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How long did it take to build the Great Sphinx?

The ancient Egyptian culture of the Old Kingdom kept few records that have survived to modern times, and as a result, the origin of the Great Sphinx remains a mystery. The head and the body of the statue were carved out of different rock; however, it has been shown that they were carved at the same time and share a composition with blocks used in two other Gizan pyramids.

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What are some of Bill Clinton's hobbies?

Bill Clinton, born William Jefferson Blythe III, reads during his spare time. He developed a particular fondness for some books, including "The Last of the Mohicans," "Black Beauty" and "The Robe." When Clinton started learning the saxophone, he became so proficient that he seriously considered a career in the music industry. Clinton also has a passion for crossword puzzles. He once wrote the clues for an online crossword puzzle published in the New York Times.

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How did Hitler's invasion compare with Napoleon's invasion of Russia?

Historians draw several comparisons and similarities between the two invasions. Both campaigns began in June, when the weather was favorable, but the attacking armies were later caught within Russia's borders after the winter set in. Hitler and Napoleon both underestimated the strength, resilience and fighting spirit of the Russian defenders. Joseph Stalin's scorched earth policy weakened the German army by depriving them of acquiring any supplies or food from the territory they entered. Front line troops were forced into a "hand-to-mouth" existence, desperately short of vital suppli..

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What did Shay's Rebellion convince many Americans they were in need of?

In 1786 and 1787, a series of violent protests occurred between farmers and law enforcement in the new American states. The most violent and extreme of these protests happened in Massachusetts. Farmers in the state were hit hard with a combination of poor harvests and high taxes. In the 1780s, many farmers had gone into to debt starting new farms in western Massachusetts, and lawmakers declined to pass legislation to ease the farmers' financial strain or help them keep their farms.\nDaniel Shays, a former member of the Continental Army, led a group of rebels in an attempt to capture the F..

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How tall was Abraham Lincoln's hat?

The night that President Lincoln was shot, he was wearing a 7 1/8 inch silk top hat with a black silk mourning band in memory of his son Willie. The hat was purchased from J. Y. Davis, a Washington hat maker. After Lincoln was shot, the hat was found sitting on the floor next to his chair. The hat was put on display in 1893 by the Lincoln Memorial Association, on loan from the Smithsonian Institute where it is a treasured object.

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What is the 4th amendment to the Constitution?

The amendment was introduced due to the unfairness of the British writ of assistance used during colonial-era America. The writ of assistance allowed tax collectors and police to seize any and all property without the say of the owner.The Fourth Amendment was presented by James Madison in 1789. The amendment gave police and other positions of power the ability to only seize property related to a specific crime or task. The original form of the amendment only protected the unlawful entering of police, but was later written to include the need of a warrant to take any piece of property from the ..

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What was the role of women in Shakespeare's time?

A large part of William Shakespeare's life occurred during the Elizabethan period when, ironically, England was ruled by a woman. This does not mean that English women were unusually liberated for the time, but they did enjoy a certain amount of freedom that women in other parts of Europe did not. For starters, wealthy women were fairly well educated. Women were permitted to seek an education in Elizabethan times, though they were not allowed to enter any type of profession but those of a domestic nature. Women and girls also were permitted to indulge in artistic endeavors such as paintin..

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What were the roles of Iroquois children?

Boys learned to hunt many different types of prey. Among these were bear, beaver, elk, muskrats, rabbit, moose and deer. Men used the bow to bring down larger animals and the snare to capture smaller prey. Boys had to learn how to build and properly set snares and become expert marksmen. They also practiced netting and fishing. Men and boys did manual labor as well, in particular the clearing of farmland.\nWomen, in turn, were responsible for planting. Iroquois staple crops were corn, beans and squash, which young girls learned to tend. Girls assisted their mothers in scraping cobs and storing..

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What did Cleopatra look like?

There are no surviving busts of Cleopatra dating from her period, so coins and descriptions written by ancient historians are the only ways to tell what the queen looked like. Many of them depict her with a prominent nose and curly hair. Plutarch states that the queen had an irresistible charm and a sweetness in the tone of her voice.

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What were Cornelius Vanderbilt's accomplishments?

Vanderbilt began life in a family of very modest means but rose to become perhaps the greatest of the United States railroad barons. He first went into business for himself at the age of 16, borrowing $100 from his parents to purchase a sailboat for transporting passengers and freight between New York City and Staten Island. The business was successful, and he eventually obtained a government contract to supply the forts being built around the city. He later went into the ferry business with a fleet of steamships and also purchased existing railroads, which is where the majority of his fortune..

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