Brave Queens, Hidden Beaches, and Epic Battles:
Amazing Stories from History!
๐ Queen of Egypt: Cleopatra was the last ruler of ancient Egypt and one of the few women to be a pharaoh.
๐ง Smart and Powerful: She wasn't just pretty, she was clever, spoke many languages, and used her smarts to protect her kingdom.
โค๏ธ Famous Friendships: Cleopatra became friends (and more) with Julius Caesar and later Mark Antony to keep Egypt safe from Rome.
โจ Grand Style: She loved to show off her power with fancy boats, clothes, and parties to impress leaders.
โ A Mysterious Ending: Cleopatra died over 2,000 years ago, and historians still debate how she looked and how she died.
๐๏ธ A long time ago, Black families created special beach towns and resorts where they could relax and have fun safely, away from unfair rules called Jim Crow.
๐ In places like Idlewild and Oak Bluffs, families swam, rode boats and horses, ate ice cream, and watched famous singers perform.
๐ถ These resorts helped Black musicians and artists perform freely and share their culture without restrictions.
๐ก Black people owned homes, businesses, and resorts, showing they could succeed and build their own thriving communities. ย
โค๏ธ Many of these towns, like Oak Bluffs and Fox Lake, are still loved and visited, keeping their history and spirit alive.
Fun Fact!
Cleopatra wasn't actually Egyptian by birth! She was part of the Ptolemaic dynasty, which was Greek. She was actually the first ruler in her family line who learned to speak Egyptian, along with eight other languages!
Fun Fact!
The USS Johnston sank so deep in the ocean that it wasn't discovered until 2019, when explorers found it more than 20,000 feet underwater - that's deeper than Mount Everest is tall! It's the deepest shipwreck ever discovered.
Lost Worlds and Hidden Treasures:
From Atlantis to Ancient Egypt and Sunken Gold
๐๏ธ A long time ago, a Greek thinker named Plato told a story about a rich and magical island called Atlantis, where people lived with the sea god Poseidonโs protection.
๐๏ธ Atlantis was described as a place with shiny gold, animals, and beautiful islands connected by canals.
๐ Many people have guessed where Atlantis could be, near Greece, or even under ice but scientists donโt think it was real.
๐ A giant volcano exploded on an island called Santorini thousands of years ago, which may have inspired the story of a place sinking into the sea.
๐ Plato made up the Atlantis story to teach lessons: the people of Atlantis became greedy, so the gods punished them, and their city disappeared under the ocean.
๐ง Scientists used special X-ray scans to look inside a very old Egyptian mummy called the โuntouchable oneโ without unwrapping it.
๐ฟ The mummy is about 2,300 years old and was a man who lived during the Ptolemaic Era (a long time ago in Ancient Egypt).
๐บ His wrapping is super fancy the pattern on his face looks like a pyramid, and there are pictures of gods like Isis, Nephtys, and Anubis on his mummy case.
โ๏ธ Scans showed his name was written on the mummy, but scientists arenโt sure if it says โPacheriโ or โNenu.โ
๐ In other news, tunnels were also discovered deep under the city of Rome they will open for people to visit in a few years!
Fun Facts ๐๏ธ
- Atlantis: The story of Atlantis has inspired over 20,000 books, movies, and TV shows, making it one of the most popular lost civilization myths of all time! ๐๏ธ
- Mummies: Ancient Egyptians mummified not just people but also millions of animals including cats, birds, and even crocodiles as offerings to their gods! ๐
National Geographic - 25.07.25
What was it like to live in Old Babylon?
At its peak, the Old Babylonian Empire rose to be one of the biggest civilizations the world had seenโbut what was daily life like? Along with the pioneering legal code of Hammurabi, a wealth of tablets provide rich details on how Babylonians settled disputes, managed family life, and celebrated festivals.
๐ People in Babylon lived in houses with a courtyard. Families were very important, and they sometimes adopted kids to help at home or continue the family name.
๐ King Hammurabi made special rules called "The Code of Hammurabi" for everyone knew what was fair & what was not.
๐ ๏ธ Kids often learned their parentsโ jobs, like baking, weaving, or building. Merchants things, and craftsmen handmade things.
๐ถ Babylonians liked music, dancing, games (like dice), and big New Year festivals to celebrate their god Marduk.
๐พ Babylon was a huge, busy city with people from many places. It had markets, temples, and big towers like ziggurat.
๐ข A big ship called the S.S. Central America sank in 1857 during a huge storm, and 425 people sadly lost their lives.
๐ฐ The ship was carrying tons of gold from California, and when it sank, all the gold was lost in the ocean.
๐ฆ Losing that gold made banks run out of money, which caused big money problems all over the United States.
๐ฆธโโ๏ธ The brave captain saved women and children first but stayed with his ship and went down with it.
๐ดโโ ๏ธ Many years later, treasure hunters found the shipwreck and discovered gold, old photos, clothes, and even the honeymoon suitcase of one couple!โ
Fun Fact:
- The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, though some historians debate whether they actually existed!
- When the shipwreck was discovered in 1988, they found over 7,500 gold coins and 45 gold bars, worth more than $100 million today!
Amazing People, Places & Celebrations:
Fun Facts from Around the World!
๐ Nelson Mandela wanted everyone to be treated equally
He was born in Africa, where unfair rules called apartheid treated Black people badly. He worked hard to stop this.
๐ง๐ฝโ๐ซ Nelson went to school, became a lawyer, and helped people fight for their rights peacefully. Later, he believed stronger actions were needed and got in trouble for it.
๐ He spent 27 years in prison for standing up for justice
Even in jail, people around the world supported him. He became a symbol of hope & courage for everyone who wanted fairness.
