THE DAY IN HISTORY · AUGUST 17
August 17 in history
What happened on August 17: 2 moments from the Maps of History atlases, in 1863 and 1947, each linked to the map that shows it.
— Bombardment of Kagoshima
15–17 Aug 1863 — A British squadron shells Satsuma’s capital to punish the killing of the merchant Charles Richardson at Namamugi the year before. Satsuma’s batteries fight back, but much of the town burns. Satsuma pays, makes peace and starts buying British ships and rifles.
READ THIS MOMENT → · SEE IT ON THE REMAKING THE STATE MAP → · THE FULL STORY →
— Radcliffe Line
17 Aug 1947 — The Radcliffe award is published two days after freedom: here, between Lahore and Amritsar, the new border crosses the Grand Trunk Road. A customs post grows where a five-week pencil line met a thousand-year-old highway.
READ THIS MOMENT → · SEE IT ON THE INDIAN INDEPENDENCE & PARTITION MAP → · THE FULL STORY →
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