DIY History

launched in spring 2011 to mark the Civil conflict’s sesquicentennial, the college of Iowa Libraries’ DIY history website firstly used crowdsourcing to transcribe letters and diaries from the Civil struggle. via autumn of that 12 months, the volunteers had finished the mission and transcribed 15,000 handwritten pages into virtual layout. understanding they had an incredibly valuable device at their fingertips, the project leaders determined to expand the amount of crowdsourcing tasks available to each person who desires to check in with the web site. at the time of this writing, only some of the tasks to be had include transcribing letters and diaries from each international Wars, transcribing the writings of the pioneers, and digitizing a set of index playing cards that recorded facts about eggs from the natural records Museum. The assignment welcomes human beings from any history to volunteer. They wish that transcribing these types of historic treasures will make the facts greater handy to both teachers and the public.

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Jesus of Nazareth c. 5 B.C.–c. A.D. 28

There’s simply no want to provide an explanation for just what the 4 Gospels say Jesus did to emerge as famous, however inside the hobby of fairness, here are the claims: he become born to a virgin, died at about the age of 33 someday across the year A.D. 33 (plus or minus five), the most famous victim of crucifixion, and rose from the useless on his very own power three days later, ascended into Heaven and now sits on the proper hand of God the father as a manifestation of that God’s best offspring. you can look up the diverse miracles attributed to him. There are simply over 7 billion humans on the planet as of this list, and pretty much one-1/3 exactly, 33.32%, of them, worship Jesus as “the Christ of God.” We may also pretty say that these 2.33 billion people recognize very well who he was/is, and specifics approximately his existence.it is also undeniable that those fans of Islam and Judaism each recognize perfectly properly who he become. There are a few 1.75 billion Muslims on this planet nowadays, or 25% of the worldwide populace, and seeing that Jesus is honored as a very critical prophet in their faith, to whom they say Muhammad spoke whilst he sprang to Heaven on a horse, Jesus is honestly no longer unknown to them. There are about 1.3 billion atheists the world over, and at least 98% of these humans clearly realize all approximately Jesus. it is enormously viable that the handiest humans in the world who've no concept who he turned into, or anything approximately him, are those people who belong to the a hundred or so primitive, uncontested tribes remaining around the world, the maximum widely known throughout the net of which are the Envira human beings of the Brazilian-Peruvian border place, deep inside the Amazon Jungle. They were photographed from helicopter. it's miles doubtful they know of Jesus, or Muhammad, or absolutely everyone else in this listing, as they're 100% isolated from the relaxation of the arena’s societies.Google claims that 129,864,880 books have been written and certain during human records and which nonetheless continue to exist in e book form in some library in the global. That is not as excessive a number of as you may have expected, however we're speakme of different volumes, so best one of the 25 million copies of the Bible printed each single year counts closer to this general. Out of these c. a hundred thirty million books, it's miles predicted that 40% are about Jesus. This percentage consists of books about Christianity in fashionable, whether or not evangelical (or anti-evangelical) or historic. Richard Dawkins’s The God delusion focuses on God in widespread, however will pay special interest to Christianity, as any atheist apology ought to, in view that Christianity is the maximum popular religion, and for that reason Dawkins’s e-book counts as 1 ebook approximately Jesus, because it counts as 1 book about Muhammad. So there are a few fifty two million distinct books circulating the world proper now which might be in a few way involved with Jesus, the person who may also have lived, who may also have walked on water, and risen from the lifeless. The Gospel of John, one of the fifty two million books written about Jesus, ends with this passage: “Jesus did many other things as properly. If each considered one of them have been written down, I think that even the whole international would now not have room for the books that might be written.”simply neglected the reduce (many): Confucius, Napoleon Bonaparte, Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln, Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Jack the Ripper, Josef Stalin, Mao Zedong, and more.

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Abū al-Qāsim Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh c. A.D. 570–632

