An overcrowded, unsafe and/or crime-ridden urban environment or city, characterized by the congestion of large buildings and roads. Watch the video
Month: March 2023
The Gates of Tashkent
The Gates of Tashkent were built around the town of Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in the 10th century. The last of the gates was destroyed in 1890, but several of the city’s districts still bear their names. The gates, which varied in number over time, served as fortifications for the original settlement located at the intersection of the Bozsuv canal and caravan routes from the Tien Shan Mountains. Who was in charge of protecting the wooden gates? Discuss
curlicue
Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations Is Published (1776)
Published in 1776, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations is the magnum opus of Scottish economist Adam Smith. It is a clearly written account of political economy at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution and is considered the first modern work in the field of economics. In it, Smith postulates the theory of the division of labor and emphasizes that value arises from the labor expended in the process of production. What was Smith’s concept of “the invisible hand”? Discuss
Feast of St. Frances of Rome
St. Frances of Rome (1384-1440) was a model for housewives and widows. Despite the death of her children, her husband’s banishment, and the confiscation of their estates, she continued to nurse the sick and care for the poor. St. Frances’s feast day is observed on March 9, the date on which she died. Because she is also the patron saint of motorists, it is customary for Italian drivers to flock to the Colosseum in Rome for the blessing of their cars. Crowds also visit Tor de Specchi and Casa degli Esercizi Pii (formerly her home), whose rooms are opened to the public on this day. Discuss
Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Molotov (1890)
A leading figure in Soviet government from the 1920s until 1957, Molotov rose to power as a protégé of Stalin. He was chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars from 1930–41 and foreign minister from 1939–49 and 1953–56. In the early days of World War II, he negotiated a treaty with Germany, but after the 1941 invasion of Russia, he worked to strengthen ties with the West. Why is the Molotov cocktail, a makeshift bomb made of a breakable container filled with flammable liquid, named for him? Discuss
now (that) you mention it
An expression used when one remembers or realizes something because of what the other person has just said. Watch the video
Quinoa
Quinoa is a tall annual herb whose seeds have provided a staple food for peoples of the higher Andes since pre-Columbian times. In the Inca Empire, where only the potato was more widely grown, quinoa is said to have been sacred. The year’s first furrows were opened ceremoniously with a gold implement. In the US and other non-Andean nations, quinoa is now a popular alternative to rice and other grains for its higher protein content. What is typically removed from freshly harvested quinoa seeds? Discuss
affectation
The Gnadenhütten Massacre (1782)
During the American Revolution, the Lenape, or Delaware, group of Native Americans found itself divided on the issue of which side, if any, to take in the conflict. Some members elected to fight against the Americans, while others—particularly Christian converts—remained neutral. In 1782, an American militia seeking revenge for Native American raids on frontier settlements killed 96 Christian Delawares in Gnadenhütten, Ohio. What military leader was later killed in retaliation for Gnadenhütten? Discuss