Likely the largest chariot battle in history, the Battle of Kadesh was fought between the Egyptians and the Hittites in 1274 BCE at the city of Kadesh in what is now Syria. Pharaoh Ramses II mounted the attack to regain lost territory, but he was eventually forced to retreat to Egypt. Hostilities between the two peoples were finally ended with a peace agreement in 1258 BCE—one of the earliest international peace treaties. A replica of the agreement is held at what organization’s headquarters? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
A local currency is a currency that is not backed by a national government and is intended for trade only in a small area. Today, more than 2,500 local currency systems operate throughout the world. Though advocates say local currencies enable people in economically depressed regions to improve their situation, opponents argue that such systems can interfere with economies of scale and lead to tax evasion. What are some examples of local currencies? 
Punt was a fabled land in eastern Africa sought by ancient Egyptians as a source of gold, frankincense, myrrh, and other exotic and precious goods. It is known only from Egyptian records of expeditions to East Africa, which date back to the 25th century BCE. Punt was also called “God’s Land” because its position in relation to the rising sun placed it under the sun god’s domain. Though most scholars link Punt with the Red Sea, its exact location remains a mystery. What are some of the theories? 
The lexical compilations known as dictionaries have taken many forms throughout the ages. The earliest dictionaries were created by the Greeks in the first century CE, while multilingual dictionaries emerged during the Middle Ages. Though today’s lexica contain alphabetized word lists, until the 18th century, English dictionaries were predominantly organized by topic. What were some of the distinctly American words that Noah Webster first documented in his 1828 dictionary? 
Shah Abbas I ascended the Persian throne in the late 16th century, after participating in the coup that deposed his father. Persian artistic achievement flourished during Abbas’s reign. The empire’s new capital, Isfahan, was transformed into one of the world’s most beautiful cities and quickly became one of the most important cultural centers in the Islamic world. Abbas’s rule was tarnished, however, by his cruelty to his family. What did he do to three of his sons? 
In August 1896, a party led by Skookum Jim Mason discovered rich gold deposits near the confluence of the Klondike and Yukon rivers in northwest Canada. The news quickly spread to other mining camps in the river valley and reached the US within a year, setting off the Klondike Gold Rush that drew more than 30,000 prospectors to the area. By the time mining ended in 1966, the area had yielded $250 million in gold. What famous American author took part in the gold rush? 
The discovery of mirror neurons in primates is considered by some to be one of the most important findings in neuroscience in the last decade. These neurons, which are also believed to exist in humans, act as a “mirror” for behavior, firing both when an animal performs an action and when it observes another carrying out that action. This system may play a role in learning new skills and understanding the behavior of others. What human brain disorder may be linked to a mirror neuron deficiency? 
The Conscription Crisis of 1917 was a political and military crisis in Canada during WWI that was precipitated by the military’s failure to create units for French-speaking forces. Instead the French-Canadian volunteers were assigned to various English-speaking units. Witnessing what they perceived as the mistreatment of the first contingent, many French-Canadians elected not to volunteer, leading legislators to pass a conscription act. What was the political aftermath of this crisis in Quebec? 
Used to evaluate job recruits, potential jurors, and romantic partners, graphology is the study and analysis of handwriting, especially in relation to human psychology. Supporters cite anecdotal evidence for its accuracy in personality evaluation, but empirical studies have often failed to prove its validity. Among its most controversial forms, medical graphology uses handwriting analysis to evaluate patient health. What do proponents of holistic graphology claim John Wayne’s signature revealed? 
Often called “China’s Mona Lisa,” Along the River During the Qingming Festival is a 17-ft (5.2-m) long panoramic painting that depicts life during the Song dynasty. The subject of several similar works painted over the next few hundred years, the 12th-century original depicts 814 people in a bucolic countryside and busy city and reveals some of the nuances of class structure at the time. Why do some scholars question the traditionally accepted translation of the painting’s name?