To non-Muslims, Muhammad founded Islam. To Muslims, he did now not determined anything, because the religion, known as Islam, became already there, and had to be restored to its right protection. Muslims consider that Muhammad restored the faith and unified it beneath the philosophies God imparted to him in revelations he wrote down. these have become the Q’uran. Islam is the Arabic noun for “a surrendering,” or “a yielding,” in this situation to the desire of Allah. Muhammad became born about A.D. 570 in Makkah (Mecca), Saudi Arabia. He had thirteen better halves, which is appropriate and encouraged in Muslim cultures.Muhammad’s fame as second most famous individual in records is specifically great given that it's far unlawful in step with Islamic law to depict Muhammad in any manner (that is why you don’t see him within the above image). That regulation dictates that Muhammad is the final prophet to were sent by using God to train mankind the methods of peace and righteousness, and that he's too holy to be regarded by way of our sinful eyes. for this reason, only a few movies have been made approximately him. The most excellent was The Message (1977), the most excellent of which incited suicide bombings all through the center East and protests around the arena, until anyone found out that Muhammad isn't clearly depicted; rather, the digicam’s factor of view represents him: the movie is visible thru his eyes.if you’d want to understand, there may be nothing in the Q’uran that states, “To kill americans, both civil and navy, is the obligation of every Muslim who is able.” That nonsense become concocted by diverse middle japanese leaders through the years, broadly speaking within the final half of the 20th Century and past. these leaders know full properly that understanding is strength and feature achieved their level excellent to hoard literacy schooling from the public. The literacy price in Yemen is currently about 70%, which is horrible in comparison to “more civilized” nations just like the u.s.a., England, Germany, and Japan. And due to the fact the middle jap Muslim public in large part cannot study the Q’uran, the governments disseminate anti-American, anti-Western lies to indoctrinate them into hatred.Muhammad died on 8 June A.D. 632 in Medina, Saudi Arabia, having united the whole of the middle East below a single God, whose name is Allah. there are many spellings of Muhammad, such as Mohammed, Moammar, Mehmet, Mahomet, and others. due to him, Muhammad is the maximum not unusual given name within the world, with about 200 million carriers. “Muhammad” means “praised.”in case you anticipated Muhammad, you in all likelihood predicted the subsequent access.

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BUDDHA

You is probably surprised to recognize that most people who google Buddha aren't Buddhists. in the Western Hemisphere and throughout Europe, Buddhism isn't as nicely understood as the three fundamental monotheisms. some clarifications:Gautama turned into possibly born in Kapilavastu or Lumbini, Nepal in about 563 B.C., about 24 years after Babylon sacked Jerusalem. Gautama turned into a mortal guy who attained Nirvana, or non secular awakening and peace of thoughts, at the age of 35, at the same time as seated underneath a Pipal tree, now known as the Bodhi tree, in Bodh Gaya, India. The tree growing there now changed into planted in 288 B.C. from a seed of the authentic. Buddha sat in meditation for 49 days until he attained the information of how to thoroughly quit suffering for every person on this planet. The people do must comply with his teaching with the intention to loose themselves from the numerous griefs of life.that is called the Noble Eightfold path: proper view, proper purpose, proper awareness, proper speech, right action, proper livelihood, right effort, and right mindfulness. if you keep to these kind of, you may be able to positioned away all concerns and you'll be truely happy and unaffected by using some thing. Buddha rejected the belief of any literature being infallible, and argued that fact need to be experienced to be acknowledged.Gautama, the excellent Buddha, is worshiped in Hinduism as nicely, as one of the ten representations of Vishnu, who's the god especially others. Baha’i also venerates Gautama as a mortal manifestation of God, who descended to train mankind to like each other and a way to be happy. Gautama is traditionally said to have died in about 411 B.C., on the age of one hundred fifty or so. present day scholars location his dying at approximately 483, on the age of 80.

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Paul the Apostle of Tarsus c. 5–c. A.D. 67

Paul is quite likely greater accountable for the dissemination of Christianity, its beliefs, theology, and standards, than all of us else. he's commemorated in all branches, as a saint in many, or at the least as a profoundly reputable teacher, preacher, and the chief Christian apologist. And he did all this through 13 letters to diverse churches and people for the duration of Asia Minor.He was the first character to jot down something that became later canonized into what we call the new testament. He possibly wrote his first epistle, to the churches in Galatia, in approximately A.D. 50, give or take five years. Mark wrote his Gospel five to 10 years later. Paul’s theological thesis during his thirteen or so Epistles is a extra specified declaration of Jesus’s philosophy of ethics and salvation given in the Gospels. Paul’s central point is that every one you have to do is believe that Jesus is the Son of God, Savior of the arena, rose once more from the lifeless and ascended into Heaven, and you may now not die. Your transition can be painful, however you’ll go to Heaven.If that’s all you have to do, as most people have common his coaching, it’s obvious why Paul’s brand of evangelism caught on so quick, firmly, and broadly. he's a ways extra right now acknowledged than any of the Twelve Apostles, simplest rivaled, via the reputation of the popes, by using Peter. by his dying, he permanently cemented his legacy for the a while: he turned into arrested in Rome for inciting political discord and beheaded south of the metropolis center, at what is now San Paolo alle Tre Fontane, or the basilica of Saint Paul at the three Fountains.

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Adolf Hitler

We have covered Hitler many times on Listverse, but rarely from a somewhat historiometric perspective. We all know that he remains the primary cause of WWII. He instigated it to suit two profound desires: to become the most powerful person on Earth, preferably in history, if not to rule the whole world; and, for his own enjoyment, to cause as much pain as possible against all those he deemed responsible for Germany’s humiliating and miserable defeat in WWI, and its squalid poverty between the wars. Germany was forced to pay every other nation’s wartime expenses after the First World War, and this utterly destroyed Germany’s economy. The Deutschmark became so worthless that children burned millions of them at once to keep warm in the streets.

The Jews, meanwhile, largely kept their money in gold and jewelry, safe in international banks. Gold and diamonds do not depreciate, and Hitler seized on his own hatred of the Jews’ prosperity in the Interbellum to sway as many people to his side as possible. Add to this a supreme mastery of oratory, and history is about to suffer a severe catastrophe. WWII resulted in more deaths than any other war, up to 71 million, and Hitler is the most to blame. He knew and was not ashamed. He was despised and happy about it.

He is routinely listed alongside the following names on lists of the most evil people, real or fictitious, in history, especially those of public polls: “the Devil;” “Satan;” “Lucifer;” “Stalin.” The current US President (whoever it is) is usually next, although recently elected popes can unseat him. It can be argued that Hitler shaped the 20th Century more than any other person, except possibly Einstein, and Hitler is the only person of the 20th or 21st Century on this list. Quite an impressive ranking to have been dead for only 68 years.

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WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

The person with the lion’s proportion of the share of votes for finest writer in English or any language in human history is sure to be the supply for pretty a few phrases and terms now not unusual in his local language. a great 50% of not unusual English terms come from the King James Bible, and in all likelihood 30% of the rest come from the Bard. if you’ve ever said, “It’s all Greek to me;” “food for the gods;” “all that glitters isn't gold;” “a sorry sight;” “dead as a doornail;” “come what can also;” “with one fell swoop;” or “all’s well that ends nicely;” then “by Jove” you’re quoting Shakespeare.Egil Aarvik, of the Committee for the Nobel Prize, as soon as said that Shakespeare would were the only man or woman in records to win multiple prize for his literature. there may be no rule towards this, and had he lived into the twentieth Century, his performs would have definitely deserved one, but his sonnets on my own are worth the bodies of work for which different laureates had been commemorated. what is the maximum well-known quote in all of English literature? likely “to be or now not to be.”What’s maximum superb about his repute is that we realize little or no in any respect approximately Shakespeare himself, the person and his life. He most effective had a grammar faculty education and labored as an actor before turning into a playwright. What makes Shakespeare so notable is his seamless blend of the greatest poetry, profound, multifaceted philosophy, and a energetic wit. Do it one time and also you’ll win pretty a few awards and be concept a extraordinary writer. Shakespeare did it 37 times, and that doesn’t account for his 154 sonnets, the majority of the English repertory. Hamlet and King Lear are universally acclaimed masterpieces, benchmarks towards which all other drama, before and after, is judged.

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leonardo da vinci

Google searches can be inaccurate, that is why they're most effective half the standards for judgment. in case you search “leonardo,” you’ll get quite a few pages about ninja turtles and people who drowned on tremendous. but in case you type da Vinci’s complete call, you’ll speedy see why he's international renowned. He should do anything. He has probable the best resume in history. imagine if you may put the following on yours and then make desirable on it all at an interview:Engineer, inventor, anatomist, architect, mathematician, geologist, musician, cartographer, botanist, author, sculptor. You name it, da Vinci become into it. He invented the sniper rifle, even though it changed into not rifled: he simply bolted one in every of his refracting telescopes onto a wheellock musket and shot humans from 1,000 yards. He possibly invented the wheellock musket, too. He invented the parachute approximately 300 years earlier than Louis-Sebastien Lenormand claimed the respect inside the overdue 1700s. Da Vinci’s layout isn't recognised to have been examined until 2000. It labored perfectly. he invented the hang glider approximately 400 years before it in reality took off. His layout was based on a bird’s wings. He gave the helicopter quite the college strive, however couldn’t determine out a sufficiently effective method for buying it airborne. He become the first to understand the concept of spinning helical blades tilted at simply the proper angle pulling an object up into the air.He invented the tank, which was propelled thru guys turning a crankshaft inside and fired cannon in all directions. He invented the mitrailleuse approximately four hundred years before the French. it's far a precursor to what we recollect a system gun, with more than one barrels firing suddenly. Da Vinci invented the pivoting scissors with the aid of bolting  knives collectively for shearing cloth.His sculptures are not as well referred to as those of Michelangelo, however da Vinci estimated a significant horse sculpted out of poured bronze, which became impossible to make with the era of his day (the sculpture could have broken aside underneath its personal weight). but it was completed in 1998 and there are three models of it round the arena, one in Milan, Italy, one in Grand Rapids, Michigan, united states of america, and one based in Florence, Italy this is shipped around the sector for display. they're 24 feet high and the most important horse statues ever built.Da Vinci changed into additionally a quite accurate painter.

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Albert Einstein

The discoverer of the calculus just edged out Albert Einstein for the tenth spot. Google searches alone might have netted Einstein a place at the listing, at 6.1 million searches consistent with month, however many extra books had been written approximately Newton. Einstein is on the right track to break his file in a ways fewer than 286 years, but even then, Einstein could have had no basis on which to base his theories of Relativity had Newton no longer existed. ninety five% of all classical mechanics is built on Isaac Newton by myself.He generalized the binomial theorem, invented the reflecting telescope, coined the word “gravity” and gave the Roman Catholic Church’s self-essential hegemony over geocentrism its final knockout blow. Copernicus and Galileo needed to face inquisitions, but nobody ever attempted to reproach Newton’s Principia Mathematica. perhaps arguing against a person else’s observations is inane sufficient, but arguing in opposition to math itself changed into in Newton’s case, impossible. He proved the previous two’s theories on heliocentrism, and explained why and the way every unmarried macroscopic item inside the whole Universe actions as it does. He did all this with the aid of himself and nevertheless had time to analyze factors and principles of optics, and invent the puppy door, although he changed into too busy ever to have sex. He died a virgin at eighty four.

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BILL GATES

BILL GATES

Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose.

“Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.” 

― Bill Gates

Bill Gates founded Microsoft in 1976 when he formed a contract with MITTS (Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems) to develop a basic operating system for their new microcomputers. In the early days Bill Gates would review every line of code. He was also involved in several aspects of Microsoft’s business such as packing and sending off orders.

The big break for Microsoft came in 1980 when IBM approached them for a new BASIC operating system for its new computers. In the early 1980s IBM was by far the leading PC manufacture. However, increasingly, there developed many IBM PC clones; (PCs developed by other companies compatible with IBM’s). Microsoft worked hard to sell its operating system to these other companies. Thus Microsoft was able to gain the dominant position of software manufacture just as the personal computer market started to boom. Since its early dominance, no other company has come close to displacing Microsoft as the dominant provider of computer operating software.

Bill Gates – Windows

In 1990 Microsoft released its first version of Windows. This was a break through in operating software as it replaced text interfaces with graphical interfaces. It soon became a best seller and was able to capture the majority of the operating system market share. In 1995 Windows 95 was released, setting new standards and features for operating systems. This version of windows has been the backbone of all future releases from Windows 2000 to the latest XP and Vista.

Throughout his time in office Bill Gates has been keen to diversify the business of Microsoft. For example Microsoft’s Internet Explorer became the dominant web browser, although this is mainly because it comes pre installed on most new computers, and in recent years has seen its market share slip.

One area where Microsoft has never been as successful is in the area of search engines. MSN live search has struggled to gain more than 5 % of market share. In this respect Microsoft has been dwarfed by Google. Nevertheless the success of Microsoft in cornering various aspects of the software market has led to several anti trust cases. In 1998 US v Microsoft, Microsoft came close to being broken up into three smaller firms. However on appeal Microsoft were able to survive as a single firm.

Philanthropic Activities – Bill Gates

Bill Gates is married to Melinda French (married in 1992). They have three children Jennifer (1996), Rory (1999) and Phoebe (2002). With his wife Bill Gates formed the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Bill Gates says much of the inspiration came from the example of David Rockefeller. Like Rockefeller, Gates has sought to focus on global issues ignored by the government; he also expressed an interest in improving the standards of public school education in the US. He has appeared with Oprah Winfrey to promote this objective. In respect to charitable, philanthropic activities Gates has also received encouragement from investor Warren Buffet, who has given away $17 billion, through the Gates Foundation.

From 2008 Gates has worked full time on his philanthropic interests. It is estimated Gates and his wife Melinda have given away $28 billion via their charitable foundation – including $8 billion to improve global health.

Gates has said that he has no use for money, and will only leave a small percentage of his wealth to his children. In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Gates states:

“I’m certainly well taken care of in terms of food and clothes,” he says, redundantly. “Money has no utility to me beyond a certain point. Its utility is entirely in building an organisation and getting the resources out to the poorest in the world.”

His main areas of interest in philanthropy have been improving health, and in particularly helping to reduce diseases, such as polio which affect young children. He has also given more focus to environmental issues. In 2015, he gave $1 billion to a clean energy project, as he sees supporting new ‘greener’ technologies as a way to help deal with global warming.

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MAHATMA GANDHI

MAHATMA GANDHI

“When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it–always.”

-         MAHATMA GANDHI

Mohandas Gandhi was born, 1869, in Porbandar, India. Mohandas was from the social cast of tradesmen. His mother was illiterate, but her common sense and religious devotion had a lasting impact on Gandhi’s character. As a youngster, Mohandas was a good student, but the shy young boy displayed no signs of leadership. On the death of his father, Mohandas travelled to England to gain a degree in law. He became involved with the Vegetarian society and was once asked to translate the Hindu Bhagavad Gita. This epic of Hindu literature awakened in Gandhi a sense of pride in the Indian scriptures, of which the Gita was the pearl.

Gandhi in South Africa

On completing his degree in Law, Gandhi returned to India, where he was soon sent to South Africa to practice law. In South Africa, Gandhi was struck by the level of racial discrimination and injustice often experienced by Indians. It was in South Africa that Gandhi first experimented with campaigns of civil disobedience and protest; he called his non violent protests – satyagraha. Despite being imprisoned for short periods of time he also supported the British under certain conditions. He was decorated by the British for his efforts during the Boer war and Zulu rebellion.

