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A Collection of...
Fireside Friday, May 31, 2024 (Academic Departments) Fireside this week! I am spinning up to write a Teaching Paradox series on Imperator later this...
a year ago
85
a year ago
Fireside this week! I am spinning up to write a Teaching Paradox series on Imperator later this week, but not quite ready to get started yet. I’m also thinking, perhaps before that, of doing a short post or set of posts on the organization of non-state ‘tribal’ societies in...
African History...
Historical links between the Ottoman empire and Sudanic Africa (1574-1880) travel and exchanges between Istanbul and the states of; Bornu, Funj, Darfur and Massina.
over a year 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
27
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 …...
TheCollector
Why Caesar’s Battle of Alesia Is Still a Military Masterclass In 52 BCE, Julius Caesar’s army was vastly outnumbered and trapped between two massive Gallic forces...
2 weeks ago
9
2 weeks ago
In 52 BCE, Julius Caesar’s army was vastly outnumbered and trapped between two massive Gallic forces at the city of Alesia. How did Caesar manage to turn the tide against overwhelming odds? Read on to discover how his Roman army conquered Gaul (modern-day France) and set a new...
TheCollector
What Was the Women’s Land Army? During WWI and WWII, the Women’s Land Army contributed greatly to food production in Britain. These...
5 months ago
25
5 months ago
During WWI and WWII, the Women’s Land Army contributed greatly to food production in Britain. These women worked tirelessly on farms across the United Kingdom in an effort to support struggling farmers who had lost their mostly male workforce to the armed forces. They completed a...
Wrong Side of...
Inside the Catholic State The world that created Caravaggio
10 months ago
TheCollector
How Were Medieval Battles Fought? A Guide to Medieval Warfare The medieval period was a time of near-constant conflict throughout Europe. In spite of the...
2 months ago
19
2 months ago
The medieval period was a time of near-constant conflict throughout Europe. In spite of the seemingly endless wars, full-scale pitched battles—the favorite subject of history enthusiasts and Hollywood alike—were actually rare compared to other types of warfare. However, when they...
TheCollector
What Led to the Rise and Fall of the Indus Civilization? Lost beneath Pakistan and India’s plains, the Indus—or Harappan—Civilization flourished between...
a month ago
16
a month ago
Lost beneath Pakistan and India’s plains, the Indus—or Harappan—Civilization flourished between 2700-1900 BCE, building the ancient world’s biggest cities long before we even knew they existed. Unearthed only in 1924, these sites reveal no sprawling palaces, temples or writings,...
Trying to Understand...
A Week Off And A New Language See you again soon
a year ago
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
26
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....
CrimethInc.
Capitalism Thrives on Death—Death to Capitalism : Two Posters Ahead of Halloween, on the heels of several months of forest fires, hurricanes, and heat waves, we...
10 months ago
24
10 months ago
Ahead of Halloween, on the heels of several months of forest fires, hurricanes, and heat waves, we present two posters—”Capitalism Is the Dance of Death” and “Capitalism Thrives on Death.” Learn how to make wheatpaste and cover the walls of your community in these! Capitalism Is...
The Universe of...
A puzzle about balancing test tubes in a centrifuge Suppose a centrifuge has slots, arranged in a circle around the center, and we have test tubes we...
6 months ago
18
6 months ago
Suppose a centrifuge has slots, arranged in a circle around the center, and we have test tubes we wish to place into the slots. If the tubes are not arranged symmetrically around the center, the centrifuge will explode. (By "arranged symmetrically around the center, I mean that...
Open Culture
Superman vs. the KKK: Hear the 1946 Superman Radio Show That Weakened the Klan Years ago, back in 2016, we featured a 1950 Superman poster that urged students to defend the...
5 months ago
69
5 months ago
Years ago, back in 2016, we featured a 1950 Superman poster that urged students to defend the American way and fight discrimination everywhere. Today, we present another chapter from Superman’s little-known history as a Civil Rights defender. The year is 1946. World War II has...
History Today Feed
‘The Soldier’s Reward’ and ‘Matchmaking and the Marriage Market...’ review ‘The Soldier’s Reward’ and ‘Matchmaking and the Marriage Market...’ review JamesHoare Tue,...
5 months ago
TheCollector
Interview With Adriano Marinazzo: Michelangelo Masterpieces in the US TheCollector recently had the pleasure of speaking with curator Adriano Marinazzo about...
6 months ago
26
6 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
What Would a Day in the Public Baths of Ancient Rome Look Like? At the 8th Roman hour, or 2 pm, the Romans would finish their working day and head to one specific...
a month ago
27
a month ago
At the 8th Roman hour, or 2 pm, the Romans would finish their working day and head to one specific place to socialize, relax, and clean off the dirt of the day: the terme, or public baths. While some were lucky enough to have their own bath (balnea) at home, most headed to the...
TheCollector
5 Women in Epistemology You Should Know Epistemology is the branch of philosophy that deals with knowledge, belief, and the relationship...
6 months ago
21
6 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...
Trying to Understand...
The End of Power Projection? We can't get there from here, anymore.
over a year ago
TheCollector
10 Must-See Historic Sites in Siena, Italy Added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list, the city center of Siena is distinctive for its...
4 months ago
19
4 months ago
Added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list, the city center of Siena is distinctive for its winding streets and medieval and Renaissance buildings. Located in the Chianti Valley in Tuscany, a region renowned for its wine production, Siena is famous for its biannual horse race...
TheCollector
The Father of Existentialism: Who Was Søren Kierkegaard? Known as the father of existentialism, Kierkegaard has planted the seeds that allowed existential...
3 months ago
25
3 months 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...
TheCollector
Baroque Music: Contrast and Drama The Baroque Era’s genesis lay in Italy, established during the Council of Trent between 1545 and...
5 months ago
39
5 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...
Patterns in Humanity
Immigration and crime: Sweden Worrying crime trends in the land of Pippi Longstocking
a year ago
TheCollector
How Did the Industrial Revolution Take Place in Non-Western Countries? The Industrial Revolution refers to past changes from agrarian and manual labor systems of...
3 months ago
123
3 months ago
The Industrial Revolution refers to past changes from agrarian and manual labor systems of production to mechanization. Britain was the first nation in the world to experience the transformation which started in the 18th century. The trend then spread to other nations around the...
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....
2 months ago
16
2 months 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,...
African History...
**a Brief note on Africa's intellectual history plus; the Yoruba intellectual culture ca. 1000-1900.
a year ago
Classical Wisdom
Does Marcus Matter? Was the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius a serious philosopher... or just a glorified diarist?
a year ago
Flashbak
Frank Film: Watch the Oscar-Winning Animation That Peers Inside Your Head, 1973 Frank Film is a 1973 American animated short by husband-and-wife animators Caroline and Frank...
a year ago
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a year ago
Frank Film is a 1973 American animated short by husband-and-wife animators Caroline and Frank Mouris. The film won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film and was inducted into the National Film Registry in 1996. It’s an autobiographical narrative – Mouris narrates his path...
Res Obscura
When Jorge Luis Borges met one of the founders of AI One reason I became a historian is the joy of encountering moments in the past that are foreign, yet...
5 months ago
58
5 months ago
One reason I became a historian is the joy of encountering moments in the past that are foreign, yet also oddly familiar.
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,...
4 months ago
29
4 months 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....
Trying to Understand...
Such Times. And the banalisation of Evil.
2 months ago
TheCollector
Hellenistic Greek Sculpture (Guide with HD Images) After centuries of progress and development, Greek sculpture reached its “final” form during the...
4 weeks ago
14
4 weeks ago
After centuries of progress and development, Greek sculpture reached its “final” form during the Hellenistic Age, usually dated from Alexander the Great’s death in 323 BCE. Around the 1st century BCE, Greece was incorporated into the Roman Empire, ushering in a new period of...
TheCollector
Emotivism: Are Moral Statements Mere Emotions? The concept of morality is often recognized as difficult to define. Discerning moral from immoral is...
6 months ago
34
6 months ago
The concept of morality is often recognized as difficult to define. Discerning moral from immoral is bound to result in heated debates, so much so that it often appears impossible to reach an agreement on the outcome of discussions on the matter. What is it then—within the nature...
TheCollector
Calypso, the Nymph Who Held Odysseus Captive Calypso was a beautiful nymph who lived alone on the isolated island of Ogygia. Her solitude changed...
a month ago
24
a month ago
Calypso was a beautiful nymph who lived alone on the isolated island of Ogygia. Her solitude changed when the shipwrecked hero Odysseus washed ashore. Calypso fell in love with him and offered him immortality and an idyllic paradise in exchange for staying with her and marrying...
Classical Wisdom
Should We Cherry Pick? Or Should We Be Purists? [VIDEO] on Beyond Stoicism
4 months ago
TheCollector
The Legendary Knight Sir Galahad Who Found the Holy Grail In the Arthurian legends, many of King Arthur’s knights undertake a quest to try to find the Holy...
a week ago
8
a week ago
In the Arthurian legends, many of King Arthur’s knights undertake a quest to try to find the Holy Grail. Due to how special the grail was, it could not be acquired by just anyone. Of all of King Arthur’s knights, Sir Galahad was exceptionally virtuous. He was even viewed as the...
TheCollector
The Most Important Phoenician Cities The Phoenicians, renowned for their trading and maritime skills, originated in what’s modern...
