Frederick Barbarossa was elected King of Germany in 1152 and crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 1155. Shortly thereafter, an apparent misunderstanding with Pope Adrian IV led Frederick to mount military operations against Italy and install an antipope in opposition to Adrian’s successor. The schism continued for some time, but Frederick and the Catholic pontiff ultimately reconciled. According to scholars, what factors may have contributed to Frederick’s drowning death in the shallow Saleph River? Discuss
Month: March 2023
Henry the Navigator (1394)
Henry the Navigator, a Portuguese prince, figured strongly in Portugal’s early development as a colonial empire. Though not a navigator himself, Henry was a great patron of exploration and is credited with establishing a school for navigators and encouraging the study of navigational instruments and cartography. Under his patronage, Portuguese sailors explored and colonized Madeira, the Cape Verde Islands, and the Azores. Where did Henry get the money to fund these expeditions? Discuss
castles in the sky
Dreams, hopes, or plans that are impossible, unrealistic, or have very little chance of succeeding. Watch the video
The Temple of Artemis
The Temple of Artemis was a large Greek temple at Ephesus that was said to be one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The temple, dedicated to Artemis, the virgin goddess of the hunt and the moon and twin sister of Apollo, was a 120-year project started by Croesus of Lydia and completed around 550 BCE. The temple was destroyed and rebuilt numerous times. It was first destroyed in 356 BCE in an act of arson committed by Herostratus. What was his motivation? Discuss
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Bulgaria Regains Independence from Ottoman Empire (1878)
Though the April Uprising of 1876, a Bulgarian revolt against the perceived Ottoman oppression, failed as a revolution, it succeeded in raising international support for the Bulgarian plight. News of atrocities committed by Ottoman troops suppressing the uprising quickly spread to the international community, and Russia soon declared war on the Ottomans. The subsequent Treaty of San Stefano created a large autonomous Bulgaria within the Ottoman Empire, but it was later revised. Why? Discuss
Bulgaria's Day of Liberation from Ottoman Domination
Bulgaria‘s Day of Liberation from Ottoman Domination, celebrated each year on March 3, commemorates the day in 1878 when the Peace Treaty of San Stefano was struck between Russia and Turkey. Throughout Bulgaria, citizens pause on this day to pay tribute to those who helped Bulgaria to become a modern, independent country. Festivities often include parades, concerts, religious services, cultural exhibitions, and fireworks. Those who died fighting for Bulgaria’s freedom are honored by the placement of ceremonial wreaths upon their graves. Discuss
Alexander Graham Bell (1847)
Bell was a scientist and inventor. He patented the telephone in 1876 and months later sent his now-famous telephone message to his assistant, Thomas A. Watson: “Mr. Watson, come here; I want to see you.” Bell also invented a device that transmitted sound in rays of light, a machine that tested hearing and detected auditory deficiencies, and an apparatus capable of locating metallic objects in the human body. This last device was hurriedly assembled in an attempt to find a bullet in whose body? Discuss
candle in the wind
Something that is particularly vulnerable, weak, fragile, or precarious and likely to fail, perish, or be eliminated at any moment. Watch the video
The Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library is the main research library of the University of Oxford and is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. The original library, destroyed in the reign of Edward VI, was replaced in 1602, chiefly through the efforts of Sir Thomas Bodley. The library has one of the great collections of English books, and its extensive manuscript collection is especially rich in biblical and Arabic material. Centuries of Oxford scholars have informally called it the what? Discuss