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What weapons did gladiators use?

Gladiators were fighters who competed in armed combat. While not always fatal, many contests ended in death. Gladiator fights took place in Roman arenas between professional gladiators, prisoners, criminals and animals. All gladiators were armed, and were usually offered some sort of armor or shield as well. While the games were at the peak of their popularity in 1 and 2 A.D., they slowly declined in popularity and died out around 5 A.D.

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Who was the inventor of the first television?

Some changes were made to the original design over the next 50 years. The first event of broadcast television in the United States occurred in 1928 in a suburb of Washington, DC. The broadcast was compiled of images shown only in silhouette.The first instance of regularly scheduled programming for broadcast television began in the United States in 1931. This seven day a week programming schedule was broadcast by CBS out of New York.

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What is the history of African-American dolls?

French and German porcelain doll makers, who exported their wares to the United States, also produced black dolls as far back as the early 1800s.\nThe earliest surviving examples of American black dolls are rag dolls, which reflected the economic state of the times. Given the lack of resources, the materials to create rag dolls were far more accessible to both African and Caucasian settlers than porcelain dolls imported from Europe. Over time, however, the quality of African-American dolls improved alongside the technology to create them.\nDespite their nature as playthings, African-American d..

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What are some interesting facts about President Jefferson?

When Jefferson was 26 years old, he married Martha Wayles Skelton. Martha died 10 years later, and he never remarried. Jefferson inherited slaves from his father and father-in-law, but freed several of them and did not pursue the ones who escaped. In 1790, he became Secretary of State under George Washington before being elected president in 1800. His presidency is notable for the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 and his support of the Lewis and Clark expedition. After serving a second term, Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, on the 50th anniversary of the adoption of his Declaration of Independence.

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How did World War I end?

Before the armistice that signaled the end of the war, several forces had already capitulated. Bulgaria, Turkey and Austria-Hungary had each surrendered in the preceding months, leaving the German forces unsupported in the campaign. As the United States had only recently entered the war with fresher forces, Germany had no choice but to admit defeat. They did this at 11 a.m. on November 11, leading to the famous quote that the war ended at the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month."\nThis armistice served as a temporary cease-fire for the armies, and it was intended as a brie..

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Which country had the most casualties in World War II?

The six-year conflict is considered the most destructive war in history. All death tolls are an estimation, as there is no definitive way to know how many civilians were killed in the war. Behind the Soviet Union in number of casualties was Germany, China and Japan, each suffering death tolls in the millions. While this was a military conflict among many countries, the majority of the deaths were often civilians.

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What Indian tribes did Lewis and Clark encounter?

Among Plains Indians, Lewis and Clark encountered the Blackfeet, Omaha, Missouri and Kaw tribes and others. These were Native Americans with a nomadic lifestyle, following buffalo herds.\nIn the Great Basin, the explorers met the Shoshone and Bannock Indians, who mostly foraged and dug for foods such as nuts and berries.\nAlong the Columbia River Basin, the travelers met Plateau Indians, such as the Palouse and Flathead, who were master fishermen.\nThe northwestern coastal Native Americans were excellent woodworkers, and Lewis and Clark encountered totem poles for the first time among the TiIl..

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What were Benjamin Banneker's accomplishments?

Banneker escaped the bondage of slavery as the child of free black parents in Maryland. By studying stars, he taught himself astrology and borrowed text books to learn mathematics.\nIn 1752, after examining the mechanics of a borrowed pocket watch, he created the first wooden clock ever built in America. It worked precisely for more than 40 years, before a fire destroyed it.\nBanneker caught the attention of Thomas Jefferson in 1789, after correctly predicting a solar eclipse. As a result, he was assigned to take part in the survey team that mapped out the nation's new capital of Washingt..

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What was life like during WWI?

Life for soldiers during World War I was hard. The trenches were dark, dirty and extremely confined spaces. The food rations were usually flavorless and monotonous. Long stretches of time between battles could be boring and tedious, but they were also dangerous. The "breaks" from one battle to the next were full of "wastage," regular trickles of sniper and cannon fire. Extensive medical attention was unavailable. In the tight, wet space of the trenches, diseases, such as tuberculosis, spread rapidly.\nCivilian life was also centered around the war. Cities lived under the perpetual fear of air ..

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How many miles did Lewis and Clark travel?

Lewis, Clark and the Corps of Discovery did not head back to St. Louis until March 23, 1806. The return trip to St. Louis took approximately six months, giving the expedition a total travel time of two years, four months and 10 days. Of the 59 people who travelled with the Corps of Discovery during its journey, only one person died during the trip.

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