SOFALA: ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST GOLD EXPORTERS IN THE 15TH CENTURY
At its height in the 15th century, several tonnes of gold went through Sofala each year, making it one of the world's biggest gold exporters of the precious metal.
The city was founded by Somali merchants from the Sultanate of Mogadishu, who used to get gold from Sofala, but in the 1180s, the Sultan of Kilwa Kisiwani seized control of the city, and brought it under the Kilwa Sultanate and therefore into the Swahili cultural sphere.
Since it's formation, it was a leading trader of gold from the kingdoms in the interior of South Eastern Africa like Mwenemutapa and Zimbabwe. Arabs, Chinese and other people across the Indian ocean used the city as a major source of their gold thus making it very prosperous.
When the Titanic sank, it carried millionaire John Jacob Astor IV. The money in his bank account was enough to build 30 Titanics.
However, faced with mortal danger, he chose what he deemed morally right and gave up his spot in a lifeboat to save two frightened children.
Millionaire Isidor Straus, co-owner of the largest American chain of department stores, "Macy's," who was also on the Titanic, said:
"I will never enter a lifeboat before other men."
His wife, Ida Straus, also refused to board the lifeboat, giving her spot to her newly appointed maid, Ellen Bird. She decided to spend her last moments of life with her husband.
These wealthy individuals preferred to part with their wealth, and even their lives, rather than compromise their moral principles. Their choice in favor of moral values highlighted the brilliance of human civilization and human nature.
credit: Paulyn Pickle #waskymedia
THE WORLD'S FIRST BILLIONAIRE
John D. Rockfeller (July 8, 1839–May 23, 1937), the founder of Standard Oil, was once the richest man in the world. He was the world’s first billionaire.
"He amassed a net worth of at least $1 billion in 1916. When Rockefeller died in 1937, his net worth was estimated to be approximately $340 billion in today's dollars."
By the age of 25, he had one of the largest oil refineries in the United States. He was 31 when he became the world's largest oil refiner. At 38, he controlled 90% of the oil refined in the United States. At fifty, John was America's richest man. As a young man, every action, attitude, and connection was crafted to establish his wealth.
But at the age of 53, he fell unwell. His entire body became wracked with pain, and he lost all his hair. In total anguish, the world's lone millionaire could buy anything he wanted but could only eat soup and crackers.
According to an associate, "He couldn't sleep, wouldn't smile, and nothing in life meant anything to him". His personal, highly trained physicians indicated that he would die within the year. That year passed painfully slowly. As he approached death, he awoke one morning with the faint understanding that he would not be able to bring any of his fortune with him to the next world.
The man who could dominate the commercial world suddenly realised he had no control over his personal life. He informed his solicitors, accountants, and management that he intended to devote his assets to hospitals, research, and charity work. John D. Rockefeller started his foundation.
The Rockefeller Foundation financed Howard Florey and his colleague Norman Heatley's penicillin research in 1941. But arguably the most astounding aspect of Rockefeller's narrative is that when he began to give back a fraction of all he had gained, his body's chemistry changed dramatically, and he recovered.
He was expected to die at the age of 53, but he survived to reach 98 years old. Rockefeller learnt gratitude and returned the great bulk of his money. This made him whole. It's one thing to be healed. It is another to become fit. He was a devout Baptist who attended the Euclid Avenue Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio.
Before he died, he wrote in his diary: "God taught me that everything belongs to Him, and I am merely a conduit to carry out His will. My life has been one long, happy holiday since then; full of work and play, I let go of my worries along the road, and God was wonderful to me every day.
📷Ctto #DidYouKnow #highlights #knowledge #history #follower
MGA BAYAN" sa Silangang Visayas, Ang Region 8, ay tahanan ng mga bayang mayaman sa kasaysayan at kultura—mula sa maunlad na Tacloban at Ormoc, hanggang sa makasaysayang Palo at Guiuan.
Ang bawat bayan, tulad ng Calbayog at Catbalogan, ay sumasalamin sa tibay at pagkakaisa ng mga Waray at Bisaya. Sa mga dalampasigan ng Maasin at Borongan, hanggang sa mga kapatagan ng Baybay at Leyte, makikita ang mga yaman ng kalikasan at kultura. Ang rehiyong ito ay simbolo ng kagitingan, pagkakaisa, at ang patuloy na pagsulong tungo sa mas maunlad na kinabukasan."
#LeyteProvince
#Region8
#EasternVisayas
SOON TO BE THE "WORLD’S LARGEST INDOOR ARENA"‼️
KJC King Dome Arena in the 26-Hectare Kingdom Global City, Davao City
The KJC King Dome Arena is vying to be hailed as the ‘World’s Largest Indoor Arena’ with 75,000 seating capacity—quite enough to dethrone the current title holder with 55,000 seating capacity.
The King Dome is inside the 18-hectare KJC compound, which, in turn, is part of the 26-hectare Kingdom Global City Tourism Enterprise Zone (TEZ), which has been designated as such by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).
According to TIEZA, the Kingdom Global City is “the first world-class integrated leisure resort destination in Southern Philippines that will cater to the different market seeking holidays for leisure and business.”
In addition to the stadium, the development will also include a 150-room condominium-hotel, a museum, a hangar for small and medium-sized aircrafts for the operations of air taxi services, a water park, and a commercial center with restaurant and business spaces, among others.
#everyonehighlightsfollowerseveryone
Kansai International Airport, a major hub in Japan serving Osaka, Kobe, and Kyoto, is celebrating 30 years of operation with an incredible achievement
not a single piece of luggage has been lost since it opened in September 1994. 🎉✈️
The airport is known for its efficiency, but its perfect record in baggage handling really sets it apart. 🧳💼
According to Kenji Takanishi, a spokesperson for the airport, there’s no magic trick behind this success. The ground handling staff aren’t superhuman; they just use a system of redundancies to make sure every bag reaches its destination safely.
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Rafflesia: ‘Corpse Flower’ Marvel of the Philippines
Meet Rafflesia, the world's largest—and stinkiest—flower! This giant bloom, found across Southeast Asia, thrives as a parasite on the Tetrastigma vine, living entirely off its host. It has no leaves, stems, or roots, and only its massive, corpse-scented flower emerges when it's time to bloom.
The Philippines boasts 13 species of Rafflesia, found on Luzon, Samar, Panay, Negros, and Mindanao. Rafflesia speciosa, exclusive to Panay and Negros, can grow up to 65 cm wide! This elusive flower only blooms for 3-5 days, releasing an unforgettable scent of rotting flesh that attracts carrion flies for pollination.
Discovered back in 1797, Rafflesia is now critically endangered due to deforestation, mining, and slash-and-burn agriculture. Sadly, human activity continues to threaten its survival.
#RafflesiaRevealed #CorpseFlower #PhilippineFlora #NatureWonders #ConservationMatters #NationalMuseumPH #NaturalHistory #Philippines #Manila #PhilippineMuseum
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Kaaimans River, Western Cape, South Africa 🇿🇦
The water is clean, crystal clear and completely harmless.
The colour is due to precious minerals in the water seeping through the rock.
The river flows straight out into the Indian ocean but the red just stops abruptly and instantly changed to a greeny/blue at the ocean edge.