Historical Events from This Year 1698
Thomas Savery patents first steam engine
Thomas Savery, an English inventor, patented the first steam engine designed for pumping water. The patent described a machine that used steam pressure to create a vacuum and draw water from mines. Invented to address flooding in mines, this innovative device was pivotal in the evolution of steam power and mechanical engineering. Savery's engine laid groundwork for future developments in steam technology.
Continue ReadingTax on Beards Imposed by Tsar Peter I
Tsar Peter I of Russia enforced a beard tax to promote Westernization among his nobility while excluding clergy and peasantry. The tax aimed to modernize Russia and diminish traditional customs associated with beard-wearing, which was common in Russia at the time. This regulation required the nobility to pay for the privilege of sporting facial hair, reflecting the broader cultural changes Peter sought to enforce in his efforts to Europeanize Russian society.
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