February 6

in History

Pope Julius I Elected — A pope who set Christmas on December 25

Rome, Roman EmpireClassical

337

Pope Julius I Elected

A pope who set Christmas on December 25

The Christian community of Rome elected Julius I as their new bishop and pope. His pontificate would be defined by bold assertions of papal authority, particularly in his defense of Athanasius against the powerful Arian bishops of the East. Julius is also credited with establishing December 25 as the official date of Christ's birth, a decision that would shape the rhythm of the Western calendar for all centuries to come.

337 AD

The Hague, NetherlandsEarly 20th Century

1900

Court of Arbitration Created

A palace of peace rises in The Hague

The Permanent Court of Arbitration came into being when the Dutch Senate ratified the decree of the 1899 peace conference. Housed in the grand Peace Palace at The Hague, the court offered nations an alternative to war for settling disputes. It was one of the earliest institutions of international law, a hopeful gesture toward a world where justice might prevail over force, even as the twentieth century's wars loomed on the horizon.

1900 AD

1914–1918 global conflictEarly 20th Century

1919

World War I

World War I: More than 65,000 workers in Seattle began a five-day general strike to gain higher wages after two years.

World War I, or the First World War, also known as the Great War, was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Central Powers. Major areas of conflict included Europe and the Middle East, as well as parts of Africa and the Asia-Pacific. The war saw important developments in weaponry including tanks, aircraft, artillery, machine guns, and chemical weapons.

1919 AD