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 Karl Marx was a German philosopher, economist, and political theorist. His ideas shaped a huge part of modern politics and economics. *Quick facts:* - Born: May 5, 1818 in Trier, Prussia  - Died: March 14, 1883 in London, England - Worked mostly as a writer and journalist. Lived much of his life in exile in London - Best friend and collaborator: Friedrich Engels *What he’s known for:* Marx studied capitalism and history. His big idea was that history is driven by class struggle. Main concepts: - Capitalism: He argued that workers sell their labor, but owners profit from the extra value they produce. He called this "surplus value" - Class struggle: History, to him, is the story of conflict between those who own resources, the bourgeoisie, and those who work, the proletariat - Alienation: Workers become separated from what they produce and from each other under capitalism - Revolution: He believed the working class would eventually overthrow capitalism and create a classless, ...

 Che Guevara was an Argentine revolutionary, doctor, and one of the most famous faces of 20th century rebellion. *Quick facts:* - Full name: Ernesto Che Guevara  - Born: June 14, 1928 in Rosario, Argentina - Died: October 9, 1967 in Bolivia, executed at age 39 - Nickname: "Che" comes from the Argentine slang word che, like "hey man" *What he’s known for:* 1. Doctor turned revolutionary: He studied medicine, but while traveling across Latin America on a motorcycle he saw poverty and inequality. That trip changed him. 2. Cuban Revolution: In 1956 he joined Fidel Castro’s movement. He fought in the mountains and helped overthrow the Cuban dictator Batista in 1959. After that he became a key leader in the new Cuban government, running banks and industry. 3. Global guerrilla: He left Cuba in 1965 to help start revolutions in other countries. His last campaign was in Bolivia in 1967, where he was captured and killed. *His ideas:* Che believed in Marxism and anti-imperiali...

Fidel Castro Fidel Castro was the Cuban revolutionary and political leader who ruled Cuba for almost 50 years. Quick facts: Born: August 13, 1926 in Biran, Cuba Died: November 25, 2016 in Havana, Cuba He came from a wealthy farming family but became a lawyer and then a revolutionary. What he is known for: In 1953 he led an attack on the Moncada Barracks. It failed and he went to prison, but that made him famous.  In 1956 he returned from Mexico with Che Guevara and about 80 other fighters. They started a guerrilla war in the Sierra Maestra mountains. In 1959 they overthrew dictator Fulgencio Batista and Castro became Prime Minister of Cuba. After the revolution: He turned Cuba into a one-party socialist state and allied with the Soviet Union.  He nationalized industries, focused on healthcare and education, and Cuba achieved very high literacy and doctor rates. The US put an embargo on Cuba in 1960, which still affects the country today. He survived many assassination attempts...

how comets orbit most comets travel around the sun in very stretched out, oval orbits. think of it like a giant ellipse. - *short-period comets*: these stay mostly in the outer solar system and come back every 20 to 200 years. halley's comet is one. it orbits every 76 years. they usually come from the kuiper belt. - *long-period comets*: these take thousands to millions of years. they come from the oort cloud way far out. when they swing in, we get to see them for a bit, then they head back out. as a comet gets close to the sun, heat turns its ice to gas and dust. that makes the glowing coma and the tail that always points away from the sun because of solar wind. so yeah, they do orbit the sun just like planets, but their paths are way more extreme and tilted.

 Taj Mahal The Taj Mahal is one of the most famous buildings in the world. It’s in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. *Quick facts:* - *Built by*: Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan  - *For*: His wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631. It’s her tomb - *Built*: 1632 to 1653, took about 22 years - *Material*: White marble with inlaid precious stones like jade, crystal, and turquoise - *Style*: Mughal architecture - a mix of Persian, Islamic, and Indian styles - *UNESCO*: World Heritage Site since 1983 - *Also called*: "A symbol of love" The main dome is 73m tall, and it sits on the banks of the Yamuna River. It changes color through the day - pink at sunrise, white at noon, golden at sunset. People visit from all over the world. About 7-8 million tourists go every year.

 *The Great Wall of China*  It’s one of the biggest structures humans ever built.  *Quick facts:* - *Where*: Northern China, stretching across mountains and deserts - *Built by*: Many Chinese dynasties over 2000+ years. The most famous parts were built by the Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644 - *Why*: To protect Chinese states and empires from nomadic invasions - *Length*: About 21,196 km total. The main Ming Wall is ∼8,850 km long - *Material*: Stone, brick, tamped earth, wood, and other materials depending on the region - *UNESCO*: World Heritage Site since 1987 - *Nickname*: "Long Wall of 10,000 Li" in Chinese It wasn’t built all at once. Different sections were connected over centuries. There are watchtowers, fortresses, and gates along it for signaling with smoke and fire. Popular sections tourists visit near Beijing: *Badaling, Mutianyu, Jinshanling*. The views are wild — it snakes over mountain ridges. Myth: you can’t see it from space with the naked eye. But you _can_ see i...

 *Statue of Liberty* — _New York, USA_ 🗽 *Quick facts:* - *Full name*: "Liberty Enlightening the World" - *Where*: Liberty Island, New York Harbor, New York City - *Gift from*: France to the USA in 1886 to celebrate 100 years of American independence - *Designed by*: Sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi - *Structure*: Designed by Gustave Eiffel — yep, same guy who did the Eiffel Tower - *Height*: 93 meters / 305 ft from ground to torch. The statue itself is 46 meters / 151 ft - *Material*: Copper sheets on a steel framework. It turned green over time from oxidation - *Symbol*: Freedom, democracy, and hope for immigrants. She holds a torch and a tablet that says "JULY IV MDCCLXXVI" = July 4, 1776 Millions of immigrants saw her first when they arrived at Ellis Island. That’s why she’s also called "Mother of Exiles." *To visit*: You take a ferry from Manhattan or New Jersey. You can go to the pedestal and crown, but tickets sell out fast.

 Colosseum — Rome, Italy  Quick facts:  Full name: Flavian Amphitheatre  Where: Right in the center of Rome  Built: Started 72 AD by Emperor Vespasian, finished 80 AD by Emperor Titus  Why: For gladiator fights, wild animal hunts, public shows, and reenactments  Size: About 189m long, 156m wide, 48m tall. Could fit 50,000 to 80,000 people  Material: Stone, concrete, and brick. The seats used to be marble  UNESCO: World Heritage Site since 1980  Also called: One of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World In ancient Rome this was the main arena for entertainment. Gladiators fought here, they brought in animals like lions and elephants, and sometimes they even flooded it for mock naval battles. It got damaged by earthquakes and people taking stones over the years, but it’s still the largest ancient amphitheater ever built. To visit: You can go into the underground tunnels where gladiators waited and stand in the arena floor. Mornings are less cro...

 Machu Picchu — Peru  Quick facts: Full name: Machu Picchu, means "Old Peak" in Quechua Where: In the Andes Mountains of Peru, above the Sacred Valley near Cusco Built: Around 1450 AD by the Inca emperor Pachacuti Why: Thought to be a royal estate and religious site for the Inca Height: About 2,430 meters above sea level Rediscovered: 1911 by explorer Hiram Bingham, though locals always knew about it UNESCO: World Heritage Site since 1983 Also called: One of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World It was built with huge stone blocks cut so precisely that no mortar was needed. Terraces were made for farming on the steep mountainside. The Incas abandoned it during the Spanish conquest and the jungle covered it, which is why it stayed so well preserved. The views are incredible — misty mountains, deep valleys, and the classic shot with Huayna Picchu peak behind it. To visit: Most people take a train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes, then a bus up. You need to book tickets in advance and ...

 Grand Canyon — Arizona, USA Quick facts: Where: Northern Arizona, carved by the Colorado River Size: About 446 km long, up to 29 km wide, and 1.8 km deep Formed: Over 5 to 6 million years by the Colorado River cutting through rock Rock age: The layers show almost 2 billion years of Earth's history National Park: Established 1919, UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979 Also called: One of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World The canyon walls show bands of red, orange, and brown rock. Each layer tells a different time period. There are two main rims people visit. The South Rim is open year round and has the most viewpoints. The North Rim is higher, cooler, and only open from May to October. People go for hiking, rafting the Colorado River, and sunrise or sunset views. The colors change a lot through the day. Popular spots are Mather Point, Hopi Point, and Desert View. To visit: Fly into Phoenix or Las Vegas, then drive about 4 to 5 hours. Summer gets busy and hot. Spring and fall have ...