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Jan 1, 1576
Mars
While no one knows who first discovered Mars, we do know who made many of the discoveries about the planet. It is known that Tycho Brahe, a Danish astronomer made accurate calculations of the position of Mars as early as 1576. This may seem unimportant because of the time difference but the posibility of there being life on Mars interesten Wells enough to write a book about it. -
Normal school of Science
Wells won a schollarship to the Normal school of Science and began to study evolution and biology. These studies sturred his interest in writing fictional stories with scientific fact. During his time at the normal school of science Wells began working on drafts of The Time Machine and The Invisible Man. -
T.H Huxley
He was influenced by T.H. Huxley who was a professor at the normal school of science . Huxley was his mentor as well as an eminent biologist and proponent of Darwinism. Huxley introduces Wells to evolutionary science and skepticism about human progress. -
Gas powered Aoutomobile
In 1886 the first petrol or gasoline powered auto-mobile the Benz Patent-Motorwagen was invented by Karl Benz. The invention of a gas powered car was an amazing accomploshment and advancement of technology. When technology is improved it gives scientists something to think about and Wells invisioned space shuttles in the not so distant future. -
Bicycles
Throughout the 1895s bikes became extremely popular throughout the world and were easily accessible. This is important because Wells loved bicycles since it was the only sport he could preform in since he had always been weak. The bike was important in War of the Worlds becasue it was the main use of transportation to escape from the aliens. -
First sherlock Homes book published
The publication of sherlock homes cause a splash in the literary community. Sherlock Homes became extremely popular all throughout England and Wells didn't like being out done so he began work on War of the Worlds. Since he was competing with such a popular novel he put his heart into his writing and released War of the Worlds three years later. -
First wireless Telegraph
Wireless telegraphy came to mean Morse code transmitted by radio waves. This was important to Wells and other scientists becasue they believed that it would be possible to communicate with extra-terrestrial life. This a way that
wells said the martians discovered that there was life on earth. -
Meteor Explodes over West Virginia
A meteorite enters the earth's atmosphere and explodes over New Martinsville, West Virginia. The debris causes damage but no human injuries are reported. This could have influenced Wells to think about space as a possible field to study. Additionally in the beginning of War of the Worlds when the martian space shuttles arrive they crash into the ground and are suspected to be meteorites. -
Spanish-American War
The U.S. Congress, on April 25, recognizes that a state of war exists between the United States and Spain as of this date. This may have influenced Wells to write a book about a war between earthlings and maritans because of the wars occurring in the world around him. -
Common Cold
No cure for the common cold exists, but the symptoms can be treated. It is the most frequent infectious disease in humans with the average adult getting two to three colds a year and the average child getting between six and twelve. These infections have been with humanity since antiquity. The common cold kill all of the invading martians becasue they have no resistance to it.