Month: July 2022

Sweden Defeated at the Battle of Poltava (1709)

During the Great Northern War, neighboring countries sought to break Swedish supremacy in the Baltic area. Its most famous battle is likely the Battle of Poltava, which occurred after Charles XII of Sweden invaded Ukraine and—lacking reinforcements and seeking a stronghold—laid siege to Poltava. When the battle began, 45,000 Russian troops faced just 14,000 Swedish soldiers. The Russian victory effectively ended Sweden’s role as a major power. What did the Russians do with the Swedish prisoners? Discuss

Ferdinand, Graf von Zeppelin (1838)

Zeppelin began working with balloons for human transport as an observer during the American Civil War. In 1891, he retired from the Prussian army to devote himself to building motor-driven airships. Zeppelin invented the first rigid airship in 1900, but the experiment exhausted his funds. Luckily, public opinion was so strongly in favor of his airship project that donations largely financed his future work. Whom did his granddaughter later threaten to sue for sullying her family’s name? Discuss

Princess Caraboo

“Princess Caraboo” was a famous imposter in 19th-century England. Her real-name was Mary Baker, and she was a cobbler’s daughter. She invented a fictitious language and created an exotic persona, claiming to be Princess Caraboo from the island of Javasu. She alleged that she had been captured by pirates but managed to jump from their ship and swim to safety. For several weeks, Princess Caraboo enjoyed the hospitality and company of local society. How was her true identity finally uncovered? Discuss

Terrorist Bombings in London (2005)

On July 7, 2005, four bombs struck the London public transportation system during the morning rush hour, killing 52 people—as well as the four bombers—and injuring some 700. The incident was the worst act of terrorism in the UK since the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, which killed 270 people. The attacks appeared to be the work of Islamic suicide bombers, and later evidence indicated that they may have been directed by a member of Al Qaeda. Initial reports attributed the explosions to what? Discuss

Tanabata

This Japanese festival is based on a Chinese legend of parted lovers who are identified with two of the brightest stars in the night sky: Vega, representing a weaver-princess, who is permitted by the king to marry the simple cowherd, Altair. On the seventh day of the seventh month, the lovers are able to meet. The festival is observed throughout Japan, with people hanging colorful strips of paper on bamboo branches outside their homes. It is an especially colorful occasion in Sendai, where it occurs a month later, on August 6-8. The whole city is decked out with paper streamers and works of origami. Discuss

Marc Chagall (1887)

Chagall was a Belarusian artist often considered a forerunner of the surrealist movement. He began studying painting in 1907 and soon blended elements of cubism into his expressionistic style. His Jewish heritage served as a source of great inspiration to him, and images of Jewish life and folklore and biblical themes frequently feature in his art. He explored a variety of mediums, including painting, printmaking, etching, tapestry, mosaic, and stained glass. Where can his work be seen? Discuss