Since the pre-historic times, the continent of Europe has nurtured some of the most mighty and impressive civilizations known to mankind. It is the birthplace of the finest artists, musicians, and architects that have walked this earth. These supremely talented souls have been immortalized in the form of their spectacular creations that have been preserved in Europe for centuries. These cultural marvels make Europe the perfect destination to indulge in the rich traditional heritage of the medieval ages. Here are some of the most phenomenal locations that are replete with ancient art and architecture and are bound to transport you back in time.

Gdansk, Poland

An ancient Polish port city on the Baltic Coast, Gdansk is enriched with influences from travelers and merchants that frequented its seashores over the years. The elegant buildings, the red-brick churches, and the amber shops are some of the unique features of this city that make it stand apart from the other parts of Poland. The colorful buildings and intriguing stalls of the market at Dlugi Targ make for a pleasant afternoon of exploration. The St. Mary's Church and the St. Bridget's Church can be spotted from afar, owing to their unique brick red exteriors. Many of the buildings are restored versions of their predecessors that were destroyed in the Second World War. The City of Gdansk is truly a phoenix that has risen from its ashes with a glowing cultural splendor.

Aachen, Germany

Popularly known as a spa destination, the city of Aachen in Germany also holds innumerable treasures from the medieval times. The ancient Romans frequented the mineral springs of this region that are believed to cure several maladies. The magnificent cathedral of Aachener Dom is one of the most majestic monuments of the city that has been the venue for the coronation of generations of German kings. The cathedral also holds the shrine of Charlemagne, one of the most significant rulers of this region who is hailed for putting Aachen on the map of Europe. The Rathaus displays the life-size statues of German kings in its beautiful hall, whereas the Centre Charlemagne is a museum dedicated to this powerful ruler and the rich history of the city.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Sheltered from the outside world by colossal stone walls, the city of Dubrovnik is home to some of the finest relics from ancient Croatia. The imperial Lovrijenac Fort that once protected the city from marine invaders still looks over the sea from its elevated position atop a boulder. The Sponza Palace and the St. Blaise's Church are excellent examples of the craftsmanship of the Croatian ancestors, while the main street of Stradun paints an accurate picture of the local culture of this region. The slanting red roofs that lead to the sparkling sea shores are reminiscent of medieval architecture. The Dubrovnik Summer Festival transforms this city into a large open-air theater, with mesmerizing performances of music, dance, and drama. Nearby island Lokrum, reachable by yacht charter, is another cultural and historical resort worth visiting. The city of Dubrovnik has retained its wonderful culture in the face of urbanization in a commendable manner.

Avignon, France

The Provencal town of Avignon in France served as the residence of the Pope for several years in the 14th century. In the present day, the city is most famous for its annual arts festival which is the largest of its kind in France. The imposing palace of Palais des Papes was the center of the Catholic world in the 1300's, but still, retains its grandeur and its fascinating Gothic design. The Musee du Petit Palais is an Archbishop's Palace turned museum that exhibits stunning paintings created by the greatest artists produced by Europe. The perfect arches of the bridge of Pont St. Benezet and the rustic buildings that dot the landscape offer an old world vibe to this idyllic town. Avignon is indeed a cultural hub nestled amidst lavender fields.

Bologna, Italy

Home to the oldest university in the world, the city of Bologna offers a myriad of medieval flavors. The terracotta buildings of this region impart a rosy glow to the city while the awe-inspiring architecture leaves the beholders captivated. The labyrinth of religious structures at the Abbazia di Santo Stefano combines a variety of styles of architecture. Originally a set of seven churches, this religious monument has managed to retain four of the churches till date. The Basilica di San Petronio is one of the grandest buildings of Bologna and houses a massive sundial dating back to the 17th century. The museums, palaces, and galleries that are ubiquitous in this city offer a glimpse of the glorious chapters of history. But it's important to mention that the Palazzo dell'Archiginnasio simply steals the show with its intricately decorated interiors.

These less known cultural hotspots of Europe have remained untarnished by modernization and still glow with a historical resplendence. They are the best locations to explore the diverse cultural heritage of this amazing continent. A visit to these splendid cities is no less than a pilgrimage for the aficionados of history.