Gandhi and Indian Independence

After 21 years in South Africa, Gandhi returned to India in 1915. He became the leader of the Indian nationalist movement campaigning for home rule or Swaraj.

Gandhi successfully instigated a series of non violent protest. This included national strikes for one or two days. The British sought to ban opposition, but the nature of non-violent protest and strikes made it difficult to counter.

Gandhi also encouraged his followers to practice inner discipline to get ready for independence. Gandhi said, the Indians had to prove they were deserving of independence. This is in contrast to independence leaders such as Aurobindo Ghose, who argued that Indian independence was not about whether India would offer better or worse government, but that it was the right for India to have self government.

Gandhi also clashed with others in the Indian independence movement such as Subhas Chandra Bose who advocated direct action to overthrow the British.

Gandhi frequently called off strikes and non-violent protest if he heard people were rioting or violence was involved.

In 1930, Gandhi led a famous march to the sea in protest at the new Salt Acts. In the sea they made their own salt – in violation of British regulations. Many hundreds were arrested and Indian jails were full of Indian independence followers.

However, whilst the campaign was at its peak some Indian protesters killed some British civilians, as a result Gandhi called off the independence movement saying that India was not ready. This broke the heart of many Indians committed to independence. It led to radicals like Bhagat Singh carrying on the campaign for independence, which was particularly strong in Bengal.

Gandhi and the Partition of India

After the war, Britain indicated that they would give India independence. However, with the support of the Muslims led by Jinnah, the British planned to partition India into two – India and Pakistan. Ideologically Gandhi was opposed to partition. He worked vigorously hard to show that Muslims and Hindus could live together peacefully. At his prayer meetings, Muslim prayers were read out along side Hindu and Christian prayers. However, Gandhi agreed to the partition and spent the day of Independence in prayer mourning the partition. Even Gandhi’s fasts and appeals were insufficient to prevent the wave of sectarian violence and killing that followed the partition.

Away from the politics of Indian independence Gandhi was harshly critical of the Hindu Caste system. In particular he inveighed against the ‘untouchable’ caste, who were treated abysmally by society. He launched many campaigns to change the status of the untouchables. Although his campaigns were met with much resistance, they did go along way to changing century old prejudices.

At the age of 78, Gandhi undertook another fast to try and prevent the sectarian killing. After 5 days, the leaders agreed to stop killing. But, ten days later, Gandhi was shot dead by a Hindu Brahmin opposed to Gandhi’s support for Muslims and the untouchables.

Gandhi was a seeker of the truth.

“In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness. Our life is a long and arduous quest after Truth.”

Gandhi's life and teachings have inspired many liberalizations of the 20th Century, including Dr. Martin Luther King in the United States, Nelson Mandela and Steve Biko in South Africa, and Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar.

His birthday, 2nd October, is celebrated as a National Holiday in India every year.

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MUHAMMAD ALI

MUHAMMAD ALI 

“I’m not the greatest ; I’m the double greatest. Not only do I knock’ em out, I pick the round.”

- Muhammad Ali

Arguably boxing's most celebrated athlete, Muhammad Ali is also known for his public stance against the Vietnam War and his longtime battle with Parkinson's disease.

Olympic Gold
Conversion to Islam and Suspension
Boxing Comeback
Philanthropy and Legacy

Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. on January 17, 1942) is a retired American boxer. In 1999, Ali was crowned “Sportsman of the Century” by Sports Illustrated. He won the World Heavyweight Boxing championship three times, and won the North American Boxing Federation championship as well as an Olympic gold medal.

Ali was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He was named after his father, Cassius Marcellus Clay, Sr., (who was named for the 19th century abolitionist and politician Cassius Clay). Ali later changed his name after joining the Nation of Islam and subsequently converted to Sunni Islam in 1975.

Boxer, philanthropist and social activist Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky. Ali showed at an early age that he wasn't afraid of any bout—inside or outside of the ring. Growing up in the segregated South, he experienced racial prejudice and discrimination firsthand, which likely contributed to his early passion for boxing. 

At the age of 12, Ali discovered his talent for boxing through an odd twist of fate. His bike was stolen, and Ali told a police officer, Joe Martin, that he wanted to beat up the thief. "Well, you better learn how to fight before you start challenging people," Martin reportedly told him at the time. In addition to being a police officer, Martin also trained young boxers at a local gym.

Ali started working with Martin to learn how to box, and soon began his boxing career. In his first amateur bout in 1954, he won the fight by split decision. Ali went on to win the 1956 Golden Gloves tournament for novices in the light heavyweight class. Three years later, he won the National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions, as well as the Amateur Athletic Union's national title for the light heavyweight division.

In 1960, Ali won a spot on the U.S. Olympic boxing team, and traveled to Rome, Italy, to compete. At 6' 3", Ali was an imposing figure in the ring, but he also became known for his lightning speed and fancy footwork. After winning his first three bouts, Ali defeated Zbigniew Pietrzkowski from Poland to win the light heavyweight gold medal.

