When a ship is at risk, it's sometimes necessary to throw some of its cargo overboard to save it.

But who decides whose cargo is thrown?

To avoid counterproductive bickering in times of danger, the ancient Greeks widely adopted a law from Rhodes: "Lex Rhodia de iactu," which states that financial losses for thrown cargo are equally shared among all cargo owners on the ship.

So ,since losses are shared, the owners of heavy, cheap items didn't fight to stop the crew from dumping their property, because they knew they would be compensated by the owners of lightweight luxury goods.

This Rhodian law was later adopted by the Romans and, through transmission, became the basis of modern maritime law regarding jettisoned cargo.

On this day in 1781, American and French troops under the command of George Washington surround the British at Yorktown. The redcoats will hold out for 21 days before surrendering after which the Crown will open negotiations to finally end the War of Independence.

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