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Baracoa was visited by Christopher Columbus on 27 November 1492. It is the oldest Spanish settlement in Cuba.<br/><br/> Christopher Columbus (c. 31 October 1451 – 20 May 1506) was a navigator, colonizer, and explorer from Genoa, Italy, whose voyages across the Atlantic Ocean led to general European awareness of the American continents in the Western Hemisphere. With his four voyages of exploration and several attempts at establishing a settlement on the island of Hispaniola, all funded by Isabella I of Castile, he initiated the process of Spanish colonization which foreshadowed general European colonization of the 'New World'.
Hanoi (Vietnamese: Hà Ná»™i), is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. It has an estimated population of nearly 6.5 million (2009), (but only 2.6 million (2009) in urban areas). From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam.<br/><br/> It was eclipsed by Huế during the Nguyá»…n dynasty as the capital of Vietnam, but Hanoi served as the capital of French Indochina from 1902 to 1954. From 1954 to 1976, it was the capital of North Vietnam.
Hanoi (Vietnamese: Hà Ná»™i), is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. It has an estimated population of nearly 6.5 million (2009), (but only 2.6 million (2009) in urban areas). From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam.<br/><br/> It was eclipsed by Huế during the Nguyá»…n dynasty as the capital of Vietnam, but Hanoi served as the capital of French Indochina from 1902 to 1954. From 1954 to 1976, it was the capital of North Vietnam.
Hanoi (Vietnamese: Hà Ná»™i), is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. It has an estimated population of nearly 6.5 million (2009), (but only 2.6 million (2009) in urban areas). From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam.<br/><br/> It was eclipsed by Huế during the Nguyá»…n dynasty as the capital of Vietnam, but Hanoi served as the capital of French Indochina from 1902 to 1954. From 1954 to 1976, it was the capital of North Vietnam.
Hanoi (Vietnamese: Hà Ná»™i), is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. It has an estimated population of nearly 6.5 million (2009), (but only 2.6 million (2009) in urban areas). From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam.<br/><br/> It was eclipsed by Huế during the Nguyá»…n dynasty as the capital of Vietnam, but Hanoi served as the capital of French Indochina from 1902 to 1954. From 1954 to 1976, it was the capital of North Vietnam.
Hanoi (Vietnamese: Hà Ná»™i), is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. It has an estimated population of nearly 6.5 million (2009), (but only 2.6 million (2009) in urban areas). From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam.<br/><br/> It was eclipsed by Huế during the Nguyá»…n dynasty as the capital of Vietnam, but Hanoi served as the capital of French Indochina from 1902 to 1954. From 1954 to 1976, it was the capital of North Vietnam.
When Vietnam was under French rule, the colonial government governed the Indochinese monetary system through the Indochinese Bank, which also acted as a commercial bank in French Indochina. After the August Revolution in 1945, the Vietnamese government gradually attempted to exercise a monetary system independent from France. In July 1976, the National Bank of Vietnam was merged into the State Bank of Vietnam.
Regarded as one of the world's greatest hotels, the 5-star Metropole was built in 1901 in French colonial style. It is located at 15 Ngo Quyen Street in Hanoi, and has a rich history of welcoming ambassadors, writers, heads of state and entrepreneurs including Charlie Chaplin, Jane Fonda, George H.W. Bush, Francois Mitterand and Jacques Chirac. It is now owned and run by the Sofitel group.
Sir Francis Walsingham (c. 1532 – 6 April 1590) was Principal Secretary to Elizabeth I of England from 1573 till 1590, and is popularly remembered as her 'spymaster'. Walsingham is frequently cited as one of the earliest practitioners of modern intelligence methods both for espionage and for domestic security. Walsingham was one of the small coterie who directed the Elizabethan state.Overall, his foreign policy demonstrated a new understanding of the role of England as a maritime, Protestant power in an increasingly global economy. He was an innovator in exploration, colonization and the use of England's potential maritime power.
Originally the French governor's palace, then Norodom Palace, then Independence Palace, the magnificent original French building was knocked down to make way for Reunification Palace, which was built on the same site between 1962 -66. It is today a famous landmark in Ho Chi Minh City and a popular museum and tourist attraction. The present building was designed by architect Ngo Viet Thu and was the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the US-Vietnam War. It was famously the site of the end of the Vietnam War during the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, when a North Vietnamese army tank crashed through its gates and a soldier triumphantly hoisted a National Liberation Front flag on its roof.
The Security Council was where the king met his ministers during the era of the Imperial City of Hue. Between 1802 and 1945, Hue was the imperial capital of the feudal Nguyen Dynasty, which dominated much of southern Vietnam. In 1802, Nguyen Phuc Anh (later Emperor Gia Long) succeeded in establishing his control over the whole of Vietnam and declared Hue the national capital. The French administration placed the boy emperor Duy Tan on the throne in 1907, replacing his father Emperor Thanh Thai who was opposed to French colonial rule and sent into exile. Hue remained the Vietnamese capital until 1945, when Emperor Bao Dai abdicated and a communist government was established in Hanoi.
Between 1802 and 1945, Hue was the imperial capital of the feudal Nguyen Dynasty, which dominated much of southern Vietnam. In 1775 when Trinh Sam captured it, it was known as Phu Xuan. In 1802, Nguyen Phuc Anh (later Emperor Gia Long) succeeded in establishing his control over the whole of Vietnam, thereby making Hue the national capital. The French administration placed the boy emperor Duy Tan on the throne in 1907, replacing his father Emperor Thanh Thai who was opposed to French colonial rule and sent into exile. Hue remained the Vietnamese capital until 1945, when Emperor Bao Dai abdicated and a communist government was established in Hanoi.
The Vietnam North-South Railway, runs 1,726 km (1,080 miles) from Hanoi to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) along the Vietnamese coast on a 1-m gauge track. The railway was constructed by French colonists as part of a railway network in Indochina. It was officially inaugurated on October 2, 1936. Nowadays known as the Reunification Express, the railway is renowned as the slowest train service in the world.
Originally named after a French archeologist and researcher, the Louis Finot Museum is located in the Hoan Kien district of Hanoi. It is housed in a colonial French building which was completed in 1932. The building, designed by the architect Ernest Hebrard, is considered a successful blend of French colonial and traditional Vietnamese architecture known as Indochina architecture. Hebrard created double walls and balconies for a natural ventilation system and protection from sunshine. Today, it is a museum showcasing Vietnam's history with very large displays covering every period.
Between 1802 and 1945, Hue was the imperial capital of the feudal Nguyen Dynasty, which dominated much of southern Vietnam. In 1775 when Trinh Sam captured it, it was known as Phu Xuan. In 1802, Nguyen Phuc Anh (later Emperor Gia Long) succeeded in establishing his control over the whole of Vietnam, thereby making Hue the national capital. The French administration placed the boy emperor Duy Tan on the throne in 1907, replacing his father Emperor Thanh Thai who was opposed to French colonial rule and sent into exile. Hue remained the Vietnamese capital until 1945, when Emperor Bao Dai abdicated and a communist government was established in Hanoi.
Emperor Duy Tân (Nguyá»…n Phúc VÄ©nh San, 14 August 1899 – 25 December 1945), was a child Emperor of the Nguyá»…n Dynasty and reigned for nine years between 1907 and 1916. His name was Prince Nguyá»…n Phúc VÄ©nh San and was son of the Thành Thái Emperor. Because of his opposition to French rule and his erratic, depraved actions (which some speculate were feigned to shield his opposition from the French) Thành Thái was declared insane and exiled to VÅ©ng Tàu in 1907.<br/><br/> The French decided to pass the throne to his son Nguyá»…n Phúc VÄ©nh San, who was only seven years old, because they thought someone so young would be easily influenced and controlled, and could be raised to be pro-French. This proved to be a big mistake on the part of the French. Nguyá»…n Phúc VÄ©nh San was enthroned with the reign name of Duy Tân, meaning 'friend of reform' and in time would prove unwilling to live up to this name. As he became older he noticed that, even though he was treated as the Emperor, it was the colonial authorities who were actually obeyed.<br/><br/> As he became a teenager, Emperor Duy Tân came under the influence of the mandarin Trần Cao Vân, who was very much opposed to the colonial administration. Emperor Duy Tân began to plan a secret rebellion with Trần Cao Vân and others to overthrow the French. In 1916, while France was preoccupied with fighting World War I, Emperor Duy Tân was smuggled out of the Forbidden City with Trần Cao Vân to call upon the people to rise up against the French.<br/><br/> However, the secret was revealed and France immediately sent troops, and after only a few days they were betrayed and captured by the French authorities. Because of his age and in order to avoid a worse situation, Emperor Duy Tân was deposed and exiled instead of being killed. Trần Cao Vân and the rest of the revolutionaries were all beheaded.
