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Classical Wisdom
Enheduanna A VERY Ancient Snapshot
5 hours ago
Open Culture
Miles Davis’ Album On the Corner Tried to Woo Young Rock & Funk Fans: First Considered a Disaster,... Miles Davis didn’t put out any studio albums from 1973 until the middle of 1981. In explaining the...
7 hours ago
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7 hours ago
Miles Davis didn’t put out any studio albums from 1973 until the middle of 1981. In explaining the reasons for this lacuna in his recording career, Milesologists can point to a variety of factors in the man’s professional and personal life. But one in particular looms large: the...
History Today Feed
What was the Industrial Revolution? What was the Industrial Revolution? JamesHoare Thu, 04/24/2025 - 09:22
7 hours ago
History Today Feed
How the Roman Empire Lost its Gods How the Roman Empire Lost its Gods JamesHoare Thu, 04/24/2025 - 09:19
7 hours ago
Flashbak
A Stroll Through Amsterdam’s Red Light District by Huub Prickaert in the 1990s Huub Prickaerts was walking around the De Wallen area of Amsterdam’s red light district between 1993...
9 hours ago
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9 hours ago
Huub Prickaerts was walking around the De Wallen area of Amsterdam’s red light district between 1993 and 1996. Prickaerts moved to the Dutch capital in the early 1990s after a client agreed to let him stay in his home in exchange for keeping an eye on his restaurant. Things have...
Open Culture
Hōshi: A Short Documentary on the 1300-Year-Old Hotel Run by the Same Japanese Family for 46... Hōshi, a traditional Japanese inn in Komatsu, Japan, holds the distinction of being the second...
9 hours ago
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9 hours ago
Hōshi, a traditional Japanese inn in Komatsu, Japan, holds the distinction of being the second oldest hotel in the world—and “the oldest still running family business in the world.” Built in 718 AD, Hōshi has been operated by the same family for 46 consecutive generations. Count...
Trying to Understand...
The End? There must be some way out of here ... surely?
19 hours ago
TheCollector
6 Terrible Historical Facts About Typhus Epidemic typhus is one of the oldest diseases known to affect humankind, and despite advances in...
20 hours ago
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20 hours ago
Epidemic typhus is one of the oldest diseases known to affect humankind, and despite advances in modern medicine, it continues to be a contemporary concern. Often infiltrating human existence hand in hand with disasters such as war and weather phenomena, typhus has demonstrated a...
TheCollector
Zeno’s 4 Paradoxes About Motion and Time Can you imagine a speedy Achilles never overtaking a tortoise crawling at a snail’s pace? Or an...
22 hours ago
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22 hours ago
Can you imagine a speedy Achilles never overtaking a tortoise crawling at a snail’s pace? Or an arrow in mid-flight frozen stiff? These are just some of the mind-bending conundrums Zeno of Elea set out over two thousand years ago. And they’re still vexing philosophers and...
Overcoming Bias
Can Humanity Choose Its Future? For all my lifetime, futurists have had a dream, of humanity coming together to consciously decide...
22 hours ago
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22 hours ago
For all my lifetime, futurists have had a dream, of humanity coming together to consciously decide its fate.
TheCollector
5 Quotes by Plato Explained Plato, the most intelligent of Socrates’ students, laid the foundations of ethics, aesthetics,...
yesterday
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yesterday
Plato, the most intelligent of Socrates’ students, laid the foundations of ethics, aesthetics, epistemology, metaphysics, and early forms of science.   When Socrates was sentenced to death by the Athenian government, Plato decided to travel to learn all he could about philosophy,...
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....
yesterday
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yesterday
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...
Flashbak
Soviet Caviar Harvest by Carl Mydans, Astrakhan 1960 “The cream and hot butter mingled and overflowed separating each glucose bead of caviar from its...
yesterday
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yesterday
“The cream and hot butter mingled and overflowed separating each glucose bead of caviar from its fellows, capping it in white and gold.” — Evelyn Waugh, Brideshead Revisited     In 1960, American photographer Carl Mydans (May 20, 1907 – August 16, 2004) journeyed behind the Iron...
TheCollector
Eos: Goddess of the Dawn in Greek Mythology In Greek mythology, Eos was the goddess of the dawn. Though, like other primordial gods, she was not...
yesterday
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yesterday
In Greek mythology, Eos was the goddess of the dawn. Though, like other primordial gods, she was not widely worshiped by the ancient Greeks, Eos was nevertheless essential to the Greek understanding of the universe, playing an important role in mythology. Perhaps one of the most...
