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<iframe width="700" height="480" src="https://player.timelinenotation.com/todayinhistoryadv/23047/embed" frameborder="0"></iframe>
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00:27
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Thanks for joining me for another episode of Today in History. I’m Sen, your host.
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00:35
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Today’s episode deals with some difficult topics. There is more information in the show notes, but you can also skip today’s episode if you would like.
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00:45
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As usual, I’d recommend listening to today’s historical events twice. Remember, don’t worry too much about focusing on the meaning the first time round. That’s what the second listen is for, when you can try and understand even more of what is said.
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01:04
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So, what happened on this day in history?
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01:14
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On July 16, 1439, King Henry VI of England introduced a ban on kissing. At this time, kissing was a common greeting. So, with cases of the plague rising in Europe, Henry brought in the ban as a precaution to prevent the spread of the deadly disease.
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01:42
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On the same day in 1862, African American teacher and journalist Ida B. Wells-Barnett was born in Mississippi, in the U.S. She became a figurehead in the fight for civil rights and Black women’s right to vote. Most notably, she founded the NAACP, a US civil rights organization along with several other prominent Black activists at the time.
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02:15
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On July 16, 1918, Czar Nicholas II was killed along with his family by the Bolsheviks in Yekaterinburg, Russia. Following the February Revolution in 1917 and Nicholas’ abdication, the family had been taken prisoner. Their deaths marked the end of the 300-year Romanov dynasty.
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02:48
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Now rewind, and have a second listen. This time, focus more on the meaning.
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02:57
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That’s it for today. But if you’re interested in more historical facts, then be sure to check out tomorrow’s episode of Today in History.
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End
A kissing ban in England, the birth of Ida B. Wells-Barnett and Czar Nicholas' death. Join us and discover what happened on this day in the past, all while improving your listening skills and learning a few new words along the way. Email us your feedback to podcasting@babbel.com. These events are written in a simple way for intermediate learners of English. Facts are accurate as of June 2021. Content warning: violence