On this day

6 January in history.

5 moments from 1536 to 1947: discovery, creativity and courage, each with a source to read more.

5 moments

1907

Maria Montessori opens her first school. In a poor district of Rome, Maria Montessori opened a school and day-care centre for working families' children. Her way of teaching, built on children's own curiosity, now carries her name around the world.

Photo: Unknown author / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

1536
A college in the Americas
In Tlatelolco, now part of Mexico City, the Colegio de Santa Cruz opened its doors. Nowhere else in the Americas had a European-style college existed before it.
Wikipedia: Colegio de Santa Cruz de Tlatelolco
Photo: Noemí Gil / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
1912
The continents on the move
German scientist Alfred Wegener first presented his idea that the continents slowly drift across the Earth. Few believed him then; the idea is now a cornerstone of geology.
Wikipedia: Alfred Wegener Wikipedia: Continental drift
Photo: Unknown author / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
1941
The Four Freedoms
In a speech to Congress, President Franklin D. Roosevelt named four freedoms he believed everyone should have: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear.
Wikipedia: Four Freedoms Wikipedia: Franklin D. Roosevelt
Photo: Douglas Chandor / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
1947
A ticket around the world
Pan American Airways began selling a single ticket for a trip all the way around the world, the first airline to do so.
Wikipedia: Pan Am Wikipedia: Round-the-world ticket
Photo: Pan Am Systems / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Moments chosen for discovery, creativity and courage. Each one links to a source where you can read more; photos are credited to their owners.