If At First You Fall, Try, Try Again

Who is Rasputin?

Russian mystic and faith healer

When was Rasputin born and time of death?

January 21st, 1869 - 30 December 1916

What was Rasputin known for?

His drunkenness and womanising, and a reputation as a magnificent healer.

Who was Filofei?

A Russian monk in the 16th century.

What is the "Third Rome" concept?

Filofei argued that after the fall of Constantinople (the "Second Rome"), Russia would inherit the spiritual and political legacy of Rome, becoming the new center of Christianity.

Who is Prince Vassilij?

The Grand Prince of Moscow from 1505 until his death.

What is unpolarity?

A condition where one state holds dominant power under international anarchy without competition.

What is multipolarity?

A distribution of power in which more than two states have similar amounts of power.

What is the difference between unipolarity and multipolarity?

Unipolarity has a clear leader, while multipolarity spreads power across multiple actors.

What is the core concept?

A central region in an economy, with good communications and high population density, which conduce to its prosperity.

What is periphery?

Outlying regions with poor communications and sparse population (for examples, see unemployment).

What is the difference between core and periphery?

The core nations dominate global systems, while the periphery is largely shaped by the policies and needs of the core.

What is a great power?

Great powers are faced with a lower level of external threat.

What is a small power?

Countries that have limited influence on global affairs.

What is the difference between greater powers and smaller powers?

Great powers dominate global affairs, while small powers tend to have more localized or niche influence.

What is controlling assistance?

The practice of providing aid or support in a way that maintains influence or control over the recipient.

What is client state assistance?

The support or aid provided by a more powerful country to a weaker country (the client state) in exchange for political, military, or economic loyalty.

What is the difference between client state assistance and controlling assistance?

Client state assistance offers mutual benefit with some autonomy, while controlling assistance imposes strict conditions to exert influence.

What is soft power?

The ability of a country or entity to influence others through attraction and persuasion.

What is hard power?

The use of force or coercion to influence the behavior of other nations or actors.

What is the difference between soft and hard power?

Soft power is influence through non-coercive means, while hard power is influence through force.

What is foreign assistance?

The transfer of resources from a more developed country to a developing country to support its economic, political, social, or humanitarian development.

What was Rome's history on second chances at imperial grandeur?

The Holy Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire, as well as its revival during the Renaissance.

What was Russia's second chance at imperial grandeur?

Viewing itself as the "Third Rome." Under Tsar Peter the Great, Russia aimed to revive the power of Rome and Byzantium, modernizing and expanding, but it collapsed with the Russian Revolution in 1917.

What is the Neo-Assyrian Empire?

The fourth and penultimate stage of ancient Assyrian history.

What was the Neo-Assyrian Empire known for?

Military conquest, innovative political techniques, and powerful cultural influence.

What was the Song Dynasty?

An imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 960 to 1279.

What was the Song Dynasty known for?

Advanced technology in agriculture, iron-working, and printing.

What was the Byzantine Empire?

The continuation of the Roman Empire centered in Constantinople during the Middle Ages.

What was the Byzantine Empire known for?

Very religious, high values, and a respect for traditional hierarchies.

What was the Ottonian Empire?

A Saxon dynasty of German monarchs (919-1024).

What was the Ottonian Empire known for?

Reviving the Holy Roman Empire under Otto I in 962.

What is the Meiji Restoration?

A political and social revolution in Japan that ended the rule of the Tokugawa Shogunate.

What was the Meiji Restoration known for?

Japan's feudal Tokugawa Shogunate and restoring imperial rule under Emperor Meiji.

What is Neo-Sovietism?

Efforts to revive aspects of the Soviet Union's ideology.

What was Neo-Sovietism known for?

Revive aspects of the Soviet Union's political, military, and ideological influence after its collapse in 1991.

What is the Carolingian Empire?

A medieval European empire founded by Charlemagne.

What was the Carolingian Empire known for?

Unifying much of Western and Central Europe under Charlemagne, reviving the idea of a Roman-style empire.

What is the Bibliotheca Alexandrina?

A modern library and cultural center in Alexandria, Egypt, built in 2002 as a tribute to the ancient Library of Alexandria.

What is the White House?

The official residence and workplace of the President of the United States.

What is the Notre Dame?

A famous Gothic cathedral in Paris, France.

What was the reconstruction of the White House?

reconstructed after the War of 1812, and a full rebuild completed by 1817.

What was the reconstruction of the Notre Dame?

After the devastating 2019 fire, to be completed in 2024.

What is the Basilica of Saint Paul?

One of the four major papal basilicas in Rome, Italy.

What was the reconstruction of the Basilica of Saint Paul?

The rebuilding effort was completed in 1854, after a devastating fire in 1823.

What is a papal basilica?

A church of special significance designated by the Pope.

What is Babylon?

An ancient Mesopotamian city located in present-day Iraq.

What was the reconstruction of Babylon?

Restoration began in the late 20th century under Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq.

What is the Shuri Castle?

A historic castle located in Naha, Okinawa, Japan..

What was the restructure of Shuri Castle?

