Now that we've got the first five artifacts returned, it's time to head to the second floor to do more of the same.
Filament - Menlo Park, 1879
The prolific inventor Thomas Alva Edison, also known as New Jersey's "Wizard of Menlo Park," began his quest to perfect the light blub in 1879, after tiring of the flickering light and funny smells from old, dangerous gas lamps. Learning of a similar invention in Europe, Edison tried over 200 types of material in his seemingly endless quest to find a long-burning filament. Eventually, he discovered that carbonized bamboo was the perfect material.
Although best remembered as the inventor of the incandescent light bulb, Edison also brought us, among other inventions, the photographs, the alkaline battery, and motion pictures. Edison is also credited with owning more patents than anyone else in history, receiving more than 1000 in his lifetime. Later in life he was quoted as saying, "Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration."
Printing Block - Gobi Desert, 1292
When Marco Polo was born in the Italian trading port of Venice, about 1254 A.D., the Western world knew little of the Far East. Marco's father, Niccolo, and uncle, Maffeo, were merchants who happened among the Eastern capital of the Chinese emperor Kublai Khan in 1266. When the Polos set out again for China in 1271, they took 17-year-old Marco with them. A journey of more than 3 years, including a crossing of the Gobi Desert, brought them to Kublai Khan's capital at Cambuluc (now Beijing).
The Khan took a liking to Marco and employed him for 17 years in enterprises all over Asia. Marco discovered wonders unknown in Europe; including paper money, coal, spectacles, and fireworks. The Polos finally returned to Venice in 1295 after escorting a Mongolian princess to the Khan of Persia. Back home, Marco was captured during a war between Venice and Genoa. While imprisoned, he wrote of his travels in "The Book of Marco Polo," which remained Europe's main source of information on Asia for the next 500 years.
Scroll - Athens, 369 B.C.
The methods by which we seek an understanding of our world, our universe, and ourselves are believed to have been created by the great thinkers and teachers of ancient Greece. One of the most noted philosophers was Plato. In 387 B.C. he founded what is said to be the first university. Known as "The Academy," this school survived for over 900 years. There Plato taught his students through a "dialogue" of questions and answers. He learned this so called "Socratic" method of instruction from his own teacher, Socrates.
One of Plato's students, Aristotle, became a great philosopher-scientist himself. Plato examined such questions and ideas as "What is wisdom?", "What is truth?," and "What is the best form of government?" The teachings of Plato have influenced Western civilization for 24 centuries. His ideas are found in his many great works, including "The Republic," in which he contended that the best form of government would be a meritocracy of ruling philosophers.
Crown - London, 1595
The transformation of England from a small island nation to a great world power began during the 45-year reign of one of that country's greatest monarchs, Queen Elizabeth I. "Good Queen Bess," as she was fondly known by her subjects, ruled with strength and wisdom in spite of the many problems she faced as queen. Hers was a kingdom troubled by deep religious divisions and a war with Spain's King Philip II. The famous sea battle with his Spanish Armada was successful, but costly. Finally, countless plots against Elizabeth were attributed to her enemies, including her cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots.
When Mary fled to England, after abdicating the Scottish throne, Elizabeth had her confined for some 16 years. Ultimately, Mary was accused of treason and done away with. It was, however, Elizabeth's generous support of the arts and sciences during the period that produced playwright William Shakespeare and world explorer Sir Francis Drake that allowed her to preside over what is today called "The Golden Age" of England.
Indian - Calcutta, 1947
Few political leaders have earned the prestige of Mohandas K. Gandhi. Born in India in 1869, he studied law in Britain and settled in South Africa. There he protested unjust laws with campaigns called "satyagraha," meaning "grasping for the truth." After some success, Gandhi returned to India in 1915, a land ruled by the British since 1757. Gandhi first sought cooperation, but after a British attack on nationalists, he organized non-violent protests against British rule.
Soon called "Mahatma," or "great soul," he united Indian factions and extracted British concessions by threatening to fast himself to death. In 1942, when he refused to support the British in World War II, he was jailed. After the war, he participated in conferences with British Viceroy Mountbatten which lead to the independence of India and Pakistan. Though Gandhi was mortally wounded one year later, his enduring legacy is in the practice of passive resistance, a tactic later used during the Civil Rights movement in the United States.
No comments:
Post a Comment