The Salic Law

The Salic law was the rule of succession in some royal and noble European families that forbid females to succeed to certain titles or offices in the family. It likely came from the Salian Franks, who prohibited women from succeeding to the throne. The rule was most prominently enforced by the house of Valois and the succeeding house of Bourbon in France and was involved in the rivalry of Stephen and Matilda for the English throne. What impact did it have when Victoria became queen of England? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

El Dorado

El Dorado—Spanish for “the gilded man”—is the fabled city of gold and jewels believed by the 16th-century Spanish and other Europeans to exist somewhere in South America. The legend supposedly originated from the Chibcha people of Colombia, who each year anointed a chieftain and rolled him in gold, which he then ceremonially washed off in a sacred lake, casting offerings of emeralds and gold into the waters. Who were some of the explorers who searched for El Dorado, and where did they look? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Filibusters

A filibuster is an obstructionist tactic used in legislative assemblies. It is particularly associated with the US Senate, where the tradition of unlimited debate is strong, and it has been used by conservatives and liberals for very different purposes. It was not until 1917 that the Senate provided for cloture—or ending of the debate—by a vote of two-thirds of the Senators present. Yet, despite many attempts, cloture has been applied only rarely. What is the etymology of the term “filibuster”? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Bicycles

The first bicycle, probably created by the German Baron Karl de Drais de Sauerbrun in the early 1800s, was a form of hobby-horse that was propelled by the rider’s feet pushing against the ground. The first treadle-propelled cycle was designed by the Scottish blacksmith Kirkpatrick Macmillan around 1839. By the end of the 19th century, bicycles had wire wheels, metal frames, and pneumatic tires. What did 19th-century suffragists and feminists call the bicycle? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Jauhar

Jauhar refers to the ancient Hindu tradition of honorable self-immolation of women. It originally described the voluntary death on a funeral pyre of India’s queens and royal women, who would kill themselves to avoid capture when their castles were defeated. Jauhar also refers to the practice of mass suicide carried out in medieval times by besieged women and children, after which men would ride out to the battlefield to face certain death. What is the most famous historical example of Jauhar? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Depression Glass

Depression glass is clear or colored translucent glassware that was distributed throughout the US during the Great Depression era of the 1920s and 30s. During that time, the Quaker Oats Company began putting glassware in boxes of food as an incentive to purchase, much like modern cereal box prizes. Movie theaters and businesses sometimes offered pieces simply for coming in the door. Though of marginal quality, Depression glass has become highly collectible. In what colors was it made?

Source: The Free Dictionary

Jessica Tandy

Tandy was a noted British-American theater, film, and TV actress. She made her London stage debut in 1927 and soon became a leading lady, appearing as Katherine opposite Laurence Olivier’s Henry V, and Ophelia opposite John Gielgud’s Hamlet. She became known for her incisive portrayals of diverse characters and won a Tony Award playing Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire. Tandy often took the stage with her husband, actor Hume Cronyn. In 1989, she won an Academy Award for what film?

Source: The Free Dictionary