Peru had been a colony of Spain for nearly 300 years when Simon Bolívar (1783-1830), along with José San Martín (1778-1850), led the Battle of Ayacucho in 1824 that resulted in the end of Spanish rule of Bolivia and Peru. San Martín had declared independence on July 28, 1821, but Peru’s sovereignty was not secured until Bolívar’s forces defeated the Spanish at Ayacucho. Celebrated all over Peru, Independence Day is a public holiday. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Onassis was the wife of US President John F. Kennedy and served as First Lady during his presidency from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. Her graciousness, elegance, and beauty endeared her to the American public, and her broad culture and ease in speaking Spanish and French impressed foreign leaders. Five years after her first husband’s murder, she married Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis. Upon his death in 1975, she returned to New York and became successful in what occupation? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Mazzini was an Italian patriot, revolutionist, and an outstanding figure of the Risorgimento, the era of nationalism and activism that led to Italy’s unification. In his youth, he devoted himself to literary and philosophical studies and later joined the Carbonari, a secret society with political purposes. He was imprisoned, went into exile, and founded Giovine Italia, a secret society that pushed for a united Italian republic. How did Mazzini’s contributions factor into the formation of the EU? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Definition: (noun) A person of unquestioning obedience.
Synonyms: stooge, yes-man.
Usage: I liked the play, but I felt that the character of Joe was too much of a flunky, always trying to please Roger and never standing up for himself.
Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Fought between Scottish highland clans supporting James II and VII and the government troops of William of Orange, the Battle of Killiecrankie occurred in Scotland during the first Jacobite uprising in 1689. Outnumbered, barefoot, and armed mostly with claymores—large, double-edged broadswords—the highlanders, led by John Graham of Claverhouse, used their position on the steep Pass of Killiecrankie to force a retreat. Despite the victory, Claverhouse was killed. What became of the revolt? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Victory Day marks the end of the Korean War, the three-year conflict between North Korea and South Korea. On July 27, 1953, the opponents signed an armistice that formally ended the war. Victory Day is a public holiday observed throughout North Korea. Officials and citizens mark the occasion by laying wreaths and flowers at military cemeteries and monuments nationwide. In the capital city, Pyongyang, public celebrations can include displays by military personnel, dance performances, and youth oratorical events. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Although of aristocratic background, Corday sympathized with the moderate Girondists during the French Revolution. Horrified at the excesses of the Reign of Terror, she gained an audience with one of its leaders, Jean-Paul Marat, by promising to betray the Girondists and stabbed him through the heart while he was in his bath. Arrested on the spot, she was convicted by the Revolutionary Tribunal and guillotined four days later. Why was Marat in the bath at the time of their meeting? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Cook was an English travel agent who, in 1841, founded the travel agency that bears his name. After his idea of the guided tour met with success, he established his Circular Tour of Europe and, later, tours of the US. The company was nationalized in 1948, but it went into decline when it failed to offer the “package holiday” that had recently gained popularity. The agency has been owned by private companies since 1972. Cook’s agency began arranging travel to what exotic destination in the 1880s? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Definition: (noun) A juvenile between the onset of puberty and maturity.
Synonyms: adolescent, teenager.
Usage: He appeared on a jutting headland by the shore of the fruitless sea, seeming like a stripling in the first flush of manhood.
Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Loosely based on Wolfram von Eschenbach’s Parzival—the medieval epic poem of the Arthurian knight Parzival and his quest for the Holy Grail—Parsifal is a three-act opera by German composer Richard Wagner. The opera was first conceived in 1857 but not completed until 25 years later. It premiered in 1882 at the second Bayreuth Festival, where it was performed exclusively until 1903. What tradition has arisen among the audience at performances of Parsifal at Bayreuth? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary