Samuel Hahnemann (1755)

Hahnemann was a German physician who created the form of alternative medicine known as homeopathy. Unsatisfied with the state of medicine at the time, Hahnemann looked for an alternative. Struck by the similarity of the symptoms quinine produces in healthy individuals to those of the disorder it cures, he theorized that “like cures like” and that drugs which produce the same symptoms as certain diseases should be used in small doses to treat those diseases. Why did he discourage drinking coffee? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Minerva, Goddess of Wisdom

In Roman religion, Minerva was the goddess of wisdom and war, as well as of handicrafts and the arts. Probably of Etruscan origin, she was worshiped in various parts of ancient Rome, most notably with Jupiter and Juno in the great Capitoline temple. Her temple on the Aventine Hill was a meeting place for skilled artisans, actors, and writers. Minerva came to be identified with what Greek goddess? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Henry V Becomes King of England (1413)

Henry was knighted by Richard II in 1399 and created prince of Wales when his father, Henry IV, usurped the throne the same year. Although his early recklessness was celebrated—and probably exaggerated—by Shakespeare, Henry became a great popular hero. He lifted England from the near anarchy of his father’s reign to civil order and a high spirit of nationalism. His main interest, however, was in gaining control of lands in France—lands that he sincerely believed to be his right. Did he succeed? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Appomattox Day

The Civil War ended on April 9, 1865, in the village of Appomattox Court House, Virginia, when Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant of the Union army accepted the surrender of General Robert E. Lee of the Confederacy. The most widespread celebration of Appomattox Day took place in 1965 during the Civil War centennial year. The day was noted across the country with costumed pageants, books and articles reflecting on the war, and concerts of martial music. Although the anniversary is not observed on a yearly basis, reenactments of the historic surrender are held periodically. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Paul Robeson (1898)

Paul Robeson was an American stage actor, singer, and political activist. The son of a runaway slave who became a minister, Robeson graduated from Rutgers, where he was an All-American football player, and then from Columbia University law school, before turning to theater. Known for his superb bass-baritone, he gained fame for his stage role in Othello. He later became an outspoken activist on issues such as racial justice and international peace. Why was his passport revoked in 1950? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Ginkgo

The ginkgo is a tall and slender picturesque deciduous tree with fan-shaped leaves. A “living fossil,” the ginkgo is the only remaining species of a large order of gymnosperms that existed in the Triassic period; its form has not changed in millions of years. A combination of amazing disease resistance, insect-resistant wood, and the ability to form aerial roots and sprouts helps ginkgoes live more than 2,000 years. Where does the name “ginkgo biloba” come from? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Krak des Chevaliers Conquered (1271)

One of the most important preserved medieval military castles in the world, the Krak des Chevaliers in Syria was the headquarters of the Knights Hospitaller during the Crusades. The largest Crusader fortress in the Holy Land, it could hold up to 2,000 soldiers and included a chapel, a storage facility, and two stables that could accommodate up to 1,000 horses. Though it is estimated that the Hospitallers could have withstood a siege for five years, the fortress was captured in 1271. How? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Hana Matsuri

Hana Matsuri is a celebration of the Buddha‘s birthday, observed in Buddhist temples throughout Japan, where it is known as Kambutsue. The highlight of the celebration is a ritual known as kambutsue (“ceremony of ‘baptizing’ the Buddha”), in which a tiny bronze statue of the Buddha, standing in an open lotus flower, is anointed with sweet tea. People use a small bamboo ladle to pour the tea, made of hydrangea leaves, over the head of the statue. The custom is supposed to date from the 7th century, when perfume was used, as well as tea. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary