The Crusaders, led by Godfrey of Bouillon, capture the city of Jerusalem from the Fatimid Caliphate, marking the conclusion of the First Crusade. More
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What Happened Today in History on July 15
Explore the historical events that shaped our world on July 15th. From major milestones to cultural achievements, see what happened on this day in history. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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The First Crusaders launch an assault on Jerusalem, ultimately leading to the capture of the city and the establishment of the Crusader states.
July 1-31 1487
Bartolomeu Dias sets sail from Lisbon, Portugal with a small fleet on an expedition to find a sea route to India. He succeeded, reaching Africa's southern cape on February 4, 1488 and entering what it is now known as Mossel Bay, becoming the first European to sail around the southern tip of Africa.
The Spanish ship San Jose y las Animas sinks off the coast of Florida, becoming a subject of treasure hunting.The wreck was located by treasure hunters in 1968, lying in about twenty-eight feet of water. The ship was carrying a substantial amount of treasure, estimated to be worth millions of pesos.
The wreck has yielded numerous artifacts, including cannons and anchors, and modern-day divers continue to explore the site. Modern treasure hunters have found artifacts and coins from the wreck, and the location continues to attract divers seeking to find more, although the wreck is partially covered by sand.
The Rosetta Stone is found in the Egyptian village of Rosetta, providing a key to deciphering ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. The large inscribed stone fragment was uncovered by the French officer Pierre François Xavier Bouchard on a tributary of the Nile near the Mediterranean coast east of Alexandria where Napoleon’s forces were constructing fortifications. More
Awikimate, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Ernest Pfennig, a Chicago dentist, orders the first Original Model A Ford car. The car is delivered a week later on July 23, 1903. A total of 1,750 cars were made from 1903 through 1904 and sold at an average price of $850. More
The Second Battle of the Marne starts during the First World War. It was the last major German offensive on the Western Front lasting a year and ending on August 6, 1919.