see a female, than a male, about their health
    problems. She studied medicine, privately, while teaching. At the same time she
    applied to medical school. Over twenty medical schools rejected her. It was
    unthinkable for a woman to become a doctor. Elizabeth didn’t give up her
    dream, though. Finally, she was accepted by Geneva Medical School, New York, in
    1847. It was supposed to be a joke. The male students were asked to vote on
    whether she should be allowed in or not. They voted yes because they thought she
    could never succeed, and they would teach her a lesson. Elizabeth didn’t see
    it that way. She studied hard and graduated first in her class, receiving her
    degree in 1849.

    She returned to Pennsylvania and worked in the hospitals
    there. During that time she became a naturalized US citizen. She wanted to
    become a surgeon, and traveled to Paris hoping to train with the great surgeons
    there. Again she was refused admission to the medical community. Instead she
    enrolled in the Midwifery School. She attended to women and sick infants. She
    accidentally infected her own left eye while treating a baby with a severe eye
    infection. This resulted in the loss of her eye that was later replaced with a
    glass eye. She also lost all hope of becoming a surgeon.

    She then moved onto London and trained under Sir James Paget.
    All of her training could not get her a job in a private practice in the States.
    No man was going to take in a woman associate. Since she couldn’t get into an
    established practice she decided to set up her own, with her sister Emily. Emily
    was following Elizabeth into medicine. She was having an even harder time than
    Elizabeth finding a college that would accept her.

    Elizabeth rented a house and set up her private practice in
    it. She slowly began to get patients. Two years later she opened a dispensary
    for poor women and children in a slum area of Manhattan. Emily eventually
    graduated from medial school and joined Elizabeth. Together they opened the New
    York Infirmary for Indigent Women and Children. Many other newly graduate women
    doctors did their training there.

    In 1958, Elizabeth returned to England. She became the first
    woman to be entered on the Physicians’ Register there. She gave lectures on
    education reform, and inspired Elizabeth Garrett Anderson to take up medicine.
    Garrett Anderson was a pioneer of women doctors in England. She opened a
    hospital like the one Elizabeth Blackwell had opened in New York. That hospital
    remained open until very recently (about 1980).

    Elizabeth returned to America just in time to see the
    beginnings of the Civil War. Elizabeth and Emily helped train nurses for the
    Union Army. Elizabeth was appointed head of the Sanitary Commission by President
    Lincoln. At the beginning of the Civil War very little was understood about
    hygiene and how it affected health. Elizabeth was one of the first to understand
    how hygiene helped prevent the spread of infection. In 1868 the Women’s
    Medical College opened in New York, next to the Infirmary. Elizabeth was
    Professor of Hygiene.

    She decided that women were well established in American
    medical circles and turned her attentions to England, once again. She moved back
    to England, becoming a Professor of Gynecology there. She died in 1910, at the
    age of 89 in Hastings, England. By the
    time she died female doctors were accepted in England and the United States. The
    Women’s Medical College had closed as regular colleges were accepting female
    students. There were 7,000 female doctors in the States. She had paved the way for them
    all!