Incunabula

Incunabula are “books of the cradle days” of printing, or books printed in the 15th century. The known incunabula represent about 40,000 editions. The books include products of more than 1,000 presses, including such famous printers as Gutenberg, Caxton, and Aldus Manutius, and give evidence as to the development of typography in its formative period. These books were generally large quarto size, bound in calf over boards of wood, and decorated with borders. What are some famous incunabula? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1500)

Charles V was the influential 16th-century European monarch who held the thrones of both the Holy Roman Empire and Spain for approximately 40 years. He played a key role in fighting Protestantism during the Reformation and was later an ardent supporter of the Counter Reformation. He also fought several wars against France and the Ottoman Empire before abdicating in the 1550s, dividing his realms between his son and brother and retiring to a monastery. What saying about Paris originated with him? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

St. Matthias’s Day

The story of how St. Matthias was elected to replace Judas Iscariot as one of the 12 apostles after Judas committed suicide can be found in the Bible’s Book of Acts. There is no historical record of Matthias’s deeds or death. His fame rests almost entirely upon the fact that he took the betrayer Judas’ place, although legend claims that he was stoned and beheaded in Ethiopia in 64 CE. Episcopalians celebrate his feast day on February 24. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Marbury v. Madison Establishes Judicial Review (1803)

Marbury v. Madison was a landmark case in American law that resulted in the first decision by the Supreme Court to declare unconstitutional and void an act passed by Congress. It established the basis for the exercise of judicial review of federal statutes by the US Supreme Court. By identifying the Supreme Court as the authoritative interpreter of the Constitution, this decision bolstered power, respect, and prestige in the federal judiciary. Who were the “Midnight Judges”? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Battle of Leyte Gulf

Widely considered one of the greatest naval engagements of all time, the Battle of Leyte Gulf was fought in the seas near the Philippines during World War II. The Japanese occupied the island of Leyte, which became the site of the first American landing in the campaign to recover the Philippines. Over three days in October 1944, American naval forces defeated almost the entire Japanese navy—thereby ensuring ultimate Allied victory. The battle saw the first use of what kind of aircraft tactic? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

W.E.B. Du Bois (1868)

Du Bois was an early African-American civil rights leader and scholar, as well as the first African American to receive a PhD from Harvard University. He was an outspoken critic of the social inequalities that existed in the US during the early part of the 20th century, and he helped found the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). What led Du Bois to seek Ghanaian citizenship at the age of 95? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary