1950 – 1959
1950s
- 1946 – 1956The Dead Sea Scrolls are found at Qumran
From late 1946 Bedouin shepherds and then excavators recover about 15,000 scrolls and fragments from caves near Qumran, until 1956. Dating from c. 3rd century BCE to 1st century CE, they include the oldest biblical manuscripts known.
- 1952Linear B is deciphered
In 1952 Michael Ventris shows that Linear B, found at Knossos by Arthur Evans in 1900, writes an early form of Greek. His work builds on Alice Kober's, and John Chadwick collaborates with him. It pushes written Greek back to the Mycenaean age.
- 1952The Revised Standard Version is published
After its 1946 New Testament, the National Council of Churches issues the complete Revised Standard Version in 1952, updating the American Standard Version while keeping the Tyndale–King James tradition. A Catholic edition follows in 1965–66.
- March 10, 1952Fulgencio Batista seizes power in a coup before Cuba's election
On 10 March 1952 Batista and the army take over, ending the government of Carlos Prío weeks before the 1 June election in which Batista expected to lose. The United States recognises the regime in late March.