Full Width [alt+shift+f] FOCUS MODE Shortcuts [alt+shift+k]
Sign Up [alt+shift+s] Log In [alt+shift+l]
Top Categories > history
#all #programming #history #technology #startups #life #science #literature #creative #architecture #design #travel #finance #comics #AI #indiehacker #cartography Muted Categories [alt+←][alt+→]
Flashbak
Wisconsin Death Trip, 1973 – Small Town America In The Grip of Madness For more than 60 years, Charles Van Schaick (1852-1946) worked as a photographer in the town of...
a month ago
22
a month ago
For more than 60 years, Charles Van Schaick (1852-1946) worked as a photographer in the town of Black River Falls, Wisconsin. Opened in 1879, he took around 8,000 of glass plate negatives, of which approximately 5,700 are studio portraits. The Charles Van Schaick collection, now...
TheCollector
9 Strangest Colors in Art History Humans have always been fascinated with color and its transformations. Starting from earth pigments...
2 months ago
17
2 months ago
Humans have always been fascinated with color and its transformations. Starting from earth pigments at the dawn of humankind, they moved to experimenting with minerals, organic substances, and even synthetic materials to create new tones to use in art and design. Some of these...
History Today Feed
‘The Invention of the Eastern Question’ by Ozan Ozavcı review ‘The Invention of the Eastern Question’ by Ozan Ozavcı review JamesHoare Tue, 08/19/2025 - 08:29
a week ago
TheCollector
Who Is Mary in Islam? Mary’s status in Christianity as the most divinely-favored woman in history is without dispute....
5 months ago
22
5 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 Is Latin America? Definition, History, & the Rise of “Abya Yala” Latin America is a geographical, geopolitical, and cultural concept defined by the common...
3 months ago
27
3 months ago
Latin America is a geographical, geopolitical, and cultural concept defined by the common characteristics of some of the countries located on the American continent. Most well-known is the use of Latin-derived languages such as Spanish, Portuguese, and French as their official...
African History...
The Knights of ancient Nubia: horsemen and charioteers from the kingdom of Kush (ca. 1600BC-400CE) Among the groups of foreigners present in the Assyrian capital of Nimrud in 732 BC, was a community...
5 months ago
46
5 months ago
Among the groups of foreigners present in the Assyrian capital of Nimrud in 732 BC, was a community of horse experts from the kingdom of Kush led by an official who supplied horses to the armies of Tiglath-Pileser III.
Open Culture
William Faulkner’s Review of Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea (1952) Images via Wikimedia Commons In the mid-20th century, the two big dogs in the American literary...
4 months ago
52
4 months ago
Images via Wikimedia Commons In the mid-20th century, the two big dogs in the American literary scene were William Faulkner and Ernest Hemingway. Both were internationally revered, both were masters of the novel and the short story, and both won Nobel Prizes. Born in Mississippi,...
TheCollector
What Was the First Council of Constantinople? The First Council of Constantinople was the second of seven ecumenical councils of the early...
5 months ago
17
5 months ago
The First Council of Constantinople was the second of seven ecumenical councils of the early Christian Church. Convened in 381 CE, it dealt with issues regarding Divine and Human natures of Jesus Christ. In 325 CE, the Council of Nicaea produced the Nicene Creed, and primarily...
Open Culture
Bob Dylan Explains Why Music Has Been Getting Worse One often hears that there’s no money to be made in music anymore. But then, there was no money to...
5 months ago
41
5 months ago
One often hears that there’s no money to be made in music anymore. But then, there was no money to be made in music when Bob Dylan started his career either—at least according to Bob Dylan. “If you could just support yourself, you were doin’ good,” he says in an interview clip...
TheCollector
The Celtic Gods Hiding in Welsh Mythology Welsh mythology is a product of medieval Britain. It is found in medieval documents from Wales in...
5 days ago
7
5 days ago
Welsh mythology is a product of medieval Britain. It is found in medieval documents from Wales in various forms, such as poems, prose tales, and triads containing brief references to otherwise forgotten stories. Significantly, the Welsh are, along with the Cornish and the...
History Today Feed
How the Roman Empire Lost its Gods How the Roman Empire Lost its Gods JamesHoare Thu, 04/24/2025 - 09:19
4 months ago
Hundred Rabbits
hello fujisan It's 8h00 pm on a cold dark winter night, we are outside of Shimizu harbor motoring in circles and...
over a year ago
18
over a year ago
It's 8h00 pm on a cold dark winter night, we are outside of Shimizu harbor motoring in circles and waiting for a response from Shimizu Port Control. The temperature is 4 °C, the wind is blowing hard and our clothes are wet and caked with salt. We’re tired and hungry, waiting for...
