The world’s first car was designed and built by Karl Friedrich Benz in 1885. He was a German engineer. He integrated a combustion engine and an electrical ignition in a 3-wheeled carriage which moved by itself. Gottelieb Daimler and Wilhelm Mayabach later developed a similar vehicle on four wheels. Around 1900, the serial production of…
We often hear words like Liquor Mafia, Mining Mafia, Construction Mafia etc. What does the word ‘Mafia’ mean? Mafia originated from Italian island of Sicily. These were groups that engaged themselves in criminal activities and made money through sale of illegal items such as drugs, arms or by trafficking into human beings. These criminal gangs…
A Civil War is not a war between two countries, but it is between two groups of people who may be ethnically, religiously and culturally different from each other but living within the same country. Civil wars may be sometimes more disastrous than the war with another country as these create enmity between people who…
When trees grow, they accumulate wooden fibres around their heartwood. These fibres are bright and porous in spring so that a lot of water can reach the fresh leaves through them. By autumn, they become darker and thicker so the tree becomes stable and resistant to frost in the winter rest period. The process forms…
Dynasties are formed when people from a single family rule a region or country. In most cases it is son occupying throne after the death of the King. But there may be other kind of in-house laws for succession. For instance, in some cases King’s brother succeeds and in other cases even wife of the…
Magna Carta or the Greater Charter is the primary form of Constitution writing down rules according to which a King would rule. It was signed in 1215 by King John of England when feudal lords of the country wanted him to restrict his powers and lay down rules by which he would rule and allow…
Yes. Wind has great power to move and shape things. It shapes the sand dunes in the deserts which keep changing according to the direction of the winds. Wind also erodes and polishes rocks. It is how it has eroded rocks in the American of Arizona and carved out arches, troughs and spires. It can…
Timbuktu was the most famous centre of civilization in the middle of the last millennium i.e., around 1500. Salt, gold, pepper, weapons, livestock, ivory and even slaves were traded from Timbuktu. It is located on the southern edge of Sahara desert in the state of Mali 12 miles from river Niger. The town had several…
In a democracy, laws are made by the Parliament which is a house of elected members. In India our Parliament has lower house known as Lok Sabha while the upper house is called Rajya Sabha. A draft bill can be introduced in any of the houses. On being voted by a majority of the members, the…
“¢ The brain of a bee is smaller than a pinhead? “¢ In some countries like China or Myanmar, it is disrespectful and impolite to look into the eyes of the person talking to you. This means people should talk with their eyes downcast. “¢ The smallest city of the world is the Vatican City with a population…
