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Flashbak
Momoyogusa (A World of Things) by Kamisaka Sekka (1909-1910) Kamisaka Sekka (Japanese 1866 – 1942) produced his woodblock print masterpiece Momoyogusa (A World...
7 months ago
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7 months ago
Kamisaka Sekka (Japanese 1866 – 1942) produced his woodblock print masterpiece Momoyogusa (A World of Things) between 1909 and 1910. The three-volume set of 60 images, commissioned by the publishing firm Unsōdō of Kyoto, borrows its name from the eighth-century poetic text...
Overcoming Bias
Surprisingly Blind You might expect us to understand our romantic couple breakups very well.
3 months ago
Classical Wisdom
Should We Try to Control Nature? Thoughts from the edge of a hurricane
a year ago
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
43
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...
History Today Feed
The Hunt for Martin Marprelate The Hunt for Martin Marprelate JamesHoare Wed, 08/20/2025 - 08:12
a week ago
Flashbak
Ibiza Undressed – Uninhibited Clubbing in the 1980s (NSFW) “Happiness isn’t forever. We were happy and we didn’t know it.” – Alex Maspon on Ibiza in the 1980s...
5 months ago
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5 months ago
“Happiness isn’t forever. We were happy and we didn’t know it.” – Alex Maspon on Ibiza in the 1980s     In these straightened times of polarised debate, herd mentality, religious fundamentalism and social conformity we need Oriol Maspons’ pictures of 1980s Ibiza. The Spanish...
TheCollector
How Did the Crusades Reintroduce the Classical Tradition to the West? Intellectual life in the modern West traces its origins to the ancient Greeks and Romans. However,...
4 months ago
34
4 months ago
Intellectual life in the modern West traces its origins to the ancient Greeks and Romans. However, by the launch of the First Crusade, Latin Christendom had lost touch with large parts of the classical tradition. During the crusading period, Western Christian nations came into...
TheCollector
Excavations Reveal Ancient “Mosaic House” in Pergamon Turkish archaeologists discovered 2,000-year-old mosaics in Pergamon, an important center of power...
6 months ago
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6 months ago
Turkish archaeologists discovered 2,000-year-old mosaics in Pergamon, an important center of power and culture in Hellenistic Greece. The “ornate” tile floors, which belong to a Roman period residence, offer new insights into the lives of the ancient city’s elite.   Mosaic House...
Classical Wisdom
Homer Vs Hesiod Poets of War and Peace
4 months ago
Hidden History
The Sobibor Rebellion In October 1943, inmates at the Nazi extermination camp in Sobibor, in Poland, organized an uprising...
6 months ago
48
6 months ago
In October 1943, inmates at the Nazi extermination camp in Sobibor, in Poland, organized an uprising that destroyed the camp and led to the escape of hundreds of prisoners. In January 1942, a group of fifteen Nazi government officials met in the Wannsee suburb of Berlin with...
TheCollector
Bayezid the “Thunderbolt”, the Ottoman Sultan Who Died in Captivity In the late 14th century, Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I annexed several Turkic emirates to ensure the...
2 months ago
30
2 months ago
In the late 14th century, Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I annexed several Turkic emirates to ensure the political unity of Anatolia (modern-day Turkey). The lords who had their principalities usurped by Bayezid requested the aid of Timur, founder of the Samarqand-based Timurid dynasty,...
Res Obscura
I talked to Terry Gross! A brief update about the publication of "Tripping on Utopia" before we return to regularly scheduled...
a year ago
42
a year ago
A brief update about the publication of "Tripping on Utopia" before we return to regularly scheduled posting
TheCollector
The Enduring Legacy of Suetonius, Rome’s Most Controversial Biographer Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus was an ambitious imperial official under the Roman Emperor Hadrian,...
a month ago
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a month ago
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus was an ambitious imperial official under the Roman Emperor Hadrian, whose name has come down through history for writing imperial biographies of Rome’s first emperors, called The Twelve Caesars. While his position at court gave him unique access to...
TheCollector
10 Must-Visit Historic Towns in Maine Maine’s story begins long before statehood, with Indigenous cultures, rugged coastlines, and early...
4 months ago
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4 months ago
Maine’s story begins long before statehood, with Indigenous cultures, rugged coastlines, and early European settlements shaping its identity. Over the centuries, Maine has been home to shipbuilders, revolutionaries, fishermen, and artists, each leaving behind traces of their era....
History Today Feed
Sex Workers and Salvation in the Renaissance Sex Workers and Salvation in the Renaissance JamesHoare Tue, 04/22/2025 - 08:02
4 months ago
Classical Wisdom
What Government Governs Best? Is Democracy Still Our Best Bet?
a year ago
TheCollector
What Is the Book of Revelation All About? The Book of Revelation is one of the most awe-inspiring books in the New Testament, with scenes of...
5 months ago
15
5 months ago
The Book of Revelation is one of the most awe-inspiring books in the New Testament, with scenes of cosmic conflict and destruction. Yet, it is called the Revelation of Jesus Christ. As its opening verses indicate, the book is highly symbolic, which lends itself to different...
Open Culture
When Charlie Chaplin Entered a Chaplin Look-Alike Contest & Came in 20th Place Charlie Chaplin started appearing in his first films in 1914—40 films, to be precise—and, by 1915,...
6 months ago
62
6 months ago
Charlie Chaplin started appearing in his first films in 1914—40 films, to be precise—and, by 1915, the United States had a major case of “Chaplinitis.” Chaplin mustaches were suddenly popping up everywhere–as were Chaplin imitators and Chaplin look-alike contests. A young Bob...
Classical Wisdom
The 7 Sages of Ancient Greece From Dwarfs to Wise Men... What's Up With the Number 7?
5 months ago
Trying to Understand...
Stories We Tell Each Other. Because contingency frightens us.
6 months ago
Hundred Rabbits
doldrumming Here we go again, time for another passage. We left Fiji on October 23rd 2018, eager to spend some...
over a year ago
21
over a year ago
Here we go again, time for another passage. We left Fiji on October 23rd 2018, eager to spend some time on the water again. Our plan, was to stop by Tuvalu, maybe Kiribati, before arriving in Majuro in the Marshall islands where we'd be spending two months before moving off west...
Res Obscura
How well can AI imitate a 17th century doctor? Arcadio Huang is ill in 1710s Paris. Can GPT-4 and Gemini find a cure?
a year ago
Classical Wisdom
Back in Stock! Mea Culpa
a year ago
TheCollector
10 Must-Visit Historic Small Towns in the UK From the Norman Conquest to the Tudor wool boom, from monastic power to the Industrial Age, the UK’s...
4 months ago
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4 months ago
From the Norman Conquest to the Tudor wool boom, from monastic power to the Industrial Age, the UK’s most defining moments have left their imprint on landscapes far beyond the major cities. Historic castles, abbey ruins, medieval marketplaces, and literary landmarks can all be...
Flashbak
Painting The Celestial Afterglow after Krakatoa, 1888 On the 27th August 1883, the Krakatoa (Krakatau) volcano exploded and the sky changed colour. Lying...
a year ago
55
a year ago
On the 27th August 1883, the Krakatoa (Krakatau) volcano exploded and the sky changed colour. Lying on the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra in the Indonesian province of Lampung, Krakatoa was hit by a series of four massive eruptions – the equivalent to 200...
A Collection of...
Fireside Friday, August 16, 2024 Fireside this week! I find I have my thoughts more or less together for the last part of the...
a year ago
73
a year ago
Fireside this week! I find I have my thoughts more or less together for the last part of the Imperator series, but I have not yet gotten them into a satisfying order – a common hazard of writing – so they will have to wait for next week. It’s not yet clear to me if … Continue...
History Today Feed
Renaissance Florence’s Missing Bronzes Renaissance Florence’s Missing Bronzes JamesHoare Tue, 06/10/2025 - 08:18
2 months ago
TheCollector
The House of Bourbon: From Absolutism to the French Revolution Few kings of France faced a more daunting prospect than Henri Bourbon in 1589. France was decades...
3 months ago
24
3 months ago
Few kings of France faced a more daunting prospect than Henri Bourbon in 1589. France was decades into the Wars of Religion, a conflict between Catholic and Protestant factions that had torn the country apart and drained the Crown of much power and prestige. His predecessor Henri...
Open Culture
Coursera Offers $200 Off of Coursera Plus (Until January 27), Giving You Unlimited Access to Courses... A new deal to start a new year: Coursera is offering a $200 discount on its annual subscription plan...
7 months ago
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7 months ago
A new deal to start a new year: Coursera is offering a $200 discount on its annual subscription plan called “Coursera Plus.” Normally priced at $399, Coursera Plus (now available for $199) gives you access to 90% of Coursera’s courses, Guided Projects, Specializations, and...
Classical Wisdom
Last Call for Classical Gifts Shipping Cutoff imminent
a year ago
Classical Wisdom
Essential Greeks LIVE Webinar Times Join this year's course for a strong foundation in the Classics
a year ago
TheCollector
8 Works by Michelangelo You Should Know Michelangelo Buonarotti was one of the key figures of the Italian Renaissance and art history....
3 months ago
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3 months ago
Michelangelo Buonarotti was one of the key figures of the Italian Renaissance and art history. Equally gifted as a painter and a sculptor, he reportedly learned to sculpt objects from clay before he learned to read and write. His most famous works included Pieta, David, and the...
Classical Wisdom
Virgil and the Aeneid Rome's Greatest Epic
8 months ago
TheCollector
The Forgotten Son of Claudius Who Never Became an Emperor Britannicus was the son of the Roman emperor Claudius and his third wife Messalina. The infant boy...
2 months ago
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2 months ago
Britannicus was the son of the Roman emperor Claudius and his third wife Messalina. The infant boy was proudly named Britannicus by his father following his conquest of Britain, and as Claudius’s only living son, Britannicus was his presumed heir.   But when Messalina fell from...
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...
4 months ago
25
4 months 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,...
