Week in Review: June 12, 2022
Waterloo
Napoleon’s final defeat came just outside Brussels, Belgium, on June 18, 1815.
Who beat Napoleon?
His nickname was the Iron Duke.
And who helped?
In the grand tradition of Prussian military moustaches, his is among the finest.
Why was the battle so important?
Europe had been at war for the better part of a generation, and its leaders were jolly well done with “The Little Corporal.”
Did Napoleon surrender at Waterloo?
ABBA got this historical detail wrong—the surrender actually came four days later.
Was Napoleon really short?
By modern standards, sure, but he was probably at the high end of average for early 19th-century Frenchmen.
Juneteenth
On Sunday we mark the end of slavery in the United States. Why June 19? That was the day in 1865 that enslaved persons in Texas finally learned that the Emancipation Proclamation had abolished slavery in the Confederate states—more than two years earlier. We take a closer look at the holiday and the history of slavery in America.
Why Did It Take So Long for Enslaved People in Texas to Be Freed?
Companion / World History
Henry Louis Stephens/Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (CaLC-USZC4-2442)
“The Greatest Event of the 19th Century”
article / Lifestyles & Social Issues
© Everett Historical/Shutterstock.com
What American Colony Was the First to Legalize Slavery? (Hint: It’s in the North)
Quiz / World History
Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (LC-DIG-ppmsca-11398)
Women Who Are Out of This World
To commemorate the anniversary of the first woman in space, we’re highlighting history-making female astronauts and cosmonauts.
Who was the first?
In 1963 this Soviet cosmonaut became the first woman to go into space, orbiting the Earth 48 times.
And the first American?
Twenty years later, this female astronaut made history when she was launched into space aboard the shuttle orbiter Challenger.
And from China?
In 2012 this People’s Liberation Army pilot became the first Chinese woman to travel into space, overseeing medical experiments.
Breaking barriers
This physician was the first African American female astronaut, and she was a member of the 1992 Endeavour mission.
Stepping out
In 1984 this Soviet cosmonaut became the first woman to perform a space walk.
Who else had the right stuff?
Take our quiz about famous astronauts and cosmonauts.
What Your Mummy Never Taught You
We all learn what role mummies played in ancient Egypt. Here are some fascinating facts about mummies you probably never knew.
What Mummy Has a Passport (It Was Issued in 1974)?
article / Politics, Law & Government
© Mypix/Dreamstime.com
To All Free Men of Our Kingdom
On June 15, 1215, King John of England granted the Magna Carta, a list of the rights and liberties for “free men.”
Who was King John?
Learn why “John” has been all but stricken from the list of royal baby names.
What is the significance of the Magna Carta today?
This 806-year-old document established that no ruler is above the law.
What led to the sealing of the Magna Carta?
Watch this informative video on how to be a very bad king.
Where can you visit a monument to the rule of law?
The Magna Carta memorial in Runnymede, England, was built, perhaps surprisingly, by the American Bar Association.
How much do you know about famous documents?
Codes, addresses, and manifestos galore!
Seven Wonders of the World
Much has been made recently about the New Seven Wonders of the World. But how much do you know about the original Seven Wonders?
It May Have Inspired the Statue of Liberty
article / Visual Arts
Entwurff einer historischen Architectur by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach; engravings by Johann Adam Delsenbach (Leipzig, 1725)
What Are the Other Wonders?
article / World History
Entwurff einer historischen Architectur by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach; engravings by Johann Adam Delsenbach (Leipzig, 1725)
History’s Great Mysteries
Britannica can answer many of your burning questions, but there are some mysteries that have yet to be solved.
Where is D.B. Cooper?
After hijacking a plane in 1971, he parachuted out of the aircraft with the ransom money and disappeared.
What happened to Malaysia Airlines flight 370?
While it seems incredible that a passenger jet could go missing, that’s exactly what happened in 2014.
Who was Jack the Ripper?
The identity of the man who brutally killed at least five women in 1888 has obsessed detectives and armchair sleuths for decades.
Did Edgar Allan Poe die from rabies?
While that’s one theory, we don’t really know. The cause of his death is one of literature’s great unsolved mysteries—fitting for the man who created the genre of detective fiction.
Where is Jimmy Hoffa?
Read our list of nine mysterious disappearances of people, including the controversial labor leader who went missing in 1975.
Name That Flag!
In most countries, flags are important symbols, reflecting a shared history, culture, religion, or beliefs. While some flags are universally recognized, others are not. Today we’re highlighting a few you might not know.
The Prettiest?
article
Guess the City by Its Nickname
You probably know what metropolis is called the City of Light or the Big Apple, but can you guess these cities by their lesser-known nicknames?
The Pink City
It is said that this cosmopolis was painted its namesake hue in 1876 in anticipation of a visit from the prince of Wales.
The End of the World
This port town got its moniker from its location, which is at the southern extremity of South America.
Ice City
This metropolis is one of the coldest in China and is known for its annual ice festival.
Silicon Savannah
This African city’s newest nickname plays on the tech industry and on its country’s ecological features.
Phoenix City
This European cosmopolis earned its name for its resemblance to the mythological bird that rises from the ashes.
Do You Know These Mobsters?
Today we’re highlighting a few gangsters who played a significant role in organized crime. Can you name them? We’ve provided a few hints.
The Inspiration for The Godfather’s Vito Corleone
article / Politics, Law & Government
New York World-Telegram and the Sun Newspaper Photograph Collection/Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (Digital File Number: cph 3c20716)