MET Column | My Eyes Tokyo

Happy Birthday to Lebanon!

2018-11-22

Temple of Bacchus, which is considered one of the best preserved Roman temples in the world. *Photo from Wikipedia November 22 is Independence Day, which celebrates the independence of Lebanon from France in 1943. In 64 BC, the region came under the rule of the Roman Empire, and eventually became one of the Empire’s leading centers of Christianity. In the Mount Lebanon range a monastic tradition known as the Maronite Church was established. As the Arab Muslims conquered the region, the Maronites held onto their religion and identity. However, a new religious group, the Druze, established themselves in Mount Lebanon

Happy Birthday to Morocco!

2018-11-18

Moroccan football fans. *Photo from Wikipedia November 18 is Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Morocco from France and Spain in 1956. Since the foundation of the first Moroccan state by Idris I in 788 AD, the country has been ruled by a series of independent dynasties, reaching its zenith under the Almoravid and Almohad dynasties, spanning parts of Iberia and northwestern Africa. The Marinid and Saadi dynasties continued the struggle against foreign domination, allowing Morocco to remain the only northwest African country to avoid Ottoman occupation. The Alaouite dynasty, which rules to this day, seized power in 1631. In

Happy Oman’s National Day!

2018-11-18

Traditional Omani Food. *Photo from Wikipedia November 18 is Oman’s National Day, celebrates independence from Portugal control in 1650. From the late 17th century, the Omani Sultanate was a powerful empire, vying with Portugal and Britain for influence in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean. At its peak in the 19th century, Omani influence or control extended across the Strait of Hormuz to modern-day Iran and Pakistan, and as far south as Zanzibar (today part of Tanzania, also former capital). As its power declined in the 20th century, the sultanate came under the influence of the United Kingdom. Historically, Muscat

Happy Birthday to Latvia!

2018-11-18

The old town of Riga, the capital and largest city of Latvia. *Photo from Wikipedia November 18 is Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Latvia from Russia in 1918. After centuries of Swedish, Livonian (People who lived on the shores of present-day Latvia), Polish and Russian rule, a rule mainly executed by the privileged Baltic German aristocracy, the Republic of Latvia was established on November 18, 1918, after declaring independence from Russia in the aftermath of World War I. However, by the 1930s, the country became increasingly autocratic after the coup in 1934 establishing an authoritarian regime. The country’s de facto independence

Happy Birthday to Palestine!

2018-11-15

A Palestinian youth serving Falafel. *Photo from Wikipedia November 15 is Palestinian Independence Day, unilaterally declared in 1988. At the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire following World War I, the victorious European states divided many of its component regions into newly created states under League of Nations mandates according to deals that had been struck with other interested parties. In the Middle East, Syria (including the Ottoman autonomous Christian Lebanon and the surrounding areas that became the Republic of Lebanon) came under French control, while Mesopotamia and Palestine were allotted to the British. Most of these states achieved independence during

Happy Birthday to Angola!

2018-11-11

Angolan woman with children. *Photo from Wikipedia November 11 is Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Angola from Portugal in 1975. What is now the modern country of Angola was influenced by Portuguese colonization, which began with, and was for centuries limited to, coastal settlements and trading posts established beginning in the 16th century. In the 19th century, European settlers slowly and hesitantly began to establish themselves in the interior. As a Portuguese colony, Angola did not encompass its present borders until the early 20th century, following resistance by groups. Independence was achieved in 1975 under a Marxist-Leninist one party

Happy Birthday to Cambodia!

2018-11-09

View of Angkor Wat, one of the largest religious monuments in the world. *Photo from Wikipedia November 9 is Independence Day, which celebrates the independence of Cambodia from France in 1953. In 802 AD, Jayavarman II declared himself king, uniting the warring Khmer princes of Chenla under the name “Kambuja”. This marked the beginning of the Khmer Empire which flourished for over 600 years, allowing successive kings to control and exert influence over much of Southeast Asia and accumulate immense power and wealth. The Indianized kingdom built monumental temples including Angkor Wat, now a World Heritage Site, and facilitated the

Happy Birthday to Panama!

2018-11-03

A couple dancing Panamanian Cumbia. *Photo from Wikipedia November 3 Independence Day / Separation Day, celebrates the separation and independence of Panama from Colombia in 1903. Panama was inhabited by several indigenous tribes prior to settlement by the Spanish in the 16th century. Panama broke away from Spain in 1821 and joined a union of Nueva Granada, Ecuador, and Venezuela named the Republic of Gran Colombia. When Gran Colombia dissolved in 1831, Panama and Nueva Granada remained joined, eventually becoming the Republic of Colombia. With the backing of the United States, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903, allowing the Panama

Happy Birthday to Micronesia!

2018-11-03

People performing a welcome ceremony. *Photo from Wikipedia November 3 is Independence Day, celebrates the independence of the Federated States of Micronesia from the United States in 1986. The history of the modern Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is one of settlement by Micronesians; colonization by Spain, Germany, and Japan; United Nations trusteeship under United States-administered Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; and gradual independence beginning with the ratification of a sovereign constitution in 1979. The FSM signed a Compact of Free Association with the United States, which entered into force on November 3, 1986, marking Micronesia’s emergence from trusteeship

Happy Birthday to Dominica!

2018-11-03

Roseau, the capital and largest city of Dominica. *Photo from Wikipedia November 3 is Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Dominica from the United Kingdom in 1978. The island was originally inhabited by the Kalinago and later colonized by Europeans, predominantly by the French from the 1690s to 1763. Columbus is said to have passed the island on Sunday, November 3, 1493, and the island’s name is derived from the Latin for “Sunday”. Great Britain took possession in 1763 after its defeat of France in the Seven Years’ War, and it gradually established English as the official language. The island

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