After his Olympic victory, Ali was heralded as an American hero. He soon turned professional with the backing of the Louisville Sponsoring Group, and continued overwhelming all opponents in the ring. Ali took out British heavyweight champion Henry Cooper in 1963, and then knocked out Sonny Liston in 1964 to become the heavyweight champion of the world.

Often referring to himself as "the greatest," Ali was not afraid to sing his own praises. He was known for boasting about his skills before a fight and for his colorful descriptions and phrases. In one of his more famously quoted descriptions, Ali told reporters that he could "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" in the boxing ring.

This bold public persona belied what was happening in Ali's personal life, however. He was doing some spiritual searching and decided to join the black Muslim group, the Nation of Islam, in 1964. At first, he called himself "Cassius X," before settling on the name Muhammad Ali. 

A few years later, Ali started a different kind of fight with his outspoken views against the Vietnam War. Drafted into the military in April 1967, he refused to serve on the grounds that he was a practicing Muslim minister, with religious beliefs that prevented him from fighting. He was arrested for committing a felony, and almost immediately stripped of his world title and boxing license.

The U.S. Department of Justice pursued a legal case against Ali, denying his claim for conscientious objector status. He was found guilty of violating Selective Service laws and sentenced to five years in prison in June 1967, but remained free while appealing his conviction. Unable to compete professionally in the meantime, Ali missed more than three prime years of his athletic career. The U.S. Supreme Court eventually overturned the conviction in June 1971.

Prior to the Supreme Court's decision, Ali returned to the ring in 1970 with a win over Jerry Quarry. The following year, Ali took on Joe Frazier in what has been called the "Fight of the Century." Frazier and Ali went toe-to-toe for 14 rounds, before Frazier dropped Ali with a vicious left hook in the 15th. Ali recovered quickly, but the judges awarded the decision to Frazier, handing Ali his first professional loss after 31 wins. Ali soon suffered a second loss, to Ken Norton, but he beat Frazier in a 1974 rematch.

Another legendary Ali fight, against undefeated heavyweight champion George Foreman, took place in 1974. Billed as the "Rumble in the Jungle," the bout was organized by promoter Don King and held in Kinshasa, Zaire. For once, Ali was seen as the underdog to the younger, massive Foreman, but he silenced his critics with a masterful performance. He baited Foreman into throwing wild punches with his "rope-a-dope" technique, before stunning his opponent with an eighth-round knockout to reclaim the heavyweight title.

Ali and Frazier locked horns for their grudge match in Quezon City, Philippines, in 1975. Dubbed the "Thrilla in Manila," the bout nearly went the distance, with both men delivering and absorbing tremendous punishment. However, Frazier's trainer threw in the towel after the 14th round, giving the hard-fought victory to Ali.

After losing his title to Leon Spinks in February 1978, Ali defeated him in the September rematch to become the first boxer to win the heavyweight championship three times. Following a brief retirement, he returned to the ring to face Larry Holmes in 1980, but was overmatched against the younger champion. Following one final loss in 1981, to Trevor Berbick, the boxing great retired from the sport.

In his retirement, Ali has devoted much of his time to philanthropy. He announced that he has Parkinson's disease in 1984, a degenerative neurological condition, and has been involved in raising funds for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Over the years, Ali has also supported the Special Olympics and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, among other organizations.

Muhammad Ali has traveled to numerous countries, including Mexico and Morocco, to help out those in need. In 1998, he was chosen to be a United Nations Messenger of Peace because of his work in developing countries.

In 2005, Ali received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush. He also opened the Muhammad Ali Center in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, that same year. "I am an ordinary man who worked hard to develop the talent I was given," he said. "Many fans wanted to build a museum to acknowledge my achievements. I wanted more than a building to house my memorabilia. I wanted a place that would inspire people to be the best that they could be at whatever they chose to do, and to encourage them to be respectful of one another."

Despite the progression of his disease, Ali remained active in public life. He was on hand to celebrate the inauguration of the first African-American president in January 2009, when Barack Obama was sworn into office. Soon after the inauguration, Ali received the President's Award from the NAACP for his public service efforts.

Ali has been married to his fourth wife, Yolanda, since 1986. The couple has one son, Asaad, and Ali has several children from previous relationships, including daughter Laila, who followed in his footsteps by becoming a champion boxer.

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Mother Teresa

“It is not how much we do,

but how much love we put in the doing.

It is not how much we give,

but how much love we put in the giving.”

                                                                     – Mother Teresa

 

Mother Teresa (1910-1997) was a Roman Catholic nun, who devoted her life to serving the poor and destitute around the world. She spent many years in Calcutta, India where shed founded the Missionaries of Charity, a religious congregation devoted to helping those in great need. In 1979, Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and has become a symbol of charitable selfless work. She was beatified in 2003, the first step on the path to sainthood, within the Catholic church.

