It hadn’t rained in days, and many birds who were thirsty had trouble finding water. A lucky crow stumbled upon a pitcher of water. The pitcher had once been full, but now it was almost empty. The pitcher had a narrow neck and was more than half the crow’s size. He tried again and again, but he could not reach the water. He was so thirsty he felt as if he might die. Suddenly, an idea popped into his head. He picked up some pebbles and dropped them into the pitcher one at a time. Every time he dropped a pebble into the pitcher, the water level rose. At last he could reach it. He quickly slurped up the water. Moral: Brains overpower brute muscle sometimes.

     Birds make a lot of effort to attract mates. Male weaver birds build nests out of woven grass, which they weave with their beaks and feet. A female weaver bird inspects the nest because she wants to see if it is good enough for her. If it is not, the male weaver bird naturally destroys the whole nest and starts from the beginning. First, he weaves a loop out of grass and attaches it to a branch. Then, he weaves more and more grass onto the nest to make it bigger. He makes sure to leave a big enough hole in the bottom so his mate can go in and out. So that’s how a weaver bird weaves a fancy nest out of grass.

     Have you ever heard of the Lighthouse of Alexandria? Well, the Lighthouse of Alexandria is known as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and was constructed on the island of Pharos. Additionally, it was known for its towering height at 328 feet above sea level. It lit the night sky with light from a blazing hearth. Also, it is said that the light could be seen from many miles away. In order to keep the fire burning, elevators carried fuel to it. According to legend, by using a mirror to redirect sunlight, ancient Egyptians could set enemy ships on fire. Finally, the demise of this Egyptian wonder occurred in the 1300s due to earthquakes.

     As the eldest of Thomas More’s five children, Margaret More Roper was born in 1505 in the city of London. More was Lord High Chancellor as well as councillor to King Henry VIII. He believed in the education of everyone, which led him to teach his children logic, multiple languages, math, and philosophy. Because she ardently studied, Roper became her father’s favorite. When she was only sixteen years old, she married William Roper in 1521. Although much of her work did not survive, she, being a skilled writer and translator, became the first non-royal woman to publish a book translated into English.
     Since More refused to swear allegiance to Henry VIII, he was arrested in 1534. Roper was close to her father and visited him often at the Tower of London where he was held prisoner. Unfortunately, this privilege was revoked. Roper’s last visit was on May 4, 1535. More, who was sentenced to death by Henry VIII, was mercilessly decapitated on July 6.
     More’s head was gruesomely placed on a stake, which was situated on the London Bridge. After about a month the executioner resolved to toss his head into the river; however, Roper, who had been intently watching and waiting, bribed him in order to obtain what she considered a valuable relic. She pickled his head and kept it safe until her death at thirty-nine in the year 1544. Some scholars claim it was buried with her when her body was moved to St. Dunstan’s Church.

     Pirates roamed the Mediterranean Sea, plundering everyone in sight. They captured towns, kidnapped travelers, and became very wealthy. At this time Gaius Julius Caesar was a student of twenty-four. He was traveling to the oratory school of Apollonius Molo, which was the same school where Cicero had expertly learned the art of oration. The school was located on the island of Rhodes in Greece.
     When a group of pirates, who suspected Caesar was important, captured Caesar on his way to Greece, they demanded a ransom of twenty talents of silver for him. Caesar audaciously raised the ransom to fifty talents, indignant that the pirates did not know who he was. During his captivity Caesar joined the pirates in their games and recited speeches and poetry to them. He freely insulted the pirates and threatened them with crucifixion.
     Finally, the ransom was paid, and Caesar was freed. Caesar was not done with the pirates yet. He amassed a fleet of Milesian vessels to capture the pirates, who were still dividing the ransom among themselves. Caesar fell upon the pirates and took them to Pergamus, where the local authorities crucified them. Caesar’s half-promise, half-threat to the pirates was fulfilled. With the pirates out of the way, Caesar spent two years at the oratory school before he successfully returned to Rome. Other pirates knew not to mess with this awkward prey.