This Week in the Middle East - The Creation of the United Arab Emirates

This Week's Historical Theme: The Middle East

 

21 December 1971

 

A significant event throughout the history of the Middle East that occurred in December was the formation of the United Arab Emirates. This created a small state with the union of six small Gulf kingdoms, to which a seventh was soon added, that had an outsized role in the global economy. Since this, the sovereign nation has enjoyed the profits of its natural resources, including its reserves of oil and natural gas. Its wealth has turned the Emirates into a major hub of trade, travel, tourism, and finance. The tallest structure in the world, Dubai's Burj Khalifa, is also emblematic of the Emirates' construction boom and rise to global prominence.

 

The kingdoms on the coast of the Arabian Peninsula had been under British protection in the 1820s, which allowed for the discovery of the region's vast oil reserves. This led to the decrease of the British Empire's influence, as the kingdoms became major suppliers of oil. Therefore, in 1968, the British government declared their withdrawal, leaving the people of the region to their own devices. As they were dwarfed by their neighbours in terms of size, population, and military, the kingdoms attempted to organise themselves into one political unit. Although the negotiations proved difficult, the United Arab Emirates was formed, including the kingdoms of Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Fujairah, Sharjah, Dubai and Umm al-Quwain. Two months later, Ras al-Khaimah joined.

 

Want to find out more about the creation of the United Arab Emirates? Click here for more information, or here for a wider history of the UAE.

This Week in Climate Change - The Clean Air Act

This Week's Historical Theme: Climate Change

 

17 December 1963

 

A significant event throughout the history of climate change that occurred in December was the Clean Air Act, passed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. This was one of the first major pieces of environmental legislation in the United States, which empowered federal and state agencies to research and regulate air pollution. This marked a major expansion of government efforts to fight back against the damage being done to the climate. Before this, in 1955, the Air Pollution Control Act had allocated $15 million to the study of air pollution across the country. The research conducted revealed that further legislation would be needed.

 

The landmark act, as well as its subsequent amendments, comprised of some of the most comprehensive air-quality legislation in the world. Shortly after its creation in 1970, the Environmental Protection Agency began using its powers under the Clean Air Act to set quality standards for areas that had been affected by air pollution. It has subsequently been invoked to ban specific harmful chemicals and tackle specific environmental issues, like acid rain. Even though there is a long way to go, national emissions after the act dropped 63%, despite overall economic growth and an increase in the number of miles driven.

 

Want to find out more about the Clean Air Acts? Click here for more information, or here for more about the history of climate change.

This Week in Literature - The Birth of Emily Dickinson

This Week's Historical Theme: Literature

 

10 December 1830

 

A significant event throughout the history of literature that occurred in December was the birth of Emily Dickinson, who was born in Amherst, Massachusetts. She was a witty and popular student when she studied at Amherst Academy and at Mt. Holyoke, but she was viewed as unconventional. Although rarely leaving Amherst, she made some trips to Philadelphia and Boston. This was because she preferred her home, where her strict father, invalid mother, spinster sister and domineering brother created a colourful yet oppressive family life. In 1862, Dickinson wrote to an editor, Thomas Wentworth Higginson, for him to evaluate her work. He said her work was not yet ready to publish but became her mentor.

 

Today, only one romance of Dickinson's is known about. This was with Judge Otis Lord. Even though it looked like the two would marry, the romance ended. After 1862, she was increasingly reluctant to leave her house and often declined to see visitors. Only seven poems of hers were published in her lifetime, even though she wrote 1,775. All of these were deceptively simple and had endless variations on the same pattern. When Dickinson was 55, she died. However, in 1890, thanks to her sister, 'Poems by Emily Dickinson' was published, which would be followed by more volumes over the next 60 years. In 1955, 'The Complete Works of Emily Dickinson' was published.

 

Want to find out more about the life of Emily Dickinson? Click here for more information, or here to read some of her poems. Or watch the historical comedy-drama series 'Dickinson' on Apple TV+ for more.