Restructions are still ongoing after a devastating fire in 2019.

What is the Yellow Crane Tower?

A historic tower located in Wuhan, China.

What was the reconstruction of the Yellow Crane Tower?

Occurred in 1985 after the original structure was demolished in the early 20th century.

What is the Stonehenge?

A prehistoric monument located in Wiltshire, England.

What was the reconstruction of the Stonehenge?

Involved re-erecting several fallen stones and stabilizing the site, particularly in the 20th century.

What is Shakespeare's Globe?

A reconstruction of the original Globe Theatre in London.

Who wrote the book series 'Foundation'?

Isaac Asimov

What genre is the book 'Foundation'?

Science Fiction

When was 'Foundation' published?

1951-1953

What is the series 'Foundation' about?

The concept of psychohistory, a mathematical theory that predicts the future of large populations.

What is the 'great Galactic Empire' in the series 'Foundation'?

A vast, interstellar empire that spans the entire galaxy.

What is the plot of the series 'Foundation'?

Thirty thousand years of darkness loom until a math genius proposes a strange plan: a colony of librarians writing an encyclopedia to cut it down to just a thousand years.

What is a 'dead airline'?

An airline that has ceased operations, either due to bankruptcy, financial struggles, or being acquired by another airline.

What are examples of dead airlines?

Pan American World Airways (Pan Am)

Trans World Airlines (TWA)

Eastern Air Lines

Sabena

Air California (AirCal)

Which private company is planning to de-extinct the once-legendary airline brand Pan Am?

Private Jet Journeys and Brand Licensing

How else has Pan Am been revived?

As a South Korean lifestyle brand

What is this South Korean lifestyle brand?

By SJ Group, a fashion retailer known for brands like Kangol and Boody.

What is the RCA?

The Radio Corporation of America was an electronics company, founded in 1919.

What is the brand revival of RCA?

In 2022, Technicolor SA sold the RCA trademarks to licensing firm Talisman Brands, Inc.

What is brand revival?

Revived brand names used to sell new, often unrelated products or services.

What is the Westinghouse?

A historic American brand that originated in the late 19th century, associated with electrical products.

What is the brand revival of Westinghouse?

The company went bankrupt in 2017 due to cost overruns at the Vogtle Plant expansion.

What is the Polaroid?

A brand that produces instant cameras and film, invented by Edwin Land in the late 1940s.

What is the brand revival of the Polaroid?

Rebranded by focusing on modern instant photography.

What is RadioShack?

A popular American retail company known for selling electronics, components, and accessories.

What is the brand revival of RadioShack?

After bankruptcy, RadioShack was bought by Unicomer and is trying to regain relevance in the electronics market.

What is Gateway?

A well-known American computer hardware company, founded in 1985.

What is the brand revival of Gateway?

The campaign, with Walmart, launched new laptops and desktops featuring a modern design.

What is Nokia?

A Finnish multinational corporation originally known for producing mobile phones.

What is the brand revival of Nokia?

Through HMD Global, Nokia's revival centers on telecom, 5G, and a new logo after 60 years.

What is Sansui?

A Japanese brand known for its high-quality audio equipment, founded in 1947.

What is the brand revival of Sansui?

Focusing on affordable, high-quality home entertainment options.

What is Eastern Air Lines?

A major American airline that operated from 1926 to 1991.

What is the brand revival of Eastern Air Lines?

Eastern Air Lines Group, acquired the rights to the brand name in 2010 and attempted to offer charter flights and scheduled services.

What are 3.5 inch floppy discs?

A type of magnetic storage medium used to store data, introduced in the early 1980s.

What is an audio cassette?

A magnetic tape format used for recording and playing back audio, introduced in the 1960s.

What is an instant camera?

A type of camera that produces a physical print of a photo immediately after it is taken.

What are disposable cameras?

Single-use, compact cameras that are pre-loaded with film and designed for one-time use.

How have disposable cameras gained popularity?

Due to nostalgia, their unique, imperfect photos, and the trend toward retro aesthetics.

What are handheld gaming devices?

Portable electronic devices designed for playing video games.

How have handheld gaming devices gained popularity?

Due to their portability, technological advancements, nostalgic appeal, and success.

What is vinyl?

A physical format for storing and playing music.

How have vinyl gained popularity?

Due to its nostalgic appeal, unique sound quality, and the resurgence of interest in analog music experiences.

What is film?

A light-sensitive medium used for recording and displaying motion pictures.

How has film gained popularity?

Due to its unique aesthetic, offering rich color and texture that many people still prefer over digital formats.

What is shortwave radio?

A type of radio transmission that uses high-frequency (HF) bands.

How has shortwave radio gained popularity?

Due to its ability to reach global audiences, and its long-range capabilities.

What is AM Radio?

A type of radio broadcasting where the amplitude of the radio signal is varied to encode the sound.

How has AM Radio gained popularity?

Due to its long-range broadcasting capabilities, and loyal audience.

What is a pager?

A small, portable device used to receive short messages or alerts.

What is a magnetic tape storage?

A method of storing data on a long, thin strip of plastic film coated with a magnetic material.