Afonso IV of Portugal (1291)

Though he was the only legitimate son of King Denis of Portugal, Afonso IV felt threatened by the apparent favoritism his father showed to his illegitimate half-brothers and spent the final years of his father’s life and reign in revolt. He succeeded to the throne in 1325 and, as history is doomed to repeat itself, found himself 20 years later the target of his own son’s rebellion against him. What had Afonso done to provoke his son’s rage? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Coral Reefs

A coral reef is a ridge of living coral, coral skeletons, and calcium carbonate deposits from organisms such as calcareous algae, mollusks, and protozoans. The resulting structure provides a critical habitat for a wide variety of fish and marine invertebrates. Coral reefs also protect shores against erosion by causing large waves to break and lose some of their force before reaching land. More than 90% of the estimated 109,800 sq mi (284,300 sq km) of reefs in the world are in what region? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Maastricht Treaty Establishes the European Union (1992)

The history of the European Union (EU) began soon after World War II, when there developed in Europe a strong revulsion against national rivalries and parochial loyalties. European strength and security seemed to lie in a united Europe, and the European Coal and Steel Company—established in 1952—was the first attempt at accomplishing such a union. In 1992, the Maastricht Treaty, formally the Treaty on European Union, officially established the EU. How many member states does the EU have? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Ice Worm Festival

This zany mid-winter festival celebrates the emergence of the ice worm in Cordova, Alaska. The highlight of the three-day festival is the procession of a 150-foot-long ice worm followed by 500 or so paraders. Other events include variety shows, ski events, a survival-suit race, a beauty pageant, music, and dances. The celebration began in 1961, and the legend was born then that an ice worm hibernates during the winter in the Cordova Glacier but starts to hatch or wake up in early February. The worm has gained international fame, and the festival draws great crowds of people. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Sir Thomas More (1478)

More was an English lawyer, writer, and politician who earned a reputation as a leading humanist scholar. He held many public offices during Henry VIII’s reign, including that of lord chancellor. He is remembered for his book Utopia, which describes an ideal state founded entirely on reason, and for his principled refusal to accept the king as the head of the Church of England—a decision that resulted in his execution on the grounds of treason. What recognition was he accorded in 2000? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The History of the Jelly Bean

The jelly bean is a type of confection that has a hardened sugar coating over a chewy center. “Turkish Delight,” a Middle Eastern candy consisting of jellylike cubes covered with powdered sugar, likely inspired the gummy interior of the jelly bean. It is generally thought that jelly beans first became popular in 1861 when Boston confectioner William Schrafft urged people to send his jelly beans to soldiers during the American Civil War. When did jelly beans become associated with Easter? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Singapore Established as a Trading Post (1819)

A trading center as early as the 14th century, Singapore was later part of Johor, a region of the southern Malay Peninsula. In 1819, the island of Singapore was ceded to the British East India Company, and the city was founded the same year by Sir Thomas Raffles. Under Raffles’ direction, Singapore developed a vital role in the lucrative China trade. Today, the city is one of the world’s biggest ports. The earliest known settlement on the island of Singapore was referred to by what name? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary