Month: June 2023

South Africa Wins the Rugby World Cup (1995)

In 1995, the recently unified nation of South Africa hosted the third Rugby World Cup. The first major event to be held in what had been dubbed “the Rainbow Nation,” it is now remembered as one of the greatest moments in the country’s sporting history. The dramatic victory of the South African team, supported by President Nelson Mandela, is seen as a major step in the reconciliation of white and black South Africans in the post-Apartheid era. What team did South Africa defeat in the final match? Discuss

Venezuela Battle of Carabobo Day

The Battle of Carabobo was fought in Venezuela on June 24, 1821, between the Spanish and the Venezuelan freedom fighters, led by Simón Bolívar. Their victory led to the independence of Venezuela. At the site of the battle is the Alley of Glory. It leads to the Triumphal Arch, which features two female figures representing peace and victory. The Battle of Carabobo Day is marked by a military parade in Carabobo. Discuss

Ambrose Bierce (1842)

Author of humorous sketches, horror stories, and tales of the supernatural, Bierce was an American journalist, satirist, and short story writer. Among his best known works are the short story “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” and The Devil’s Dictionary, a volume of ironic definitions that showcase his sardonic outlook. In 1913, Bierce traveled to Mexico for a firsthand perspective on its ongoing revolution and disappeared without a trace. What are some theories about how he died? Discuss

Rostov-on-Don

Rostov-on-Don is situated along the Don River near its entrance into the Sea of Azov, which has been an area of great commercial and cultural importance since ancient times. It was in essence established in 1749, when a customs house was built on the Don, a major shipping lane connecting northern Russia to the Caucasus. As the most heavily industrialized city of South Russia during the Russian Civil War, it became a bone of contention between what groups? Discuss

Christopher Latham Sholes Granted Typewriter Patent (1868)

As a teen, American inventor Christopher Latham Sholes apprenticed with a printer and later became a newspaper publisher. In 1868, he, Carlos Glidden, and Samuel W. Soulé were granted a patent for their design for the first practical typewriter. Five years later, he sold his rights for $12,000 to the Remington Arms Co., which developed the Remington Typewriter. Sholes went on to invent the so-called QWERTY keyboard that is still in use today. Why did he arrange the letters in this unusual order? Discuss

Luxembourg National Day

On the eve of this national holiday, Dudelange hosts a torchlight procession, and the castle at Wiltz hosts a fête in the courtyard. Fireworks, parades, special religious services, public concerts, and dancing comprise the elaborate celebration in the capital city of Luxembourg. On National Day, people assemble in the capital not only to celebrate their independence, but also to observe the official birthday of the Grand Duke. The people there identify strongly with their country and speak their own language, known as Luxembourgeois. Discuss

Oda Nobunaga (1534)

Nobunaga—son of a daimyo, or feudal lord—was a Japanese military commander and one of the three unifiers of premodern Japan, along with his general Toyotomi Hideyoshi and ally Tokugawa Ieyasu. One of the first Japanese generals to arm his foot soldiers with muskets, Nobunaga destroyed the armies of powerful Buddhist sects and greatly expanded his father’s holdings. He also stimulated the economy through the use of the free market system. Nobunaga supported missionaries from what religion? Discuss