5 July - Today in History (Advanced)

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00:27

Hi, I’m Sen and this is Today in History — the audio journey through time where you’ll learn about interesting moments from the past, all while improving your listening skills.

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00:43

As usual, I’d suggest listening to today’s historical events twice. The first time through, listen as if it’s a piece of music. Just take in the sounds and rhythm of what is said. Don’t try and focus too much on the individual words. You can do this the second time through.

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01:05

Let’s begin. So, what happened today in history?

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01:21

On July 5, 1811, seven provinces in Venezuela formally seceded from Spanish rule, leading to the creation of the first independent republic in Spanish America. Among the populations mobilizing for a secession, a large portion was composed of enslaved people of African descent, who played a crucial role in the struggle for independence. Consequently, the First Republic of Venezuela declared the abolition of slavery in 1812.

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01:59

On the same day in 1975, Arthur Ashe became the first Black man to win the singles title at Wimbledon, the most coveted championship in tennis. Despite being the underdog, Ashe triumphed over his opponent, Jimmy Connors, in one of the sport’s most memorable wins. He then went on to work tirelessly as an advocate for civil and human rights.

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02:32

How was that? This kind of listening is great for getting a general understanding of what is said. Now rewind, and have a second listen. See if you can make even more sense of the episode this time.

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02:50

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.

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End

The first independent republic in Spanish America, and Arthur Ashe wins Wimbledon… 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. We’d love to hear your feedback or suggestions – you can email us at podcasting@babbel.com. We've simplified these events to give you short and snappy listening practice. Facts are accurate as of April 2022.