๐ค He helped change the laws and became president
When he was released, he worked with others to end apartheid. In 1994, he became South Africaโs first Black president!
๐ He wanted the world to be kind and fair for everyone
Even after being president, he helped people by fighting poverty and sickness. Every July 18 is Nelson Mandela Day to celebrate his life and remind us to be kind and fair too!
He was born in Africa, where unfair rules called apartheid treated Black people badly. He worked hard to stop this.
๐ง๐ฝโ๐ซ Nelson went to school, became a lawyer, and helped people fight for their rights peacefully. Later, he believed stronger actions were needed and got in trouble for it.
๐ He spent 27 years in prison for standing up for justice
Even in jail, people around the world supported him. He became a symbol of hope & courage for everyone who wanted fairness.
๐ค He helped change the laws and became president
When he was released, he worked with others to end apartheid. In 1994, he became South Africaโs first Black president!
๐ He wanted the world to be kind and fair for everyone
Even after being president, he helped people by fighting poverty and sickness. Every July 18 is Nelson Mandela Day to celebrate his life and remind us to be kind and fair too!
๐ Long ago, birthday candles were magical!
People in ancient times used candles on cakes to talk to gods and ask for blessings, especially in Greece and Rome.
๐ฏ๏ธ Candles were for protection too!
In old Germany, people believed candles could keep bad spirits away from birthday kids and help their wishes reach the sky!
๐ The cake and candle idea grew over time!
At first, only fancy families had cakes with candles, but later more people started using them to celebrate birthdays.
๐ The tradition spread across the world!
Germans brought the birthday candle idea to America, and then it spread to other countries, including Japan after World War II.
๐ญ Even Mickey Mouse helped!
Disney showed birthday candles in cartoons, and that made the tradition super popular with kids everywhere!
People in ancient times used candles on cakes to talk to gods and ask for blessings, especially in Greece and Rome.
๐ฏ๏ธ Candles were for protection too!
In old Germany, people believed candles could keep bad spirits away from birthday kids and help their wishes reach the sky!
๐ The cake and candle idea grew over time!
At first, only fancy families had cakes with candles, but later more people started using them to celebrate birthdays.
๐ The tradition spread across the world!
Germans brought the birthday candle idea to America, and then it spread to other countries, including Japan after World War II.
๐ญ Even Mickey Mouse helped!
Disney showed birthday candles in cartoons, and that made the tradition super popular with kids everywhere!
Fun Facts
- Nelson Mandela's birth name was Rolihlahla, which means "troublemaker" in his native language. The name "Nelson" was given to him by a teacher on his first day of school!
- The Guinness World Record for the most candles on a birthday cake is 72,585! The cake was made in 2016 for the 72nd birthday of late Indian politician Chiranjeevi Sarja.
Time for Kids - 1.07.25
The History of Fireworks
Fireworks may seem like a very American tradition, especially on the 4th of July. But fireworks go back many years before the first American Independence Day celebration, which took place in 1777, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The earliest fireworks can beโฆ
๐ Fireworks have a long history! They were first made about 2,000 years ago in China, using bamboo that popped when heated.
๐ฅ The word โBaozhuโ means โexploding bambooโ! People in China later added gunpowder and metal pieces to make the fireworks sparkle more during celebrations.
๐ Fireworks spread to Europe in the 1200s, and when people moved to North America, they brought fireworks with them!
๐ Americaโs first big July 4th party was in 1777. People fired cannons and used fireworks to celebrate independence, just like Founding Father John Adams hoped!
๐ซ Fireworks can be dangerous! So it's safest to let experts handle them. You can still enjoy watching a cool fireworks show with your family!
๐ฅ The word โBaozhuโ means โexploding bambooโ! People in China later added gunpowder and metal pieces to make the fireworks sparkle more during celebrations.
๐ Fireworks spread to Europe in the 1200s, and when people moved to North America, they brought fireworks with them!
๐ Americaโs first big July 4th party was in 1777. People fired cannons and used fireworks to celebrate independence, just like Founding Father John Adams hoped!
๐ซ Fireworks can be dangerous! So it's safest to let experts handle them. You can still enjoy watching a cool fireworks show with your family!
National Geographic- 05.07.25
7 must-visit ancient sites everyone should see
From the pyramids of Egypt to the jungle-choked ruins of Angkor Wat, from the magical desert capital of the Nabateans in Jordan to the everyday Roman lives revealed by Pompeii, ancient sites are among the worldโs most inspiring destinations. Here are seven must-visits for your travel list.
๐ Pyramids of Giza, Egypt. Massive ancient structures built 4,000 years ago, with the iconic Sphinx nearby. An incredible glimpse into Egypt's storied past.
๐ Angkor Wat, Cambodia. Largest temple in the world, hidden in the jungle. Magical at sunrise.
๐๏ธ Acropolis, Greece. Ancient city on a hill in Athens, birthplace of democracy.
๐Pompeii, Italy. An entire Roman city was frozen in time by a volcano! You can walk through streets and see old houses, bread, and even people.
๐๏ธ Petra, Jordan. A city carved into red rock cliffs! You walk through a canyon and suddenly boom! thereโs a palace made of stone.
โฐ๏ธMachu Picchu, Peru A hidden city way up in the mountains! The ancient Incas built it with stones so perfectly that nothing could fit between them. โ๏ธ
Fun Facts
- The largest firework ever launched was in Colorado in 2020 and weighed as much as a small car about 2,800 pounds!
- The Great Pyramid of Giza was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years until Lincoln Cathedral was built in England in 1311!