Classical Wisdom
The Brightly Colored Past Burn Ivory, Melt Wax... just like the Ancient Artists
yesterday
TheCollector
What Is the History of Utopian Societies? The term Utopia is derived from Sir Thomas More’s 1516 literary work titled Utopia. The book...
yesterday
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yesterday
The term Utopia is derived from Sir Thomas More’s 1516 literary work titled Utopia. The book described an ideal fictional island nation that used a communal social system. He got the term from the Greek word ou-topos which meant nowhere. The satirical book was More’s attempt to...
Open Culture
The Roman Colosseum Deconstructed: 3D Animation Reveals the Hidden Technology That Powered Rome’s... Most tourists in Rome put the Colosseum at the top of their to-see list. (My own sister-in-law, soon...
yesterday
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yesterday
Most tourists in Rome put the Colosseum at the top of their to-see list. (My own sister-in-law, soon to head out on her Italian honeymoon, plans to head to that storied ruin more or less straight from the airport.) Even those with no particular interest in ancient Roman...
History Today Feed
‘Epic of the Earth’ by Edith Hall review ‘Epic of the Earth’ by Edith Hall review JamesHoare Wed, 04/23/2025 - 09:52
yesterday
History Today Feed
The Fall of Saigon The Fall of Saigon JamesHoare Wed, 04/23/2025 - 09:51
yesterday
Open Culture
The 1924 Soviet Chess Match Where The Chess Pieces Were Real Soldiers and Horses Let’s time travel back to Leningrad (aka St. Petersburg) in 1924. That’s when an unconventional...
yesterday
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yesterday
Let’s time travel back to Leningrad (aka St. Petersburg) in 1924. That’s when an unconventional chess match was played by Peter Romanovsky and Ilya Rabinovich, two chess masters of the day. Apparently, they called in their moves over the telephone. And then real-life chess...
TheCollector
Typhon: The Monster Who Threatened Olympus in Greek Mythology Typhon, or Typhoeus as he was also called, was a monstrous, serpentine creature with a hundred heads...
yesterday
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yesterday
Typhon, or Typhoeus as he was also called, was a monstrous, serpentine creature with a hundred heads that could shoot fire from his eyes. He spoke with a myriad of sounds and voices, sometimes bellowing like a bull, barking like a dog, or roaring like a lion. He was the greatest...
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...
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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...
TheCollector
5 Quotes by Aristotle Explained The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, one of antiquity’s greatest thinkers, was a student of...
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The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, one of antiquity’s greatest thinkers, was a student of Plato and a tutor to Alexander the Great. Aristotle had insights far ahead of his time; his understanding of human psychology wasn’t much worse than modern scientists. Only a quarter...
TheCollector
Prince William Forest Park: The National Park That Trained WWII Spies Just south of Washington DC lies a 15,000-acre oasis of piedmont forest that, despite being less...
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Just south of Washington DC lies a 15,000-acre oasis of piedmont forest that, despite being less than an hour from the nation’s capital, feels like another planet. Every summer, the park’s tall trees and meandering streams welcome thousands of visitors, including hundreds of...
Overcoming Bias
Songs Regulate Emotion The point I make in this post is quite unlikely to be original.
2 days ago
Wrong Side of...
What would Rosa Parks do? Modern activists are defeated by their lack of restraint
2 days ago
TheCollector
Crusading Against Crusaders: Clement V’s Persecution of the Templars On March 18th, 1314, Jasque de Molay, the 23rd Grand Master of the monastic order of the Knights...
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On March 18th, 1314, Jasque de Molay, the 23rd Grand Master of the monastic order of the Knights Templar, was burned at the stake on an island in the middle of the river Seine. After years and years of torture, confessions of heresy, and trial, the 23rd Grand Master of one of...
TheCollector
The Tomb and Body of Alexander the Great: New Clues from an Egyptologist Few historical figures have captured the imagination as much as Alexander the Great, the conqueror...
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Few historical figures have captured the imagination as much as Alexander the Great, the conqueror of Persia who never lost a battle and whose empire stretched from Greece to India. Yet, despite his legacy, the location of his tomb and body remains one great unsolved mystery. In...
Hidden History
A Closer Look at: Sahelanthropus Sahelanthropus may be the earliest human ancestor that we know about, but it is mired in...
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Sahelanthropus may be the earliest human ancestor that we know about, but it is mired in controversy. In the 1980s, French paleontologist Michel Brunet and his partner David Pilbeam were searching for hominin fossils in Cameroon, in deposits formed along an ancient shoreline when...
