Dynamic Directory - December 3, 2024

Although historians may disagree that this author has chosen the top 100 battles in the history of the world, the book conveys an unbiased look at important military conflicts which have shaped history.

In 1841, Solomon Northup (a free black living in Saratoga) is betrayed, sold to a Southern plantation owner and spends 12 years as a slave before he is rescued.

Slave pens, in Washington, are near America's Capitol Building and the White House in 1841.

With an intermediate stop in Richmond (Virginia), Solomon Northup (now known by his slave-name "Platt") spends time in another slave pen before he boards a ship to New Orleans.

Solomon Northup, known as "Platt," experiences slave life in Louisiana with a "good master" and a "bad master."

A mortgage, for the life of Solomon Northup ("Platt") ends-up saving him from death at the hands of a cruel slave-owner called John Tibeats.

Edwin Epps is a cruel slave-owner who frequently beats slaves for no reason other than to inflict misery. After John Tibeats, Solomon Northup ("Platt") is owned by Epps

Edwin Epps orders Platt (Solomon Northup) to beat Patsey, another slave. When Platt defies Epps' wishes, for an even-worse beating, Epps cruelly whips Patsey himself.

While helping to build a home for the Epps family, Platt (Solomon Northup) meets a Canadian man called Bass. That meeting will change Platt's life.

Risking his own life, Bass agrees to write letters for Platt (Solomon Northup), alerting people in the North that he is wrongfully being held as a slave near Marksville, Louisiana.

One of Bass' letters reaches the right people in the North. Henry Northup makes a plan to free Platt (Solomon Northup).

Henry Northup tells Platt (Solomon Northup) to throw down his sack because his "cotton-picking days are over."

After his slave ordeal is over, Solomon Northup brings charges against the people who wrongfully sold him into slavery. Because a black person cannot testify against a white, at that time in America, no one is held responsible for his 12 years as a slave.

The Duryea Brothers produced America's first gasoline-powered automobile which could be built more than one at a time.

Leonidas, the king of Sparta, leads the Greek army against Xerxes' Persian army but is killed in the fight at Thermopylae. Later, Themistocles defeats Xerxes with superior naval power.

Using an early form of democracy, Greek city-states fight to keep their rights.

Sparta is a Greece city-state which protects itself from enemies with its organized standing army.

All healthy Spartan boys become soldiers.

Leonidas, King of Sparta, prepares to lead a Greek army against Xerxes, King of Persia, and his Immortals.

Queen Gorgo, Leonidas' wife, discovers a secret message sent as a warning about the approaching Persian army.

Xerxes has an army, the "Immortals," consisting of exactly 10,000 men at all times.

Xerxes chooses to bring his army through Thermopylae, in central Greece, which consists of a narrow pass between the mountains and the sea.

Thermopylae is the battleground for a fight where the defending Greek army kills many of Xerxes' invading Persian soldiers.

Ephialtes, a Greek traitor, leads Xerxes' army on a secret path around Thermopylae in order to surround and defeat the Greek army.

It is due to the bravery of Leonidas' 300 that Athens and the rest of Greece continue to fight the Persians.

Displaying courage and skill, the Greeks (led by Sparta) defeat the Persians (fighting without their ruler, Xerxes).

This cutaway drawing depicts how scientists view the composition of Earth's interior.

On the 15th of April, 1947, Jackie Robinson made history when he broke the color-barrier in major league baseball.

Jackie Robinson grows up in California where, after youthful troubles, he becomes an expert athlete in football, basketball, baseball and track.

During World War II there is a policy of racial discrimination in the military, but Lt. Jack Robinson decides to challenge that policy.

Jackie Robinson refuses to leave his seat on a bus and subsequently faces a court martial.

Jackie Robinson faces charges of being disrespectful to investigating officers, rather than refusing to move to the rear of the bus.

Jackie plays for the Kansas City Monarchs; African-American baseball players face discrimination in every town.

Branch Rickey wants a Black man to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers; he selects Jackie Robinson to become the first Black player in Major League baseball.

In 1946, Jackie Robinson agrees not to fight the discrimination he will face as the first Black baseball player; he earns his team's respect.

Jackie Robinson is politically independent but fights for civil rights.

