A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 12 October
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 12 October?
- 539 BC Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers the city of Babylon
The army of Cyrus the Great of Persia captured Babylon, bringing the Babylonian empire to an end. - 1428 The English army begins the Siege of Orléans in France
English soldiers and their Burgundian allies began the Siege of Orléans in France. - 1492 Christopher Columbus lands on an island in the Caribbean
The explorer Christopher Columbus, sailing across the Atlantic for Spain, landed on an island in the Caribbean. - 1537 Born: Edward VI
Edward VI was the only surviving son of King Henry VIII and his third wife, Jane Seymour. - 1748 British and Spanish warships clash in the Battle of Havana
A British squadron of warships led by Rear-Admiral Charles Knowles attacked a Spanish squadron off Havana. - 1872 Born: Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams was an English composer who wrote music for more than sixty years. - 1901 The US president's home is officially named the White House
President Theodore Roosevelt officially renamed the American president's home. - 1960 Khrushchev is said to bang his shoe on a desk at the United Nations
During a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev is said to have banged his shoe on his desk.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1428 | The English army begins the Siege of Orléans in France | 2026 − 1428 = | |
| 1537 | Born: Edward VI | 2026 − 1537 = | |
| 1872 | Born: Ralph Vaughan Williams | 2026 − 1872 = | |
| 1960 | Khrushchev is said to bang his shoe on a desk at the United Nations | 2026 − 1960 = |
3. Put them in order
Write 1 next to the oldest event, then 2, 3 and so on up to the newest. Use list 1 to help you!
- Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers the city of Babylon
- Christopher Columbus lands on an island in the Caribbean
- British and Spanish warships clash in the Battle of Havana
- The English army begins the Siege of Orléans in France
4. Quick quiz
In which year was Edward VI born?
- A. 1537
- B. 1748
- C. 1492
In which year did this happen: “British and Spanish warships clash in the Battle of Havana”?
- A. 1428
- B. 1979
- C. 1748
Which of these happened first?
- A. Khrushchev is said to bang his shoe on a desk at the United Nations
- B. The English army begins the Siege of Orléans in France
- C. British and Spanish warships clash in the Battle of Havana
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 12 October. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1428 → 598 years; 1537 → 489 years; 1872 → 154 years; 1960 → 66 years.
Order: 1 = Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers the city of Babylon (539 BC), 2 = The English army begins the Siege of Orléans in France (1428), 3 = Christopher Columbus lands on an island in the Caribbean (1492), 4 = British and Spanish warships clash in the Battle of Havana (1748).
Quiz: 1. A (1537); 2. C (1748); 3. B (The English army begins the Siege of Orléans in France).