History
A:
One major accomplishment of Augustus Caesar was that he restored and maintained peace in the city of Rome, also known as the Pax Romana. Prior to Augustus, Rome was a city plagued with civil disobedience, class wars and greed.
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Q: What country colonized China?
A: Great Britain took Hong Kong from China after winning the First Opium War and took southern Kowloon after winning the Second Opium War. Portugal claimed the Macau region and kept it until 1999. France took over the region that is now northern Vietnam from China by winning the Sino-French War. -
Q: What is the cradle of civilization?
A: Scholars traditionally regard Mesopotamia, an ancient area surrounding the Tigris and Euphrates rivers that is now parts of modern day Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Kuwait, as the cradle of civilization. The area is also know as the Fertile Crescent. -
Q: What did the Mayans eat?
A: The four staple foods in Mayan cuisine are squash, beans, maize and chili peppers, and they were often combined with meat or seafood. Squash, beans and maize are often referred to as the "three sisters" because they provide all the necessary nutrients when eaten together. -
Q: What did the Mayans invent?
A: The Mayan people invented complex and highly accurate calendars based off astronomical readings. They are also believed to have discovered the technique of vulcanization, a process that strengthens rubber by adding other materials. -
Q: Why did Ferdinand Magellan make his voyage?
A: Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese navigator, sailed west from Spain in the early 16th century in hopes of finding a western shipping route to Indonesia's Spice Islands. With five ships and more than 250 men, he reached Brazil, where he looked along the coast of South America for a strait leading to the Pacific Ocean. After camping in Port St. Julian for the winter, Magellan found the strait. -
Q: What weapons did the Babylonians use?
A: The ancient Babylonians used sharpened weapons such as sickle swords, socketed axes, spears, and the Egyptian-derived bladed mace, as well as clubs and staffs, and projectiles flung from war slings. The Babylonians were a Bronze Age people, so the bladed weapons they used were made of a softer metal than later civilization's iron and steel. This made them less effective in battle than iron and iron-alloy based weapons, as iron is harder and harder blades can take a sharper point. - See More Ancient History Questions
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Q: Who invented the second?
A: The international unit of the second was first described by the Greco-Egyptian mathematician Claudius Ptolemy in his work "Almagest" around 150 C.E. He defined the second, or second-minute, as one-sixtieth of a minute. -
Q: Who invented the typewriter?
A: Several inventors created typing machines similar to a typewriter. The first person to develop, patent and mass-produce a typing machine was Rasmus Malling-Hansen of Denmark. Malling-Hansen first patented his writing ball in 1870, but continued to update and improve his typing machine for nearly a decade. -
Q: Who invented the seesaw?
A: It is believed that Korean girls in the 17th century who were not allowed beyond the confines of their courtyard walls invented the seesaw to catapult themselves in the air high enough to glimpse the outside world, according to Patricia Newman. -
Q: Who discovered popcorn?
A: While the exact discoverer of popcorn isn't known, Michigan State University says that this snack likely originated in the Americas, with Mexico being the likely site of its first growth. The university also says that China and India used popcorn prior to Columbus' voyage to the New World in 1492. -
Q: Who invented the oven?
A: While the first record of an oven being built was in 1490 in Alsace, France, Jordan Mott invented the first coal oven in 1833, and British inventor James Sharp patented the first gas oven in 1826. The first patent for an electric oven was issued to Thomas Hadaway in 1896. -
Q: What year was the cellphone invented?
A: The cellphone was invented in 1973. The first call from a cellphone was made in New York City on April 3, 1973. - See More Inventions Questions
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Q: What countries did the Vikings invade?
A: During the Viking Age, between the seventh and 11th centuries, Norse traders, raiders and colonists established a presence in countries as far apart as modern-day Canada and Iran. The Vikings emerged mostly from coastal communities in Norway, Denmark and Sweden to explore, and eventually settle in, most European and Mediterranean countries. They established colonies in North America and maintained a presence in Greenland that lasted nearly 500 years. -
Q: What was the role of a medieval king?
A: The roles of a king during Medieval Europe included land ownership, warfare leadership and lawmaker. A king allowed knights, barons and lords to live on his land, as long as they provided armies of men to fight wars. When kings fought neighboring kingdoms, he led his men into battle. Kings were supreme rulers of their lands, and they meted out justice as they saw fit. -
Q: Why was Angkor Wat built?
A: Angkor Wat, located in what today is Cambodia, was built as a temple in honor of the Hindu god Vishnu, the supreme god of the Vaisenavites. The name "Angkor Wat" means "temple city." -
Q: What is a female emperor called?
A: A female emperor is properly termed an empress or an empress regnant. Emperors and empresses reign over empires and are generally conceded to outrank kings. Reigning empresses rarely conquer their own territories but instead inherit from a husband or father. -
Q: What are facts about Mansa Musa?
A: Mansa Musa assumed the position of ruler of Mali during the 14th century, and later embarked on a journey to Mecca, becoming the first African ruler to do so. Mansa Musa was born in 1280 A.D., and died in 1337. His life achievements included promoting the Muslim religion, and supporting unprecedented growth of the arts and education. -
Q: Why did The Crusades take place?
A: The Crusades were a series of holy wars fueled by two major causes: the Pope's desire to expand the Holy Roman Empire and the reclamation of the Holy Land. In the 11th century, Christians and Muslims were at odds over the ownership of Jerusalem, a holy site for both Christianity and Islam. - See More Middle Ages Questions
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Q: Did Einstein help invent the atomic bomb?
A: While Einstein's theories and efforts contributed indirectly, he was not directly involved in building the world's first nuclear bomb. His theory, E=mc2, helps illustrate the energy released in an atomic reaction, but he was not responsible for instructing the United States on how to build a bomb. He did, however, warn President Roosevelt that Nazi Germany was attempting to build an atomic weapon, which influenced the United States' efforts to make their own. -
Q: How did the Cold War influence the development and early goals of NASA?
A: The Cold War helped drive the space race from both sides seeking political and technological advantage over the other. Neither country wanted to be seen as coming in second place in scientific exploration, and both sides were keenly aware of the potential intelligence and strategic advantages space dominance could provide. -
Q: What is the quote from Martin Luther King, Jr.'s speech that says "in the end?"
A: In his 1967 "Steeler Lecture," Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." The "Steeler Lecture" was one of five sermons published in a book called "Conscience for Change," republished as "The Trumpet of Conscience" after King's death. -
Q: How did Captain James Cook die?
A: Royal Navy Captain James Cook died on February 14, 1779, after he was stabbed in a scuffle with Hawaiian islanders when he attempted to take the local leader hostage. His death occurred during his third exploratory voyage on the HMS Endeavour. -
Q: What was popular in 1967?
A: In 1967, rock music, peace and acceptance movements, comedic movies for younger audiences, new automobiles and a new style of miniskirt all became popular. Some of these trends remained popular for many years, while others were short trends that ended rather quickly. -
Q: How many times have astronauts been to the moon?
A: Astronauts have landed on the moon six times. In addition to the moon landings, NASA has sent astronauts on missions to flyby or orbit the moon three times. - See More Modern History Questions
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