Among the most intricately illuminated manuscripts to survive from the Middle Ages, the Book of Kells, created by Celtic monks around 800 CE, is an ornate masterpiece of the Hiberno-Saxon style. Described as the peak of Western calligraphy and illumination, the book features the four Gospels in Latin. However, there are a number of errors in the text, including the use of the Latin word “gaudium” instead of the correct term, “gladium.” How does that mistake change the meaning of Matthew 10:34? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Known in China as Chang Jiang, the Yangtze is the longest river in Asia and the third longest in the world. Originating in a mountain glacier on the eastern part of the Tibetan plateau, the river flows eastward and meets up with the East China Sea at Shanghai. Heavily traveled and highly polluted, the Yangtze is home to at least two endangered species: the Chinese Alligator and the Chinese Paddlefish. What animal was reportedly seen in the river after its species was declared extinct in 2006? 
Arising during the English Reformation, the vestments controversy superficially pertained to vestments—liturgical garments worn by clergy members—but more fundamentally concerned the future of English Protestant identity, doctrine, and various church practices. The controversy stemmed in part from a debate about whether or not the wearing of vestments should be required during certain religious ceremonies. The development of which two branches of Protestantism was affected by the debate? 
The classic Mongolian script was the first of many writing systems created for the Mongolian language. It is still in use today—having been only slightly modified since its initial development—in China’s Inner Mongolia region. The script was created in the early 13th century, when Genghis Khan ordered a captured scribe to create a writing system. In 1587, a number of new characters were devised to transcribe sounds from foreign languages. In what direction is Mongolian script written? 
Amala and Kamala were two so-called “wolf-girls”—feral children allegedly raised by a family of wolves before being found in 1920 near Calcutta, India, at eight and 18 months old, respectively. They were taken in by the rector of a local orphanage, who documented his observations of them in a diary for almost 10 years and claimed that, like wolves, the girls were nocturnal, did not allow themselves to be dressed, and walked on all fours. What other wolfish behaviors did they allegedly display? 
The Ryutin Affair, one of the last attempts of the Soviet Communist Party to oppose Stalin, took place in 1932, when Martemyan Ryutin, an Old Bolshevik, decided to secretly oppose the controversial Soviet leader. In a nearly 200-page document now known as the “Ryutin Platform,” he called for Stalin’s elimination and a “fresh start,” but he was soon identified as the author, imprisoned, and ultimately executed. What happened when Stalin initially proposed the death penalty for Ryutin? 
The Maasai are a largely nomadic pastoral people whose territory is divided between Tanzania and Kenya. Their distinctive customs and dress and their proximity to many East African game parks have made them one of the most internationally well-known African ethnic groups. The Maasai measure wealth in terms of cattle and children, rather than money, and someone who has plenty of one but not the other is considered poor. How does killing lions factor into traditional Maasai culture? 
Leptis Magna was a prominent city of the Roman Empire whose remains are among the most spectacular and best-preserved Roman ruins in North Africa. Located on the coast of what is now Libya, Leptis Magna was incorporated into the Roman Empire after the fall of Carthage, flourished under the rule of Emperor Septimius Severus—a Leptis Magna native—and eventually became a major trading post. What ancient artifacts found near the site were kept hidden for five years before being revealed in 2005? 
The world’s oldest and most popular alcoholic beverage, beer is recorded in the written history of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia and may have been brewed as early as the 6th millennium BCE. Today, approximately 35 billion gallons of beer are sold each year throughout the world. It is produced by fermenting sugars derived from starch-based materials, including malted barley and wheat, as well as millet in Africa, potato in Brazil, and agave in Mexico. What is the difference between ale and lager? 
Often seen in Norse, Anglo-Saxon, and Celtic literature, a kenning is a poetic phrase used in the place of a name or noun. Kennings can be complex phrases or simple two-word expressions joined to convey a meaning neither word possesses alone. A knowledge of mythology is often vital to the understanding and interpretation of these phrases. “Sail-road,” “bath-way,” and “whale-way” are all Old English kennings that reference the sea. What is “the flesh of the mother of the enemy of the giantess”?