TRAVELING

New Zealand made history on 19 September 1893, becoming the first self‑governing country in the world to grant women the right to vote. This landmark moment didn’t happen overnight — it was the result of decades of determination, activism, and grassroots organizing led by extraordinary women such as Kate Sheppard, along with powerful support from Wāhine Māori and groups like the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. Between 1891 and 1893, suffragists gathered tens of thousands of signatures across a series of massive petitions — including one with 25,519 signatures, the largest ever collected in Australasia at the time. Their efforts culminated in the Electoral Act 1893, signed by Governor Lord Glasgow, which opened the door for women to vote in the November election that same year. The movement wasn’t just about voting rights — it was about reshaping society. Activists fought for political representation, social reform, and greater equality. While women could vote after 1893, they couldn’t stand for Parliament until 1919, and the first woman MP, Elizabeth McCombs, wasn’t elected until 1933. Today, New Zealand’s early leadership in women’s suffrage remains a defining part of its identity and a powerful reminder of what collective action can achieve.

The First Punic War (264–241 BCE) was the opening clash between two rising Mediterranean superpowers: Rome and Carthage. The conflict ignited over control of Sicily, a strategically vital island both sides wanted for trade and military dominance. What began as a local dispute in the city of Messana quickly escalated into a massive, 23‑year struggle — the longest continuous war of the ancient world. Rome, originally a land‑based power, built its first major navy and shocked Carthage by winning several key sea battles, including the famous Battle of Mylae. The fighting dragged on across Sicily and the surrounding waters, with huge losses on both sides. Eventually, Rome’s rebuilt fleet crushed Carthaginian resistance and cut off their supply lines. In 241 BCE, Carthage surrendered, giving Rome control of Sicily — its first overseas province — and paying a heavy indemnity. This victory set Rome on the path to becoming a Mediterranean empire and laid the groundwork for the even more famous Second Punic War.

Learn about the cost of living for Maseru, Lesotho in Africa.

In 1249, the winds shifted across the southern edge of Iberia. As rival kingdoms clashed and empires faded, one final frontier remained for Portugal. King Afonso III, determined and unyielding, launched the campaign that would change the nation’s destiny. From tense negotiations to decisive strikes, the Algarve became the stage for the last great push of the Reconquista — a moment when borders were redrawn, alliances tested, and a kingdom finally reached the sea.

First Crusade and the foundation of the kingdom - Episode 53 - History of Israel