Browsing: September 28

A Brief History On this date, September 28, 48 BC, Pompey the Great was assassinated on the orders of King Ptolemy of Egypt after landing in Egypt.  Although we know of this incident, many open problems concern Ancient Egypt, and some of them may never be solved.  Egyptian archaeology is in a state of constant transition, with much of the terminology and chronology in dispute.  The archaeological record is incomplete, with countless relics and artifacts missing or destroyed.  New archaeological discoveries can call into question previous conclusions about Ancient Egypt.  Furthermore, there are internal problems of overall cohesion of various…

A Brief History On September 28, 1066, a warrior leader known as “William the Bastard” invaded England from Normandy in what is now France.  You probably know him better as William the Conqueror, a much catchier name.  William the Bastard was the illegitimate son of the Duke of Normandy.  His status as a bastard posed some difficulties for him as he succeeded his father; however, after he had consolidated his power and established control over his duchy, he also set his sites on England and set the invasion of the island country in motion.  That move was the best thing he…

A Brief History On September 28, 235 A.D., Pope Pontian became the first pope to resign his office, only to live out his days exiled to the mines of Sardinia! Digging Deeper When Pope Benedict XVI resigned his papacy in 2013, he was the first pope to do so since 1415.  In fact, he was one of only a handful of popes to ever resign.  Out of the 266 popes who have led Roman Catholicism, only six have ever abdicated.  Pope Emeritus Benedict actually retains various aspects of his former office and probably lives under better conditions than many people…