The city of Istanbul, which extends on both the European and Asian sides of the Bosporus strait, is the only city in the world to span 2 continents. Over the centuries, this area has been under Greek, Roman, Ottoman, and Turkish control. One of the great historic metropolises of the world, Istanbul is Turkey’s chief city and seaport as well as its commercial, industrial, and financial center. Istanbul is home to Topkapi Palace, the Hagia Sophia, and what other historic sites? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Also known as Alhazen, Ibn al-Haytham was an Arab mathematician, astronomer, and physicist. Optics, perhaps his most significant work, introduced the idea that light rays emanate in straight lines in all directions from every point on a luminous surface. Latin translations of this work influenced both Kepler and Descartes. Alhazen is considered the “father of optics” for his experiments with lenses, mirrors, refraction, and reflection. What lunar phenomenon was named in his honor? 
The Kingdom of Swaziland is a small, landlocked, mountainous country in southeast Africa. In 1968, Swaziland achieved complete independence, but retained membership in the Commonwealth of Nations. The country is cut by four major river systems, which are increasingly used for irrigation. Sugarcane is the country’s leading export, but pineapple, citrus fruit, and cotton are also important agricultural exports. Why does Swaziland have the one of the world’s lowest life expectancy rates? 
A necktie is a narrow fabric band of varying length worn around the neck and tied in a knot or bow close to the throat. The modern tie, ascot, and bowtie are descended from the 17th c. cravat. Originally, the four-in-hand necktie was cut on the square and had square ends. The bias-cut necktie, introduced in 1926, allowed the tie to fall evenly from the knot without twisting. Using mathematical modeling, researchers have discovered 85 possible necktie knots. How many are “aesthetically pleasing”? 
Hafez was a 14th-century Persian mystic and poet. His ghazals, or lyrical poems, are noted for the beautiful manner in which the themes of love, mysticism, and Sufism are presented. Much that is known about Hafez comes from legend and myth, though scholars believe he was the disciple of the Attar of Shiraz. Hafez faced charges of blasphemy during his life over the content of his poetry, but an elaborate tomb was erected in his honor 20 years after his death. What is inscribed on his tombstone? 
Throughout her childhood, Annie’s family moved frequently to accommodate her father’s military career. Her artistic involvement flourished in high school, but it was a visit to her family in the Philippines that sparked her passion for photography. After spending time on a kibbutz in Israel, Annie returned to the US and began photographing for Rolling Stone magazine. Her intimate portraits of celebrities helped define the magazine’s look. At what age did she give birth to her first child? 
Papyrus was an early form of paper made from the pith of the papyrus plant, a wetland sedge that once flourished in the Nile Delta. Though its earliest use has been traced to Ancient Egypt, it was also widely used throughout the Mediterranean region, inland parts of Europe, and southwest Asia. Making a sheet of papyrus involves a complex process of layering the inner piths of the stems, then hammering, drying, and polishing them. What unlikely article of clothing was made from papyrus? 
The Great Boston Fire of 1872 was Boston’s largest urban fire and remains one of the most costly fire-related property losses in American history, causing $73.5 million in damages. Numerous factors contributed to the fire, not the least of which was the lax enforcement of Boston’s building regulations which, coupled with the practice of over-insuring buildings, left no real incentive to build fire-safe structures. How many years did it take to rebuild the burnt district? 
In the mid 19th century, at a time when most of the crofters, or tenants, of the Scottish Highlands were dependent on potatoes as a source of food, their potato crops were blighted with a terrible fungal disease that caused the crop to fail for the next ten years. The blight was similar to the contemporaneous Irish Potato Famine, but the latter was perhaps more severe and closer to a true famine. What was the landlords’ solution to the problem of starving crofters? 
The sea urchin, a spiny sea creature related to the starfish, is found in oceans all over the world. Its body wall is a firm, globose shell, made of fused skeletal plates. Five rows of the skeletal plates are pierced by pores for its tube feet, which it uses, along with its spines, for locomotion. Sea urchin “roe,” which is actually made from the organs that produce the roe, is considered a delicacy in Mediterranean regions and Japan, where it has been sold for what price?