“A generation which ignores history has no past and no future.”
Robert Heinlein, American author.
1. The first modern Olympic Games was opened in Athens
On this day in history in 1896, the first modern Olympic games was opened in Athens. 241 athletes from 14 countries took part in the First Olympiad. The event took place over 1500 years after the last ancient Olympic Games, which originated in Olympia in south-western Greece.
2. Robert Peary allegedly became the first person to reach the North Pole
On this day in history in 1909, Robert Peary allegedly became the first person to reach the North Pole. Peary’s claim has never been verified and is widely contested. The first undisputed journey to the North Pole was the 1948 Soviet Sever-2 expedition.
3. A team of aviators began the first round-the-world flight in history
On this day in history in 1924, a team of aviators began the first round-the-world flight in history. Four aircraft left Seattle on a westbound route around the globe. 157 days later, two of them reached the same location.
4. The first commercial communications satellite was launched
On this day in history in 1965, the first commercial communications satellite was launched. Intelsat I, also known as Early Bird, facilitated the first live TV broadcast of a spacecraft splashdown when Gemini 6 landed in the Atlantic Ocean.
5. The Rwandan genocide began
On this day in history in 1994, the Rwandan genocide began. The assassination of Rwandan President, Juvénal Habyarimana, and Burundian President, Cyprien Ntaryamira, triggered a mass slaughter of ethnic Tutsis with up to 1 million victims.
