Virality Spot

Europe remembers Kheir-ed-Din Barbarossa as a pirate, a murderous corsair, a thief and considers him an insignificant figure. It is this image that has become popular. Contrary to popular belief, Kheir-ed-Din was a highly cultured and intelligent man who had a significant impact on North Africa, the Mediterranean Sea and he left behind a legacy that would endure for at least 3 centuries. Kheir-ed-Din Barbarossa began his career under the tutelage of his older brother Aruj. The two brothers left Lesbo (off the coast of Turkey) for North Africa in their early twenties with nothing more than 2 galleots. By the time Aruj is killed in battle 14 years later, they had a small fleet and created a land kingdom, the Kingdom of Algiers. For the next 15 years after the death of Aruj, Kheir-ed-Din would consolidate and expand the Kingdom further. The Kingdom of Algiers would last for 3 centuries and dictate trade and the movement of ships in the Mediterranean well into the 19th century. This by it...

Men have dreamed of flying ever since they learned to walk. History is full of legends and fables of men trying to fly. Icarus being the most famous who flew to close to the sun which melted the wax holding his feathers and he fell into the sea and drowned. The first successful attempt at flight was done by the Chinese who flew kites around the 5 th century BCE but the first successful attempt at human flight was accomplished by a Muslim, Abbas ibn Firnas in 875 CE in the city of Qutuba Al-Andalus (Cordoba, Spain). Abbas Ibn Firnas was born in Izn-Rand Onda Al-Andalus (today Ronda Spain) but lived in the Emirate of Cordoba which was one of the major centers of learning in the Muslim world. He was a polymath: an inventor, engineer, aviator, physician, Arabic poet, and Andalusian musician. The stories say that Ibn Firnas was influenced by the one named Armen Firman in 852 CE. This is a person who made a living by pulling stunts. He was no scientist but by observing the nature around hi...