Conquered by France in 1859, Saigon was influenced by the French during their colonial occupation of Vietnam, and a number of classical Western-style buildings in the city reflect this, so much so that Saigon was called the 'Pearl of the Far East' or the 'Paris in the Orient'. In 1929, Saigon had a population of 123,890, which included 12,100 French.
Long Bien Bridge was built in 1903 by the architects of Dayde & Pille, a French company. It is a historic cantilever bridge that spans the Red River, some 2.5 km in length. From 1899 to 1902, more than 3,000 Vietnamese took part in the construction. Before Vietnam's independence in 1954, it was called the Doumer Bridge after Paul Doumer, the Governor-General of French Indochina and then French president. Defence of the bridge played a major role in the Vietnam War against the United States, as the bridge provided the only secure connection to the port of Haiphong. It was heavily bombarded and was rendered unusable for a year when, in May 1972, it fell victim to one of the first coordinated attacks using laser-guided 'smart bombs'. The defense of Long Bien Bridge continues to play a large role in Hanoi’s self-image and is often extolled in poetry and song.
The Perfume River crosses the city of Hue in the central Vietnamese province of Thua Thien Hue. In the autumn, flowers from orchards upriver fall into the water, giving it an aromatic smell—hence the name 'Perfume River'. The Perfume River has two sources, both of which begin in the Day Truong Son mountain range and meet at Bang Lang fork. The 30-km river passes the landmarks of the Hon Chen Temple and the Ngoc Tran Temple.
Omar Mukhtar (Umar al-Mukhtar, 1862 - September 16; 1931) of the Mnifa Tribe was born in the small village of Janzour, near Tobruk in eastern Barqa (Cyrenaica) in Libya. Beginning in 1912, he organized and - for nearly twenty years - led native resistance to Italian colonisation of Libya. Italian Fascists captured and hanged him in 1931.
The Dutch East India Company, or VOC, was a chartered company granted a monopoly by the Dutch government to carry out colonial activities in Asia. It was the first multinational corporation in the world and the first company to issue stock. It was also arguably the world's first megacorporation, possessing quasi-governmental powers, including the ability to wage war, imprison and execute convicts, negotiate treaties, coin money and establish colonies.<br/><br/> The VOC was set up in 1602 to gain a foothold in the East Indies (Indonesia) for the Dutch in the lucrative spice trade, which until that point was dominated by the Portuguese. It also traded with India and established ports, factories and warehouses there.<br/><br/> Between 1602 and 1796, the VOC sent almost a million Europeans to work in the Asia trade on 4,785 ships, and netted more than 2.5 million tons of Asian trade goods.
India/Portugal: 'Death of Sultan Bahadur in front of Diu during negotiations with the Portuguese, 1537'. Painting from the 'Akbarnama', late 16th century.<br/><br/> Qutb-ud-Din Bahadur Shah (c. 1506-1537), born Bahadur Khan, was a Sultan of the Muzaffarid Dynasty who ruled over the Gujarat Sultanate in India. Fighting off his brothers to succeed his father, he expanded his kingdoms through military expeditions, but came under attack from the growing Mughal Empire. Gujarat fell in 1532, but Bahadur regained his kingdom in 1536 with Portuguese aid. He was subsequently killed by the Portuguese a year later when trying to renege on his alliance, murdered on a Portuguese ship during negotiations.
The first railways in Vietnam were established in the 1880s; these included a tram running between the ports of Saigon and Cholon, and a regional rail line connecting Saigon with Mỹ Tho in the Mekong Delta. Railway construction flourished soon afterwards, during the administration of Paul Doumer as Governor-General of French Indochina from 1897 to 1902.
Conquered by France in 1859, Saigon was influenced by the French during their colonial occupation of Vietnam, and a number of classical Western-style buildings in the city reflect this, so much so that Saigon was called the 'Pearl of the Far East' or the 'Paris in the Orient'. In 1929, Saigon had a population of 123,890, which included 12,100 French.