TheCollector
8 Locations in Greece Related to the Odyssey Homer’s The Odyssey has been a cornerstone of Western literature for millennia, chronicling the epic...
5 months ago
37
5 months ago
Homer’s The Odyssey has been a cornerstone of Western literature for millennia, chronicling the epic journey of King Odysseus as he strives to return home after the Trojan War. This timeless narrative has inspired countless adaptations, with the latest being Christopher Nolan’s...
TheCollector
3 Key Muslim Leaders Who Rose During the Second Crusade Pope Urban II’s call for a crusade to the Holy Land saw an astonishing response across Western...
6 months ago
26
6 months ago
Pope Urban II’s call for a crusade to the Holy Land saw an astonishing response across Western Europe. A desire for wealth, adventure, and salvation saw the launch of the First Crusade in 1096. Three years later, Jerusalem fell to Christian advances. Shock waves rippled...
TheCollector
What Do Lutherans Believe? The Lutheran Church originates directly from Martin Luther, the renowned reformer. Luther objected...
3 months ago
43
3 months ago
The Lutheran Church originates directly from Martin Luther, the renowned reformer. Luther objected to the abuses, immorality, and worldliness of the Catholic Church but never intended to oppose or rebel against the authority of the Church. Rather, he wanted to reform the Church...
Overcoming Bias
No Meta Status Orgs In health and medicine, we have many government agencies, and private philanthropies, devoted to...
9 months ago
19
9 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.
Classical Wisdom
Where did the time go? Important Notice
9 months ago
TheCollector
Decoding Hieronymus Bosch’s Vision in the Garden of Earthly Delights The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch remains a complex riddle that is next to...
2 weeks ago
7
2 weeks ago
The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch remains a complex riddle that is next to impossible to solve. The three-panel work includes images of Heaven and Hell, as well as strange portrayals of human sin. Bosch was a deeply religious and god-fearing man who reflected his...
TheCollector
The Qin: How One Dynasty United Ancient China Few dynasties have had the cultural or historical impact that the Qin Dynasty had. China has a rich,...
2 months ago
21
2 months ago
Few dynasties have had the cultural or historical impact that the Qin Dynasty had. China has a rich, varied, and sometimes complex history—but it all had to start somewhere. The Qin Dynasty was ancient China’s first imperial dynasty, and its legacy meant that China would be ruled...
Classical Wisdom
Fiction for Heraclitus? Clean. White. Sheets.
3 months ago
Flashbak
Mazes and Labyrinths: An Illustrated History (1922) “There is no route out of the maze. The maze shifts as you move through it, because it is alive.” –...
8 months ago
55
8 months ago
“There is no route out of the maze. The maze shifts as you move through it, because it is alive.” – Philip K. Dick, VALIS     William H. Matthews leads us through his 1922 book Mazes and Labyrinths from his home in Ruislip in the English county of Middlesex. Compiled shortly...
TheCollector
What Are Some of Rome’s Unsolved Mysteries? From the strange disappearance of the ninth legion to the unknown substances that made up Roman...
3 weeks ago
17
3 weeks ago
From the strange disappearance of the ninth legion to the unknown substances that made up Roman concrete, we take a closer look at a series of Rome’s greatest mysteries, which are largely unknown at the time of publication.   The Ninth Legion   One of the more famous Roman...
TheCollector
The Celts & Celtic Mythology in Popular Culture Historic cultures often inspire modern artists and are reimagined for consumption as popular...
a month ago
19
a month ago
Historic cultures often inspire modern artists and are reimagined for consumption as popular culture. The Celts are no exception. While attempts at genuine historical portrayals of Celtic history and culture are rare, the recent television series Brittania being a notable...
A Collection of...
Gap Week: December 27, 2024 (Year in Review) Hey folks! Year is coming to a close, so once again I’m going to offer a bit of an end-of-year...
8 months ago
122
8 months ago
Hey folks! Year is coming to a close, so once again I’m going to offer a bit of an end-of-year reflection on the state of the project, along with a brief ‘what’s on the stove’ coverage of what may be coming up. Also, here’s a cat picture: In terms of the project itself, 2024 was,...
African History...
a brief note on the intellectual contributions of African scholars in the diaspora the biography of a West African mathematician in Cairo.
a year ago
TheCollector
Can God Make You Act Immorally? Kierkegaard’s Fear and Trembling Fear and Trembling has become required reading for anyone interested in existentialism or Biblical...
