Month: November 2019

The boyars were members of the upper nobility in Russia from the 10th through the 17th century. Their military support of the Kievan princes initially earned them influence and government posts, but soon land ownership became the main source of their power and prestige. The boyars continued to advise the prince through a council, but as the Moscow grand princes consolidated their power, their influence was gradually eroded until which czar abolished the rank and title of boyar? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Just 147 sq mi (381 sq km), the Isle of Wight is an English island with a population of about 140,000. In August 1970, it is estimated that more than 600,000 people flocked to the small isle to attend the third Isle of Wight Festival, a five-day concert featuring dozens of performers including The Who, The Doors, and Miles Davis. It was also the last major performance of Jimi Hendrix, who died three weeks later. Which musicians’ sets were interrupted when concertgoers jumped on stage? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Russo-Japanese War was a conflict that grew out of the rival imperial designs of Russia and Japan on Manchuria and Korea. After Russia reneged on an agreement to withdraw from Manchuria, Japan broke off negotiations and attacked, scoring a series of quick victories. With the signing of the 1905 Treaty of Portsmouth, Japan gained the position of a world power, becoming the first non-European and non-American modern imperialist state. The disastrous outcome for Russia helped spark what event? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Stretching some 30,000 mi (48,000 km), the Pan-American Highway is a system of roads connecting North and South America. Originally conceived as a single route in 1923, it was financed by the US during the 1940s and 1950s and grew to include a number of designated highways in participating countries, extending from Alaska and Canada to Chile, Argentina, and Brazil. However, the system is far from uniform; some stretches are passable only during the dry season, and there are gaps where? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary