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Why the spice trade is even more important for world history than you might have thought
a year ago

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Collections: Life, Work, Death and the Peasant, Part I: Households

This is the first post in a series discussing the basic contours of life – birth, marriage, labor, subsistence, death – of pre-modern peasants and their families. Prior to the industrial revolution, peasant farmers of varying types made up the overwhelming majority of people in settled societies (the sort with cities and writing). And when … Continue reading Collections: Life, Work, Death and the Peasant, Part I: Households →

13 hours ago 3 votes
Fate and Free Will

The Stoic Perspective

17 hours ago 2 votes
The Powerful Sayings of the Desert Fathers

The Desert Fathers withdrew from society, embracing monastic living in the deserts of Egypt, Palestine, and Syria. They wished to live holy lives that reflected the dedication and commitment they had to their faith. They set themselves apart, studying the Bible and spending much of their time in prayer and meditation. Their wisdom and […]

2 days ago 2 votes
1960s London Through A Russian Horizont Panoramic Camera

We’ve been to East London in the 1960s with Tony Hall before, heading down the pub and to the shops. Now we get to see the streets in panoramic pictures taken by his Horizont (Горизонт) camera. Made between 1967 and 1973 by Russia’s Krasnogorsky Mekhanichesky Zavod (KMZ), the 35mm camera had a rotating lens that … Continue reading "1960s London Through A Russian Horizont Panoramic Camera" The post 1960s London Through A Russian Horizont Panoramic Camera appeared first on Flashbak.

2 days ago 2 votes
Medieval Battles Marked by Stunning Underdog Victories

Medieval battles were brutal, blood-soaked grind. Clever tactics and strong leadership often mattered, yet true upsets happened only when the weaker side found an edge. Whether better weapons, better tactics, knowledge of the terrain, or an unbreakable esprit de corps. The battles below illustrate moments when determined underdogs defied the odds and claimed stunning […]

2 days ago 2 votes