3 weeks ago
11
3 weeks ago
Fear and Trembling has become required reading for anyone interested in existentialism or Biblical exegesis. In this short text, Kierkegaard poses several challenging and complex philosophical and theological ideas. Here, we examine three key ideas expressed in the text: the...
TheCollector
What Is Christian Pacifism? Exploring Non-Violent Resistance Not only does the New Testament present Jesus as having refrained from using violence, he also...
4 months ago
12
4 months ago
Not only does the New Testament present Jesus as having refrained from using violence, he also reportedly taught his followers to love their enemies and to respond to evil with good. While Jesus taught that God would one day judge the wicked, he never suggests that humans should...
Open Culture
The Ancient Greeks Who Converted to Buddhism It would hardly be notable to make the acquaintance of a Greek Buddhist today. Despite having...
5 months ago
35
5 months ago
It would hardly be notable to make the acquaintance of a Greek Buddhist today. Despite having originated in Asia, that religion — or philosophy, or way of life, or whatever you prefer to call it — now has adherents all over the world. Modern-day Buddhists need not make an arduous...
TheCollector
Long-Lost City Ruins Likely Tied to Alexander the Great Once believed to be an ancient military outpost, an archaeological site in North Macedonia may...
4 months ago
25
4 months ago
Once believed to be an ancient military outpost, an archaeological site in North Macedonia may actually be the remains of Lyncus, the lost capital city of the Kingdom of Lyncestis. Settled in the 7th century BCE, Lyncus was once an important hub for the Upper Macedonian Kingdom....
A Collection of...
Collections: On Bread and Circuses Coming off of some of the discussion of Gladiator II (I, II), this week I want to discuss the place...
8 months ago
96
8 months ago
Coming off of some of the discussion of Gladiator II (I, II), this week I want to discuss the place of ‘bread and circuses’ in the narrative of Roman decadence and decline. This is one of those phrases which long ago entered the standard lexicon, but which gets used and...
Overcoming Bias
Seek What Outcomes Via Futarchy? There’s an off chance that futarchy might solve cultural drift, if we could show that it works, then...
4 months ago
41
4 months ago
There’s an off chance that futarchy might solve cultural drift, if we could show that it works, then get some big place to adopt it, and also get them to set an outcome metric in conflict with civ collapse.
Flashbak
Great Photos: Le Mariage des Diables Blancs, May 22 1954 On May 22 1954, tightrope walkers Berthy Omankowsky and Roger Decugis married on a rope stretched...
a year ago
49
a year ago
On May 22 1954, tightrope walkers Berthy Omankowsky and Roger Decugis married on a rope stretched high above the Place du Capitole in Toulouse, France. The wedding of two members of the Franco-Czechoslovakian (Diables Blancs) White Devils Company was overseen by Father Robert...
TheCollector
The 6 Most Important Church Councils in Christian History Christian history has seen many Church councils where matters of doctrinal concern have been...
a month ago
19
a month ago
Christian history has seen many Church councils where matters of doctrinal concern have been discussed and clarified. Some, like the First Vatican Council which established the doctrine of Papal Infallibility when speaking ex-cathedra, have little bearing on Christianity as a...
Open Culture
Fred Armisen & Bill Hader’s Comedic Take on the History of Simon and Garfunkel During their days filming Documentary Now!, a mockumentary series that aired on IFC, Fred Armisen...
7 months ago
53
7 months ago
During their days filming Documentary Now!, a mockumentary series that aired on IFC, Fred Armisen and Bill Hader teamed up and created a fictionalized “history” of Simon and Garfunkel, telling the “real” story behind the making of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and “Mrs....
Flashbak
Frank Stewart’s Portraits of The American Journey – A Story of Jazz And Justice “Just how somebody in photographs can treat black people with dignity. That I’d never seen before” –...
10 months ago
43
10 months ago
“Just how somebody in photographs can treat black people with dignity. That I’d never seen before” – Frank Stewart   Frank Stewart (born 1949) was 14 when he took his trained his Kodak Brownie on the March on Washington for Jobs in Freedom, otherwise known as the Great March in...
TheCollector
Absolute Monarchy and the Divine Right of Kings: History & Definition In the early modern period, it was not rare for the ruler to claim the divine right to rule and to...
3 months ago
31
3 months ago
In the early modern period, it was not rare for the ruler to claim the divine right to rule and to proclaim himself above the earthly laws. Absolute monarchy was one of the common political systems and had a lot of sympathizers not only among the rulers and kings but also among...
