Anglo-Zanzibar War Begins and Ends (1896)

The Anglo-Zanzibar War is the shortest war in history. Lasting only 38 minutes, the conflict broke out when Khalid bin Bargash seized power after the death of his uncle, Sultan Hamad bin Thuwaini. The British, who favored a different candidate, delivered an ultimatum ordering Bargash to abdicate. When Bargash refused and assembled an army, the Royal Navy sent five warships to the harbor in front of the palace and opened fire. For what did the British demand payment after the brief war was over? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Moldova Independence Day

On August 27, 1991, the Republic of Moldova became an independent and sovereign state. To commemorate this momentous occasion, the country celebrates Independence Day every year on August 27. As part of the celebrations, the Moldovan President addresses the people of the country with a festive speech. Public concerts, fairs, and outdoor activities are held in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, as well as in other cities around the country. On August 27, 2001, the first military parade was held in Chisinau to celebrate the first 10 years of the country’s independence. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Emmanuel Radnitzky, AKA Man Ray (1890)

Radnitzky was a photographer, painter, and filmmaker better known in the art world as Man Ray. After forming the New York Dada group with Marcel Duchamp in 1917, he moved to Paris and became associated with the Surrealists. By placing objects on light-sensitive paper and exposing them to sunlight, he created “cameraless” pictures called “rayographs.” He later turned to portrait and fashion photography, extensively documenting Parisian celebrities. How did Radnitzky come to be known as Man Ray? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Istanbul

The city of Istanbul, which extends on both the European and Asian sides of the Bosporus strait, is the only city in the world to span 2 continents. Over the centuries, this area has been under Greek, Roman, Ottoman, and Turkish control. One of the great historic metropolises of the world, Istanbul is Turkey’s chief city and seaport as well as its commercial, industrial, and financial center. Istanbul is home to Topkapi Palace, the Hagia Sophia, and what other historic sites? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen Adopted (1789)

Adopted by France’s National Assembly in 1789, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen contains the principles that inspired the French Revolution. Influenced by the American Declaration of Independence, it serves as the preamble to France’s Constitution of 1791. It guarantees rights to liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression, as well as freedom of speech and of the press. Who later penned the “Declaration of the Rights of Women and the Female Citizen”? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Tomatina

Regardless of which legend one believes, what began in 1945 as a few tossed tomatoes as a show of disdain has developed into full-fledged tomato warfare in Buñol, Valencia, Spain, on the last Wednesday in August. Residents prepare for the impending food fight by protecting their storefronts and homes with plastic and donning special clothing. Thousands of pounds of tomatoes are trucked into town and dropped off at the Plaza del Pueblo, and the light-hearted battle commences. After the cleanup, celebrants continue to enjoy the festival’s fireworks, parades, food, and music. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Guillaume Apollinaire (1880)

Apollinaire was a French poet who developed a casual, lyrical poetic style characterized by a blend of modern and traditional images and verse techniques. His poetry was marked by daring technical experiments, and his use of unusual verbal associations and word patterns to create surprise is often considered the start of Surrealism. A friend of many avant-garde artists, including Pablo Picasso, Apollinaire was once arrested as a suspect in the theft of what famous painting? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Ibn al-Haytham

Also known as Alhazen, Ibn al-Haytham was an Arab mathematician, astronomer, and physicist. Optics, perhaps his most significant work, introduced the idea that light rays emanate in straight lines in all directions from every point on a luminous surface. Latin translations of this work influenced both Kepler and Descartes. Alhazen is considered the “father of optics” for his experiments with lenses, mirrors, refraction, and reflection. What lunar phenomenon was named in his honor? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary