Nobody wanted to give in and, for weeks, the discussions were tight. Eventually Churchill overrode and Repulse and Prince of Wales were sent to fend for themselves as best they could. In Singapore, everyone welcomed this decision, with the exception of some who passed a pessimistic judgment on a fle
Self-portrait by Louise Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun. 1790. Uffizi Museum, Florence • WIKIMEDIA COMMONS In 1790, in Florence, the great artist of the 18th century Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun (1755-1842) made her self-portrait on the road to exile she faced during the French Revolution. Now kept in the Uf
Although in the Modern Age weapons traditional swords lost importance on the battlefield, the sword became a symbol of prestige and nobility , since its possession was associated with the upper classes. This behavior was emulated by the lower classes, who wanted to appear higher in status. In this w
Paper money first appeared in China in the 7th century. This post is from the Ming dynasty • WIKIMEDIA COMMONS Like so many other inventions, paper money finds its origin in China, where it has been used since the IXe century. Europeans discovered its existence three centuries later, thanks to t