Adoption in Rome was a fairly common procedure, particularly in the
upper senatorial class. The need for a male heir and the expense of
raising children were strong incentives to have at least one son, but
not too many children. Adoption, the obvious solution, also served to
cement ties between the two families, thus fostering and reinforcing
alliances. In the Imperial period, the system also acted as a
mechanism for ensuring a smooth succession, the emperor taking his
chosen successor as his adopted son.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adoption_in_Rome
Today's selected anniversaries:
61 BC In Rome, Pompey the Great celebrated triumphs over pirates
in the eastern Mediterranean Sea and in the war against
king Mithridates VI of Pontus in Asia Minor, with enormous
parades of spoils, prisoners, army and banners depicting
battle scenes. It was also his 45th birthday.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pompey)
1829 The first official police force in the world, the
Metropolitan Police of London, also known as the Met or
Scotland Yard, was founded by Sir Robert Peel.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Police_Service)
1941 In Kiev, Ukraine, the Babi Yar massacre began.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babi_Yar)
1972 Sino-Japanese relations: Japan established diplomatic
relations with the People's Republic of China, breaking
official ties with the Republic of China.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Communique_of_the_Government_of_Japan_an…)
Wikiquote of the day:
"Love is the most important thing in the world. It may be important
to great thinkers to examine the world, to explain and despise it.
But I think it is only important to love the world, not to despise
it, not for us to hate each other, but to be able to regard the
world and ourselves and all beings with love, admiration and
respect." ~ Hermann Hesse
(
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Hermann_Hesse)