Historical Events tagged with "meridian"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Science & Technology

Prime Meridian Established at Greenwich

October 22nd, 1884 140 years ago

In October 1884, the International Meridian Conference convened in Washington, D.C., where representatives from 25 nations gathered to establish a global standard for timekeeping. The conference designated the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England, as the prime meridian, with the zero-degree longitude line passing through it. This decision aimed to create uniformity in time zones and navigation for maritime and travel needs, promoting international communication and coordination.

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Politics & Government

Spain Ratifies the Treaty of Tordesillas

July 2nd, 1494 530 years ago

The Treaty of Tordesillas, signed on June 7, 1494, was officially ratified by Spain on July 2 of the same year. This accord, negotiated between the Spanish Crown and Portugal, aimed to resolve conflicts arising from newly discovered lands in the New World. By establishing a meridian 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands, it divided the overseas territories between the two nations, giving Spain dominion over most of the Americas while Portugal retained rights to parts of Africa and Asia.

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