Did you know

Keio University

Keio University, one of the most prestigious universities in Japan, was founded as a school of Western studies

Vocational education

The general philosophy of vocational education stands in stark contrast to the ideology of a liberal arts education.

Uganda

Winston Churchill called Uganda "the pearl of Africa"

Robot

The history of robots goes back as far as ancient myths and legends

Nigerian Civil War

The suffering in Biafra during the Nigerian Civil War led to the development of international humanitarian agencies designed to respond to complex emergencies anywhere in the world

Diamond

The word "diamond" derives from the ancient Greek "adamas," meaning "unbreakable" or "invincible."

Wellesley College

Wellesley College was founded by Pauline and Henry Fowle Durant to give women an opportunity for higher education

Baba Yaga

Baba Yaga's "cabin on chicken legs" may be based on real buildings.

Cherokee

Despite their cooperation with white settlers, which had earned them recognition as one of the Five Civilized Tribes, thousands of Cherokees were sent to their death on the Trail of Tears.

James Watt

James Watt's improvements to the Newcomen steam engine provided much of the impetus for the Industrial Revolution

Treason

In the past treason, the betrayal of one's nation, was considered the worst crime, with punishment even more serious than for murder

Panda

The giant panda is classified as a carnivore but its diet is almost exclusively bamboo

Marlene Dietrich

Prior to World War II Marlene Dietrich rejected an offer by representatives of the Nazi Party, asking her to return to Germany to star in German films, and instead became an American citizen

Dwarf

Dwarves are famed miners and metalsmiths, and some myths suggest they have the ability to forge magical items.

Urie Bronfenbrenner

Developmental psychologist Urie Bronfenbrenner believed that children need sustained interaction with their parents and a supportive society in order to develop into successful adults

Colossus of Rhodes

The Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, stood for only 56 years before falling during an earthquake

Rosetta Stone

All knowledge of Egyptian hieroglyphs was lost by the Romans and was not recovered until the discovery of the Rosetta Stone in 1799

Sun Myung Moon

Reverend Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Unification Church, is often called "True Father" or "Father Moon" by his followers and other clergy

Buster Keaton

Buster Keaton developed his famous deadpan expression that earned him the nickname "The Great Stone Face" when he was just a small child

Sasquatch

Although sightings of Bigfoot, also known as Sasquatch, continue to be reported the majority of scientist remain skeptical about the existence of such a creature

Aretha Franklin

By the end of the 1960s Aretha Franklin had come to be known as "The Queen of Soul"

Hijacking

The term hijacking arose in connection with the seizing of liquor trucks during Prohibition in the United States.

Electron microscope

The first electron microscope prototype was built in 1931 by German engineers Ernst Ruska and Max Knoll

Sigmund Freud

Sigmund Freud is commonly referred to as "the father of psychoanalysis"

Thomas Wolfe

Thomas Wolfe’s novel “Look Homeward, Angel” contained thinly disguised portrayals of many local people from his hometown

Indian Railways

Indian Railways constitutes one of the largest and busiest rail networks in the world, transporting transporting six billion passengers a year

New York Stock Exchange

The New York Stock Exchange building on Broad Street opened on April 22, 1903 and was designated a National Historic Landmark on June 2, 1978

Defense mechanism

Defense mechanisms work by changing unacceptable impulses into acceptable forms, or by unconsciously blocking such impulses, and thus reducing anxiety.

Native Americans in the United States

The first Native American group encountered by Christopher Columbus in 1492, were the Island Arawaks (more properly called the Taino)

Bermuda Triangle

The Bermuda Triangle in the Atlantic Ocean, where a number of aircraft and ships are said to have disappeared under mysterious circumstances, is also known as the Devil's Triangle

Crucifixion

The goal of Roman crucifixion was not just death, but also dishonor

Jozef Tiso

Jozef Tiso is regarded by some as a hero who protected Slovakia during World War II and by others as a traitor who collaborated with the Nazis

Achilles

Achilles, the great warrior in Greek mythology, was educated by the centaur, Chiron

Osama bin Laden

Osama bin Laden initially denied involvement in the infamous September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States

Navajo

Navajo code talkers played a significant role in the Pacific Theater of World War II

Iroquois

Five tribes formed the original Iroquois Confederacy, which had a constitution known as the Gayanashagowa (or "Great Law of Peace") memorized with the help of special beads called wampum

Saint Andrew

It is said that Saint Andrew, refusing to be crucified on the same type of cross as Christ because he was not worthy, was martyred on an X-shaped cross.

Qi

In Chinese thought Qi is believed to be the “life force” or “spiritual energy” that pervades the natural world

Abiathar

When Abiathar escaped from King Saul and fled to David he brought the sacred ephod, which he used on several occasions to provide David with crucial advice from God

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

The Prime Minister of the UK traditionally resides at 10 Downing Street in London

Vaclav Havel

Václav Havel was the last president of Czechoslovakia and the first president of the Czech Republic

Jiang Qing

Jiang Qing, better known as Madame Mao, studied literature and drama and was a successful actress prior to marrying Chairman Mao Zedong

Pluto

Pluto, considered the solar system's ninth planet since its discovery in 1930, was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006

Cave painting

Cave paintings probably had a religious or informational purpose rather than being purely decorative