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Flashbak
Hanging Out With Rock And Pop Stars at The Zenith of Their Careers In The 1980s Jim Laspesa, musician and rock archivist has shared sharing some photos on his Facebook page that he...
a year ago
21
a year ago
Jim Laspesa, musician and rock archivist has shared sharing some photos on his Facebook page that he first spotted at a swap meet in Pasadena, California. We don’t know who took these photographs of David Bowie backstage, James Brown meeting and greeting the fans and many other...
Flashbak
Cute and Sickly Sweet – 24 Vintage Snapshots That Invite a Reaction The girl presenting her pet lizard toad at the Children’s Pets show held on Venice Beach,...
a year ago
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a year ago
The girl presenting her pet lizard toad at the Children’s Pets show held on Venice Beach, California, in the mid 1930s makes for a cute photograph. Walter Chandoha’s 1955 picture of his daughter Paula with a kitten in 1955 is also cute. Angie Cook’s school photo from 1978 when...
Flashbak
Myself: Timed Exposures, 1971 Mike Mandel (previously) took this series of selfies in 1971 for the project Myself: Time Exposures....
11 months ago
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11 months ago
Mike Mandel (previously) took this series of selfies in 1971 for the project Myself: Time Exposures. Influenced by Jacques Henri Lartigue, Lee Friedlander and Marcel Duchamp’s work on the conceptual frame, the fun pictures invite us to question what we see and our place in the...
Open Culture
The Classic 1972 Concert Film Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii Gets Restored & Will Soon Hit IMAX... Today, when we watch genre-defining concert films like Monterey Pop, Woodstock, Gimme Shelter, or...
2 months ago
27
2 months ago
Today, when we watch genre-defining concert films like Monterey Pop, Woodstock, Gimme Shelter, or Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, we look upon the audience with nearly as much interest as we do the performers. But Pink Floyd never did things in quite the same way as...
TheCollector
Ancient Egyptian Town Discovered Near Alexandria Alexander the Great famously founded the city of Alexandria in 331 BCE. It went on to be the capital...
a month ago
12
a month ago
Alexander the Great famously founded the city of Alexandria in 331 BCE. It went on to be the capital of the Ptolemaic Kingdom and the center of the Hellenistic world. Now, just west of Alexandria, archaeologists have unearthed evidence of a much older Egyptian settlement,...
Flashbak
Vanity Fair’s Bifurcated Girls: The Article That Introduced America To Girlie Magazines, 1903 Bifurcated Girls is a salacious illustrated story that first appeared in the June 1903 issue of...
a year ago
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a year ago
Bifurcated Girls is a salacious illustrated story that first appeared in the June 1903 issue of Vanity Fair magazine. That’s not the glossy publication we know today, rather the a short-lived pulp magazine published by the Commonwealth Publishing Company of New York City...
A Collection of...
Collections: How to Roman Republic 101, Part IIIb: Imperium This is the second section of the third part of our planned five part series (I, II, IIIa) on the...
a year ago
20
a year ago
This is the second section of the third part of our planned five part series (I, II, IIIa) on the structure of the Roman Republic during the third and second centuries, the ‘Middle’ Republic. Last week we discussed the overall structure of the ‘career path’ for a Roman politician...
Flashbak
The Cocaine Consumer’s Handbook, 1976 The Cocaine Consumer’s Handbook was published in 1976 and 1980. This user guide to knowing cocaine...
11 months ago
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11 months ago
The Cocaine Consumer’s Handbook was published in 1976 and 1980. This user guide to knowing cocaine was presented in the tone of an educational reference book. The drug was illegal – still is, of course – and publishing a book on it is risky. But it an effort to produce the...
TheCollector
Sistine Chapel Closes Ahead of Conclave to Elect Next Pope Following the death of Pope Francis last week, the Vatican announced the indefinite closure of its...
a month ago
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a month ago
Following the death of Pope Francis last week, the Vatican announced the indefinite closure of its famed Sistine Chapel as preparations are made for the upcoming papal conclave.   Pope Francis was the head of the Roman Catholic Church for 12 years. His successor will be chosen...
Classical Wisdom
Weekend Roundup Weaving the Women of the Ancient World
8 months ago
Wrong Side of...
The Tears of Strangers are only water On the limits of empathy
7 months ago
Flashbak
Cruising New York City With Video Blogger Nelson Sullivan In The 1980s “Thanks to his scrupulous attention, Nelson’s left behind a treasure trove of late-night videos...
a year ago
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a year ago
“Thanks to his scrupulous attention, Nelson’s left behind a treasure trove of late-night videos that, even more than the Warhol diaries, trenchantly capture the party years in all their gleeful decadent fun.” – Michael Musto on New York City video blogger (vlogging) Nelson...
Open Culture
How Robert Frost Wrote One of His Most Famous Poems, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” Several generations of American students have now had the experience of being told by an English...
4 months ago
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4 months ago
Several generations of American students have now had the experience of being told by an English teacher that they’d been reading Robert Frost all wrong, even if they’d never read him at all. Most, at least, had seen his lines “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— / I took the...
Global Inequality...
The politics of physiocracy Quesnay and China
a year ago
History Today Feed
James VI and I: Spinning the English Succession James VI and I: Spinning the English Succession JamesHoare Fri, 03/21/2025 - 08:24
2 months ago
Classical Wisdom
The Essential Greeks ***Now Enrolling: Starting January 15th, 2025
5 months ago
TheCollector
When Did the Mongols Launch Their Invasions of Japan? By the 1260s, the Mongols controlled most of China, except for the Song Dynasty in southern China....
a week ago
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a week ago
By the 1260s, the Mongols controlled most of China, except for the Song Dynasty in southern China. Korea (Goryeo) remained independent but as a vassal state. Now Kublai Khan looked to Imperial Japan which lay not far. Kublai sent six diplomatic missions between 1268 and 1273,...
TheCollector
5 National Historic Sites to Visit in Eastern Canada Canada can be referred to as a “middle-aged” country compared to some of its global counterparts....
2 months ago
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2 months ago
Canada can be referred to as a “middle-aged” country compared to some of its global counterparts. Founded in 1867, the nation is 158 years old at present and yet, there is no shortage of interesting landmarks and designated sites for history enthusiasts to visit. There are 1004...
Classical Wisdom
Is Anger an Issue? A recording from Classical Wisdom's live video
2 months ago
A Collection of...
Collections: How to Raise a Tribal Army in Pre-Roman Europe, Part II: Government Without States This is the second part of our (planned) three part (I) look at how some ‘tribal’ or more correctly,...
11 months ago
66
11 months ago
This is the second part of our (planned) three part (I) look at how some ‘tribal’ or more correctly, non-state agrarian peoples raised armies to fight the Romans (and others) in the third through first centuries BC. Last time, we looked at the subsistence basis of these societies...
Trying to Understand...
A Short Essay About A Long-Playing Record One I bought fifty years ago.
a year ago
TheCollector
Napoleon’s Life, Family, and Personal Traits While in exile on the island of Saint Helena, Napoleon remarked to a loyal follower, “What a novel...
a month ago
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a month ago
While in exile on the island of Saint Helena, Napoleon remarked to a loyal follower, “What a novel my life has been!” (Gueniffey, 1). Indeed, many aspects of Napoleon’s biography read like fiction. For example, by his mid-twenties, Napoleon was already a successful commanding...
TheCollector
11 Historical Places to Visit in Oxfordshire Home to some of England’s most known poets, scientists, and religious figures, the county of...
2 months ago
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2 months ago
Home to some of England’s most known poets, scientists, and religious figures, the county of Oxfordshire can trace its roots back 5,000 years to Neolithic times. Discover C. S. Lewis’s house, Oxford’s Castle and Prison, abbey ruins, an ancient Iron Age Hillfort, and a wealth of...
Trying to Understand...
The Sword Is Mightier... ...than the pen. In Ukraine anyway.
4 months ago
TheCollector
10 Must-Visit Historic Sites in Vermont Vermont may be small in size, but it looms large in American history. From its fierce Revolutionary...
a month ago
15
a month ago
Vermont may be small in size, but it looms large in American history. From its fierce Revolutionary War battles and independent 18th-century constitution to the quiet rise of a U.S. president, the Green Mountain State has witnessed defining moments that shaped both state and...
Flashbak
Street Shots of New York City in 1978 “Every day was like being in a scene from a movie set in the city” – George Wright     In ‘New York...
5 months ago
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5 months ago
“Every day was like being in a scene from a movie set in the city” – George Wright     In ‘New York 1978’, British photographer George Wright shows us the city. Having trained as a graphic design at London’s Wimbledon School of Art in the early 1970s, Wright took a class taught...
History Today Feed
‘America, América’ by Greg Grandin review ‘America, América’ by Greg Grandin review JamesHoare Mon, 06/02/2025 - 09:07
2 days ago
TheCollector
Who Were the Nicolaitans Condemned in the Book of Revelation? Revelation mentions the Nicolaitans twice without providing any context to who they were or what...
a month ago
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a month ago
Revelation mentions the Nicolaitans twice without providing any context to who they were or what they believed. The church in Ephesus hated their works, just like Jesus did, but the church of Pergamum, the third of the seven churches, tolerated it. The Bible presents tolerance of...
TheCollector
What Are the Vedas? (Samhitas, Upanishads, and Influence) Today, many people in India follow the religious and cultural tenets we now call Hinduism. But where...
a month ago
4
a month ago
Today, many people in India follow the religious and cultural tenets we now call Hinduism. But where did the belief systems that formed modern-day Hinduism originate? Part of the answer can be located thousands of years in the past, in and around modern-day India. Much of modern...
TheCollector
5 Māori Leaders Who Shaped Aotearoa’s/New Zealand’s History The opposition between the Māori, the original inhabitants of Aotearoa/New Zealand, and the Pākehā,...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
The opposition between the Māori, the original inhabitants of Aotearoa/New Zealand, and the Pākehā, the European newcomers, has been central to New Zealand’s recent history. Some Māori chiefs were open to dialogue with the Europeans and even fought alongside them. However,...
TheCollector
Marlene Dumas Sets Auction Record for a Living Woman Artist Among other wins for women artists on Wednesday night, the 21st-century Evening Sale at Christie’s...
2 weeks ago
10
2 weeks ago
Among other wins for women artists on Wednesday night, the 21st-century Evening Sale at Christie’s New York made art market history with the record-setting sale of Miss January by contemporary South African painter Marlene Dumas. Hammering in at $13.6 million with fees, the 1997...
TheCollector
The 8 Artistic Periods of Pablo Picasso: Step by Step Guide Pablo Picasso had a long and incredibly prolific career. Experts believe he created more than...
2 weeks ago
7
2 weeks ago
Pablo Picasso had a long and incredibly prolific career. Experts believe he created more than 100,000 pieces of artistic work. During his lifetime, he incessantly studied art of various cultures and periods, reviving and repurposing it for his avant-garde works. Based on...
Wrong Side of...
The case against child voters Votes at 16 is the most cynical of politics
3 months ago
The Universe of...
Proof by insufficient information Content warning: rambly Given the coordinates of the three vertices of a triangle, can we find the...
3 months ago
6
3 months ago
Content warning: rambly Given the coordinates of the three vertices of a triangle, can we find the area? Yes. If by no other method, we can use the Pythagorean theorem to find the lengths of the edges, and then Heron's formula to compute the area from that. Now, given the...