3 days ago
7
3 days ago
The Phoenicians, renowned for their trading and maritime skills, originated in what’s modern Lebanon. They called themselves Canaanites, related to similar peoples in the region. The term Phoenician derived from the Greek word “phoinix” meaning purple, referencing the famous...
Flashbak
My ‘Homeric Retching’: Vladimir Nabokov’s Letter To His Wife About A Nasty Bout of Food Poisoning “Exactly at 2:30, I suddenly felt an urge to vomit, had barely time to run outside — and there it...
a year ago
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a year ago
“Exactly at 2:30, I suddenly felt an urge to vomit, had barely time to run outside — and there it began…” – Vladimir Nabokov to his wife Vera     Among Vladimir Nabokov’s love letters to his wife published in Letters to Véra, a wonderful book that takes us behind the scenes of...
African History...
a brief note on the origin of African civilizations plus, the Nok Neolithic culture.
a year ago
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
Was the Duke of Wellington a Womanizer? Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington, has gone down in history not only as a capable...
a week ago
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a week ago
Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington, has gone down in history not only as a capable politician and exceptional military leader but also as a coveted lover and notorious womanizer.   There is no question about it. Wellington possessed everything needed to attract the...
Dr Alun Withey
Creams, Clothes and Cases: The material culture of pre-modern travel. I am currently on study leave, getting on with research for my new project on the history of travel...
a year ago
84
a year ago
I am currently on study leave, getting on with research for my new project on the history of travel preparations. One thing that I’m particularly interested in is the material culture of travel, and what sorts of things were available for travellers as they got ready for their...
Trying to Understand...
The Past Is Another Country. A book review from the future.
a year ago
Flashbak
One Night At The Empire Roller Disco, Brooklyn NYC – February 1980 On assignment for Forbes magazine on a winter’s night in 1980, Patrick D. Pagnano’s was in Crown...
a year ago
46
a year ago
On assignment for Forbes magazine on a winter’s night in 1980, Patrick D. Pagnano’s was in Crown Heights to see the skaters at Brooklyn’s Empire Roller Disco. Formerly the Empire Rollerdrome (built 1941), the rink was now all disco. It was where Cher hosted the release party for...
TheCollector
“Unprecedented” Hoard of Iron Age Artifacts Found in England A lucky metal detectorist and a team of archaeologists unearthed one of the “largest and most...
5 months ago
21
5 months ago
A lucky metal detectorist and a team of archaeologists unearthed one of the “largest and most important” troves of Iron Age artifacts ever found in the United Kingdom. Dating back 2,000 years, the Melsonby Hoard was excavated in a field near Melsonby, North Yorkshire.   Metal...
African History...
The desert town of Southern Africa: A history of Khauxanas 1780-1906 A view of pre-colonial Namibia from the khoisan town of ||Khauxa!nas.
over a year ago
Hundred Rabbits
a home for pino We left Shimizu on a sunny morning, pushing off the dock at 6am. Early. We wanted to make sure we'd...
over a year ago
19
over a year ago
We left Shimizu on a sunny morning, pushing off the dock at 6am. Early. We wanted to make sure we'd arrive at our destination on time. There was 126nm between us and Shima Yacht harbor, a distance we needed to do in part at night. This wasn't ideal. We knew that. Many people...
Flashbak
Cynthia The Celebrity Mannequin (1932) Cynthia was a mannequin who looked remarkably human, in a sort of unusual way before extreme...
7 months ago
49
7 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...
TheCollector
Where Are the Oldest Cave Paintings? 6 Key Sites Explained For tens (and possibly hundreds) of thousands of years, human beings (including Neanderthals)...
2 days ago
4
2 days ago
For tens (and possibly hundreds) of thousands of years, human beings (including Neanderthals) painted on the walls of caves. Surrounded by an aura of mystery, these sites are beyond value to our understanding of what it means to be human and the evolution of intelligence and...
Global Inequality...
The abolition of paper and the pompous rule of the present China is considered to have been the first country (civilization) to have created the modern version...
a year ago
29
a year ago
China is considered to have been the first country (civilization) to have created the modern version of paper. Paper is listed as one among the four big Chinese inventions (the other three are compass, gun powder and printing). Perhaps it will be the first country to desinvent...
TheCollector
Here’s Why John the Baptist Was Called the Greatest Prophet John was Jesus’s relative—perhaps a second cousin—born about six months before Jesus. With the...
2 months ago
15
2 months ago
John was Jesus’s relative—perhaps a second cousin—born about six months before Jesus. With the exception of Mary, John could be considered the most important witness to Jesus’s identity as the Messiah of Israel, as recorded in the Four Gospels. His baptism of Jesus defined how he...