Today in 371 BC, the impossible happened on a small plain in central Greece.

6,000 Thebans faced 10,000 Spartans. In a few hours, three centuries of military legend would end.

This is the story of the day Sparta fell…🧵👇🏼 For centuries, Sparta had dominated Greece. Their professional warrior society and feared hoplite army had made them nearly invincible since the Persian Wars.

They controlled much of Greece through puppet governments and military garrisons.

Today in 1863, two formidable armies collided at a Pennsylvania crossroads town.

Neither planned to fight there, but over the next three days, 160,000 Americans fought the bloodiest battle in the nation's history.

Here is the story of the Battle of Gettysburg 🧵👇🏼 In June 1863, General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, with 75,000 men, invaded Pennsylvania.

Fighting in Virginia had devastated the land, so Lee decided to invade the north and threaten major Northern cities like Philadelphia and Washington, and potentially force peace negotiations.

Today in 1812 and 1941, just 129 years apart, Napoleon and Hitler launched their armies against Russia.

Both underestimated her people’s resolve and how merciless the land would be.

Many marched in…but few returned🧵👇🏼 The goal of Napoleon’s 1812 invasion was to severely weaken Russia and force compliance with a trade blockade against Britain.

Operation Barbarossa in 1941 sought to conquer the Soviet Union and eliminate communism.

We think of Rome as the ultimate power, fearing no one…but Rome feared Hannibal.

When Hannibal invaded Italy, Rome stopped engaging him in open battle.

Why? Because today in 217 BC, Hannibal led one of the most devastating ambushes in history 🧵👇🏼 It’s called the Battle of Lake Trasimene and it took place during the Second Punic War.

It was a major Carthaginian victory over Rome.

Today in 1631, Shah Jahan lost his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

In his grief, he built the Taj Mahal, the world’s most stunning mausoleum.

Here’s the story 🧵👇🏼 Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal emperor, married Mumtaz Mahal, in 1612 after a five year engagement.

Imagine an act so bold, it becomes a phrase people say over 3,000 years later.

Today in 1184 BC, brave Greeks inside the Trojan Horse slipped into Troy and brought the city to its knees.

To them, it ended the war, but we’re still saying “Trojan Horse” today 🧵👇🏼 According to Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, which are mythological and by no means historical facts, this is how the Trojan War unfolded.

Today in 1949, George Orwell published one of the most chilling books I’ve ever read, 1984.

A literary masterpiece, 1984 exposes tactics of suppression that feel all too familiar in our world today.

Here are ten truths Orwell urged us to confront to ward off Big Brother 🧵👇🏼 Totalitarian power crushes freedom.

The Party’s absolute control through surveillance and fear shows how authoritarian regimes eliminate personal liberties and achieve unchecked power.

In an age of glass, let’s revisit a time when buildings were made to inspire.

In the 19th century, architects revived the splendor of ancient Rome and Greece through Beaux Arts.

Their creations became the world’s most beautiful buildings. Come see!🧵👇🏼
Grand Central Terminal, New York - 1913

Yesterday was the anniversary of a special day as construction on St. Peter’s Basilica began in 1506!

Words cannot describe one’s feeling of awe and wonder upon entering for the first time.

I’d like to tell you the story of the building of the largest church in the world 🧵 In 1448, The Old St. Peter’s Basilica was deteriorating and it was deemed irreparable. Discussions started around what should be on built next.

Today in 1521, a very nervous Martin Luther arrived in Worms, Germany.

He was about to face the leaders of the Holy Roman Empire for challenging the authority of Pope Leo X.

What happened next changed the world forever 🧵 We begin in early 1521, when Martin Luther was summoned to the Diet of Worms.

It was to be an imperial assembly in the city of Worms, where Luther would face charges of heresy.

The Eiffel Tower was completed today in 1889!

An iconic day, and what a storied history this structure has had.

Here are some things you might not know about this incredible tower 🧵 The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 World's Fair in Paris to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution.

A very happy 542nd birthday to Raphael, one of the greatest artists of the Renaissance!

After being born in Urbino, Italy in 1483, he produced over 500 pieces of art during his life.

Here are some of his incredible masterpieces 🧵 Triumph of Galatea, 1514

Today in 1882, construction began on the extraordinary Sagrada Família in Barcelona.

Antoni Gaudí dedicated his life to building this spectacular basilica.

Come explore the historic moments that have brought this incredible church so close to being finished. Philanthropist Josep Maria Bocabella was inspired by his Vatican visit, so with Francisco de Paula del Villar as the first architect, they laid the crypt’s foundation today in 1882.

Imagine spending your entire life at war to earn independence. The Dutch know about this all too well.

Today in 1567, the first battle of the Eighty Years’ War was fought, and started a revolution to rid the Dutch from their Spanish rulers 🧵 The Eighty Years' War was a long revolution from 1567 to 1648 between the Seventeen Provinces of the Netherlands and their Spanish Habsburg rulers.

Today in 1702, Anne Stuart became Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

She united Great Britain, reshaped politics by ousting the Whigs, and led her nation to victory in the War of the Spanish Succession.

Come discover the story of the last Stuart monarch 🧵 Anne Stuart was born in 1665, to James, Duke of York, and Anne Hyde. Raised Protestant under her uncle Charles II’s orders.

Her Anglican upbringing had a direct impact on her future rule.

Today in 1564, Michelangelo Buonarroti passed away in Rome at the age of 88. He is arguably the greatest artist of all time, and was truly the embodiment of the Renaissance.

To honor him, come admire the incredible works he left behind!
The Last Judgment, 1541

This is a monumental fresco by Michelangelo on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel.

On this day in 1776, Edward Gibbon published the first volume of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, a monumental work he would complete in six volumes by 1788.

If you haven’t read all six (which I highly recommend you do), here are the main things you need to know! 🧵 Gibbon’s work covers approximately 1,300 years, from the 2nd century to 1453.

This covers Rome’s peak, the Western Empire’s collapse in 476, and the final fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks.

Today in 1923, the sealed tomb of King Tutankhamen was opened after lying undisturbed for over three millennia.

It’s potentially the greatest archaeological discovery in history!

Here’s the remarkable story 🧵 Howard Carter was a British archaeologist and Egyptologist who led the excavation in the Valley of the Kings. He was financially backed by George Herbert, known as Lord Carnarvon.

On this day in 1650, the world lost René Descartes, the Father of Modern Philosophy. He boldly questioned every belief in pursuit of what is absolutely certain in life.

In tribute, here are 18 timeless quotes from Descartes that echo his unwavering search for truth. “I think, therefore I am.”

Today in 1587, Mary Queen of Scots was executed. Her death brought an end to one of the most tragic lives of a Monarch in history.

Come step into the story of a queen caught between ambition, betrayal, and the fight for her crown. 🧵 Mary, Queen of Scots was born on December 8, 1542, at Linlithgow Palace and became queen just six days later, after her father, King James V, died.

Today in 1986, Musée d'Orsay officially opened in Paris!

It is home to over 3,000 pieces of art from masters such as Manet, Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh, Rodin, and many more.

Here are some excellent pieces on display at Musée d'Orsay 🧵👇🏼 @MuseeOrsay Woman Bitten by a Snake – Auguste Clésinger (1847)

A sculpture of a writhing woman having been bitten by a snake. It is known for hyper-realism and portrayal of ambiguity between pain and passion.