Polish troops seized Vilna, the capital of Lithuania. The League protested but failed to force Poland to withdraw, marking an early failure.

South Sudan became the 193rd member of the United Nations on July 14, 2011, following its independence from Sudan.

António Guterres of Portugal is the current Secretary-General of the United Nations. He assumed office on January 1, 2017.

The Nika Riots were massive and violent uprisings in Constantinople starting at the Hippodrome. They were initially protests by the two main chariot racing factions, the Blues and the Greens, against Justinian's administration, but quickly turned into a political revolt to depose him.

Krishnadevaraya (reigned 1509–1529 AD) of the Tuluva dynasty was the greatest ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire. He was a patron of the arts and literature, known by the title 'Andhra Bhoja' for his patronage of Telugu literature, and was himself a gifted author, writing *Amuktamalyada*.

Herodotus (c. 484–425 BCE) was a Greek historian known for writing *The Histories*, a detailed account of the Greco-Persian Wars. He is widely considered the 'Father of History' for being the first Western writer to systematically collect his materials, test their accuracy to a certain extent, and arrange them in a well-constructed narrative.

The Colosseum, or Flavian Amphitheatre, is the largest ancient amphitheater ever built, located in the center of Rome. It was commissioned by Emperor Vespasian and primarily used for gladiatorial combats, animal hunts, dramatic performances, public executions, and other spectacles to entertain the Roman populace.

Hannibal Barca was a Carthaginian general, considered one of the greatest military commanders in history. During the Second Punic War (218–201 BCE), he famously marched an army, including war elephants, over the Pyrenees and the Alps into Italy, where he inflicted several crushing defeats on the Roman army, though he ultimately failed to conquer Rome itself.

Though officially advisory, the **Senate** (سینیٹ), composed mainly of wealthy, experienced ex-magistrates (patricians and later wealthy plebeians), wielded the greatest de facto power in the Roman Republic. It controlled finance, dictated foreign policy, and advised the Consuls, making it the central hub of Roman politics.

The **Colosseum**, inaugurated in 80 CE, was the largest amphitheater ever built. Its main purpose was to host public events, including **gladiatorial contests**, mock sea battles (*naumachiae*), animal hunts, executions, and historical dramas, providing mass entertainment for the Roman populace.