Month: August 2022

Tomás de Torquemada

A Dominican prior, Torquemada grew close to Ferdinand II and Isabella I of the newly created kingdom of Spain, becoming their confessor and advisor. He was appointed Inquisitor General in 1483. Remembered for his cruelty, he owes his reputation to the harsh rules of procedure that he devised for the Spanish Inquisition and to the rigor with which he had them enforced. He was largely instrumental in bringing about the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492. What limited his power in 1494? Discuss

Toxic Gas Erupts from Lake Nyos (1986)

Lake Nyos is a deep lake located in the crater of an inactive volcano in Cameroon. A pocket of magma beneath the lake leaks carbon dioxide (CO2) into the water. In 1986, possibly as the result of a landslide, Lake Nyos suddenly emitted about 1.6 million tons of CO2. Denser than air, the CO2 cloud “hugged” the ground and descended down nearby valleys, suffocating approximately 1,700 people within 16 miles (25 km) of the lake. What methods are being used to prevent future disasters here? Discuss

Joe Strummer (1952)

Strummer—born John Graham Mellor—was the lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist for The Clash. The band was at the forefront of the 1970s punk rock movement and became known for performing overtly political songs, such as “Rock the Casbah” and “I Fought the Law.” After The Clash broke up in 1986, Strummer went on to several other projects, including the Mescaleros. The Clash was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003, just months after Strummer died. What caused his untimely death? Discuss

Clara Schumann

Schumann, the wife of composer Robert Schumann, was a renowned pianist of her time. A child prodigy, she made her debut in 1830 and later performed with great success all over Europe. She was an outstanding interpreter of works by her husband and Johannes Brahms and was one of the first pianists to perform from memory. Her own compositions were mainly piano pieces and songs. Schumann supported her family financially and organized her own concert tours while also raising how many children? Discuss

US Retaliates against Al Qaeda for Embassy Bombings (1998)

On August 7, 1998, the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed, killing more than 200 people. Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda were believed to be responsible for the attacks. The US retaliated 13 days later with Operation Infinite Reach, a cruise missile strike that targeted terrorist camps in Afghanistan and a pharmaceutical factory in Sudan. Though the pharmaceutical plant was allegedly helping bin Laden build chemical weapons, the US was widely criticized for this attack. Why? Discuss

Bernardo O'Higgins (1778?)

The illegitimate son of a Spanish officer of Irish origin, O’Higgins was educated in Peru, Spain, and England. When Napoleon invaded Spain in 1808 and Spanish control of Chile relaxed, O’Higgins became a member of Chile’s new congress. Instrumental in defeating the Spanish in 1817, he was named the first Chilean head of state and proclaimed the country’s independence in 1818. His financial, political, and social reforms aroused opposition, and he was deposed in 1823 and exiled to what country? Discuss