🧬 This Week In History - Darwinism Is Born

Welcome back History Nerds,

We’ve got another fun week of history in store for you today, as the premier of Monty Python and The Ed Sullivan Show both occurred this week. Two different ways of entertainment, but both historic in their own ways. If you’ve enjoyed reading our newsletter, make sure to share it to a friend! Thank-you so much for continuing to read. Now, let’s get into this week’s edition of the LOL History Newsletter.

Did You Know? On April 1, 1748, the ruins of Pompeii were accidentally rediscovered by workers digging a foundation. At the time, they had no idea they were standing on top of an entire Roman city frozen in time by a volcanic eruption. As excavation began, they uncovered streets, mosaics, graffiti, and even bread still in ovens. It was so well preserved that archaeologists called it a snapshot of daily life.

During Your History Lesson You’ll Learn About:

• Premier of the Ed Sullivan Show

• Darwin Comes Home With a Theory That Changed the World

• Monty Python’s First Episode

• Mao Declares the Birth of Communist China

The Dawn of the Ed Sullivan Show

On June 20, 1948, the world witnessed several pivotal events amid post-World War II recovery. The Deutsche Mark was introduced in West Germany as part of currency reform, stabilizing the economy and marking a step toward division from East Germany. In Cairo, a bomb attack killed 20 in the Jewish quarter, escalating tensions in the Middle East. The HMT Empire Windrush docked in Britain, initiating large-scale Caribbean migration. Meanwhile, CBS premiered “Toast of the Town,” later known as The Ed Sullivan Show.

The Ed Sullivan Show revolutionized American television from 1948 to 1971, blending high and low culture to attract massive audiences. It launched stars like Elvis Presley and The Beatles, shaping pop culture and music history. Sullivan’s inclusive booking defied norms, featuring diverse acts from opera to rock amid social changes. Its Sunday night slot became a family ritual, influencing variety formats and promoting racial integration on screen.

Darwin Comes Home With a Theory That Changed the World

On October 2, 1836, Charles Darwin finally set foot back in England after a grueling five-year voyage aboard the HMS Beagle. What started as a routine expedition to chart coastlines turned into one of the most important scientific journeys in history. Along the way, Darwin collected countless specimens and took detailed notes that would later flip our understanding of life on its head.

Darwin wasn’t just jotting down pretty bird sketches. In the Galápagos Islands, he noticed subtle differences among species, like finches with beaks shaped for their unique food sources. To most people, these details were forgettable. To Darwin, they were puzzle pieces pointing toward a radical idea: species adapt and change over time instead of being fixed and unchanging.

Back in England, Darwin began piecing it all together. Nearly two decades later, he would publish On the Origin of Species, introducing the world to the theory of evolution by natural selection. It was bold, controversial, and utterly groundbreaking. What began as one man’s voyage ended up transforming science forever, showing us that life itself is shaped by constant change.

Monty Python’s Debut

On October 5, 1969, the world was navigating a transformative era. The Vietnam War raged, with the U.S. conducting heavy bombing campaigns in Southeast Asia, while anti-war protests intensified globally. In the UK, the Beatles’ Abbey Road topped charts, cementing their cultural dominance. That evening, BBC1 aired the first episode of Monty Python’s Flying Circus, introducing a groundbreaking comedy troupe—John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin. Meanwhile, the U.S. launched Apollo 11’s lunar module, fresh off the moon landing, advancing space exploration.

The debut of Monty Python’s Flying Circus on October 5, 1969, revolutionized comedy with its surreal, subversive sketches that mocked British society and bureaucracy.Airing on BBC1, the show’s absurd humor and innovative structure—blending animation with live-action—set a new standard for sketch comedy. Its global influence shaped modern humor, inspiring shows like Saturday Night Live and comedians worldwide, while its irreverence challenged cultural norms.

Mao Declares the Birth of Communist China

On October 1, 1949, the world watched as Mao Zedong stood atop Tiananmen Gate in Beijing and proclaimed the establishment of the People’s Republic of China. After years of brutal civil war, the Communist Party had defeated the Nationalists, who fled to Taiwan, leaving Mao and his People’s Liberation Army in control of the vast Chinese mainland. It was the beginning of a brand-new chapter in world history, one that would reshape global politics for the rest of the 20th century.

Mao’s rise wasn’t just about military victory. It was the birth of a regime that promised to rebuild a war-torn, fractured nation into a unified communist state. He pushed forward with sweeping reforms, from land redistribution to the creation of a centralized government. For supporters, this was a moment of hope and revolutionary change. For opponents, it was the start of decades of authoritarian rule, censorship, and violent campaigns that would leave millions dead.

The establishment of the People’s Republic of China instantly altered the balance of power in the Cold War. The U.S. refused to recognize Mao’s government for decades, while the Soviet Union celebrated the spread of communism into the world’s most populous nation. What began on that October day did not just change China, it redefined geopolitics and set the stage for tensions and alliances that continue to shape the world today.

Grow Your Business by Advertising With Us!

Reach thousands of engaged history nerds who love fun, fascinating, and well-told stories from the past. If you want to get your brand in front of curious, history-loving readers, let’s chat!

Learn more about advertising with us!

See You Next Time!

We hope that you enjoyed this edition of the LOL History newsletter! See you next week!

— Evan & Derek - LOL History Co-Founders