Bhagat Singh, born on 28 September 1907, was an Indian socialist, freedom fighter and a revolutionary. He is also known as Shaheed Bhagat Singh and considered to be one of the most influential revolutionaries of the Indian Independence Movement.

He was born in a Sikh family which had earlier been involved in revolution against the British rule. In his teenage days, Bhagat Singh studied about European revolutionary movements. Anarchist and Marxist ideologies had a deep impact on his thinking. To convert his thinking into actions and contribute in the independence movement, he joined HRA (Hindustan Republican Association), gained prominence by being involved in numerous revolutionary activities and eventually became a chief leader. Eventually, the name of the organization was changed to Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) in the year 1928.

On 8 April 1929, Bhagat Singh planned to bomb the Central Legislative Assembly and selected Batukeshwar Dutt as a partner in this task. They threw two bombs which were designed not to kill. Their intention was to get arrested and gain attention of public and British government. Upon trial, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt were sentenced to life imprisonment. On 7 October 1930, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru were charged with Saunders murder and sentenced to death by hanging. They were executed by hanging on 23 March 1931 at 7:30 pm in the Lahore jail.

Bhagat Singh's life events, writings and quotes have a great influence on the youth of India and the world. There are many books written and movies made on Bhagat Singh.

Some of his famous writings and quotes are given below.

"It is easy to kill individuals but you cannot kill the ideas. Great empires crumbled, while the ideas survived." - Stated in the leaflet he threw during the Central Assembly bombing.

“It is beyond the power of any man to make a revolution. Neither can it be brought about on any appointed date. It is brought about by special environments, social and economic. The function of an organised party is to utilise any such opportunity offered by these circumstances.”

"Lovers, Lunatics and poets are made of same stuff."

"The sword of revolution is sharpened on the whetting stone of ideas" - In the court during a trial.

"One should not interpret the word “Revolution” in its literal sense. Various meanings and significances are attributed to this word, according to the interests of those who use or misuse it. For the established agencies of exploitation it conjures up a feeling of blood stained horror. To the revolutionaries it is a sacred phrase."

Movies on Bhagat Singh's life.

Shaheed (1965)
Shaheed is a 1965 Hindi movie based on Bhagat Singh's life. One of the most prominent Indian patriotic movie based on Indian independence movement, it was produced by Kewal Kashyap and directed by S Ram Sharma and stars Manoj Kumar, Kamini Kaushal, Pran, Iftekhar, Nirupa Roy, Prem Chopra, Madan Puri and Anwar Hussain in lead roles. The music is by Prem Dhawan with several songs written by freedom fighter Ram Prasad Bismil. Shaheed was first of Manoj Kumar's series of patriotic films, followed by likes of Upkar, Purab Aur Paschim and Kranti. (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaheed_(1965_film))

23rd March 1931: Shaheed (2002)
23rd March 1931: Shaheed is a 2002 Hindi film directed by Guddu Dhanoa which depicts the events leading up to the hanging of Indian freedom fighter Bhagat Singh and his companions Rajguru and Sukhdev on 23 March 1931. The film stars Bobby Deol as Bhagat Singh, his elder brother Sunny Deol as Chandrashekhar Azad and Amrita Singh in her comeback role as Bhagat Singh's mother. Aishwarya Rai has a special appearance in a song. (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/23rd_March_1931:_Shaheed)

The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002)
The Legend of Bhagat Singh is a 2002 Indian historical biographical film about Bhagat Singh, a freedom fighter who fought for Indian independence.[1] It was directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and starred Ajay Devgan, Sushant Singh, and D. Santosh. It was released on 7 June 2002 and went on to win two National Film Awards, including the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi, and three Filmfare Awards, including the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie. (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Bhagat_Singh)

Books by and on Bhagat Singh.

Why I am an Atheist
Coming at it does from Bhagat Singh himself, this essay will, it is hoped, help us understand India's greatest revolutionary, his life, his thought, his world view and so forth.The essay was written a few days before the great revolutionary was hanged and was published under the title 'Why I am an Atheist' in 1931 in The People, an English weekly started by L.Lajpat Rai from Lahore. It is a document of great historical importance and substance. K C Yadav former Professor of History, Kurukshetra University, is a prolific writer.