A Collection of...
Collections: The Journey of the Roman Gladius and Other Swords This week I want to do something a little different and discuss the evolution and development of a...
a year ago
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a year ago
This week I want to do something a little different and discuss the evolution and development of a specific weapon, in this case the famed Roman gladius, the sword of the legions. As we’re going to see, this is going to entail a journey covering quite a bit of both time and space...
Classical Wisdom
Do you need to be Good to be a Good leader? is it really necessary to be a “paragon of virtue” to rule?
a year ago
TheCollector
First Ancient Greek Theater Unearthed on Ionian Islands Following a decade of excavation efforts, archaeologists unearthed the remains of an ancient Greek...
a month ago
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a month ago
Following a decade of excavation efforts, archaeologists unearthed the remains of an ancient Greek amphitheater—the first of its kind to be discovered on the Ionian Islands.   Ionian Islands Discovery Is “Important and Imposing”   The ancient Greek amphitheater stands on a...
Flashbak
Gritty 1980’s NYC and the Glorious Intuition of Richard Sandler “Street photography is very difficult. The number of really good pictures that you get is very small...
a year ago
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a year ago
“Street photography is very difficult. The number of really good pictures that you get is very small in comparison to the number of pictures taken. You’re better off, I think, letting your intuition completely run wild…” – Richard Sandler on his photographs of NYC    Richard...
TheCollector
Isa Genzken: 12 Facts About the Famous Conceptual Artist Isa Genzken is a German conceptual artist who transformed the concept of mixed media art through her...
2 weeks ago
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2 weeks ago
Isa Genzken is a German conceptual artist who transformed the concept of mixed media art through her radical use of materials. She uses cheap, mass-produced materials, scraps of paper, fragments of glass, and other objects to challenge the notion of sculpture and disassemble the...
History Today Feed
On the Spot: Vladislav Zubok On the Spot: Vladislav Zubok JamesHoare Mon, 05/12/2025 - 09:13
3 weeks ago
Dreams of Space -...
My Weekly Reader and Gemini (1965,1966) As I got through boxes I found a couple of My Weekly Readers that I had not shared before. My Weekly...
4 months ago
18
4 months ago
As I got through boxes I found a couple of My Weekly Readers that I had not shared before. My Weekly Reader posts seem to be popular for their nostalgia effect and because as ephemera no one saved them from their youth. These particular ones are about the Gemini missions. At the...
African History...
On Hegel's ignorance of African History *my article for ROAPE journal
a year ago
Overcoming Bias
No Meta Status Orgs In health and medicine, we have many government agencies, and private philanthropies, devoted to...
6 months ago
13
6 months ago
In health and medicine, we have many government agencies, and private philanthropies, devoted to many specific medical conditions, and also to studying and reforming medicine in general, at a meta level.
Hundred Rabbits
internet in paradise Huahine, one of the many grouped islands in French Polynesia. Our plans for future ocean voyaging...
over a year ago
11
over a year ago
Huahine, one of the many grouped islands in French Polynesia. Our plans for future ocean voyaging could have ended here, because we almost crashed onto a reef. Because we always time our arrival with the morning sun, I always get the first look of every island. Huahine stood in...
African History...
a brief note on the ancient Herders and Foragers of South Africa. a social history of the KhoiKhoi community (2000BP - 1880)
a year ago
African History...
The complete history of Gondar: Africa's city of castles (1636-1900) Journal of African cities chapter 8
over a year ago
Flashbak
Blackpool 1984–1989 “We stayed in boarding houses with similar families, made intense friendships and lived on the...
2 weeks ago
11
2 weeks ago
“We stayed in boarding houses with similar families, made intense friendships and lived on the memories through the following winter!” – Barry Lewis on magic holidays in Blackpool, Lancashire     Since Victorian times Blackpool on Britain’s north west coast has been the country’s...
TheCollector
Why Is There So Much Blood in Mesoamerican Mythology? In the Aztec mythos, Huitzilopotchli sought revenge on his sister Coyolxauhqui for attacking their...
3 months ago
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3 months ago
In the Aztec mythos, Huitzilopotchli sought revenge on his sister Coyolxauhqui for attacking their mother, throwing her head into the sky to become the moon watching over. In the Maya mythos, Buluc-Chabta wore a necklace made of human eyes. Brutality and war were often the way of...
Flashbak
Through the Looking Glass with Robert Cumming – Pictures American artist Robert Cumming (October 7, 1943 – December 16, 2021) appreciated fun. He saw no...
a year ago
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a year ago
American artist Robert Cumming (October 7, 1943 – December 16, 2021) appreciated fun. He saw no point in trying to achieve anything else in life. As he put it: “If it’s not fun, there’s no point!” A new book of his conceptual photographs illustrates the point. Above, you can see...
Classical Wisdom
The World's First Computer The Antikythera Mechanism
a year ago
TheCollector
Who Won the Siege of Petersburg? Despite having much of its most valuable territory retaken by the summer of 1864, the Confederacy...
3 months ago
21
3 months ago
Despite having much of its most valuable territory retaken by the summer of 1864, the Confederacy continued to resist. If it could hold on, perhaps it could win the war by wearing down the Union enough to seek peace terms. Thus, new general-in-chief Ulysses S. Grant needed to...
Classical Wisdom
What is Virtue? Can We Define it for Ourselves or Others?
9 months ago
Trying to Understand...
The Rise of Extractive Politics It's about having small expectations.
over a year ago
TheCollector
Who Were the Aboriginal Leaders of the Frontier Wars? 4 Key Figures Most of what we know about the people involved in the Australian Frontier Wars, and the massacres...
2 months ago
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2 months ago
Most of what we know about the people involved in the Australian Frontier Wars, and the massacres that unfolded, comes from the journals of those who were involved in them; that is, European settlers, pastoralists, and government officials. They also come (especially with regard...
TheCollector
Why Is Whistler’s Mother So Popular? James McNeill Whistler’s most famous painting represents his mother Anna, dressed in modest dark...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
James McNeill Whistler’s most famous painting represents his mother Anna, dressed in modest dark attire and seated next to a gray wall. Over the years, the painting became iconic and even developed an entire mythology around it, quite far removed from the circumstances of its...
TheCollector
How Many Israelite Kings Were Assassinated? According to the Bible, ancient Israel was, in whole or part, ruled by kings for less than five...
2 months ago
11
2 months ago
According to the Bible, ancient Israel was, in whole or part, ruled by kings for less than five hundred years. David is Israel’s most celebrated monarch. But the golden age of unity and peace in which he and his son Solomon ruled in Israel is framed between periods of violent...
Flashbak
Winners of the Black and White Photo Awards 2024 What is it about black and white pictures that makes people look better? Is is because black and...
7 months ago
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7 months ago
What is it about black and white pictures that makes people look better? Is is because black and white hints and pulls you in whereas colour can distract and reflect? LensCulture magazine celebrates black and white photography with is 2024 Black and White awards. “The enduring...
Wrong Side of...
Reflections on the Turquoise Revolution in England Wrong Side of History Newsletter #62
3 weeks ago
Flashbak
The International Atlas of Clouds and of States of the Sky by the Office National Météorologique,... “Ho! Ho! Ho! To the bottle I go To heal my heart and drown my woe Rain may fall, and wind may blow...
3 months ago
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3 months ago
“Ho! Ho! Ho! To the bottle I go To heal my heart and drown my woe Rain may fall, and wind may blow And many miles be still to go But under a tall tree will I lie And let the clouds go sailing by” — J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring     … Continue reading "The...
Global Inequality...
Is “neo-imperialism” the only path to development? On Bill Warren's "Imperialism: Pioneer of Capitalism"
a year ago
TheCollector
10 Presidential Landmarks in the US Worth Visiting From grand estates to humble farmhouses, presidential landmarks offer a tangible link to the people...
2 weeks ago
4
2 weeks ago
From grand estates to humble farmhouses, presidential landmarks offer a tangible link to the people who’ve shaped American history from the highest office. These homes, libraries, parks, and sites reflect personal stories, pivotal decisions, and defining moments, from handwritten...
Classical Wisdom
Who Was Julian? Rome’s Last Pagan Emperor
a year ago
TheCollector
5 Women in Epistemology You Should Know Epistemology is the branch of philosophy that deals with knowledge, belief, and the relationship...
3 months ago
13
3 months ago
Epistemology is the branch of philosophy that deals with knowledge, belief, and the relationship between the two. Being one of the core philosophical disciplines from antiquity, epistemology has always been dominated by men. Nonetheless, in the last decades, almost all novelties...
TheCollector
Romance in Color: Exploring African American Love in Art Various expressions and forms of love have always been among the most popular artistic topics. Yet,...
a week ago
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a week ago
Various expressions and forms of love have always been among the most popular artistic topics. Yet, for a long time, the voices of Black artists were unheard. In white-dominated culture, Black bodies were excluded from the narratives of romantic or parental love. However, during...
Dr Alun Withey
Packing the Essentials!: Preparing to Travel in the 18th Century. Now that Covid restrictions have finally been lifted, and summer is at least theoretically here –...
over a year ago
66
over a year ago
Now that Covid restrictions have finally been lifted, and summer is at least theoretically here – it’s raining outside as I write! – many people are returning to travel and undertaking the holidays that have had to be postponed over the past couple of years. The pandemic aside,...
The Universe of...
Baseball on the Moon We want to adapt baseball to be played on the moon. Is there any way to make it work? My first...
5 months ago
14
5 months ago
We want to adapt baseball to be played on the moon. Is there any way to make it work? My first impression is: no, for several reasons. The pitched ball will go a little faster (no air resistance) but breaking balls are impossible (ditto). So the batter will find it easier to...
Trying to Understand...
No End Of A Lesson. If we can only learn it.
8 months ago
Trying to Understand...
De quoi parlons-nous quand nous parlons de négociations ? Another of my essays in French.
2 months ago
Flashbak
How The Charlie Brown Christmas Special Got Jazz And Came Alive “We’re living in times where so much is done to manipulate us. And things last for, what, a news...
a year ago
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a year ago
“We’re living in times where so much is done to manipulate us. And things last for, what, a news cycle? A few minutes? This [album] is something that’s lasted 50 years. And not only lasted, but grown … I think there’s just a humanness” — Jerry Granelli, drummer with the Vince...
TheCollector
Optical Illusion Art: The Science and Creativity Behind the Mind-Bending Visuals As one of the abstract styles developing in the 1960s, Optical illusion (or Op) Art features games...
a week ago
5
a week ago
As one of the abstract styles developing in the 1960s, Optical illusion (or Op) Art features games of lines and geometric shapes in both black and white—like in the case of Bridget Riley, Jesús Rafael Soto—or exploiting vivid colors—as in the case of Victor Vasarely and Julian...
Open Culture
NYU Professor Answers Your Burning Questions About Authoritarianism From WIRED comes this: NYU professor and “authoritarianism scholar Ruth Ben-Ghiat joins WIRED to...
2 months ago
24
2 months ago
From WIRED comes this: NYU professor and “authoritarianism scholar Ruth Ben-Ghiat joins WIRED to answer the internet’s burning questions about dictators and fascism. Why do people support dictators? How do dictators come to power? What’s the difference between a dictatorship, an...
TheCollector
The Year of the Six Emperors (238 CE): A Complete Guide Herodian’s History of the Roman Empire starts with the observation that “in a period of 60 years,...
5 days ago
2
5 days ago
Herodian’s History of the Roman Empire starts with the observation that “in a period of 60 years, the Roman imperial power was held by more emperors than would seem possible in so short a time…” This is a preface to his history of Rome, from the death of the last “good emperor,”...
Trying to Understand...
The Man Who Nearly Woke Up. Narrative found hidden in an HR Textbook.
2 months ago
Classical Wisdom
Centaurs and Snake-Kings A Halloween event for the Mythologically inclined...
8 months ago
TheCollector
Battle of the Milvian Bridge: The Battle That Shaped Christianity? The victory of Emperor Constantine during a civil war allowed for some of the most dramatic events...
a month ago
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a month ago
The victory of Emperor Constantine during a civil war allowed for some of the most dramatic events in Roman history. The emperor’s tale of divine intervention at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge proved to be the key event in the legalization of Christianity and its subsequent...
Classical Wisdom
How Can We Separate History from Myth? And does it need to be true to be important?
a year ago
Flashbak
Postcards From The First Bauhaus Exhibition, 1923 To promote their first major exhibition, from 15 August to 30 September 1923, members of Germany’s...
6 months ago
31
6 months ago
To promote their first major exhibition, from 15 August to 30 September 1923, members of Germany’s Bauhaus design school (der Bauhäusler) produced a set of postcards. Fellow lovers of collecting postcards (deltiology) understand the joy of holding these small picturesque moments...
Flashbak
US Atlas for the Blind, 1837 The 1837 Atlas of the United States Printed for the Use of the Blind was made to help blind children...
2 months ago
25
2 months ago
The 1837 Atlas of the United States Printed for the Use of the Blind was made to help blind children visualise geography. Supplied to children at the New England Institute for the Education of the Blind in Boston this extraordinary atlas features heavy paper embossed with...
Classical Wisdom
The Essential Greeks ***Now Enrolling: Starting July 1st, 2024
11 months ago
Flashbak
Theory of Colours: James Sowerby’s ‘A New Elucidation’ (1809) These illustrations are from Theory of Colours: James Sowerby’s ‘A New Elucidation’ (1809). Sowerby...
10 months ago
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10 months ago
These illustrations are from Theory of Colours: James Sowerby’s ‘A New Elucidation’ (1809). Sowerby (21 March 1757 – 25 October 1822) was an English naturalist and Royal Academy-trained illustrator who specialised in drawing plants and minerals. The full title of his illustrated...
Classical Wisdom
Weekend Roundup Plato Vs Aristotle
a year ago
Flashbak
Miss Margaret Morris’ Merry Mermaids “Everyone should live creatively. It is now recognised that the creative urge – other than sex – is...
2 days ago
3
2 days ago
“Everyone should live creatively. It is now recognised that the creative urge – other than sex – is manifest in varying degrees, not only in musicians, writers and painters, but in all human beings…. Creation in the widest sense must surely be adding to what already exists. If...
Trying to Understand...
Only Connect .... We are lost in a haunted wood.
7 months ago
Classical Wisdom
Rehabilitating Aspasia Separating Evidence from Comic Slander
2 months ago
TheCollector
Mussolini’s Gamble: How Italy’s Weakness Led to WWII Failure By 1940, Mussolini’s Fascists had governed for almost two decades. Mussolini and Hitler’s close...
a week ago
1
a week ago
By 1940, Mussolini’s Fascists had governed for almost two decades. Mussolini and Hitler’s close bonds only tightened once the Tripartite Pact got signed on September 27, 1940. They had much in common – a belief in their own ability, political ambition, and zero tolerance for...
TheCollector
Lascaux Cave Paintings: Secrets of Prehistoric Art Amid the Second World War, four young boys unearthed a Paleolithic masterpiece when they stumbled...
a month ago
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a month ago
Amid the Second World War, four young boys unearthed a Paleolithic masterpiece when they stumbled upon a cave in southwest France. The boys were entranced by the vivid hues of red, yellow, and black that formed vast scenes of animals appearing to move across the cave walls....
Wrong Side of...
The Great Madman Theory of History vindicated Has Nigel Farage just ended his chance of victory?
2 months ago
Open Culture
Famous Architects Dress as Their Famous New York City Buildings (1931) On January 13, 1931, the Society of Beaux-Arts Architects held a ball at the Hotel Astor in New York...
5 months ago
74
5 months ago
On January 13, 1931, the Society of Beaux-Arts Architects held a ball at the Hotel Astor in New York City. According to an advertisement for the event, anyone who paid $15 per ticket (big money during the Depression) could see a “hilarious modern art exhibition” and things...
Res Obscura
Onfim's world Child artists in history
a month ago
Overcoming Bias
The Two Big Games Imagine a business meeting which will decide if a new project goes forward, or decide key priorities...
6 months ago
24
6 months ago
Imagine a business meeting which will decide if a new project goes forward, or decide key priorities about it.
A Collection of...
Collections: How to Roman Republic, Part IIIc: Ten Tribunes, Two Censors and Twenty-Six Guys This is the third section of the third part of our our planned five part series (I, II, IIIa, IIIb)...
a year ago
23
a year ago
This is the third section of the third part of our our planned five part series (I, II, IIIa, IIIb) on the structure of the Roman Republic during the third and second centuries, the ‘Middle’ Republic.’ Last time we looked at the top of the Roman political career in the republic,...
TheCollector
3 Events That Shaped 20th Century America The 20th century got on to a rocky start with a slew of wars and revolutions of varying scales. From...
3 days ago
2
3 days ago
The 20th century got on to a rocky start with a slew of wars and revolutions of varying scales. From the Russo-Japanese War to World War I, peace seemed elusive. Mankind would then outdo itself with World War II in 1939, less than 25 years after World War I. Later, Cold War...
Trying to Understand...
The End? There must be some way out of here ... surely?
a month ago
Classical Wisdom
Four Common(ly misunderstood) Latin Proverbs Factoids From the Ancient World
6 months ago
Hidden History
The Fantasy Game of Tak The board game Tak (pronounced to rhyme with “back”) originally appeared as a prop in the...
3 months ago
34
3 months ago
The board game Tak (pronounced to rhyme with “back”) originally appeared as a prop in the fantasy/scifi book series The Kingkiller Chronicle, and was then brought to life in the real world. History In 1994, aspiring author Patrick Rothfuss began work on his first book,...
TheCollector
10 Must-See Historic Sites in Connecticut Connecticut, aka the “Constitution State,” has a seriously rich history. From being a key player in...
2 months ago
7
2 months ago
Connecticut, aka the “Constitution State,” has a seriously rich history. From being a key player in the American Revolution to giving birth to the first written constitution in the world, this state is packed with game-changing moments. It’s also where the Fundamental Orders of...
Flashbak
Andy Warhol’s Life After Death: Cards, Posters And Other Post-Warhol Ephemera Andy Warhol’s star shone brighter after his death on February 22, 1987. The artist succumbed to...
4 months ago
41
4 months ago
Andy Warhol’s star shone brighter after his death on February 22, 1987. The artist succumbed to cardiac arrest while in hospital for gall bladder surgery. Prolific, talented and successful in life, much of Warhol’s work only came to light after his unexpected death, such as early...
Classical Wisdom
Events Schedule *Time Correction for Wednesday
a year ago
Flashbak
Brick Lane 1978: The Turning Point On 4 May 1978, Altab Ali (24 Oct 1953 – 4 May 1978), a Bangladesh-born textile worker in an area off...
a year ago
42
a year ago
On 4 May 1978, Altab Ali (24 Oct 1953 – 4 May 1978), a Bangladesh-born textile worker in an area off Brick Lane, was stabbed to death in London, in a racially motivated attack. Paul Trevor’ photographs mark how East London’s Bengali activists fought for survival and the right to...
Classical Wisdom
How Extra Virgin Olive Oil Got its Name The Ancient History in Your Kitchen
2 months ago
Classical Wisdom
Sappho: The Lost Poetess Watch now (1 min) | Now FREE with a Classical Wisdom Kids Yearly Membership
a year ago
Hidden History
The Japanese Fugo Balloon Bomb During the Second World War, the Japanese launched thousands of incendiary bombs against the United...
a month ago
8
a month ago
During the Second World War, the Japanese launched thousands of incendiary bombs against the United States that were carried by top secret balloons. In April 1942, the United States launched a daring raid on Japan using 16 B-25 Mitchell bombers under the command of Lt Col Jimmy...
Flashbak
Marvels of the Universe, 1912 – Curious Scientific Illustrations From A Compendium of Life First published in 1912, readers could learn all things about everything in Marvels of the Universe...
3 months ago
26
3 months ago
First published in 1912, readers could learn all things about everything in Marvels of the Universe : a popular work on the marvels of the heavens, the earth, plant life, animal life, the mighty deep. It was published as a periodical in London by Hutchinson and Company, founded...
Global Inequality...
Changes in income distributions in China, India and the United States, 2018-23 The effects of covid and the return to “normalcy”
7 months ago
Res Obscura
Wilfrid Voynich: Bookseller, Revolutionary, Amateur Cryptologist... Suspected Spy? The first in a series on the extraordinary lives of the Voyniches
a year ago
Patterns in Humanity
Where parents make a difference Where is the shared environment effect larger than zero?
a year ago
Hidden History
The Last Day of World War One At 5am on November 11, 1918, the French, British, American and German representatives signed the...
6 months ago
14
6 months ago
At 5am on November 11, 1918, the French, British, American and German representatives signed the armistice treaty that formally ended hostilities in the First World War. Under the terms of the Armistice, the war would officially end at 11am that day. All the troops in the...
Res Obscura
Post-postal What did we lose when we stopped writing letters?
7 months ago
TheCollector
What Is the Book of James About? The Book of James is a short but powerful epistle with similarities to Proverbs. The author writes...
2 months ago
21
2 months ago
The Book of James is a short but powerful epistle with similarities to Proverbs. The author writes to an audience of Jewish descent to instruct them on a range of issues and to encourage them to stand firm in times of trial. His view on difficult times was that they provide...
Classical Wisdom
Weekend Roundup The Secrets of Crete
a year ago
Open Culture
The Most Iconic Electronic Music Sample of Every Year (1990–2024) Hear a second or two of Vernon Burch’s “Get Up,” and you’re back in 1990; of “Balance and Rehearsal”...
2 months ago
29
2 months ago
Hear a second or two of Vernon Burch’s “Get Up,” and you’re back in 1990; of “Balance and Rehearsal” from the JBL sound-test album Session, and you’re back in 1999; of Eddie Johns’ “More Spell on You,” and you’re back in 2001. What, you don’t know any of those songs? Perhaps...
Hidden History
The Great Horse Flu Epidemic of 1872 An epidemic of “Horse Flu” in 1872 virtually shut down the US economy and paralyzed the entire...
5 months ago
61
5 months ago
An epidemic of “Horse Flu” in 1872 virtually shut down the US economy and paralyzed the entire country. By the 1870s, the once-rural agrarian United States was beginning to emerge as an industrial power. The Civil War had spurred the rapid development of industry such as iron...
TheCollector
Quantum Physicist: Who Was Niels Bohr? Quantum physics began in 1900 when the German physicist Max Planck determined the scale of quantum...
2 weeks ago
2
2 weeks ago
Quantum physics began in 1900 when the German physicist Max Planck determined the scale of quantum phenomena. In 1905, Albert Einstein extended this idea by proposing that light itself is made up of discrete packets of energy, or “quanta.” Building on these ideas, in the first...
CrimethInc.
The Vanguard of Fantasy : A Poster in Homage to Up Against the Wall Motherfucker We’ve prepared a poster in homage to Up Against the Wall Motherfucker, the self-styled “street gang...
a month ago
16
a month ago
We’ve prepared a poster in homage to Up Against the Wall Motherfucker, the self-styled “street gang with an analysis” active in the Lower East Side of Manhattan in the late 1960s. Up Against the Wall Motherfucker gained notoriety participating in the occupation of Columbia...
Flashbak
Historical Figures in Ridiculous Frippery: Ruff Love For Old Masters “If you spent your life concentrating on what everyone else thought of you, would you forget who you...
5 months ago
46
5 months ago
“If you spent your life concentrating on what everyone else thought of you, would you forget who you really were? What if the face you showed the world turned out to be a mask… with nothing beneath it?” — Jodi Picoult, Nineteen Minutes     Volker Hermes lampoons traditional...
The Universe of...
Surnames from nicknames nobody has any more English has a pattern of common patronymic names. For example, "John Peters" and "John Peterson"...
6 months ago
15
6 months ago
English has a pattern of common patronymic names. For example, "John Peters" and "John Peterson" are someone whose father was named "Peter". ("Peters" should be understood as "Peter's".) Similarly we have John Williams and John Williamson, John Roberts and John Robertson, John...
Res Obscura
"He spoke of computers with some awe" Margaret Mead, John von Neumann, and the prehistory of AI
a year ago
TheCollector
The Expulsion of Polish Jews From Nazi Germany: Polenaktion Explained In the early hours of October 28, 1938, Berlin resident Mendel Max Karp was still sleeping when...
2 months ago
25
2 months ago
In the early hours of October 28, 1938, Berlin resident Mendel Max Karp was still sleeping when police officers burst into his apartment to order him to leave the territory of the German Reich. He was then arrested and deported to the German-Polish border on a special train. Mr....
Classical Wisdom
Weekly Wisdom Quiz Ancient Egypt, Diogenes, and more!
3 days ago
Trying to Understand...
This Changes Everything! Well, it depends what you're trying to do.
a year ago
The Universe of...
Claude chokes on graph theory .bad { border: thin solid red; } Having had some pleasant surprises from Claude, I thought I'd...
6 months ago
9
6 months ago
.bad { border: thin solid red; } Having had some pleasant surprises from Claude, I thought I'd see if it could do math. It couldn't. Apparently some LLMs can sometimes solve Math Olympiad problems, but Claude didn't come close. First I asked something simple as a...
TheCollector
5 Medieval & Renaissance Jokes That Made People Laugh While comedy might seem like a modern art form, the desire to joke, pun, or play pranks on others is...
a month ago
34
a month ago
While comedy might seem like a modern art form, the desire to joke, pun, or play pranks on others is a basic human trait, versions of which can be found during all periods of recorded history. A few examples of Renaissance and Medieval jokes stand out as especially significant,...
A Collection of...
Collections: Coinage and the Tyranny of Fantasy ‘Gold’ This week on the blog I want to take a brief detour into discussing historical coinage, particularly...
5 months ago
94
5 months ago
This week on the blog I want to take a brief detour into discussing historical coinage, particularly in the context of modern fantasy and roleplaying settings. In particular, the notions I want to tackle are first how did ancient currency systems work in terms of value (what...
Open Culture
Watch David Byrne Lead a Massive Choir in Singing David Bowie’s “Heroes” Throughout the years, we’ve featured performances of Choir!Choir!Choir!–a large amateur choir from...
3 months ago
48
3 months ago
Throughout the years, we’ve featured performances of Choir!Choir!Choir!–a large amateur choir from Toronto that meets weekly and sings their hearts out. You’ve seen them sing Prince’s “When Doves Cry,” Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun” (to honor Chris Cornell) and Leonard Cohen’s...
Open Culture
Jane Austen Used Pins to Edit Her Manuscripts: Before the Word Processor & White-Out Before the word processor, before White-Out, before Post-It Notes, there were straight pins. Or, at...
3 months ago
26
3 months ago
Before the word processor, before White-Out, before Post-It Notes, there were straight pins. Or, at least that’s what Jane Austen used to make edits in one of her rare manuscripts. In 2011, Oxford’s Bodleian Library acquired the manuscript of Austen’s abandoned novel, The...
Open Culture
Binge-Watch Classic Television Programs Free: The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Lone Ranger, Dragnet, That... Earlier this week, we featured the 99-year-old Dick Van Dyke’s performance in Coldplay’s new music...
5 months ago
132
5 months ago
Earlier this week, we featured the 99-year-old Dick Van Dyke’s performance in Coldplay’s new music video, full of visual references to the sitcom that made him a household name in the early nineteen-sixties. And a household name he remains these six decades later, though one does...
African History...
The empire of Samori Ture on the eve of colonialism (1870-1898) a revolution with a contested legacy.
a year ago
African History...
The radical philosophy of the Hatata: a 17th century treatise by the Ethiopian thinker Zara Yacob the historical context of the Hatata in African philosophy.
a year ago
Wrong Side of...
Rallying around the (Progress Pride) Flag The European Right must learn to hate Trump
a month ago
Open Culture
What Is Kafkaesque?: The Philosophy of Franz Kafka It’s difficult to imagine that there was ever a time without the word “Kafkaesque.” Yet the term...
a month ago
21
a month ago
It’s difficult to imagine that there was ever a time without the word “Kafkaesque.” Yet the term would have meant nothing at all to anyone alive at the same time as Franz Kafka — including, in all probability, Kafka himself. Born in Prague in 1883, he grew up under a stern,...
Classical Wisdom
Weekend Roundup Homer, Heracles, and Virgil
5 months ago
Classical Wisdom
A Book 100 Years in the Making Dear Classical Wisdom Reader,
6 months ago
Hundred Rabbits
Summary of changes for April 2024 Hey everyone! This is the list of all the changes we've done to our projects during the month of...
a year ago
14
a year ago
Hey everyone! This is the list of all the changes we've done to our projects during the month of April. Summary Of Changes 100r.co, added Twilight, updated our notes on chainplates, wheel to tiller conversion, cabin lights standing rigging replacement, Princess Louisa Inlet(added...
Global Inequality...
Poison for the soul Review of David Lay Williams’s “The Greatest of All Plagues”
3 months ago
TheCollector
Baroque Music: Contrast and Drama The Baroque Era’s genesis lay in Italy, established during the Council of Trent between 1545 and...
2 months ago
20
2 months ago
The Baroque Era’s genesis lay in Italy, established during the Council of Trent between 1545 and 1653. The Council’s mission was simple: How could they inspire people to follow the Catholic faith and come back to the Church’s fold? Where the Protestants opted for simplicity, the...
TheCollector
La Tène Period: The Flourishing of Celtic Art When people think of the historical “Celts,” they are really thinking of the various peoples that...
a month ago
16
a month ago
When people think of the historical “Celts,” they are really thinking of the various peoples that lived across the European continent adjacent to the ancient Greeks and Romans and in Britain during the Iron Age who belonged to the La Tène culture. “La Tène” refers to the last...
Hundred Rabbits
Dry Toilet Installation The work is done. Building a dry toilet was more work than we had anticipated, but we still prefer...
over a year ago
11
over a year ago
The work is done. Building a dry toilet was more work than we had anticipated, but we still prefer it over the ready-made models. We learned tons doing it, and now our toilet is perfectly suited to our space. The pandemic has pushed more people into boat and van living (to travel...
Classical Wisdom
The Top 10 Pre-Socratics, ahem, Natural Philosophers Time to Rename "the tyrants of the spirit"?
3 months ago
Classical Wisdom
Weekend Roundup Hera, Queen of the Gods
a year ago
Hundred Rabbits
goji no chaimu After a long 21-day passage, seeing the shape of the island of Chichijima in the distance was...
over a year ago
15
over a year ago
After a long 21-day passage, seeing the shape of the island of Chichijima in the distance was unreal; this was our prize, our first step onto Japanese soil. We used to make many trips to Japan by plane, but getting there by our own efforts — by sailboat — is a lot slower and...
TheCollector
Rodin’s “The Gates of Hell”: Bringing Dante’s Inferno to Life The famous French sculptor Auguste Rodin spent most of his life working on the monumental structure...
a week ago
7
a week ago
The famous French sculptor Auguste Rodin spent most of his life working on the monumental structure The Gates of Hell. Initially planned as an entrance door to the Decorative Arts Museum, it eventually gained a life of its own, inspiring Rodin’s most famous free-standing...
TheCollector
The 1999 Apartment Bombings in Russia: History & Unanswered Questions In late 1999, a series of explosions destroyed apartments across Russia. When Chechen separatists...
a month ago
18
a month ago
In late 1999, a series of explosions destroyed apartments across Russia. When Chechen separatists were found guilty of orchestrating the attacks, the Second Chechen War began, and Vladimir Putin’s popularity skyrocketed. Today, the bombings have become one of the most debated...
Flashbak
Living The Outlaw Life in Suburban America: ‘Once the needle goes in, it never comes out’ ‘There weren’t supposed to be drugs back then. It was supposed to be mom’s apple pie and white...
3 months ago
25
3 months ago
‘There weren’t supposed to be drugs back then. It was supposed to be mom’s apple pie and white picket fences.” – Larry Clark on drugs, outsiders and “a record of his secret teenage life.” in suburban America     When director and photographer Larry Clark (born January 19, 1943) ...
Flashbak
Painted Ants Scurry Over Vintage Porcelain by Evelyn Bracklow German artist Evelyn Bracklow’s porcelain cups, saucers, teapots and dinner service is covered in...
2 months ago
23
2 months ago
German artist Evelyn Bracklow’s porcelain cups, saucers, teapots and dinner service is covered in ants. On some she’s painted a piece of food and then had her hand-painted black ants congregate around it. The effect is fascinating stuff and unsettling. We know that ants exist in...
Classical Wisdom
Tolkien and the Classics Plato, Cicero... Bilbo?
a year ago
Open Culture
How Japanese Masters Turn Sand Into Swords: The Art of Traditional Sword Making from Start to Finish We made sand think: this phrase is used from time to time to evoke the particular technological...
3 months ago
34
3 months ago
We made sand think: this phrase is used from time to time to evoke the particular technological wonders of our age, especially since artificial intelligence seems to be back on the slate of possibilities. While there would be no Silicon Valley without silica sand, semiconductors...
CrimethInc.
Georgia: The Firework Protests : A Report and Video Footage from the Streets of Tbilisi Tuesday, December 3 marked the sixth consecutive night of clashes between police and anti-government...
6 months ago
26
6 months ago
Tuesday, December 3 marked the sixth consecutive night of clashes between police and anti-government protesters in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. We offer the following short report and video footage courtesy of Georgian anarchists. The demonstrators are responding to the...
TheCollector
Christie’s to Auction Basquiat Family Portrait Christie’s announced that a triple portrait by Jean-Michel Basquiat will headline the auction...
a month ago
16
a month ago
Christie’s announced that a triple portrait by Jean-Michel Basquiat will headline the auction house’s 21st Century Evening Sale on May 14 in New York. Painted at the height of the artist’s career, Baby Boom is poised to fetch between $20 million and $30 million.   “Family...
Flashbak
48 Hours In The Life of Andy Warhol, 1981 In spring of 1981, Andy Warhol (August 6, 1928 – February 22, 1987) was setting up Myths, a...
5 months ago
39
5 months ago
In spring of 1981, Andy Warhol (August 6, 1928 – February 22, 1987) was setting up Myths, a portfolio of ten screenprints featuring fictional characters: The Star (Greta Garbo in her titular role in the 1931 film Mata Hari), Uncle Sam, The Witch (Margaret Hamilton, star of the...
TheCollector
What Was the Significance of Ephesus? By the first century CE, Ephesus was already ancient. Established sometime around 1000 BCE in what...
2 months ago
18
2 months ago
By the first century CE, Ephesus was already ancient. Established sometime around 1000 BCE in what is now Turkey on with access to the Aegean Sea, Ephesus had played an important role in the growth of Greek history.  The Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient...
TheCollector
An Overview of the Three Kingdoms, Jin, Northern & Southern Chinese Dynasties The final years of the Han Dynasty witnessed the emergence of powerful warlords who consolidated...
2 weeks ago
5
2 weeks ago
The final years of the Han Dynasty witnessed the emergence of powerful warlords who consolidated into three major powers at the formal dissolution of the Han Dynasty in 220 CE: Cao Wei in the north, Eastern Wu in the southeast, and Shu Han in the southwest. Shortly after...
A Collection of...
Collections: Phalanx’s Twilight, Legion’s Triumph, Part IVa: Philip V This is the first part of the fourth part of our four(ish) part (Ia, Ib, IIa, IIb, IIIa, IIIb) look...
a year ago
37
a year ago
This is the first part of the fourth part of our four(ish) part (Ia, Ib, IIa, IIb, IIIa, IIIb) look at why the thing to use to beat a Macedonian sarisa phalanx is, in fact, a Roman legion in the third and second century BC. Last time, we finished our look at the third-century...
Classical Wisdom
Women of Ancient Rome The First Roman Empress and More...
a year ago
Wrong Side of...
Rats! The Year of the Plague #2
4 months ago
Flashbak
Identipop, Build Your Own Popstar, 1969 With Identipops you could fashion 74 press-out pieces to make ‘thousands of faces – stars and...
a year ago
19
a year ago
With Identipops you could fashion 74 press-out pieces to make ‘thousands of faces – stars and unknowns’. The unknowns are easy to spot – but can you identify all the popstars on the game’s box design? Made in the UKL by Play Value Ltd  – they produced similar games, also from the...
Open Culture
Watch an Avant-Garde Bauhaus Ballet in Brilliant Color, First Staged in 1922 We credit the Bauhaus school, founded by German architect Walter Gropius in 1919, for the aesthetic...
4 months ago
33
4 months ago
We credit the Bauhaus school, founded by German architect Walter Gropius in 1919, for the aesthetic principles that have guided so much modern design and architecture in the 20th and 21st centuries. The school’s relationships with artists like Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky, Laszlo...
Flashbak
Dear Me: Letters by Famous Faces to Their Teenage Selves Alun CummingAmongst letters to their 16-year-old selves, writer Stephen King advises against taking...
3 months ago
26
3 months ago
Alun CummingAmongst letters to their 16-year-old selves, writer Stephen King advises against taking recreational drugs. Musician Alice Cooper has words of romance –  “Trashy girls are exciting for about five minutes… Keep your eye out for a good-lookin’ church girl. Then you’ll...
Patterns in Humanity
Recidivism in Norway Did rehabilitation reforms dramatically reduce Norwegian recidivism?
11 months ago
Flashbak
Roadside Relics of the USSR We’re back on the road though the former Soviet Union. This time our guide is French photographer...
7 months ago
40
7 months ago
We’re back on the road though the former Soviet Union. This time our guide is French photographer Jason Guilbeau whose pointing out objects along the roadside, like tractors stuck atop poles, a pavement that turns into a jet’s trail, a tank on a plinth and more reminders of...
Trying to Understand...
Honesty: What's In It For Me? First, do lots of harm.
over a year ago
TheCollector
Newly Discovered Frescoes Reveal Ancient Ritual in Pompeii A century before the ancient city’s destruction, artists adorned the walls of a Pompeii banquet hall...
3 months ago
20
3 months ago
A century before the ancient city’s destruction, artists adorned the walls of a Pompeii banquet hall with a procession of Dionysian revelers. Brightly colored and nearly life-sized, the newly identified fresco figures dance, hunt, and imbibe in the name of the god of wine.  ...
Classical Wisdom
Weekly Wisdom Quiz Anger and Alexander
2 months ago
Trying to Understand...
The Missile Will Always Get Through. But who is prepared to admit it?
6 months ago
TheCollector
9 Myths About the Greek Goddess Demeter Demeter was one of the twelve Olympian gods believed by the ancient Greeks to rule over the cosmos....
a month ago
23
a month ago
Demeter was one of the twelve Olympian gods believed by the ancient Greeks to rule over the cosmos. She was the sister of Zeus and patron goddess of agriculture. She was commonly depicted wearing a veil and carrying a torch or sheaves of wheat. One of her major centers of worship...
Wrong Side of...
The return of the Europeans Reflections on ‘Reflections on the Revolution in Europe’, Part Eight
2 months ago
Global Inequality...
To all the newspapers I loved The decline and fall of the print media.
a year ago
Open Culture
Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains Who Was the Greatest Scientific Mind in History Neil deGrasse Tyson has spent his career talking up not just science itself, but also its...
3 months ago
41
3 months ago
Neil deGrasse Tyson has spent his career talking up not just science itself, but also its practitioners. If asked to name the greatest scientist of all time, one might expect him to need a minute to think about it — or even to find himself unable to choose. But that’s hardly...
TheCollector
Why Were Cornflakes Invented? The invention of cornflakes is a curious story, tangled in a history of religious fervor, radical...
3 weeks ago
9
3 weeks ago
The invention of cornflakes is a curious story, tangled in a history of religious fervor, radical health reform, commercial success, and a decades-long feud between two brothers. Born in the kitchens of the Battle Creek Sanitarium, Michigan, cornflakes began life as part of a...
TheCollector
Before the White House: Who Really Was America’s First President? As commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, George...
a month ago
6
a month ago
As commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, George Washington performed many of the functions of a chief executive and head of state. After presiding over the convention that framed the US Constitution of 1787, Washington was elected the...
TheCollector
First Servile War: The Prophet’s Revolt That Shook Rome All parts of the Greek and later Roman world were built upon exploiting either their conquered foes...
a month ago
10
a month ago
All parts of the Greek and later Roman world were built upon exploiting either their conquered foes or those with the simple misfortune of being born in the wrong place at the wrong time. Despite its supreme importance in daily life, there were several attempts by slaves to throw...
TheCollector
Armenia or Georgia? Which Country Was the First Wine Producer? Any trip through Armenia and Georgia will offer you many opportunities to sample delicious wines...
6 days ago
2
6 days ago
Any trip through Armenia and Georgia will offer you many opportunities to sample delicious wines from the various vineyards and some questionable wines from home-brewing cellars. But while taking a tour, it is interesting to discover a little more about the history of wine...
TheCollector
The First Liberian Civil War: A Devastating Conflict Following the devastation of the Second World War, Liberia became one of the world’s fastest-growing...
2 months ago
11
2 months ago
Following the devastation of the Second World War, Liberia became one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and a leading example of Africa’s development. However, an ambitious army officer overthrew the country’s leadership in a coup. Transforming the nation into an...
Classical Wisdom
Weekend Roundup The Story of Thebes
a year ago
Classical Wisdom
Weekly Wisdom Quiz Wrath of the Gods!
2 weeks ago
Classical Wisdom
Do You Need Children to Care About the Future? Shady Trees or Empty Branches?
9 months ago
Classical Wisdom
Weekend Quiz Plus Roundup of Resources
3 months ago
Flashbak
Cynthia The Celebrity Mannequin (1932) Cynthia was a mannequin who looked remarkably human, in a sort of unusual way before extreme...
4 months ago
38
4 months ago
Cynthia was a mannequin who looked remarkably human, in a sort of unusual way before extreme cosmetic surgery became a fashion choice. Created in 1932 by sculptor and retail display designer Lester Gaba (1907-1987) for Saks Fifth Avenue, New York, Cynthia caused a stir.     When...
African History...
The intellectual history of Ethiopia and Eritrea: Ge'ez manuscripts and scholars (ca. 200-1900CE) The unique manuscript collections of Ethiopia and Eritrea written in the Ge'ez script are arguably...
5 months ago
79
5 months ago
The unique manuscript collections of Ethiopia and Eritrea written in the Ge'ez script are arguably the best-known works of literature produced in pre-colonial Africa.
Classical Wisdom
Weekend Roundup Ancient Robots and Other Inventions
a year ago
TheCollector
What Is the History of Arizona’s London Bridge? Many have heard the rhyme “London Bridge is Falling Down,” and many know that the current London...
3 months ago
25
3 months ago
Many have heard the rhyme “London Bridge is Falling Down,” and many know that the current London Bridge was not the original. However, did you know that a bridge that used to be in London actually took a trip overseas, and now resides on a completely different body of water?  ...
A Collection of...
Fireside Friday, September 1, 2023 Fireside this week! Depending on the order that things get written, we may have a few weeks of...
a year ago
17
a year ago
Fireside this week! Depending on the order that things get written, we may have a few weeks of ‘break’ from our How to Roman Republic series, but do not fret: we will finish it. The one thing I am looking to ‘slot in’ as it were is a look at the armor of Baldur’s Gate … Continue...
Patterns in Humanity
Does poverty cause violent crime? An examination of the association between poverty and violent crime
a year ago
A Collection of...
Gap Week: March 28, 2025 Hey folks! The conclusion of our look at the Siege of Eregion in Rings of Power will have to wait a...
2 months ago
30
2 months ago
Hey folks! The conclusion of our look at the Siege of Eregion in Rings of Power will have to wait a week because I am off to a conference this week, the annual meeting of the Society for Military History, this year in Mobile, Alabama! I’m set to talk about how Roman military...
Flashbak
Arnaldo Putzu and His Fabulous Hand-Painted Covers for Look-In Magazine And Movie Posters You might not know the name Arnaldo Putzu (1927 – 2012) but chances are that if you grew up in the...
10 months ago
70
10 months ago
You might not know the name Arnaldo Putzu (1927 – 2012) but chances are that if you grew up in the 1960s and 1970s you’ve seen his work on movie posters and magazine covers. Born in Rome, Putzu studied at the Rome Academy and discovered a love of portrait painting. After...
African History...
Seafaring, trade and travel in the African Atlantic. ca. 1100-1900. historical links between West Africa and Central Africa. (Africans exploring Africa chapter 4)
a year ago
Trying to Understand...
The Year of Failing To Understand. Not your usual end-of-year review.
5 months ago
Wrong Side of...
