December 5th, 2008

Today in History

1484:
Pope Innocent VIII writes a Papal Bull that sets the inquisition into full swing and leads to the deaths hundreds of thousands of people accused of being witches

1932:
German physicist Albert Einstein granted a visa

1848:
California gold rush: In a message before the U.S. Congress, US President James K. Polk confirms that large amounts of gold had been discovered in California.

1934:
Italian troops attack Wal Wal in Ethiopia (it took four days to capture the city).

1766:
In London, James Christie holds his first sale (he later founded Christie's, the world's oldest auction house).