Fort Wagner was the garrison protecting the port of Charleston, South Carolina, at the beginning of America's Civil War.

Aaron Burr became America's third Vice President in 1800. He has an interesting history, but not all of it is pleasant!

Guido Reni created a painting—The Abduction of Helen—in 1631. There is more to this painting than meets the eye of today’s beholders.

Menelaus talks his brother, Agamemnon, into helping him get his wife back. The Greeks set sail with 1,000 ships and believe that they will win the war.

John Nash, a Nobel-Prize-winning genius who suffered from schizophrenia, died in a tragic car crash on May 23, 2015. He was portrayed by Russell Crowe in the film, "A Beautiful Mind.".

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder which affects more than two million Americans each year.

People with schizophrenia have decreased brain activity.

With a full scholarship, Nash attends Princeton and is surrounded by other geniuses.

John Nash is a recognized genius while studying at Princeton and teaching at M.I.T (as C.L.E. Moore Instructor).

John Nash begins hearing voices in his head and seeks help at McLean Hospital.

While suffering from a mental disorder, John Nash has periods of time where he does amazing work.

By his own measure, Dr. Nash has recovered from schizophrenia.

After receiving the prestigious Abel Prize in Norway, Professor John Nash was killed in an accident while riding in a cab en route home from the airport. Alicia Nash was also killed in the accident.

Abe Lincoln lived at Knob Creek Farm, in Hodgenville, Kentucky, until he was nearly eight years old.

In 1863, President Lincoln declared the last Thursday in November would be Thanksgiving Day. He issued a turkey reprieve - which we would call a pardon - the next month in light of his son Tad's request. Lincoln became extremely close to his son Tad after the death of his older son, Willie, in 1862.

Abigail Adams, in many ways, was a woman ahead of her time. When her husband, John, served as America's 2nd president, critics referred to Abigail as "Mrs. President."

After trying, for nearly two decades, to abolish the slave trade, William Wilberforce finally convinces Parliament to do the right thing on February 23, 1807.

John Newton wrote the hymn "Amazing Grace" years after a dangerous sea voyage.

For 18 years, William Wilberforce pleads with Members of the House of Commons that Parliament must abolish the slave-trade. On February 23, 1807, Parliament finally agrees.

Abolitionists who wanted children to understand America's system of chattel slavery wrote books to communicate their message. One example is "A Picture of Slavery for Youth."

A closer look at Phillis Wheatley and why she wrote the famous poem "About Slavery."

Learn about our founder Carole D. Bos, her vision, her mission and our community that continues to expand, improve and flourish.

The AwesomeStories learning solution is described by Deborah Bond-Upson, Chief Education & Strategy Officer.

How AwesomeStories has grown into a teaching and learning solution. A MakerSpace for the Humanities!

Abraham Lincoln is known, among other things, as "The Compassionate President."

When Abe Lincoln was a young boy of seven, he nearly drowned in Knob Creek.

When Abe Lincoln was eight years old, he moved with his family to a settlement in Indiana. It was there that he lost his mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln, when he was nine.

After he turned 21, Abraham Lincoln left his family home to make his own way in the world.

Abraham Lincoln is known as one of America's greatest presidents, but what do we know about his "love life?"

While a legislator for the state of Illinois, Abe Lincoln also studied law and passed the bar exam.

Abraham Marries

Abe Lincoln was elected to Congress and, in 1847, he and his family moved to Washington City (as America's capital was then known).

Abraham Lincoln realizes that slavery is pulling apart the Union of American States and recognizes the country cannot hold together with such deeply divisive attitudes.

When Abraham Lincoln becomes America's 16th President, Southerners viewed the event as a showdown. South Carolina became the first state to leave the Union of States.

Calling for Americans to "bind up the nation's wounds," Lincoln has hopes for a reunited America. Soon after his second inaugural, however, Lincoln dies at the hands of an assassin.

When Abraham Lincoln did not like the way a photographer had smoothed his hair, the future President ran his fingers through it - just before the picture was taken - giving himself (and his hair) a hipper look (by today's standards).

Born on the 12th of February, in 1809, Abraham Lincoln was America's 16th president. For many people, this man with humble beginnings was the greatest U.S. president. Learn more about him.