Trying to Understand...
It's All About Them. But the Western Security Complex thinks it's all about Us.
a year ago
TheCollector
Mexican Muralism: Defining a Nation’s Post-Revolution Identity After the Mexican Revolution, the country was left fragmented and impoverished. In this context, the...
4 months ago
38
4 months ago
After the Mexican Revolution, the country was left fragmented and impoverished. In this context, the construction of a new national identity based on revolutionary ideals—such as social justice and inclusion—was necessary to unify the country and legitimize the ruling party,...
TheCollector
The Myth of Morgan le Fey: The Witch of Arthurian Legend Morgan le Fey, or Morgan le Fay, is a character who appears in many versions of the Arthurian...
2 months ago
18
2 months ago
Morgan le Fey, or Morgan le Fay, is a character who appears in many versions of the Arthurian legends and is a popular character in modern retellings. She is famous as an evil sorceress who schemed against King Arthur throughout his life. In reality, she was more complicated than...
African History...
The African diaspora in Portuguese India: 1500-1800. Sailors, Merchants and Priests.
a year ago
Flashbak
Ernest Hemingway’s Six-Word Short Story “For sale: Baby shoes. Never worn.” – the six-word story attributed to Ernest Hemingway   You might...
a year ago
50
a year ago
“For sale: Baby shoes. Never worn.” – the six-word story attributed to Ernest Hemingway   You might have heard that Ernest Hemingway wrote a six-word short story in response to a $10 bet that so few words could make the reader cry. Hemingway won with: “For sale: Baby shoes. Never...
Res Obscura
On 17th century "cocaine" A new analysis of mummified brains pushes back the timeline for the globalization of coca
10 months ago
TheCollector
Venus Cloacina: Meet the Roman Sewer Goddess Over the course of their history, the Romans built a complex and dense network of sewers in the city...
5 months ago
62
5 months ago
Over the course of their history, the Romans built a complex and dense network of sewers in the city of Rome. However, only one of them was held in the highest regard. It was the oldest sewer in the city, and it was called Cloaca Maxima (“The Greatest Sewer”). In the beginning,...
Res Obscura
Onfim's world Child artists in history
4 months ago
The Scholar's Stage
More on Xi Jinping’s Industrial Drive + London Meet Up A few items of interest to my readers: First, at the end of last month I appeared on the German...
a year ago
57
a year ago
A few items of interest to my readers: First, at the end of last month I appeared on the German Marshall Fund's China Global podcast to discuss the CPC's current techno-industrial drive. You can listen to the full thing on Simplecast, Apple Podcast, or in the embed below:
Open Culture
When Christmas Was Legally Banned for 22 Years by the Puritans in Colonial Massachusetts Complaints about the commercial-age corruption of Christmas miss one critical fact: as a mass public...
8 months ago
42
8 months ago
Complaints about the commercial-age corruption of Christmas miss one critical fact: as a mass public celebration, the holiday is a rather recent invention. Whether we credit Charles Dickens, Bing Crosby, or Frank Capra—men not opposed to marketing—we must reckon with Christmas as...
TheCollector
How Dark Age Britain Created Welsh Mythology Many mythologies from around the world are based in a historical setting. For example, in the case...
a month ago
18
a month ago
Many mythologies from around the world are based in a historical setting. For example, in the case of ancient Greek mythology, many scholars agree that much of it originates in some sense from Bronze Age Greece. What about Welsh mythology? Over the 20th century, many scholars...
TheCollector
Could the Trojan War Have Occurred in the Iron Age? The Trojan War is undoubtedly the most famous conflict in Greek legend. The ancient Greeks wrote...
a month ago
11
a month ago
The Trojan War is undoubtedly the most famous conflict in Greek legend. The ancient Greeks wrote about it extensively, and there are many statements regarding when it took place. These claims, although not all consistent, generally point to c. 1200 BCE as the date of the Trojan...
Open Culture
The Engineering of the Strandbeest: How the Magnificent Mechanical Creatures Have Technologically... Life evolves, but machines are invented: this dichotomy hardly conflicts with what most of us have...
8 months ago
79
8 months ago
Life evolves, but machines are invented: this dichotomy hardly conflicts with what most of us have learned about biology and technology. But certain specimens roaming around in the world can blur that line — and in the curious case of the Strandbeesten, they really are roaming...
Global Inequality...
Cultural revolution in the land of Kafka and Borges On Peter Kropotkin's Memoirs
11 months ago