TheCollector
How Did King Richard III Become King? Richard III is best known from Shakespeare’s biographical play and for his likely involvement in the...
a month ago
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a month ago
Richard III is best known from Shakespeare’s biographical play and for his likely involvement in the deaths of his nephews. However, his personality and the way he is portrayed in the play and in historical documents have long been questioned.  In the last decade, he has come to...
TheCollector
A Brief History of the First Nations of the Canadian Plains Long before the arrival of British traders, explorers, and surveyors, the First Nations of the...
2 days ago
5
2 days ago
Long before the arrival of British traders, explorers, and surveyors, the First Nations of the Canadian Plains developed rich and complex cultures, deeply connected to the rhythms of their lands and the seasonal migrations of bison herds. The Blackfoot, for instance, were skilled...
TheCollector
Anne of Cleves: The Wife King Henry Loved Most? Anne of Cleves is often characterized as Henry VIII’s least favorite wife. The infamous womanizer...
2 months ago
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2 months ago
Anne of Cleves is often characterized as Henry VIII’s least favorite wife. The infamous womanizer had his marriage to her annulled on the basis that her looks were so unappealing that he could not consummate the union. But the evidence of Henry’s treatment of Anne after their...
TheCollector
Who Was Edward Said & His Groundbreaking Orientalism? Edward Said grew up in Palestine before moving to the United States. His lived experience and his...
5 months ago
46
5 months ago
Edward Said grew up in Palestine before moving to the United States. His lived experience and his study of Western perceptions of the Middle East were the basis for Orientalism, which contends that Western superiority complexes are concealed behind depictions of the East that...
TheCollector
What Were the Cities Paul’s Letters Reached? The Apostle Paul, following his conversion to Christianity, became not only a literary champion for...
4 months ago
19
4 months ago
The Apostle Paul, following his conversion to Christianity, became not only a literary champion for the defense of the faith, but an evangelist who travelled throughout the Roman Empire establishing and encouraging churches in major cities.  According to Acts and Paul’s writings,...
Classical Wisdom
The Cyclops A Misunderstood Monster?
a year ago
TheCollector
8 of the Most Famous Castles in the Middle East Not confined to the medieval history of Europe, massive stone fortifications were also a common...
a month ago
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a month ago
Not confined to the medieval history of Europe, massive stone fortifications were also a common sight throughout the Middle East. Many of these castles still stand, their impenetrable stone walls having withstood centuries of war and strife.   Some, however, have crumbled to...
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,...
a year ago
78
a year 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...
TheCollector
The Battle of Red Cliffs: The Epic Clash That Defined The Three Kingdoms At the turn of the 3rd century CE, China descended into civil war as the court of the Han Dynasty...
5 months ago
19
5 months ago
At the turn of the 3rd century CE, China descended into civil war as the court of the Han Dynasty was torn apart by factionalism. As central authority melted away, ambitious warlords competed for power in the name of a puppet emperor. By the time the last Han Emperor was forced...
TheCollector
10 Must-See Medieval Castles in the UK The medieval period in the UK, spanning roughly 1066 to 1500, was marked by conquest, rebellion,...
2 months ago
21
2 months ago
The medieval period in the UK, spanning roughly 1066 to 1500, was marked by conquest, rebellion, feudalism, and architectural innovation. Following the Norman Conquest, stone castles sprang up across England, Wales, and Scotland, not just as military strongholds, but as symbols...
The Universe of...
Think speak, now speak! Katara is now in her sixth semester in college and can speak Mandarin. I am so proud! For class she...
9 months ago
28
9 months ago
Katara is now in her sixth semester in college and can speak Mandarin. I am so proud! For class she recently wrote a talk (in Mandarin) about Hua Guofeng, the often overlooked second chairman of the Chinese Communist Party. She videoed herself giving the talk, and posted it to...
TheCollector
How the Normans Conquered England in 1066 Many people may not be aware that the governments of France and England were once closely linked,...
4 weeks ago
19
4 weeks ago
Many people may not be aware that the governments of France and England were once closely linked, including through a single monarchy. In 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, invaded England to avenge the affront of not being named King of England, as he had been promised.  The...
TheCollector
An Overview of the Sui and Tang Chinese Dynasties In 581 CE, the general Yang Jian seized power from the Northern Zhou and established the Sui...
a month ago
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a month ago
In 581 CE, the general Yang Jian seized power from the Northern Zhou and established the Sui Dynasty. The Sui reunified China in 589, but the failure of costly expeditions in Korea led to the collapse of the dynasty in 618. The Tang Dynasty reaped the rewards of Sui investments...
Hundred Rabbits
Summary of changes for December Hey everyone! This is the list of all the changes we've done to our projects and apps during the...
over a year ago
21
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 December. We'll also be reporting in our on position in the world, and on our future plans. Continue Reading
Open Culture
Watch Design for Disaster, a 1962 Film That Shows Why Los Angeles Is Always at Risk of Devastating... “This is fire season in Los Angeles,” Joan Didion once wrote, relating how every year “the Santa Ana...
7 months ago
53
7 months ago
“This is fire season in Los Angeles,” Joan Didion once wrote, relating how every year “the Santa Ana winds start blowing down through the passes, and the relative humidity drops to figures like seven or six or three per cent, and the bougainvillea starts rattling in the driveway,...