WORLD HISTORY:

Debate continues about the origins of writing. Perhaps the earliest deciphered human writing apparently says, "33 vessels of oil," (from Pakistan - early Indus civilization, between 3,500 and 2900 BCE). Clay tablets containing primitive words were uncovered in southern Egypt and carbon-dated to 3300-3200 BCE. Archeological evidence suggests the urbanizing Sumerians independently developed writing, in 3200 or 3300 BCE, in the ancient city of Uruk, 155 miles southwest of Baghdad. [See, "GEOGRAPHY"].

The Coptic alphabet, a variant of the Greek alphabet originating in the 3rd century BCE, includes extra letters from a form of Egyptian script and has 33 symbols.

Streets in the pre-Indian city, Mohenjo-daro (2500BCE), were exactly 33 feet wide. The ancient city, "Harappa," extends back to 3300BCE, according to NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC (June 2000 Vol. 197).

The current flag of India has been in use since 1933. Also there, the ancient game of kabbadi (as seen in the movie, "Little Buddha") may be the oldest continually played game in the world. It is played on a court: 41' x 33'. Chess, also developed in early India, has 32 pieces, with the board: 33. There are 33 consonants in the Hindi (Devanagari) alphabet.

The narrow Khyber Pass, which separates Pakistan from Afghanistan and which was traversed by various invaders of India, is 33 miles long.

Rebels have been battling Indian forces in disputed Kashmir since 1989. India says more than 33,000 people have been killed in the conflict. Separatists say the toll is at least 80,000 [6/7/02].

The earliest portion of the Stonehenge complex dates to approximately 2950-2900 BCE (Middle Neolithic). It is comprised a circular bank, ditch, and counterscarp bank of about 330 feet (100 metres) in diameter. Around 2100-2000 BCE, a circle about 108 feet (33 metres) in diameter comprised originally of 30 upright sandstone blocks (known today as sarsens ), was constructed in the centre of the original circular bank-and-ditch.

The Giza pyramid, Chephren, is 33 feet higher than the other two, by virtue of the higher ground it rests upon. Some assert that the resonant frequency of pyramidal structures is 33 hertz.

The Amarna kings governed Egypt for 33 years. King Akhenaten and Queen Nefertiti were the first Egyptian pharaohs depicted as human, with family, etc. This period, 3,300 years ago, marked the birth of monotheism. Akhenaten died in 1336 BCE. King Tutankhamen is generally described as having lived over 3,300 years ago.

Alexander the Great, born 356 BCE, succeeded to the throne of his father Philip II of Macedon in 336 BCE. In 334 BCE, Alexander began the conquest of the Persian Empire; 333 BCE, he invades Israel; 332 BCE takes Jerusalem and also conquers Egypt, founding the city of Alexandria; 331 BCE, he defeats Darius III of Persia; 330 BCE, he enters Babylon; 327 BCE, he invades India; in 326 BCE, his troops refuse to go further and his generals force him to turn back; and in 323 BCE, he dies in Babylon.

Constantine declared the practice of crucifixion unlawful in 337 A.D.

Pope Gregory IX created the Inquisition in 1233 to curb heresy, or denial of truths of the Catholic faith. It reached its peak in the 16th Century as it battled the Reformation; its most famous trial was that of Galileo in 1633.

Pope John Paul I had been pope for only 33 days before being found dead (1978).

Galileo's daughter, Sister Maria Celeste, died a nun at age 33.

Fireworks were first documented in England in 1533.

In 1433, China cloisters itself from the outside world by banning further voyages to the West, forming the first "bamboo curtain."

The British abolished the slave trade in 1833, giving impetus to abolitionists in the United States.

All in 1933: The 13th Dalai Lama died; Einstein came to America; Hoover Dam construction began (first bucket of cement); the Golden Gate Bridge's construction began; Richard Byrd's first Antarctic journey began; the first "anima-tronic" dinosaur was made; the Chicago World's Fair took place; the prohibition of alcohol was repealed; the first drive-in theater opened, in Camden, New Jersey; Harkins Theatres began; AZ's first Governor, Hunt, completed his 7th term; the current version of the board-game, Monopoly, was first copyrighted; archeologists discover in New Mexico what is then the oldest evidence of humans in America, the "Clovis point"; the US Navy's first aircraft carrier, USS Ranger, is launched; the Indian Air Force is formed; Air France is founded; two British aircraft make the first flight over Mount Everest; Billie Holiday's musical career begins; Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf composed; Franklin D. Roosevelt becomes President of the United States (1933-1945) and gave his First Innaugural Address wherein, speaking of The New Deal, said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself"; he founded the Civilian Conservation Corps ("CCC," "Three Cs," or "Triple C"); on April 5, under Presidential Executive Order, all privately held gold in the US was confiscated; the Securities Act of 1933 requires regulation and disclosure to discourage fraud and deception; the first foreign oil speculators entered Saudi Arabia; Hitler was elected Chancelor in 1933, which was the year the Third Reich of Nazi Germany arose; The Pope decreed 1933 as a Holy Year to Aid World Peace. The Mahatma Gandhi ended his 21-day fast on May 7, 1933.

Born in 1933: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, associate justice of the United States Supreme Court; Michael Dukakis, US politician; Diane Feinstein, US politician; Ann Richards, governor of Texas; Susan Sontag, author and activist; Charles Osgood, journalist, commentator; Kim Novak, actress; Yoko Ono, singer, artist, wife of John Lennon; Michael Caine, actor; Quincy Jones, music producer, composer; Roy Clark, country musician; Jayne Mansfield, American actress; James Brown, musician; Louis Farrakhan, Black Muslim leader; Joan Collins, actress; Gene Wilder, actor; Bert Convy, game show host, actor, singer (d.1991); Dom DeLuise, actor, comedian; Regis Philbin, television personality; Queen Christina of Sweden.

Former US Supreme Court Chief Justice, William Rehnquist, served as such for 33 years.

James Bryant Conant was President of Harvard from 1933 to 1953.

Philadelphia's [Benjamin] Franklin Institute opened in 1933. In that museum, the rock from the moon is 3.3 billion years old. The planetarium, there, the second of its kind, also began in 1933.

On September 1, 2004, 331 people were killed in the Beslan siege.

Fretted instruments, after the year 1933, began using "modern-style frets." (Fretted Instrument Repair, Sloane)

The most popular hike in South America is the 33km (20mi) Inca Trail, west of Cuzco. The trek reaches its climax at Machu Picchu, the "Lost City of the Incas," which is considered the most stunning archaeological site on the continent. The Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, the only hotel standing close to the ruins, offers 33 rooms.

April 6, 1998: The stock market went over 9000 for the first time ever, to 9033.

Black Monday, the worldwide stockmarket crash that began on October 19, 1987 saw the New York Stock Exchange fall by 33% (the London Stock Exchange Financial Times 100 Index fell by 25%, the European Index by 17%, and the Tokyo by 12%).

Nelson and Winnie Mandela were married for 33 years. Nelson Mandela's jail diaries were returned to him 33 years after his incarceration.

Argentine political leader Eva Duarte de Pern (Evita) died of cancer at age 33.

Valerie Solanis shot Andy Warhol at "33 Union Square East."

The "Night of Terror" on Nov. 15, 1917: Forty prison guards went on a rampage against the 33 women suffragists wrongly convicted of "obstructing sidewalk traffic" while picketing Woodrow Wilson's White House for the right to vote.

US President Bill Clinton broke the record for world travel, making 133 foreign visits in his two (eight-years) terms.

10/31/99: Egypt Air Flight 990 traveled 33 miles before falling from 33,000 feet. Just after reaching the 33,000' level, the pilot said, "La ilaha il Allah...Mohammedar rasul Allah," then switched off the auto-pilot, beginning the end of the flight.

December 11, 2001: Today, the final count on this, the three month point after 9/11, is "in all, nearly 3,300 people were killed in the attacks." - PBS News Hour.

September 11, 2002: "World Trade Center: City officials say 70 are missing. The medical examiner's office has issued 1,400 death certificates. An additional 1,331 death certificates have been issued without a body, at the request of victims' families..."

February 27, 2003: Announced today: The winning design for the WTC site would be the tallest building in the world, with a proposed cost of $330 million dollars.

The George W. Bush administration held office for 233 days leading up to 9/11/2001. During that period, 33 "Principals Meetings" were held, according to Condoleezza Rice, the president's National Security Advisor.

May 23, 2003: A $330 billion dollar tax cut was voted into law on this day. Critics of the tax cuts in 2001, 2002 and 2003 have noted that the very wealthiest Americans — those earning $337,000 or more per year — will be the greatest beneficiaries of the changes in the nation’s tax laws.

Aug. 5, 2003: The first report of a terrorist bombing in Jakarta, Indonesia today, finishes with this paragraph: "The Marriott, which opened in September 2001 and has 33 floors and 333 rooms, is the latest luxury hotel in the bustling city, home to over 10 million people." a

March 19, 2004: On the one-year anniversary of America's war on Iraq, the PBS NewsHour reported there have been 570 US casualties and 3300 wounded.

March 20, 2006: 133,000 troops are in Iraq at the 3 year anniversary.

June 2, 2004: The Iraqi Interim Government, offically installed today in Baghdad, is comprised of 33 members. [See also, "GEOGRAPHY"].