The lone wolves of Germany Why weak states resort to collective punishment of citizens
3 months ago
Classical Wisdom
Seamus Heaney A Lifetime of Ancient Poetry
a year ago
Trying to Understand...
The Threat of Back to Normal Global power has always been distributed.
over a year ago
Flashbak
Stanley Kubrick’s Photos of Chicago (Volume 2), 1949 In 1949, Look magazine sent its young photojournalist Stanley Kubrick on assignment to shoot...
12 months ago
43
12 months ago
In 1949, Look magazine sent its young photojournalist Stanley Kubrick on assignment to shoot pictures for a story documenting people’s life in the city of Chicago. You can see Volume 1 of his photos here. The series of photographs was accompanied by an essay from the Chicago...
TheCollector
King Charles I: England’s Worst Monarch? Everyone knows that King Charles I was the least successful of England’s many Kings and Queens. The...
a week ago
4
a week ago
Everyone knows that King Charles I was the least successful of England’s many Kings and Queens. The idea is traditional, well-argued, and practically undisputed. The view that Charles’s rule was a complete failure, from start to finish, is shared by many notable modern...
TheCollector
The History of Georgia: Between Europe and Asia The country of Georgia is located in the southern Caucasus where Europe meets Asia. The region has...
a week ago
7
a week ago
The country of Georgia is located in the southern Caucasus where Europe meets Asia. The region has often found itself at the crossroads of empires. After unification in the 11th century CE, the kingdom of Georgia experienced a Golden Age in the 12th century. Mongol invasion and...
Global Inequality...
The end of the great order under the Heaven A review of Gary Gerstle’s “The Rise and Fall of the Neoliberal Order”
9 months ago
Classical Wisdom
5 Surprisingly Ancient Inventions from Greece and Rome Ode to the Giants
a year ago
Classical Wisdom
Caligula's Forgotten Legacy The Nemi Ships
a year ago
Global Inequality...
Devant la guerre On E. H. Carr's "The twenty years' crisis 1919-39"
6 months ago
TheCollector
Lucrezia Borgia: Femme Fatale or Innocent Pawn? Five centuries ago, Italy was a dangerous and brutal place for the nobility and the general...
2 months ago
19
2 months ago
Five centuries ago, Italy was a dangerous and brutal place for the nobility and the general populace. Political machinations resulted in swift changes, with assassinations and war commonplace.   Born into this dynamic was Lucrezia Borgia, one of the most complex and intriguing...
Trying to Understand...
So They Want Negotiations, Now. Have they any idea what they are talking about?
a year ago
TheCollector
Alexander the Great’s Philosophical Encounters: Aristotle to Diogenes Alexander the Great is known for building one of history’s largest empires, stretching from his...
a week ago
6
a week ago
Alexander the Great is known for building one of history’s largest empires, stretching from his hometown of Macedonia all the way to northwestern regions of India. In his short life Alexander encountered some of the era’s greatest thinkers. Tutored by Aristotle, meeting the...
Flashbak
One Last Look at the Hotel where ‘Trainspotting’, ‘The Big Man’, ‘Taggart’ and Other Shows Were... You may have never heard of the George Hotel, which once sat at the top of Buchanan Street in...
a year ago
22
a year ago
You may have never heard of the George Hotel, which once sat at the top of Buchanan Street in Glasgow like a ‘great carbuncle’, but you have probably seen parts of its interiors from films like Trainspotting (the circular room used as a backdrop for the drug scene with Keith...
Flashbak
Ernest Hemingway’s Guide to Writing A Book From Start to Finish “The more he learns from experience the more truly he can imagine” – Ernst Hemingway on writing,...
a year ago
41
a year ago
“The more he learns from experience the more truly he can imagine” – Ernst Hemingway on writing, 1935     In his October 1935 column for Esquire magazine called Monologue to the Maestro: A High Seas Letter, Ernest Hemingway (July 21, 1899–July 2, 1961) shared his tips for writing...
Classical Wisdom
What is Love? With Armand D’Angour A recording from Classical Wisdom's live video
3 months ago
TheCollector
How Did American Trucks Help the Soviet Union During World War II? Germany’s 1941 Operation Barbarossa hit the Soviet Union like a thunderbolt. The Nazi invasion hit...
a month ago
10
a month ago
Germany’s 1941 Operation Barbarossa hit the Soviet Union like a thunderbolt. The Nazi invasion hit the Soviet’s critical production areas-the Ukraine and Belarus. Trucks became a lesser priority behind tanks or planes. The later American Lend-Lease Agreement helped to reverse...
TheCollector
8 Unmissable Heritage Sites in Beijing Nearly any person you speak to has heard of Beijing’s most famous site — the Great Wall of China....
2 weeks ago
6
2 weeks ago
Nearly any person you speak to has heard of Beijing’s most famous site — the Great Wall of China. However, Beijing is an intriguing city for many other reasons. Ancient temples stand side-by-side with uber-modern skyscrapers. Some residents live in traditional courtyard homes,...
Dreams of Space -...
Rockets and Space Coloring Book (1960) Some nice space pictures (to color) for you today.  Coloring books may be one of the ultimate forms...
2 months ago
34
2 months ago
Some nice space pictures (to color) for you today.  Coloring books may be one of the ultimate forms of ephemera. There were meant to be used, admired? and then thrown away. Yet many children owned them and there were at least 40 issued between 1950 and 1970 on space themes. If...
Classical Wisdom
Should We Navel Gaze? Omphaloskepsis...and What is a Hero?
a year ago
A Collection of...
Fireside Friday, May 9, 2025 (On Lighter Bows) Fireside this week! First off, it seems like last week’s post on the Hollywood myth of archery...
3 weeks ago
18
3 weeks ago
Fireside this week! First off, it seems like last week’s post on the Hollywood myth of archery volley fire really got out there, so if you are a new reader just joining us, welcome! If you are in to discussions of historical tactics with an eye towards correcting common myths in...
Classical Wisdom
The Many Roads to Rome The Ancient Romans VS the Modern Chinese
11 months ago
Hundred Rabbits
Summary of changes for November 2024 Hey everyone! This is the list of all the changes we've done to our projects during the month of...
6 months ago
34
6 months ago
Hey everyone! This is the list of all the changes we've done to our projects during the month of November. Summary Of Changes 100r.co, added an article named A Shining Place Built Upon The Sand, and Week 6 to the Victoria to Sitka Logbook. Rabbit Waves, added a page on Morse Code...
Flashbak
Helen Keller’s Letter on Why Book-Burning Nazis Will Never Defeat Ideas, 1933 “History has taught you nothing if you think you can kill ideas. Tyrants have tried to do that often...
a year ago
15
a year ago
“History has taught you nothing if you think you can kill ideas. Tyrants have tried to do that often before, and the ideas have risen up in their might and destroyed them’ – Helen Keller     Helen Keller is best known for her campaign to help the disabled and support for...
A Collection of...
Collections: Phalanx’s Twilight, Legion’s Triumph, Part IIIb: Pyrrhus This is the second part of the third part of our four(ish) part (Ia, Ib, IIa, IIb, IIIa) look at the...
a year ago
41
a year ago
This is the second part of the third part of our four(ish) part (Ia, Ib, IIa, IIb, IIIa) look at the performance of the Roman army and its legions in the third and second century BC against the Hellenistic armies of the heirs of Alexander. Last time, we sought to assess some of...
Hidden History
The French Space Cat Felicette France joined the Space Race in the 1950s, and one of her missions was a test flight involving the...
4 months ago
77
4 months ago
France joined the Space Race in the 1950s, and one of her missions was a test flight involving the first (and so far only) cat to enter space. It did not end well for the cat. In the aftermath of the Second World War, France, under the leadership of General Charles De Gaulle, was...
TheCollector
What Is the Relationship Between the Old and New Testaments? For many years, Bible versions that contain only the New Testament and Psalms have been available on...
4 days ago
3
4 days ago
For many years, Bible versions that contain only the New Testament and Psalms have been available on the market. Understanding what the Bible is all about would be impossible if readers only have access to this limited version of it. The relationship between the Old and New...
Classical Wisdom
Weekend Roundup Free Will Vs Determinism
8 months ago
African History...
a brief note on the history of indigenous and foreign religions in African history, and the Kimpasi... The majority of Africans today primarily identify as Christians and Muslims of various...
9 months ago
47
9 months ago
The majority of Africans today primarily identify as Christians and Muslims of various denominations, with a relatively small fraction adhering to other belief systems often referred to as 'indigenous' or 'traditional' religions.
Flashbak
Real Family Photos: A Mother of Photographs Her Seven Children’s Chaotic Coming Of Age “These photographs are mostly not posed: I just butted into my kids’ personal business and, a lot of...
9 months ago
42
9 months ago
“These photographs are mostly not posed: I just butted into my kids’ personal business and, a lot of times, they weren’t that happy about it. I went to three or four Lollapalooza concerts with my camera when they were there – I busted into things not to supervise them but to take...
Flashbak
Photos of New York City Stores in 1997 New Yorker Meredith Jacobson Marciano has amassed archive of 35mm film shots, Polaroids and early...
a year ago
27
a year ago
New Yorker Meredith Jacobson Marciano has amassed archive of 35mm film shots, Polaroids and early digital photographs in NYC from the mid to late 1970s through the early aughts, “when the city still seemed kind of old”. Much like with Peter Marshall’s pictures of London, Meredith...
Open Culture
What the World Will Look Like in 250 Million Years: Mapping the Distant Future Most of us now accept the idea that all of Earth’s continents were once part of a single, enormous...
a month ago
16
a month ago
Most of us now accept the idea that all of Earth’s continents were once part of a single, enormous land mass. That wasn’t the case in the early nineteen-tens, when the geologist Alfred Wegener (1880–1930) first publicized his theory of not just the supercontinent Pangea, but also...
African History...
on the Nubian priests of Rome and the Moors of Spain When the 12th-century West African scholar Ibrahim al-Kanemi moved to the city of Seville in Spain...
5 months ago
79
5 months ago
When the 12th-century West African scholar Ibrahim al-Kanemi moved to the city of Seville in Spain and became one of the most celebrated Andalusian poets, he wasn't the first from his region to visit the Moorish kingdom.
TheCollector
Iron Age Necropolis Discovered in Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT Abu Dhabi) announced that the first major Iron...
a month ago
21
a month ago
Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT Abu Dhabi) announced that the first major Iron Age necropolis in the United Arab Emirates has been unearthed in the Al Ain region of Abu Dhabi. According to archaeologists, the discovery offers rare insights into the region’s...
Flashbak
Nights at The Fabulous Cabaret Fledermaus by the Wiener Werkstätte, 1907-1913 The Wiener Werkstätte (Vienna Workshop). saw the Cabaret Fledermaus as a place where the “boredom”...
2 weeks ago
9
2 weeks ago
The Wiener Werkstätte (Vienna Workshop). saw the Cabaret Fledermaus as a place where the “boredom” of contemporary life would be replaced by “ease, art and culture”. Opening on October 1907, on the corner of Kärntner Straße 33 and Johannesgasse 1 in Vienna, the club was housed in...
Classical Wisdom
Upcoming Events So you're in the know...
a year ago
Hidden History
Antarctic Snow Cruiser In 1939, the United States began work on a colossal motor vehicle to be used for exploration and...
5 months ago
58
5 months ago
In 1939, the United States began work on a colossal motor vehicle to be used for exploration and field work in Antarctica. By 1939 Antarctica remained as one of the last unexplored regions on the planet. Norwegian adventurer Roald Amundsen had been the first human to reach the...
Flashbak
Marian Henel and His Perverted Rugs (NSFW) These large-scale rugs and self-portrait photographs were created by Marian Henel (1926-1993), who...
6 months ago
29
6 months ago
These large-scale rugs and self-portrait photographs were created by Marian Henel (1926-1993), who spent 32 years as a patient of the Hospital for Psychiatric and Neurological Disorders in Branice, Poland. Admitted to the hospital’s Psychopathological Art Expression workshop in...
Flashbak
1970s Graffiti in Dirty Old Boston British bands were big in 1970s Boston. Fans of X-Ray Secs, Billy Idol, Sham 69 and the Buzzcocks...
a year ago
20
a year ago
British bands were big in 1970s Boston. Fans of X-Ray Secs, Billy Idol, Sham 69 and the Buzzcocks sprayed the bands’ names on the city’s walls. The stories behind other graffiti photographed by Meredith Jacobson Marciano is less obvious. Were the Lesbian Turds a band? The New...
History Today Feed
‘Rot: A History of the Irish Famine’ by Padraic X. Scanlan review ‘Rot: A History of the Irish Famine’ by Padraic X. Scanlan review JamesHoare Tue, 04/29/2025 - 08:50
a month ago
Flashbak
Plants With Faces From A 15th-Century Italian Medicine Book The 15th-century Italian herbalist could consult the illustrated Erbario and thereby know the latest...
a year ago
16
a year ago
The 15th-century Italian herbalist could consult the illustrated Erbario and thereby know the latest medieval conventions, sometimes depicted in water colour with fantastic elements such as human faces. The medicinal properties and preparations of the plants.     Via University...
Classical Wisdom
Hades The God of the Dead
a year ago
Open Culture
The Story of How Quentin Tarantino Became a Filmmaker and Created Pulp Fiction, as Told by Quentin... For a film, explained a young Quentin Tarantino in one interview, “the real test of time isn’t the...
4 months ago
41
4 months ago
For a film, explained a young Quentin Tarantino in one interview, “the real test of time isn’t the Friday that it opens. It’s how the film is thought of thirty years from now.” It just so happens that Pulp Fiction, which made Tarantino the most celebrated director in America...
TheCollector
What Happened to Mary, the Mother of Jesus? Lauded in the world’s two largest religions as the mother of God’s Chosen One—for Muslims a great...
a week ago
4
a week ago
Lauded in the world’s two largest religions as the mother of God’s Chosen One—for Muslims a great prophet and for Christians God incarnate— Mary of Nazareth is almost without contest the most famous woman who ever lived. Yet, very little was recorded and preserved about her life...
Global Inequality...
2x2 geopolitics Wars and ideology simplified
11 months ago
Classical Wisdom
What makes a good friend? 'Birds of a feather’? Or 'the proverbial potters'?
a year ago
Overcoming Bias
Beware Value Dashboards Vehicles like cars, planes, and boats generally need a) an engine to push them forward, b) steering...
7 months ago
15
7 months ago
Vehicles like cars, planes, and boats generally need a) an engine to push them forward, b) steering to direct their motions, and c) a driver to manage both.
Classical Wisdom
Last Chance: The Essential Greeks Starting Tomorrow
a year ago
TheCollector
Interview With Adriano Marinazzo: Michelangelo Masterpieces in the US TheCollector recently had the pleasure of speaking with curator Adriano Marinazzo about...
3 months ago
19
3 months ago
TheCollector recently had the pleasure of speaking with curator Adriano Marinazzo about Michelangelo: The Genesis of the Sistine, an exciting new exhibition held at the Muscarelle Museum of Art at William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. On view from March 6 to May 28, 2025, the...
TheCollector
Was Chernobyl the Catalyst for the Soviet Union’s Collapse? On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant exploded. The fallout left large parts of modern-day...
2 months ago
18
2 months ago
On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant exploded. The fallout left large parts of modern-day Ukraine and Belarus uninhabitable. Six years after the explosion, the Soviet Union collapsed. Many historians, including Mikhail Gorbachev himself, believe Chernobyl was the real...
Trying to Understand...
In Praise of the Preterite Or, why you should read "Gravity’s Rainbow" fifty years later.
over a year ago
TheCollector
Titus: The Roman Emperor Who Conquered Jerusalem Titus Caesar Vespasianus ruled Rome for just two years from 79-81 CE after the death of his father...
a month ago
29
a month ago
Titus Caesar Vespasianus ruled Rome for just two years from 79-81 CE after the death of his father Vespasian, the founder of the Flavian Dynasty. His younger brother and successor, Domitian, implied that Titus was just a historical footnote and that he was his father’s true...
Hidden History
The Ancient Egyptian Game of Mehen Mehen may be the oldest true board game in the world, and dates back to at least 3000 BCE. But...
6 months ago
16
6 months ago
Mehen may be the oldest true board game in the world, and dates back to at least 3000 BCE. But recent study has completely changed the way we think about this game. History In 1861, French archaeologists Auguste Mariette and Jacques de Morgan found a tomb at Saqqara that was...
A Collection of...
Collections: Phalanx’s Twilight, Legion’s Triumph, Part IIa: How a Legion Fights This is the first part of the second part of our four? four part look at the great third and second...
a year ago
37
a year ago
This is the first part of the second part of our four? four part look at the great third and second century BC contest between the Hellenistic armies of the heirs of Alexander and the Roman legions. Last time, we looked at the Hellenistic army as a complete system, incorporating...
Flashbak
Taking A Subway Ride Through New York City In 1981 1970s New York City was where Fernando played truant, chopper gangs hogged the sidewalks, sex was...
a year ago
27
a year ago
1970s New York City was where Fernando played truant, chopper gangs hogged the sidewalks, sex was sold, women raged in raucous nightclubs, gay rights found its voice, Madonna joined her first band, BLADE used trains as his canvas and  In 1981, 22-year-old Christopher Morris was...
African History...
Early civilizations of ancient Africa and the pre-Aksumite civilization of the northern Horn. In the closing decades of the 20th century, archaeologists working to uncover the foundations of...
8 months ago
44
8 months ago
In the closing decades of the 20th century, archaeologists working to uncover the foundations of urbanism and complex societies in West Africa discovered a vast cluster of stone ruins in southern Mauritania.
Flashbak
16 Characters From A Film Never Made : Found Photos From The American Dream Film noir was coined in 1946 by the Italian-born French critic Nino Frank to describe the crime...
7 months ago
34
7 months ago
Film noir was coined in 1946 by the Italian-born French critic Nino Frank to describe the crime thrillers laced with smoky cynicism, femme fatales and amoral ambiguity first produced by Hollywood in the 1940s. “These ‘dark’ films, these films noirs, no longer have anything in...
Wrong Side of...
The Transition The Great Awokening and the end of the cultural revolution
a month ago
Classical Wisdom
Aristotle on Luck Do You Feel Lucky?
a year ago
Hidden History
The Japanese Mafia and the Card Game of Koi-Koi The card game of Koi-Koi is closely identified with the Japanese Mafia, known as Yakuza, which had...
6 months ago
23
6 months ago
The card game of Koi-Koi is closely identified with the Japanese Mafia, known as Yakuza, which had its origin some 400 years ago in early attempts by the Shoguns to ban gambling and European playing cards. History When the Portuguese arrived in Japan in 1543, they established...
TheCollector
Homer’s Odyssey Summary: A Rhapsody-by-Rhapsody Breakdown The Greek epic poem The Odyssey is attributed to Homer and is often described as the sequel to The...
a week ago
7
a week ago
The Greek epic poem The Odyssey is attributed to Homer and is often described as the sequel to The Iliad. The Odyssey picks up after the fall of Troy and follows Odysseus (also Ulysses), the king of Ithaca, who fought on the side of the Greeks, as he journeys home. He is blown...
Classical Wisdom
Introducing....Classical Wisdom Books! Plus... Merch!
a year ago
Trying to Understand...
Stop Making Sense. There are no "why"s in our world.
a year ago
Classical Wisdom
The Greco-Roman-Indian Exchange Podcast with Professor Roberto Morales
2 weeks ago
Overcoming Bias
Culture-Guiding Futarchy Most possible solutions to cultural drift offer humanity little conscious collective control over...
a month ago
4
a month ago
Most possible solutions to cultural drift offer humanity little conscious collective control over its future.
Classical Wisdom
Weekend Roundup Wisdom for the New Year
4 months ago
Hundred Rabbits
Summary of changes for January 2023 Hey everyone! This is the list of all the changes we've done to our projects and apps during the...
over a year ago
10
over a year ago
Hey everyone! This is the list of all the changes we've done to our projects and apps during the month of January. We'll also be reporting in our on position in the world, and on our future plans. Summary Of Changes 100r.co, added electrical refit(portal for AC & DC...
Trying to Understand...
My Substack in Other Languages. Starting with Spanish.
a year ago
Trying to Understand...
If We Had More Than a Hammer ... We might not be in this mess.
over a year ago
Wrong Side of...
Labour’s demographic crisis Will they lose the 'green wall'?
a month ago
TheCollector
The Complex and Contentious History of Crimea The status of the Crimean Peninsula has entered international public consciousness over the past...
3 months ago
11
3 months ago
The status of the Crimean Peninsula has entered international public consciousness over the past decade. Since the events of 2014, when it was annexed from Ukraine by the Russian Federation, the state has been labeled as occupied by some and liberated by others.   This, however,...
TheCollector
7 Works by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec You Should Know Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was a famous artist and poster painter, who became known for his images of...
2 weeks ago
6
2 weeks ago
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was a famous artist and poster painter, who became known for his images of popular performers and dancers of his time. He came from a privileged background but was excluded from the higher classes due to his disability. Toulouse-Lautrec found his home...
A Collection of...
Collections: Phalanx’s Twilight, Legion’s Triumph, Part Ib: Subjects of the Successors This is the second part of the first part of our four part look at the context between the...
a year ago
72
a year ago
This is the second part of the first part of our four part look at the context between the Hellenistic army and its Macedonian phalanx and the Romans with their legions. Last week, we looked at the weapons, organization and fighting style of the Macedonian phalanx, the infantry...
TheCollector
Who Is Mary in Islam? Mary’s status in Christianity as the most divinely-favored woman in history is without dispute....
2 months ago
12
2 months ago
Mary’s status in Christianity as the most divinely-favored woman in history is without dispute. While Protestants afford her a lower status than do Catholic and Orthodox Christians, she is still honored by Christians of all stripes as the mother and sole biological parent of...
TheCollector
What Did Einstein Say About Capitalism? Albert Einstein’s brain, Roland Barthes once wrote, “is a mythical object.” His genius is...
2 months ago
19
2 months ago
Albert Einstein’s brain, Roland Barthes once wrote, “is a mythical object.” His genius is immortalized in the public imagination through a single, elegant equation: E = mc². His theories of relativity, his wild grey hair, and his outstretched tongue define his image. However, far...
African History...
a brief note on African agency in its historical contacts with the rest of the world. the indigenous and the foreign in Benin art
a year ago
Global Inequality...
The ideology of Donald J. Trump Does Donald J.
