World History Story Briefs

Whether it's people, places or events which fuel "the news," the fabric of our lives is impacted by world events. This collection features stories from ancient to modern times.

History tells us that King Charles VI, of France, ultimately "went mad." In one episode, displaying his lack of reasoning, he turned on his own knight...

Ferdinand Magellan had an important goal whenhe leftthetown of Sevilleon the 10th of August, 1519: Find awestward routeto theSpice (Maluku) Islands.

Sailing in caravels, which are very uncomfortable, Magellan and his men encounter bad weather. Then they see "St. Elmo's Fire." Maybe something good...

Weeping for joy, Magellan realizes he's found a fabled passage when his ships sailed into the Pacific (from the Atlantic).

After Magellan dies, his remnant crew returns to Spain, completing the world's first circumnavigation. Extremely ill, the men do not realize their car...

Majungasaurus was a fearsome dinosaur which roamed the northwestern area of Madagascar. Paleontologists believe it may have been a cannibal.

Desmond Tutu, in his "Setting Free the Past" lecture, told a Georgetown University gathering that Mandela had changed during his prison years:He had g...

Nelson Mandela and Evelyn Mase (then his girlfriend) are seen here at the wedding of Walter and Albertina Sisulu in April of 1944.

One year after his divorce from Evelyn Mase, Mandela married Winnie Madikizela.

Thembekile (known as Thembi) was Mandela's older son (with his first wife, Evelyn) and his third-born child.

As John Carlin researched Mandela's background (for his book "Playing the Enemy"), he interviewed Chief Joyi (seen in the center of this picture).

After graduation, Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo formed the only South African law firm which was owned and operated by blacks.

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