The Selected Works of Bhagat Singh
Together in one place, the most important works of Bhagat Singh, the Indian communist revolutionary who was executed by the British colonizers in 1931 at the age of 23. This uncompromising fighter for an end of "exploitation of man by man and nations by nations" remains a revered hero of oppressed people around the world today.  (http://www.bigcitybazaar.com/shopping/item/1449558615)

Without Fear: The Life & Trial of Bhagat Singh
In This Book, Commemorating The Hundredth Birth Anniversary Of This Iconic Young Man, Kuldip Nayar Takes A Close Look At The Man Behind The Martyr: His Beliefs, His Intellectual Leanings, His Dreams And His Despair. He Also Explains Why Hans Raj Vohra Betrayed Bhagat Singh And His Comrades And Throws New Light On Sukhdev, Whose Loyalties Have Been Questioned By Some Historians.(http://www.bigcitybazaar.com/shopping/item/9350292203)

This article is a compilation of information about Bhagat Singh. Please like and share if you find this article useful and informative. For any error/suggestion, please comment in the comment box.

Culture is the way of life that has been passed on to us from generations. It affects our lifestyle, even if we leave our homeland and go to a new place to live. The way of life that has been passed onto us will remain with us wherever we go. As a person, we form the picture and mirror of the cultural place we belong, but we can also learn and shape ourselves from different cultures. We are the best judge of our life and it is for us to decide what do we want to make a part of our life.

1. Our Identity
When we learned to walk we fell down, in our journey of life we will fall down and we need to lift ourselves and move on. We often need a place to fall back on. Our culture and tradition forms our pillar of life and gives us a sense of security. It gives us our originality, our identity and meaning to our life. It is so important to know who we are and where do we come from. Life is more meaningful when we are attuned to our culture and tradition.

2. Lifestyle
All aspects of art, dance, food, rituals and religion, etc from the culture and tradition of an individual's life and the individual’s lifestyle is the sum total of the experiences from the culture and tradition. Our lifestyle is thus connected  and influenced by the culture that we are attuned to.

3. Learning
We have a lot to learn from our culture and tradition. Our culture has been passed on to us from generations and it is our duty to learn from our culture and apply the learning in our life. We become much better individuals into guiding our life in the direction we want to when we learn from our culture and understand and respect the value that has been taught to us by our culture.

4. Who we are
When we meet people we are remembered by our character and personality. Culture plays an essential role in shaping and moulding us into who we are as an individual, that we present ourselves to the world. For example, if you are active in social gatherings, you are perceived by people to have a high value in society.

Once you know the importance of culture and understand how it affects your life, you will be surprised to know that you can know yourself better as an individual.

5. Sense of belonging
Our culture gives us a sense of belonging to a community. It tells us where we are from and where we belong. Knowing where you belong really helps us in our journey of life, we can never get lost and we can even live and battle the worst of times.

Culture affects our life in multiple ways and mentioned above were some essential factors that affect us as an individual. We are the best judge of how we live our life, it is for us to embrace what we know about our culture and use it to live a life that we desire. Culture plays an essential role in our life and it only gives us more power to take control of our life once we truly understand our culture and tradition that we belong.

Image Source: https://in.pinterest.com/pin/327144360402484077/

If you are a car lover, seeing some of the oldest cars in the world would be a treat for your eyes. We have researched and compiled a list of the top ten of the oldest cars for you. Have a look at these vintage cars and share your thoughts in the comment section. Let's take a tour of the history of the automobile!

10. Spyder Corsa 166 - 1947

1947 166 Spyder Corsa has recently been unveiled for the first time since being completely restored.

It was built just after the Second World War by manufacturer Enzo Ferrari and has now been restored for $500,000 by one dedicated owner. This may seem like a lot of money, but owner Jim Glickenhaus, from Pebble Beach, California, believes the car could now fetch up to $8million.

Capable of speeds of up to 100 miles-per-hour, which was enough to win the model the 1947 Turin Grand Prix, this 12-cylinder classic car is one-of-a-kind. Needless to say that your search for vintage cars can't be complete without this car.

9.Alfa Romeo G1 - 1921

The 1921 Alfa Romeo G1 two-seat sports roadster turned out to be the sole survivor of just 52 built, but, more importantly, the Alfa Romeo museum confirmed it to be the oldest Alfa in existence.

It has a 6.3-liter side-valve six-cylinder engine, the largest ever to be fitted to an Alfa Romeo. Thus this car a place in the list of the top ten oldest cars in the world.

8. Cadillac Model K Light Runabout - 1907

Cadillac introduced a four-cylinder Model D in 1905, but their single-cylinder cars were sufficiently popular that they remained in production through 1908.

That year, a team of three Model K Cadillacs triumphed in the Dewar competition in England, being disassembled, their parts scrambled and reassembled, and then easily started. This demonstration of Henry Leland’s precision manufacture earned Cadillac the Dewar Trophy and led to the slogan “The Standard of the World.”

Given their gorgeous look glorious history, they are respected as one of the finest vintage cars in the world.

7. Rolls Royce 1904

This historic motor car was sold to a private UK collector, on the telephone, who successfully outbid two people in the room and two other telephone bidders. It is the only Rolls-Royce old enough to take part in the prestigious London to Brighton Veteran Car Run and will stay in the UK. Hence it is also the candidate to be on the list of the top ten oldest cars in the world.

The price achieved by Bonhams more than doubled previous world records, which were £1.76-million for a veteran car (1884 De Dion Bouton) and £1.48-million for a Rolls-Royce (1912 Silver Ghost Double Pullman Limousine).

The 1904 Rolls-Royce 10hp Two-Seater was first exhibited at The Paris Salon in the late Autumn of 1904. The car was displayed at the Olympia Show in London in February 1905, and, appropriately, returned to Olympia after some 102 years to be sold by Bonhams."

6. Vauxhall 5hp two-seater 1903

This is the world’s oldest surviving Vauxhall, the 1903 two-seater 5hp veteran car which has had just two owners, is a historic landmark vehicle. We can't make a perfect list of vintage cars without including this one.

5. Benz Patent Motorwagen - 1886

Benz Patent Motor Car, the first automobile (1885 – 1886): The major features of the two-seater vehicle, which was completed in 1885, were the compact high-speed single-cylinder four-stroke engine installed horizontally at the rear, the tubular steel frame, the differential, and three wire-spoked wheels. The engine output was 0.75 hp (0.55 kW). Details included an automatic intake slide, a controlled exhaust valve, high-voltage electrical vibrator ignition with a spark plug, and water/thermal siphon evaporation cooling.

On January 29, 1886, Benz applied for a patent for his “vehicle powered by a gas engine.” The patent – number 37435 – may be regarded as the birth certificate of the automobile. In July 1886 the newspapers reported on the first public outing of the three-wheeled Benz Patent Motor Car, model no. 1.

4. Daimler Maybach - 1886

1886 Daimler-Maybach The Daimler-Maybach partnership produced the world's first motor vehicle in 1885. Their first four-wheeler was this converted wooden carriage, fitted in 1886 with Daimler's engine. While making a list of vintage cars of the 1800s, this would be the first to be considered.

3. De Dion Bouton Et Trepardoux Dos-A-Dos runabout - 1884

This steam-powered 1884 De Dion Bouton Et Trepardoux Dos-A-Dos runabout is claimed to be the oldest running motorized vehicle in the world. The 130-year-old De Dion can reach 38 MPH speed with its twin compound steam engines which need a tank of water every twenty miles.

2. First Electric Tricycle 1881

In 1881, William Ayrton and John Perry built what is considered to be the world's first-ever electric vehicle. This is the recreation of the original model done by the German Museum Autovision based on the English scientists' design.

1. Fardier Cugnot - 1869 - First among the oldest cars in the world

How can we forget to include this one while making a list of the top ten oldest cars in the world? Original in the Museum of Arts and Crafts in Paris. The French engineer Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot (1725-1804) realized in 1769 the first automobile driven by steam. In 1771, a second model called " goblin " was built to transport artillery pieces.

If you are a sports car lover, you would love to read about The 5 Best Sports Cars under Your Budget.