Mother Teresa was born, 1910, in Skopje, capital of the Republic of Macedonia. Little is known about her early life, but at a young age she felt a calling to be a nun and serve through helping the poor. At the age of 18 she was given permission to join a group of nuns in Ireland. After a few months of training, with the Sisters of Loreto, she was then given permission to travel to India. She took her formal religious vows in 1931, and chose to be named after St Therese of Lisieux – the patron saint of missionaries.

On her arrival in India, she began by working as a teacher, however the widespread poverty of Calcutta made a deep impression on her; and this led to her starting a new order called “The Missionaries of Charity”. The primary objective of this mission was to look after people, who nobody else was prepared to look after. Mother Teresa felt that serving others was a key principle of the teachings of Jesus Christ. She often mentioned the saying of Jesus,

“Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you do it to me.”

 As Mother Teresa said herself:

“Love cannot remain by itself — it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action, and that action is service .” – Mother Teresa

She experienced two particularly traumatic periods in Calcutta. The first was the Bengal famine of 1943 and the second was the Hindu/Muslim violence in 1946 – before the partition of India. In 1948, she left the convent to live full time amongst the poorest of Calcutta. She chose to wear a white Indian Sari, with blue trimmings – out of respect for the traditional Indian dress. For many years, Mother Teresa and a small band of fellow nuns survived on minimal income and food, often having to beg for funds. But, slowly her efforts with the poorest were noted and appreciated by the local community and Indian politicians.

In 1952, she opened her first home for the dying, which allowed people to die with dignity. Mother Teresa often spent time with those who were dying. Some have criticized the lack of proper medical attention, and refusal to give painkillers. But, others say that it afforded many neglected people the opportunity to die knowing someone cared.

Over time the work grew. Missions were started overseas, and by 2013, there are 700 missions operating in over 130 countries. The scope of their work also expanded to include orphanages, and hospices for those with terminal illness.

“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”

—- Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa never sought to convert those of an another faith. Those in her dying homes were given the religious rites appropriate to their faith. However, she had a very firm Catholic faith and took a strict line on abortion, the death penalty and divorce – even if her position was unpopular. Her whole life was influenced by her faith and religion, even though at times she confessed she didn’t feel the presence of God.

The Missionaries of Charity now has branches throughout the world including branches in the developed world where they work with the homeless and people affected with AIDS. In 1965, the Society became an International Religious Family by a decree of Pope Paul VI.

In the 1960s, the life of Mother Teresa was first brought to a wider public attention by Malcolm Muggeridge who wrote a book and produced a documentary called “Something Beautiful for God”.

In 1979, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize “for work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also constitutes a threat to peace.” She didn’t attend the ceremonial banquet, but asked that the $192,000 fund be given to the poor.

In later years, she was more active in western developed countries. She commented that though the west was materially prosperous, there was often a spiritual poverty.

“The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.”

-— Mother Teresa

When she was asked how to promote world peace, she replied.

“Go home and love your family”

Over the last two decades of her life, Mother Teresa suffered various health problems but nothing could dissuade her from fulfilling her mission of serving the poor and needy. Until her very last illness she was active in travelling around the world to the different branches of “The Missionaries of Charity” During her last few years, she met Princess Diana in the Bronx, New York. The two died within a week of each other.

Following Mother Teresa’s death the Vatican began the process of beatification, which is the second step on the way to canonization and sainthood. Mother Teresa was formally beatified in October 2003 by Pope John Paul II and is now known as Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.

Mother Teresa was a living saint who offered a great example and inspiration to the world.

Awards Mother Teresa

·         The first Pope John XXIII Peace Prize. (1971)

·         Kennedy Prize (1971)

· The Nehru Prize –“for promotion of international peace and understanding”(1972)

·         Albert Schweitzer International Prize (1975),

·         The Nobel Peace Prize (1979)

·         States Presidential Medal of Freedom (1985)

·         Congressional Gold Medal (1994)

·         Honorary citizenship of the United States (November 16, 1996)

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Abraham Lincoln

“With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds…. “

– Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was born Feb 12, 1809, in Hardin Country, Kentucky. His family upbringing was modest; his parents from Virginia were neither wealthy or well known. At an early age, the young Abraham lost his mother and his father moved away to Indiana. Abraham had to work hard splitting logs and other manual labor. But, he also had a thirst for knowledge and worked very hard to excel in his studies. This led him to become trained as a lawyer. He spent  eight years working on the Illinois court circuit; his ambition, drive and capacity for hard work were evident to all around him. He also had a good sense of humor and was depreciating about his looks.

“If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?”

He married Mary Todd and had four children, although three died before reaching maturity.

As a lawyer, Abraham developed a great capacity for quick thinking and oratory. His interest in public issues encouraged him to stand for public office. In 1854 he was elected to the House of Representatives and he tried to gain nomination for the Senate in 1858. Although he lost this election, his debating skills caused him to become well known within the Republican party. In particular, during this campaign he gave one of his best remembered speeches.

A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently, half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved — I do not expect the house to fall — but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other. Either the opponents of slavery will arrest the further spread of it, and place it where the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in the course of ultimate extinction; or its advocates will push it forward, till it shall become lawful in all the States, old as well as new — North as well as South.

In this House divided speech, Lincoln gave a prophetic utterance to the potential for slavery to divide the nation.

The reputation he gained on the campaign trail caused him to be elected as Republican nominee for President in 1860.

The election of Lincoln as President in 1861, sparked the South to succeed from the North. Southern independence sentiment had been growing for many years and the election of a president opposed to slavery was the final straw. However, Lincoln resolutely opposed the breakaway of the South and so this led to the American civil war. The civil war was much more costly than many people anticipated and at times Lincoln appeared to be losing the support of the general population. But, he managed to keep the Republican party together, stifling dissent by promoting the various Republican factions into the cabinet. Lincoln oversaw many of the military aspects of the war and promoted the general Ulysses S Grant to oversee the northern forces.

Initially the war was primarily about succession and the survival of the Union, but as the war progressed Lincoln increasingly made the issue of ending slavery paramount. To Lincoln, slavery was fundamentally wrong.

“Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.”

On January 1, 1863, Lincoln issued his memorable Emancipation Proclamation that declared the freedom of slaves within the Confederacy.

“… all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons,…”  

Eventually, after four years of attrition, the Federal forces secured the surrender of the defeated south. Lincoln had saved the union and also brought to head the end of slavery.

Dedicating the ceremony at Gettysburg on November 19, 1863, Lincoln declared:

“that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain–that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom–and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

Lincoln was tragically assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, an actor on, April 14, 1865. He is widely regarded as one of America’s most influential and important presidents. As well as saving the union, Lincoln was viewed as embodying the ideals of honesty and integrity.

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Queen Victoria

"I am every day more convinced that we women, if we are to be good women, feminine and amiable and domestic, are not fitted to reign; at least it is they that drive themselves to the work which it entails."

-Queen Victoria

• -         more I am every day more convinced that we women, if we are to be good women, feminine and amiable and domestic, are not fitted to reign; at least it is they that drive themselves to the work which it entails.

• -         more I am every day more convinced that we women, if we are to be good women, feminine and amiable and domestic, are not fitted to reign; at least it is they that drive themselves to the work which it entails.

Queen Victoria was born 24 May, 1819. She was the granddaughter of George III, and her father, Edward was fourth in line to the throne. But when the prince of Wales died early, his brothers sought to get married and maintain the line of succession.

Edward married Princess Victoria from Germany and the couple had just one child, Alexandrina Victoria, who was born at Kensington Palace in 1819. As a young girl, Victoria’s father died, followed 6 days later by King George III. The throne then passed to  King William IV, but, he too died early. This left Victoria to be crowned at the age of 18, in June 1837. Queen Victoria was to reign until her death on 22nd January 1901.

Queen Victoria and Nineteenth Century Britain

The 19th Century was a time of unprecedented expansion for Britain in term of both of industry and Empire. Although her popularity ebbed and flowed during her reign, towards the end of her crown, she had become a symbol of British imperialism and pride.

The Victorian period also witnessed great advances in science and technology. It became known as the steam age, enabling people to easily travel throughout the UK and the World.

Queen Victoria was emblematic of this period. She was an enthusiastic supporter of the British Empire. She celebrated at Lord Kitchener’s victory in the Sudan, she supported British involvement in the Boer War. She was also happy to preside over the expansion of the British Empire, which was to stretch across the globe. In 1877 Queen Victoria was made Empress of India, in a move instigated by the imperialist Disraeli. Famously, at the end of the Victorian period, people could say ‘the sun never set on the British Empire’

Queen Victoria was conservative in her politics and social views. This led to an unfortunate episode. When she saw a servant who appeared to be pregnant, Victoria claimed she was having an affair. The Queen actually made her take a test to prove she was a virgin. The test was positive and the growth in her stomach was actually a form of cancer; a few months later the servant died and Queen Victoria suffered a decline in her popularity as a result of this episode.

In the early part of her reign she become a close friend and confident of the Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne. She spent many hours talking to him and relied on his political advice. Lord Melbourne was a Whig, with conservative attitudes. He tried to shield Queen Victoria from the extreme poverty that was endemic in parts of the UK.

Queen Victoria was also highly devoted to her husband, Prince Albert; together they had 9 children. When Prince Albert died in 1861, at the age of 41, Queen Victoria went into deep mourning and struggled to overcome this loss. She became reclusive and was reluctant to appear in public. Parliament and Benjamin Disraeli had to use all their persuasive power to get her to open parliament in 1866 and 1867. This hiding from the public led to a decline in popularity. However, by the end of her reign, her popularity was restored. This was partly due to the rise of Great Britain as the leading super power of the era.

For various reasons, several attempts were made on the life of Queen Victoria. These were mostly between 1840 and 1882. She was always unharmed, but her courageous attitude helped to endear her to the public.

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