In a newsgroup, some people were bemoaning the fact that history is largely glossed over, and while many of us have taken history classes, most of the history we know - has been self-taught.

A lot of history is "personal" - example - for me, Nov. 19, 1493 is more important than Oct. 12, 1492.... (Chris landed in PR on his second voyage), but that doesn't mean that I didn't learn about Harold defeating the Vikings in 1066...

So, rather than make this a poll, I'd be interested in an informal survey ...

What do the following years mean to you:

1066

1588

1815

1863

1898

1905

Without cheating these are only dates I can remember from my schooldays.
1066, the Battle of Hastings _ Norman Conquest of England, where King Harold got a fatal arrow in the eye.
1588, defeat of the Spanish Armada & the legend of Sir Francis Drake having time to finish a game of bowls at Plymouth Ho! after the fleet was first sighted.
 
These dates were drummed into the brain of every schoolchild in my day. The dates are correct but I'm not sure that either of the legendary events connected with them are actually based on truth. I don't think they go back that far now, in fact WWII is considered ancient history.

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Hmmm. I can think of plenty of dates with some personal significance. I was around in '69 but don't see it mentioned on Felix's list.  ???   

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um, President Lincoln was assissinated in april 1865

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What happened on Nov 19, 1493? You wern't born were you ???

just kidding

OK, if I remember what Mr. Nuxoll taught me (my favrotie histroy teacher)-here is what I think the dates are:

1066: Battle of Hastings

1588: Spanish Armada defeated

1815: Battle of Waterloo

1863: Battle of Gettysburg & the Gettysburg Address

1898: USS Maine sinks (starts Spanish American War)

1905: I have no idea.

  Sadly, for those of us who live in the "New" world, much of history doesn't begin until 1492.  And if you live in the U.S. the scope is even more narrow than that.  Not that the "New" world didn't have a history of its own before that date but that its been lost in a mad and greedy rush for riches.
  Not until recently has the histories of the "New" world been painstakingly pieced together.  But there are still wide gaps left unfilled and may never be told.
  When it comes to history the "Old" world is much more fortunate in having its rich history recorded and save for prosperity.

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Not drunk, just in a playful mood. 
Despite what you & others might think, I do have a (slightly warped) sense of humour.

PS. My comment was a sly poke at Rifle too.