The earliest part of human prehistory, running from about 3.3 million years ago until (in Britain) about 2500BCE. It is defined by the use of stones (rather than metals) as tools.
Stone Age
Fact of the Day
In 1850, cannabis was used in the US to treat tetanus, typhus, cholera, rabies, dysentery, alcoholism, anthrax, leprosy, and insanity.
Quote of the Day
"What recreation tooke I? How lawfull was it? ... Was it not affected with too much delight?
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~ Questions from the seventeenth-century puritan guidebook for women, 'A Fountaine of Tears'
On This Day
303 St George, a possibly Greek, Palestinian, or non-existent Roman soldier, was executed for preaching Christianity. He is the patron saint of Aragon, Catalonia, England, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal, and Russia.
1344 Or 1348. The Order of the Garter, the highest order of chivalry in England, was founded by Edward III.
1616 William Shakespeare, one of the greatest playwrights in English history, died at the age of 52 and within a month of signing his will where he was described as being 'in perfect health'.
1661 Charles II was crowned king of England, Scotland and Ireland, thereby officially restoring the monarchy. He chose St George's Day for his coronation, as did James II and Queen Anne.
1850 Poet William Wordsworth died of pleurisy, aged 80.
1915 Idealistic war poet Rupert Brooke died of an infected mosquito bite on his way to Gallipoli.
1945 Hitler's propaganda minister, Joseph Goebbels, and his wife committed suicide in Hitler's Berlin bunker, after killing their six children. Meanwhile, Hitler's private secretary, Martin Bormann, escaped from the bunker. He didn't make it far: his remains were discovered in Berlin in 1972.