When Pope John Paul II visited Syria’s Umayyad Mosque, where the head of John the Baptist—a holy figure in both Christianity and Islam—is said to be interred, he became the first Catholic Pope to enter and pray in an Islamic mosque. The address he delivered there, promoting peace between Muslims and Christians, reflected his ongoing ecumenical efforts, which included meeting with religious leaders from other faiths and denominations. While in Syria, the pope aroused controversy by kissing what? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Martyrs’ Day has been observed as a public holiday since 1970 to honor the fallen heroes of 
Peary was a US naval officer and explorer who made several attempts to reach the geographic North Pole between 1898 and 1909. On April 6, 1909, accompanied by fellow explorer Matthew Henson and four Inuit men, he reached what he thought was the pole and became widely acknowledged as the first explorer to attain that goal. His claims, however, have since come into question. What factors have led experts to doubt the veracity of Peary’s account of the expedition? 
The Harlem Globetrotters, a basketball team that combines athleticism and comedy, entertains spectators around the world. Initially a standard competitive team, the Globetrotters began relying on comic routines after experiencing difficulty attracting and retaining talent in the 1950s. Players demonstrate skills such as juggling, spinning balls on their fingertips, and making unusual, difficult shots. Who are the “honorary Globetrotters?” 
The grandson of Genghis Khan, Kublai Khan was a Mongol emperor who founded China’s Yuan Dynasty and became the first Yuan emperor in 1271. In 1279, he completed his grandfather’s conquest of China by overthrowing the Sung dynasty. He promoted economic prosperity by rebuilding the Grand Canal, repairing public granaries, extending highways, and encouraging foreign commerce. His magnificent capital at Cambuluc—now Beijing—was visited by several Europeans, including what notable figure? 
Though largely ignored during his lifetime, Marx was perhaps one of the most influential figures in history. His ideas, particularly those he expounded in his two most notable works, The Communist Manifesto and Das Kapital, have become the core intellectual tradition for communism and socialism, and many scholars consider him the founder of economic history and sociology. His philosophy significantly influenced communist thinking for the next century. What anarchist was his enemy? 
These caves in Maharashtra, India, discovered in 1819, are carved out of the side of a steep horseshoe-shaped ravine and contain remarkable examples of Buddhist art. They consist of chapels and monasteries dating from about 200 BCE to 650 CE, with magnificent frescoes and sculpture depicting scenes from the life of Buddha. Changes in Buddhist thought in what century made it possible for the image of the Buddha to become a focus of worship?