Brush Up

Contesting the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands the Argentines launched an invasion leading to a 74 day conflict with the British and even longer tensions that still exist to this day. Want to know what yomping means? Brush up to find out!

Threatened by the French Revolution, European monarchies coalesced against Napoleon's growing French Empire with little success until France's defeat in Russia, which led to the restoration of the French monarchy. Want to hear about dental practices at the time? Brush up to find out!

To try non-Catholic Christians in the 12th century, the Pope set up the Inquisition, which split into various branches across Europe, leading to cruel practices but ending at Napoleon's request in the early 19th century. Want to know about the infamous rack method of torture? Brush up to find out!

The Inca civilization, born in the 12th century, became a rapidly growing empire in the 15th century, but was defeated completely in 1572 after the arrival of the Spanish to the region. Want to know about the Incas' extravagant calculator? Brush up to find out!

India's independence movement grew in the late 19th century, flourished under Gandhi's peaceful leadership and resulted in the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947. Want to know how many times Gandhi was arrested during the independence movement? Brush up to find out!

Carnival traditions that precede the fasting period of Lent and may have in fact arisen during Pagan rituals, are today an occasion for festivities in places like Rio and New Orleans. Want to know where Mardi Gras was first celebrated in North America? Brush up to find out!

From the late 13th to the 20th century the Ottoman Empire vastly expanded its territory and flourished in the fields of science and architecture. Want to know why Sultans killed their own family? Brush up to find out!

Despite religious and political pushback, a guild of stoneworkers in the middle ages evolved into one of the largest secret societies in history whose members range from astronauts to presidents. Want to know who's called the Grand Architect? Brush up to find out!

Spanning over a thousand years, Ancient Rome was founded in the 8th century BC as a monarchy, grew into a Republic, fell as an empire, and involved war, philosophy, family, murder, passion, and more. Want to know where the word vandalism comes from? Brush up to find out!

In 1962, France and the UK start collaborating on the development of a supersonic passenger jet called the concorde, using technology that still inspires new aerospatial advances today. Want to know how Phil Collins performed a concert in London and Philadelphia on the same day? Brush up to find out!

In the 1950s, a conflict between the US-backed South of Vietnam and the Communist North broke out for 2 decades until the US withdrew and they reunited under a communist regime. Want to know what the Pentagon Papers revealed about the war? Brush up to find out!

In 1919, the United States Congress passes the National Prohibition Act, leading to a decade of undercover decadence and rising crime. Want to know where dive bars get their name? Brush up to find out.

In 1914, Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, starting a conflict between the Allies and Axis powers that ends 4 years later once they are worn down politically, economically, and socially. Want to know how a mysterious license plate predicted the end of the war? Brush up to find out!

At the beginning of the cold war, in 1950, communist-backed North Korea and US backed South Korea went to war, but failing to reunite signed an armistice instead. Want to know how the US fought the Korean war without ever actually being at war? Brush Up to find out.

The Celtic celebration of Samhain, that started centuries ago in Europe, was slowly absorbed into Christian culture and reemerged as the Halloween we know today. Want to know how the Irish and pumpkin carving relate to Halloween? Brush up to find out!

On October 29th 1929, the New York Stock Exchange crashes, plunging the United States and the rest of the world into a decade of hardship known as the Great Depression. Want to know how the Dust Bowl (not the Super Bowl) impacted America's economy? Brush up to find out.

Two coalitions come head to head in the most catastrophic war in history, devastating the world from 1939 until 1945 when the Allies defeat the Axis on both eastern and western fronts. Want to know how important board games were during the war? Brush up to find out!

A 3,000-year-old Ancient Greek tradition, involving athletic competitions to honor gods, is revived at the turn of the 20th century on an international scale. Want to know who has more Olympic victories than Michael Phelps? Brush up to find out!

In the midst of the Cold War, in 1961, the USSR places missiles on anti-American, Castro-led Cuba, leading to a tense thirteen day crisis, that ultimately resolves diplomatically. Want to know what role Che Guevara played in Cuban politics? Brush up to find out! #history #quickhistory

In the mid 20th century, after a long buildup, South Africa implemented a sociopolitical system built on segregation, which was slowly dismantled by internal resistance and international pressure. Want to know how a pencil could decide someone's fate? Brush up to find out! #quickhistory #history

It's 1860 in the US and war breaks out between Northern and Southern States that cannot see eye to eye on issues like slavery and the economy, but years of intense strategic combat end in a Union victory. Curious what the anaconda plan has to do with the war? Brush up to find out! #quickhistory #history

From steam to electric to gas and back again, the history of the automobile dates back to the 18th century and plays a huge part in the modern industrial revolution. Want to know who ran into a brick wall? Brush up to find out! #quickhistory #history

It's the early 19th century when Simón Bolívar helps northern South America gain independence, but after many attempts his Pan-American vision fails. Wondering how many countries Bolívar tried to rule over? Brush up to find out! #quickhistory #history

It's during the second half of the 18th century that Great Britain loses its grip over its North American colonies, who fight for their independence and declare themselves the United States of America. Want to know what caused more deaths than any of the fights? Brush up to find out! #quickhistory #history

It's the late 18th century in France and King Louis XVI is so out of touch with his people that the revolutionary spirit boils over, ending the absolute monarchy but leading to a decade of terror. Want to know what a tennis court has to do with all this? Brush up to find out! #quickhistory #history

It's the turn of the 15th century when Christopher Columbus takes a trip West and discovers, not Asia, but a whole new continent, opening up an era of exploration and colonization. Wondering why it's called America? Brush up to find out! #quickhistory #history

It's the 1960s in the midst of the cold war when the US and the USSR start racing to conquer space, quickly competing to land on the moon, which the US achieves before the end of the decade. Want to know what sport has been played on the moon? Brush up to find out! #quickhistory #history

History has taken up a lot of time already so Brush Up gives you the rundown on what stands out. The past doesn't need to be daunting. History enthusiasts, Judy Riviere and Roberto Lopez, serve you the big picture with a sprinkle of fun facts. Fearing history is a thing of the past. On Brush Up, history is fun, digestible and very much alive.