15 February: A Day of Change
15th of February - Notable Historical Events
On the date of 15 February, history has witnessed two transformative events—the dawn of a new order and a bold step toward modernization.
15 February 1113—The Hospital of St John Transformed
That year, Pope Paschal II proclaimed 'Pie postulatio voluntatis', officially sanctioning the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem as a religious order, later renowned as the Knights Hospitaller.
15 February 1493—The New World Unveiled
Fast forward to the year 1493, and explorer Christopher Columbus wrote to the finance minister of Aragon, Luis de Santángel, extolling the wonders he'd discovered in the Americas during his voyage. Despite his questionable geographical understanding (which labeled his findings 'islands of India beyond the Ganges'), Columbus spoke about a land ofSpices, gold, and endless riches. His vivid descriptions left the Spanish authorities in awe and set the stage for a brave new world to emerge.
Gold! That was the most sought-after treasure the Spanish coveted, and with good reason—the New World was a treasure trove unlike any the world had ever seen.
15 February 1971—Decimalizing the British Currency
In the modern era, over four centuries later, 15 February found itself once again playing a historic role. On this day in 1971, Britain bid farewell to its complex traditional currency system and embraced the decimal system, with the pound sterling divisible into 100 new pence. The change was momentous, simplifying calculations and giving Britain a more modern financial footing.
And thus, on 15 February, history has repeatedly witnessed significant events—the birth of an order, the discovery of new worlds, and the dawn of a more modern age. Change is indeed in the air on this day.
() Browse more On this day in history Previous: *14 February* *Next: 16 February****
Enrichment Data:
Overall:
There are no significant historical events directly related to Christopher Columbus's writings about the New World or the switch to decimal currency in Britain that occurred on February 15. However, here are some general historical notes related to these topics:
Christopher Columbus's Writings
- Christopher Columbus wrote extensively about his voyages, but there is no notable entry or event on February 15 specifically related to his writings about the New World. His journals and letters, such as the one preface to his journal of the first voyage, detail his hopes for spreading Christianity and establishing a new route to Asia, which he believed he had discovered[2].
Decimal Currency in Britain
- The switch to decimal currency in Britain occurred on February 15, 1971, known as Decimalisation Day. Prior to this, British currency was based on the pound sterling divided into 20 shillings, with each shilling further divided into 12 pence. The decimal system simplified this by dividing the pound into 100 new pence, making calculation and conversion easier.
Since there is no specific mention of these events in the provided search results beyond the general context of Columbus's voyages, the key historical event related to currency is the decimalization of the British currency on February 15, 1971.
Conclusion
- February 15, 1971, marked a significant change in British currency with the introduction of decimalization.
- There is no recorded event on February 15 related to Columbus's writings about the New World in the provided sources.
- Politics and general news today focus on the upcoming decision by the Bank of England regarding potential adjustments to the decimal currency system, drawing parallels to the transformative change that occurred on February 15, 1971.
- War and conflicts are currently at the forefront of international politics, with tensions capitalizing on the abundant resources discovered by Christopher Columbus during his voyages in the 15th century, igniting a volatile drive for wealth and power.
