DECEMBER 7

43 BCE: The famous orator Marcus Tullius Cicero
died.  Cicero was a Patrician, member of
the Senate and opponent of Julius Caesar. 
Following Caesar’s assassination, Mark Anthony and Octavian executed
those whom they viewed as ene…

One of the more widely used terms that this writer often encounters is “hunter-gatherers.” It is a name that applies to the sociologic evolution of mankind. A long way back—even millions of years ago apparently—homo sapiens lived like animals. Original…

DECEMBER 6

1060: Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary.
In 1061 Bela changed the Market Day from the traditional Sunday to Saturday
which may have been part of an attempt to remove the Jews from the commercial
activity of the kingdom.  Giv…

November
16

42
BCE: Birthdate of Tiberius, 2nd Roman emperor. The stepson of Augustus reigned
from 14 to 37 C.E. A competent general with a sour disposition, Tiberius came
to the thrown through the efforts of his pushy mother. Tiberius treatment of
th…

November
15

1215: Pope Innocent III opened the convocation of the
Fourth Lateran Council, considered the most important council of the Middle
Ages. By its conclusion it issued seventy reformatory decrees. Among other
things, it encouraged creating sch…