Forbidden City

We just learned about Westminster in Great Britain where the palace is.

Another famous palace is the Forbidden City built in 1420 AD in Beijing China.

The Forbidden City was the home of Chinese emperors and their families for almost 500 years.
It has 980 buildings with over 8,000 rooms, and covers over 180 acres of land.

It took 14 years to build, and more than a million workers.
Forbidden City is inside a larger walled city called Imperial City, which is inside a larger city called Inner City, and just south of Inner City is Outer City.

It has a 26 foot high wall around the city, with a 171 foott wide moat that is 20 feet deep.
There are towers at each of the corners of the rectangular city, and gates on each of the walls.
Inside are almost 20 different large palaces, with the biggest one being the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

All of the palaces have very nice names like Palace of Universal Happiness, and the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

The palace had some tough times during wars, but now it is taken care of by the museum owners of China.







(from: wikipedia - forbidden city)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Tamaulipas

Split of Christianity and Judaism

We just learned about the Apostolic Age.

Another part of early Christian history was the Split of Christianity and Judaism.

Remember that Jesus was one of the Hebrew people also known as Jewish people.
Some people even called him king of the Jews, and many of his followers were Jewish people.

After Jesus died, people didn't think of themselves and Christians.
They still believed in the things that happened long before, like the days of Abraham, Moses or King David.
Some of them followed the teachings of Jesus, and others did not, but they did not think of themselves as Christians yet, they were just Jewish people who disagreed about Jesus.
People even went to the same churches and sat next to each other for a very long time.

Around 70 AD there were some wars that happened in the area, and some of the people in charge of the churches changed, and Christianity started to split out as its own different religion separate from Judaism.


(from: wikipedia - split of christianity and judaism)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Bruno of Cologne

Amitabha Triad of Jōdo-ji - Kaikei

We just learned about the Japanese sculpture of Six Patriarchs of Hossō - Kōkei.

Another ancient Japanese sculpture is the Amitabha Triad of Jōdo-ji by Kaikei

Kaikei was also part of the Kei school with the famous artist Unkei we already learned about.
Just like the other Kei school artists, he tried very hard to make his sculptures look very real, with lots of fine details.

This sculpture of his is of Buddha with a lot of gold to make it look very bright and shiny.


(from: wikipedia - jōdo-ji (ono))


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Tomb of Countess of Celles - Kessels

Norwegian - Do you speak Norwegian?

Remember that to say please or you're welcome in Norwegian, you say Vær så snill, Værsågod.

To ask if someone speaks Norwegian, you say Kan du norsk?.

To say yes you would say Ja which sounds like yah  

or to say no you would say Nei which sounds like nay-ee  


(from: wikipedia - norwegian language)

Greek: Μιλατε ελληνικα? (Milate ellinika?)

ASL: Do you speak ASL?

Italian: Parli italiano?

German: Sprechen Sie Deutsch?

Spanish: ¿Hablas español?

French: parlez-vous français?

HMS Erebus Rockets

We just learned about the Congreve Rockets.

Another part of rocket history is the HMS Erebus Rockets.

In 1814 during the war of 1812 fought against the British, a ship called the HMS Erebus had a bunch of Congreve Rockets put into it, and they were shooting them at other British ships.

While this was happening a man named Francis Scott Key was watching, and thought it was so amazing he wrote the Star Spangled Banner, talking about the "Rockets Red Glare".


(from: wikipedia - hms erebus (1807))


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Intraplate Earthquake

Cephalopod - Tentacle Hooks

We just learned about the Cephalopod Arms and Tentacles.

At the end of many squid limbs are Tentacle Hooks.

Different squids have hooks of different shapes, but they use them to grab their prey, hold on to them and pull them to their mouth.



(from: wikipedia - cephalopod limb)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Japanese Tree Frog

Tooth - Bell Stage

We just learned about the Tooth - Cap Stage.

Another part of a tooth growing is the Bell Stage.

The tooth buds that grew into a cap shape keep growing and make more of a bell shape.
Enamel and dentin have started to take shape, and the crown of the tooth has started to take the right shape.


(from: wikipedia - human tooth development)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Costoxiphoid Ligaments

Westminster

We just learned about the Moritzburg Castle.

Another famous palace is the group of them in an area called Westminster.
This is a city within London, England that has the Palace of Westminster, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral.

These are all very famous places, that are just down the street from each other.

The Palace of Westminster is where the people meet that make all the laws for the United Kingdom, called Parliament.
It is on the north side of the River Thames, and was built some time around 1000 AD.
There are three large towers, and the one called Elizabeth tower has a big clock in it with a 13 ton bell called "Big Ben" that gongs for the time changes.



(from: wikipedia - palace of westminster)

Buckingham Palace is home of the royal family of the United Kingdom, like kings and queens.
It was built in 1703 AD, and has 775, art galleries and large fancy gardens.
Queen Elizabeth lives there and meets other world leaders like American presidents there.
The palace is also known for its guards who wear red coats and have big fuzzy hats.




(from: wikipedia - buckingham palace)

The two large churches are also right on the street, Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral.

(from: wikipedia - westminster abbey)

(from: wikipedia - westminster cathedral)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Guerrero

Apostolic Age

We just started learning about Christianity After Jesus.

We know a little history from the Bible, with Paul and some other people writing around 21 letters and traveling all over.
Some people call this the Apostolic Age because it's the time when the Apostles were teaching people.

These letters (called epistles) were written to people and churches in towns that the apostles were traveling to, so that they could try and tell people about Jesus.

Paul alone traveled all around the countries on the Mediterranean sea, like Italy, Greece, Israel, Turkey and Syria.
Back in those days it was all part of the Roman empire, but it is now split up into different places.

In those days there was no internet, TV, radio or even newspaper so spreading news around was very difficult.
Many people had probably not even heard of Jesus when Paul came to visit, and he went to different towns where people had all sorts of beliefs in different things and he tried to tell people about Jesus.

The apostles traveled around until some time around 70 AD.


(from: wikipedia - apostolic age)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Benedict of Nursia

Six Patriarchs of Hossō - Kōkei

We just learned about the Japanese sculpture of Byodoin Amitaabha by Jōchō.

Another ancient Japanese sculpture is the Six Patriarchs of Hossō made by Kōkei in 1189.

Hossō is a type of school for people to learn about Buddha, and the six patriarchs were important people who helped teach people.

Kōkei was a descendant of Jōchō, like his grandson or great grandson.
We also learned before about Unkei, and Kokei is Unkei's father.

Kōkei helped lead the school for the type of art called Kei, and he tried to make his sculptures look very real.


(from: wikipedia - kōkei (sculptor))


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: The Prinzessinengruppe - Schadow

Norwegian - Please, You're Welcome

Remember that to say thank you in Norwegian, you say takk.

To say please in Norweian is Vær så snill - vah-r-sah-snee-l.

And to say you're welcome, you say Værsågod - vah-r-sah-goo-d.



(from: wikipedia - norwegian language)

Greek: Παρακαλώ (Parakaló)

ASL: Please, You're Welcome

German: bitte, bitte schön

Spanish: Por favor, de nada

French: s'il vous plait, de rien

Congreve Rockets

We just learned about the Mysorean Rockets.

Another rocket from history was the Congreve Rockets.

During a war between India and Great Britain, the British studied the rockets being used by the Indian military, and worked to make their own rockets to use for battle.

William Congreve came up with a rocket that was used for a long time for battles that used gunpowder to launch and explode when they landed.



(from: wikipedia - congreve rocket)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Interplate Earthquake

Cephalopod - Arms and Tentacles

We just learned about the Cuttlebone.

Another two parts of Cephalopod's body are the Arms and Tentacles.

It used to be that all of the legs of squids and octopuses were called tentacles, but a while back things changed and now they are seen as two different things: arms and tentacles.

The octopus only has 8 arms, because they are shorter and have suckers all along them.
Squids have 6 arms and 2 tentacles, and the tentacles are the ones with no suckers all along, but teeth or hooks on the end.




(from: wikipedia - cephalopod limb)


If Your Hands Could Smell, You’d Be an Octopus - Deep Look

Kid Facts - Blast from the past: African Dwarf Frog

Tooth - Cap stage

We just learned about the Tooth - Buds.

Another part of teeth growing is the Tooth - Cap stage.

The little buds that we already learned about keep growing and getting bigger, and they start to take a shape like a cap.
Later on these buds will turn into the hard enamel that makes up the outside of the tooth.


(from: wikipedia - human tooth development)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Superior Costotransverse Ligament

Moritzburg Castle

We just learned about the Catherine Palace.

Another famous castle is Moritzburg Castle built around 1542 in Saxony Germany.

It has four round towers and is built on an island.

This castle is in the middle of a forest area, so there are a lot of hunting trophies like a room full of deer antlers.




(from: wikipedia - moritzburg castle)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Chihuahua

Christianity after Jesus

We've learned about the list of Seventy Disciples.

Let's learn a little bit about Christianity after Jesus.

Jesus died on the cross, but then what?

The apostles went around and told people about Jesus, and then for thousands of years people talked to each other about Jesus!
Let's keep learning about what happened after Jesus and the Bible.


(from: wikipedia - apostolic age)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Mar Saba

Byodoin Amitaabha - Jōchō

We just learned about the Tōdai-ji Nio Guardian Agyō by famous Japanese artist Unkei.

Another famous Japanese sculpture is the Byodoin Amitaabha by Jōchō, made around 1052 AD in Uji Japan.
This was a statue of Buddha made for one of the rulers in Japan.
It is oldest known statue made by Jōchō.

Jōchō became very famous and earned titles like Hokkyō (Master of the Dharma Bridge), and Hōgen (Master of the Dharma Eye).
Some people said he was the first of a new kind of master sculptor.
Others said that he was one of the most innovative artists Japan has ever produced.
He also was very good at a type of artwork called yosegi, which used a lot of pieces of wood to make a single sculpture.

We learned before about the famous artist Unkei, and he is actually the descendant of Jōchō, many years later.

(from: wikipedia - Jōchō)


(from: wikipedia - yosegi)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Axel Oxenstierna and History - Sergel

Norwegian - Very good thanks, and you?

We just learned to say How are you? in Norwegian, Hvordan har du det?

and Very good thanks is Veldig bra takk.

To be polite you should also ask how the other person is doing.

And you? - Og du? - sounds like oh-g doo


(from: wikipedia - norwegian language)

Greek: Πολύ καλά, ευχαριστώ. εσύ?

ASL: Very Good Thanks, and You?

Italian: Molto bene, grazie.

German: Sehr gut, danke. Und Sie?

Spanish: Muy bien gracias. ¿Y tú?

French: Très bien, merci. Et vous?

Mysorean Rockets

We just learned about the Great Art of Artillery - First Part.

Another type of ancient rockets are Mysorean Rockets.

These were another type of rockets used as weapons by the people in India around 1780 AD when they were fighting against the people of Britain.

When the people of Britain saw these rockets, they went back home and brought the news about rocket science to Europe.


(from: wikipedia - mysorean rockets)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Doublet Earthquake

Cuttlebone

We just learned about the Chromatophore.

Another part of some cephalopods is the Cuttlebone.

Just like you might think from the name, this is part of the cuttlefish.

It is a bone inside the cuttlefish that has a pocket for air.
The cuttlefish uses this to control when it floats or sinks.
It uses it's muscles to suck water out of the cuttlebone, which draws more air into it from its body, and it will float up.
Or it will push more water into the cuttlebone and it will sink.



(from: wikipedia - cuttlebone)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Stony Creek Frog

Tooth - Buds

We just learned about the Tooth - Initiation.

Another part of tooth development is the Tooth Buds.

The part where the teeth poke through the skin is called the dental lamina.
We already learned about the dental lamina skin getting soft in the Tooth Initiation.

After that the part of the jaw underneath the dental lamina starts to make cells that will one day turn into a tooth.
The skin starts to form a little bump for each of the 10 teeth that will be made.

These little buds are the Tooth Buds.
You can almost think of these like little seeds that will grow and some day pop out of the gums into teeth.


(from: wikipedia - human tooth development)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Radiate Ligament of Head of Rib

Catherine Palace

We just learned about the Predjama Castle.

Another famous castle is the Catherine Palace built in 1717 in Tsarskoye Selo, Russia.

This was a palace where the Tsars of Russia lived in the summer time.

The palace is so fancy, with 100 kilograms of gold used on the outside of the building.
There is a room called the Amber Room with gold leaf and amber decorations all over it.
Another room is called the Great Hall, which is over 1,000 square meters, and there are 15 chandeliers with almost 700 lights on them on the ceiling.





(from: wikipedia - catherine palace)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Oaxaca

Cæsar - bishop of Dyrrachium

We just learned about the Epaphroditus - Bishop of Andriace, one of the seventy disciples.

Most of the rest of the seventy we only know a little about.

Cæsar - bishop of Dyrrachium, also a friend of Epaphroditus.
Mark - Cousin to Barnabas, bishop of Apollonia.
Justus - Bishop of Eleutheropolis, one of the two to be chosen from for the next apostle.
Artemas - bishop of Lystra. His name is listed in the Bible's book of Titus as a friend of Paul's.
Clement - bishop of Sardinia.
Onesihorus - bishop of Corone. Paul wrote about Onesiphorus visiting him while he was in prison in Rome.
Tychicus - bishop of Chalcedon.
Carpus - bishop of Berytus in Thrace. Paul talks about Carpus in the book of 2 Timothy.
Evodus - bishop of Antioch.
Aristarchus - bishop of Apamea. He was with Paul a few times in the Bible, traveling around with him through Rome, Ephesus, Greece and Asia.
Mark, who is also John - bishop of Bibloupolis.
Zenas - bishop of Diospolis.
Philemon - bishop of Gaza.
Aristarchus -
Pudes -
Trophimus - who was martyred along with Paul.


(from: wikipedia - onesiphorus)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Mar Agwin

Tōdai-ji Nio Guardian Agyō - Unkei

We just learned about the Asura at Kōfuku-ji temple.

Another ancient Japanese sculpture is the Tōdai-ji Nio Guardian Agyō made by Unkei in 1203.

Unkei was one of the most famous sculptors of his time, and part of a style called the Kei school.
This was a style with famous artists who worked very hard to make their sculptures look as real as possible.

The Agyō sculpture is one of the Nio guardians we learned about, at the Tōdai-ji temple in Nara, Japan.
It is made out of wood, and many people think it was one of the best wooden sculptures in Japan from that time.


(from: wikipedia - tōdai-ji)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: George Washington - Houdon