Hi there, and welcome to Today in History. I’m your host, Sen.

Are you ready for today’s historical events? Remember, try listening to them twice. On this first listen, focus more on the sounds and rhythm of what is being said.

Let’s begin. So, what happened on this day in history?

On July 17, 1487, Ismail I was born. Though he is most well-known as the Shah of Iran from 1501 to 1524, marking the beginning of the Safavid dynasty, he was also a poet. He wrote under the pen name Khaṭā'ī , Persian for “the wrongful”. He was a prolific writer, publishing many writings in both Azerbaijani and Persian.

On July 17, 1935, multitalented Black American actress and activist Diahann Carroll was born in the Bronx, in New York. She was the first African American woman to win a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Her award-winning appearance as the main character of her own show, Julia, was a milestone for Black representation in the media. She was the first Black woman to appear in a starring role on American television, and not just in a stereotypical role as a domestic worker.

On the same day in 1936, the Spanish Civil War began. Right wing Spanish military officers revolted against the country’s democratic left wing republic. The conflict between the right wing Nationalists and left wing Republicans lasted until 1939 and sparked huge international interest. By the end, half a million people had lost their lives.

Now, rewind, and have a second listen. You can focus on the words and phrases themselves this time.

That’s it for now. But, I’ll be back tomorrow with more historical facts. So join me then for another episode of Today in History.