Our Evolving Culture

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1851 The New York Times, then the New York Daily Times, was founded. Adolph S. Ochs bought the paper in 1896. His descendants still run the Gray Lady.

1890s The press barons Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst engaged in a circulation war filled with sensational headlines and "yellow journalism." Hearst's papers helped foment the Spanish-American War.

1931 Rupert Murdoch was born in Australia. Beginning in the late 1960s, he became the founder of the first truly global media empire, with properties ranging from newspapers to a movie studio to cable and broadcast television networks.

1968 Toward e-paper Jerry Yang, co-founder of Yahoo, was born in Taiwan. Though Yahoo has ventured into print magazines, its greatest asset is the 385 million page views its sites provide every day.

SHOES

sandals

c. 1000-1300 North America A no-frills yucca-fiber model from the Anasazi.

1850-1870 Bolivia It's time for a fiesta with this painted leather-and-wood clog with a silver buckle.

1999 U.S.A. Sole-fitting Wraptor by Teva for yuppie trekking.

platforms

1600 Venice So much cork was needed for the fashion that whole forests were endangered.

18th century India An ornate silver-covered wood paduka with a gold toe knob.

19th century Turkey Altitude to keep feet from street dust.

1970s Italy A mod combo of platform and heel.

boots

1490 Germany Steel sabbaton worn with a suit of armor by a nobleman.

1896 Europe Gold kid and green velvet button boots.

1920 France Fuchsia satin tango boots.

1995 Britain Doc Martens were must-haves for a while.

suffering for style

c. 960 to 1900s China 1936 coverlet for bound foot; some were 3 in. long.

c. 1695 Portugal An early high heel for a man, with silver lace and pink silk.

1980s France Yves Saint Laurent pumped up biker envy with this rhinestone strap.

1998 U.S.A. Painfully elegant silver lame stiletto mule with chinchilla trim by Manolo Blahnik.