The History of Zanzibar (Tanzania)

The Zanzibar Archipelago is located in the Indian Ocean and consists of various islands including the largest islands Unguja and Pemba, which were inhabited since the Late Stone Age. 

In the 10th century the Persians established a base for traders on Unguja. In 1498 the Europeans visited the islands and already in 1504 they became a part of the Portuguese Empire. In 1698 Zanzibar fell under the control of the Sultanate of Oman. After struggles over the succession of Said bin Sultan, who moved Oman's capital from Muscat to Zanzibar, his son Majid bin Said became the first Sultan of Zanzibar in 1856. The sultans developed an economy of trade and cash crops in the Zanzibar Archipelago with a ruling Arab elite. Important goods were spices, ivory and slaves. In the following years the United Kingdom increased its influence on the islands and in 1890 the German Empire recognised the British protectorate over the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba in the Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty. In 1963 the protectorate was abolished and Zanzibar became an independent state, but already in 1964 Zanzibar merged with mainland Tanganyika to form the United Republic of Tanzania. 

Today is Zanzibar a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania with Zanzibar City as its capital. The Stone Town of Zanzibar is since 2000 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Europe's Ideal Palace and its Copies (Austria, France, Germany, Russia, Sweden)

The Palace of Versailles is one of the largest palaces in Europe. Actually only a small hunting lodge, it was enlarged into a royal palace by the Sun King Louis XIV between 1661 and 1715. In 1682 Louis XIV moved his court from Paris to Versailles. The palace became the political and cultural centre of Franc, but also a symbol of the Absolute Monarchy and the abundant life of the monarch. In the course of the French Revolution Louis XVI and his family were forced to return to Paris in 1789. Since the 19th century it was used as museum and can be visited. After the French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War Prussian King Wilhelm I was proclaimed German Emperor in the Hall of Mirrors on 18th January 1871 and after World War I the Treaty of Versailles was signed there in 1919.

Palace and Park of Versailles are since 1979 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Palace of Versailles provided Europe with a model of the ideal royal residence and so the architecture of the palace, the gardens and the life of Versailles were often copied in other countries. Famous examples include Schönbrunn Palace in Austria, Herrenchiemsee Palace in Bavaria, Ludwigslust Palace in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Sanssouci Palace in Prussia, Peterhof Palace in Russia and Drottningholm Palace in Sweden.

In Remembrance of King Bhumibol the Great (Thailand)

My deepest condolences to all Thai people and especially to my dear friends Jobbo, Kwanjira and Ta with the loss of their beloved King.

Bhumibol Adulyadej was born in 1927 as the youngest son of HRH Prince Mahidol Adulyadej. His father died when he was just two years old. In 1933 he moved with his mother and siblings to Switzerland, where he went to school and where he also found his love for jazz and photography. His childless uncle abdicated in 1934 and his older brother became the new King, but the family was not able to leave Switzerland until World War II was over in 1945.

After his brother died in 1946, he became the new King of Thailand, Rama IX the ninth monarch from the Chakri Dynasty. But he returned to Switzerland to finish his studies, which he changed from science to law and political science to be prepared for his duties as head of state. His coronation took place on 5th May 1950.

During his studies in Switzerland Bhumibol often visited Paris, where he met Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara, the daughter of the Thai ambassador to France. They both engaged in 1949 and married in 1950. Together they have four children, Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and Princess Chulabhorn Walailak.

At the beginning of his reign his political powers were limited and he was actually only a ceremonial figure, but during Sarit Thanarat's dictatorship the monarchy was revitalised. His reign is characterised by a long-lasting relationship with the military. For many he became a symbol of Thailand's economic improvement and in 1992 Bhumibol played a key role in Thailand's transition to a democratic system.

He was one of the richest monarchs in the World, the World's longest-serving head of state and the longest-reigning monarch in Thai history. But starting in 2006 he had to fight with declining health and on 13th October 2016 Thailand's King Bhumibol the Great died. After the death the most Thais are deeply mourning the loss of their beloved King and many also have anxiety about the future.

His heir Vajiralongkorn does not share the popularity of his father, leading to concerns that the Thai monarchy will lose prestige and influence after Bhumibol's death. But there are also speculations that Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn might take the throne instead of her brother.

Der Märchenkönig (Germany)

King Ludwig II was born in 1845 in the Nymphenburg Palace in Munich. After the death of his father, he became King of Bavaria in 1864. He is especially known for building the three palaces Linderhof, Neuschwanstein and Herrenchiemsee and the King's House Schachen, but he was also a big supporter and patron of Richard Wagner and helped him to build his Festspielhaus in Bayreuth. In 1870 he offered Wilhelm I the imperial crown with the Kaiserbrief. In 1886 he was placed under disability and short after this incapacitation he died in an uncleared context in the Lake Starnberg.

King Ludwig II's Dreams in Stone are on the UNESCO Tentative List.

Neuschwanstein Castle was built from 1869 onwards. King Ludwig II wanted to build it as homage to Richard Wagner, but Wagner never entered the castle. He paid for the castle out of his personal fortune and through extensive borrowing, but he died before its finishing. Actually Ludwig II never wanted that visitors enter the castle, but only six weeks after his death the first people visited it. Now more than 1300000 people visit the castle every year.

The King's House on Schachen was built by King Ludwig II between 1869 and 1872. It is the least-known of his buildings. The exterior and the ground floor of the palace are rather modest, but the complete upper floor is occupied by the prestigious Turkish Room, which is decorated in an Oriental fashion. At the palace Ludwig often spent his birthday and namesday.

The Linderhof Palace is the smallest of the three palaces of King Ludwig II and was built between 1870 and 1886. It was the only of three palaces that was finished before King Ludwig II's death and was also the one where he spent the most time.

The Herrenchiemsee Castle is the largest of Ludwig II's three palaces and was built between 1878 and 1886. It was planned as copy of the Palace of Versailles, but when Ludwig II died the palace was not finished. For the castle 5kg of gold foil were used (1g is enough for 1m²!). Today the castle can be visited and also houses the King Ludwig II Museum.

The Man who unified Germany (Germany)

Otto von Bismarck was born in 1815 in Schönhausen. He was a conservative Prussian statesman. From 1862 to 1890 he was Foreign Minister of Prussia, from 1867 to 1871 Chancellor of the North German Confederation and from 1862 until January 1873 and from November 1873 to 1890 Minister President of Prussia. From 1864 to 1871 he provoked the Wars of German Unification against Denmark, Austria and France and was thus highly involved in the creation of the German Empire in 1871, of which he was the first Chancellor between 1871 and 1890. He used balance of power diplomacy and was against the acquiring of German colonies. His internal politics were characterised by the creating of the first welfare state in the modern world, but also by his fight against the Catholic Church and the Socialists. In 1890 he was removed by Emperor Wilhelm II from his tenure, but he still kept his influence on the politics with his comments on his successors. He died in 1898 in Friedrichsruh.

History made in Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Sarajevo is known as Jerusalem of Europe, as it has always been a melting pot of cultures. Until the late 20th century it was the only major European city with a mosque, a Catholic church, an Orthodox church and a synagogue within the same neighborhood.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie of Hohenberg were killed on the 28th June 1914 in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip, a member of Mlada Bosna. Although Franz Ferdinand was not very popular, the Austro-Hungarian government used the assassination as reason for an intervention in the Kingdom of Serbia. After the Austro-Hungarian Empire got support ensured by the German Empire, they gave the Kingdom of Serbia an unacceptable ultimatum. Meanwhile the Kingdom of Serbia got support ensured by its protecting power, the Russian Empire. Because of the abandonment of some of the points in the ultimatum the Austro-Hungarian Empire declared war on the Kingdom of Serbia on the 28th July 1914 and due to the European alliances this led to the beginning of World War I after a few days.

In 1984 the city hosted the Olympic Winter Games. 

During the Bosnian War Sarajevo suffered the longest siege of a city in the history of modern warfare. Between 1992 and 1996 the city was besieged by the Army of Republika Srpska, whose strategic goal was to create a new Bosnian Serb state. The city was assaulted with artillery, tanks and small arms and the Bosnian government defence forces in Sarajevo were poorly equipped and unable to break the siege. Nearly 14000 people were killed during the siege. 

Sarajevo is today the capital of the independent Bosnia and Herzegovina and seeks for the inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Jews in Prague (Czech Republic)

Between the 13th century and 1848 the Jews of Prague were forced to live within their own quarter, which is now known as Josefov. The quarter started to decay after the rich Jews left their former ghetto. At the end of the 19th century many old buildings were destroyed to create space for a reconstruction. Only six synagogues, the town hall and the Jewish Cemetery survived this period. During World War II the most Jews were killed by the Nazis, but the buildings were kept, because there were plans to create a "Museum of the Eradicated Race" in Prague. 1950 the buildings were placed under the control of the Czech Government, which started to operate a real Jewish Museum. Today the Jewish community of Prague has again the control over its heritage. 

The Old New Synagogue was completed in 1270. It is one of Prague's first Gothic buildings and Europe's oldest active synagogue. According to the legend Rabbi Loew created the Golem at the Old New Synagogue in the 16th century. 

The Old Jewish Cemetery is the largest Jewish cemetery in Europe. Renowned personalities of Prague's Jewish community were buried there including Rabbi Loew and businessman Mordecai Maisel. It was in use between the 15th century and 1786 and there are places where as many as twelve layers exist now, because the Jews do not abolish old graves and the space for the cemetery was limited. 

The Spanish Synagogue is the newest synagogue in Josefov. It was built in the Moorish Revival Style.