6 months ago
Flashbak
Teenagers at Home In the 1980s and 90s In 38 Photos “As a teenager you are at the last stage in your life when you will be happy to hear that the phone...
a year ago
18
a year ago
“As a teenager you are at the last stage in your life when you will be happy to hear that the phone is for you.” ― Fran Lebowitz     We’re back looking at teenagers at home and in their bedrooms in the 1980 an 1990s. We’ve been back there before, checking our the snapshot …...
African History...
Self-representation in African art: the wall paintings of medieval Nubia. (ca. 700-1400) an African portrait of an African society
a year ago
Overcoming Bias
Our Authoritarian Default Many intellectuals, and intellectual wannabes, would, if pressed accept that UFOs seem sufficiently...
7 months ago
13
7 months ago
Many intellectuals, and intellectual wannabes, would, if pressed accept that UFOs seem sufficiently puzzling to justify more careful study.
History Today Feed
‘Buddhism’ by Donald S. Lopez Jr. review ‘Buddhism’ by Donald S. Lopez Jr. review JamesHoare Mon, 03/31/2025 - 08:57
2 months ago
Trying to Understand...
In the Shallows Of The Deep State. But is there anything there?
5 months ago
Classical Wisdom
On the Obscenity of Ovid & Gorgeous George's Self-censorship
8 months ago
TheCollector
Centuries-Old Buddhist Temple Destroyed by Wildfires Wildfires tearing through the southern regions of South Korea have killed at least 28 people and...
2 months ago
19
2 months ago
Wildfires tearing through the southern regions of South Korea have killed at least 28 people and destroyed or threatened hundreds of historical sites. As of Thursday, the wildfires have burned at least 88,980 acres of land, according to the South Korean government’s disaster...
TheCollector
Post-Modern Stoics? The Revival of Stoicism in the Late 20th Century It probably should not be too much of a surprise that Stoicism, one of the most deviant and...
3 months ago
13
3 months ago
It probably should not be too much of a surprise that Stoicism, one of the most deviant and uncharacteristic branches of ancient philosophy (the Cynics notwithstanding), should attract the attention of late 20th-century intelligentsia. Even Plotinus spoke of the Stoics as being...
Flashbak
Nudes With Attitude from Vienna’s Studio Manasse (NSFW) Actress Olga Solarics (1895-1969) and her husband, a former Austro-Hungarian army officer with an...
a month ago
20
a month ago
Actress Olga Solarics (1895-1969) and her husband, a former Austro-Hungarian army officer with an artistic background, Adorja’n von Wlassics (1893-1946) ran the Studio Manasse Foto-Salon in Vienna, Austria, from 1922 til 1938. The studio was big on nudes and left a fabulous...
Overcoming Bias
Prioritizing Concrete Proposals I think often about the non-immediate future, and wonder how to best allocate effort to make that...
7 months ago
12
7 months ago
I think often about the non-immediate future, and wonder how to best allocate effort to make that future better. And the first steps in this process are often to identify interesting classes of scenarios, and then estimate their desirability, chances, and ease of influence.
TheCollector
Avalon: The Mysterious Island of Arthurian Legend One of the most famous locations in the Arthurian legends is the Isle of Avalon. This was the...
2 months ago
11
2 months ago
One of the most famous locations in the Arthurian legends is the Isle of Avalon. This was the mysterious island to which King Arthur was said to have been taken after he was severely wounded at the Battle of Camlann. It is shrouded in mystery, especially because it is a place...
Classical Wisdom
ICYMI: Emperors, Conquerors and Saints New Cabins *NOW* Available
a year ago
Flashbak
Maurice Sendak Illustrates William Blake’s Songs of Innocence In 1967, Maurice Sendak (June 10, 1928–May 8, 2012) created eight illustrations for William Blake’s...
a year ago
41
a year ago
In 1967, Maurice Sendak (June 10, 1928–May 8, 2012) created eight illustrations for William Blake’s Songs of Innocence (1789). The booklet’s 275 copies were given to friends of the publisher, The Bodley Head, as Christmas gifts to mark the company’s 80th anniversary.   The idea...
African History...
The African diaspora in Portuguese India: 1500-1800. Sailors, Merchants and Priests.
a year ago
History Today Feed
Brahmins: The Origins of India’s Priestly Caste Brahmins: The Origins of India’s Priestly Caste JamesHoare Wed, 03/19/2025 - 09:01
2 months ago
Open Culture
Why There Isn’t a Bridge from Italy to Sicily – And Why the 2,000-Year-Old Dream of Building the... We’ve all heard of the great American road trip. If you’ve ever dreamt of taking a great Italian...
2 months ago
28
2 months ago
We’ve all heard of the great American road trip. If you’ve ever dreamt of taking a great Italian road trip, you’ve surely come across this inevitable hitch in the plan: you can’t drive to Sicily. You can, of course, put your car on a ferry; you can even take a train that gets put...
TheCollector
What if the Aztecs Had Captured and Killed the Spanish Conquistadors? The place: Tenochtitlan, a metropolis built in the middle of a lake, with floating islands supported...
2 weeks ago
10
2 weeks ago
The place: Tenochtitlan, a metropolis built in the middle of a lake, with floating islands supported by piles. The date: November 1519. Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés and his men must have been astonished. Tenochtitlan had more inhabitants than London or Paris and, in many...
Flashbak
Der Struwwelpeter: Heinrich Hoffmann’s Deadly Book For Naughty Children Just look at him! There he stands, With his nasty hair and hands. See! His nails are never cut; They...
4 months ago
47
4 months ago
Just look at him! There he stands, With his nasty hair and hands. See! His nails are never cut; They are grim’d as black as soot; And the sloven, I declare, Never once has combed his hair; Anything to me is sweeter Than to see this Struwwelpeter. – Der Struwwelpeter (Shaggy-Peter...
CrimethInc.
The Occupation of the Sha'ban al-Dalou Building : A Report-Back from the University of Washington In this anonymously submitted report, participants in the occupation of the engineering building at...
3 weeks ago
15
3 weeks ago
In this anonymously submitted report, participants in the occupation of the engineering building at the University of Washington explore their motivations and recount the events in detail. This courageous action comes as the Israeli military prepares to open a new chapter in its...
Flashbak
Manhattan Noir: John Fensten’s Photographs of New York City in the 1980s John Fensten (American, New York, 1936-2001) studied acting with the world-renowned Actor’s Studio...
8 months ago
44
8 months ago
John Fensten (American, New York, 1936-2001) studied acting with the world-renowned Actor’s Studio with Lee and Susan Strasberg in the late 1950s, early 1960s. He appeared on the critically acclaimed CBS television anthology drama series Playhouse 90. And was a longtime resident...
Flashbak
Sex In A Japanese Love Hotel “These venues have a very ‘talkative’ quality visually – they‘re expressive in design, reflecting...
2 months ago
33
2 months ago
“These venues have a very ‘talkative’ quality visually – they‘re expressive in design, reflecting aspects of local culture, values, and even fantasies” – François Prost, Love Hotels     There are about 37,000 Love Hotels in Japan. Sex on the clock in a rented room is big business...
TheCollector
The Father of Existentialism: Who Was Søren Kierkegaard? Known as the father of existentialism, Kierkegaard has planted the seeds that allowed existential...
a week ago
2
a week ago
Known as the father of existentialism, Kierkegaard has planted the seeds that allowed existential philosophy to flourish and influence generations of great thinkers. Coming from a Christian theological background, he was a philosopher, social critic, and poet. Despite leading a...
A Collection of...
Comes the Hiatus, 2024! Dear Readers! As I’ve noted during the summer, I was planning on a one to two month hiatus towards...
9 months ago
55
9 months ago
Dear Readers! As I’ve noted during the summer, I was planning on a one to two month hiatus towards the end of this year in order to allow me to focus on finalizing the manuscript of my book project, a study of the cost of fielding armies in the third and second centuries BC. That...
Trying to Understand...
You And Whose Army? NATO would do well to stay out of Ukraine.
over a year ago
Classical Wisdom
The American Cincinnatus Washington's Great Inspiration
3 months ago
Trying to Understand...
Externalising Our Hatreds. It's Ukraine and Gaza. Again.
a year ago
The Universe of...
Just give the man the fish! Last week I complained about a Math SE pathology in which OP asks a simple question, and instead of...
6 months ago
11
6 months ago
Last week I complained about a Math SE pathology in which OP asks a simple question, and instead of an answer gets an attempt at a socratic dialog. I ended by saying: I have been banging this drum for decades, but I will cut the scroll here. Expect a followup article. Seeing...
A Collection of...
Collections: How to Roman Republic 101, Part IIIa: Starting Down the Path of Honors This is the third of our planned five part series (I, II) on the structure of the Roman Republic...
a year ago
23
a year ago
This is the third of our planned five part series (I, II) on the structure of the Roman Republic during the third and second centuries. Last time we discussed Rome’s popular assemblies, which at least notionally expressed the will of the people. One of the key tasks those...
Flashbak
Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Was A Trekkie Who Convinced Nichelle Nichols To Stay On The Show Actress Nichelle Nichols (December 28, 1932 – July 30, 2022) once recalled how Dr. Martin Luther...
a year ago
15
a year ago
Actress Nichelle Nichols (December 28, 1932 – July 30, 2022) once recalled how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) convinced her to remain on Star Trek after she had decided to leave the series for a starring role on Broadway. In 1966, Star Trek creator...
Trying to Understand...
The Newer World Order. But can they get their heads round it?
a year ago
Classical Wisdom
Weekend Roundup Plato on Political Polarization
7 months ago
Flashbak
Photos Found In Croton on Hudson from the 1970s These found photos and negatives date from the 1970s and 80s and were taken by James Mc Intyre,...
a month ago
17
a month ago
These found photos and negatives date from the 1970s and 80s and were taken by James Mc Intyre, Croton on Hudson in Westchester County, New York. Some of the subjects have been named. So we’ll add them here, and if you see yourself or someone you know, we’d love to hear from you....
History Today Feed
How the Roman Empire Lost its Gods How the Roman Empire Lost its Gods JamesHoare Thu, 04/24/2025 - 09:19
a month ago
TheCollector
Eye of Horus Symbol: Meaning & Myth Egyptian religion was filled with magical symbols, amulets, and totems. The Eye of Horus, often...
a month ago
21
a month ago
Egyptian religion was filled with magical symbols, amulets, and totems. The Eye of Horus, often called the Wadjet or Wedjat Wye, was one of the most significant. Sometimes seen as a distinctive goddess, it was also represented as an aspect of the sky god, Horus, and seen as a...
History Today Feed
Britain’s Witnesses to Buchenwald Britain’s Witnesses to Buchenwald JamesHoare Thu, 03/20/2025 - 08:55
2 months ago
Global Inequality...
Difficulties with Fanon Observations stimulated by Adam Shatz’s Rebel’s Clinic
16 hours ago
TheCollector
New Banksy Mural Confirmed in South of France Yesterday, after a six-month hiatus, Banksy’s official Instagram account unveiled a new public...
5 days ago
3
5 days ago
Yesterday, after a six-month hiatus, Banksy’s official Instagram account unveiled a new public mural: a small lighthouse on a beige building facade. The mystery of the mural’s location has since been solved. Its intended meaning, however, is still up for debate.   Banksy Unveils...