TheCollector
Was the New Testament Canon Chosen at the Council of Nicaea? Thanks to Dan Brown’s novel, The Da Vinci Code, and its film adaptation, many people think that the...
2 days ago
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2 days ago
Thanks to Dan Brown’s novel, The Da Vinci Code, and its film adaptation, many people think that the books that constitute today’s New Testament (NT) were first chosen in the 4th century at the Council of Nicaea. However, early in the 2nd century, Church Fathers had already...
TheCollector
The Truth We Need: What Is Motivated Reasoning? We may think that our search for objective truth is divorced from our emotions, but evidence from...
2 days ago
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We may think that our search for objective truth is divorced from our emotions, but evidence from cognitive psychology shows that our logical conclusions can be determined by our emotional need for something to be true, whether or not it actually is.  Motivated reasoning, also...
Open Culture
How Zaha Hadid Revolutionized Architecture & Drew Inspiration from Russian Avant-Garde Art Zaha Hadid died in 2016, at the age of 65. She certainly wasn’t old, by the standards of our time,...
2 days ago
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Zaha Hadid died in 2016, at the age of 65. She certainly wasn’t old, by the standards of our time, though in most professions, her best working years would already have been behind her. She was, however, an architect, and by age 65, most architects are still very much in their...
Open Culture
Education for Death: The Making of the Nazi–Walt Disney’s 1943 Film Shows How Fascists Are Made During World War II, Walt Disney entered into a contract with the US government to develop 32...
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During World War II, Walt Disney entered into a contract with the US government to develop 32 animated shorts. Nearly bankrupted by Fantasia (1940), Disney needed to refill its coffers, and making American propaganda films didn’t seem like a bad way to do it. On numerous...
History Today Feed
Stalin’s Man in Belgrade Stalin’s Man in Belgrade JamesHoare Tue, 04/22/2025 - 08:06
2 days ago
History Today Feed
Sex Workers and Salvation in the Renaissance Sex Workers and Salvation in the Renaissance JamesHoare Tue, 04/22/2025 - 08:02
2 days ago
TheCollector
Beyond Human: Supernatural Beings in Medieval England In our secular age, most of us scoff at the supernatural. Consequently, it is difficult to put...
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In our secular age, most of us scoff at the supernatural. Consequently, it is difficult to put ourselves in the mindsets of our medieval counterparts who still lived in a world of unexplored wilderness and unexplained phenomena. God’s natural creation was potentially infinite,...
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...
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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...
Overcoming Bias
Adaptive Status Markers As polls and asking LLMs didn’t give me much insight into which status markers are more adaptive,...
3 days ago
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3 days ago
As polls and asking LLMs didn’t give me much insight into which status markers are more adaptive, let me try to think the issue through myself.
TheCollector
Pope Francis Dies at 88 Today, the Vatican announced the death of Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church, at age...
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Today, the Vatican announced the death of Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church, at age 88. The pope’s death comes just one day after he addressed a crowd of thousands in St. Peter’s Square following Easter Sunday Mass.   “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome,...
TheCollector
What Do Pentecostals Believe? The Pentecostal Movement exploded onto the ecclesiastical scene in 1906, and the growth of this...
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The Pentecostal Movement exploded onto the ecclesiastical scene in 1906, and the growth of this movement has been remarkable. The origins of Pentecostalism can be traced to Topeka, Kansas, and the ministry of Charles Parham, but it was not until a student of Parham moved to Los...
TheCollector
How Did the Seljuks Pave the Way for the Ottoman Empire? In 1071, a small nomadic dynasty—named the Seljuks after their founder—fought a battle against...
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In 1071, a small nomadic dynasty—named the Seljuks after their founder—fought a battle against Byzantine forces under the command of Emperor Romanos IV Diogenes. The Seljuk victory in this battle opened up Anatolia to nomadic Turkic settlers, including the likes of Osman, founder...
Classical Wisdom
The Secret of the Roman Pantheon Watch now | Spotlight on one of Rome's greatest buildings
3 days ago
Overcoming Bias
Status Marker Polls In an attempt to learn more about status, I asked some polls comparing status markers.
3 days ago
Flashbak
Street Style from 1970s and 80s London by Al Vandenberg American photographer Al Vandenberg (1932-2012) is arguably best known for his art direction of The...
3 days ago
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3 days ago
American photographer Al Vandenberg (1932-2012) is arguably best known for his art direction of The Beatles’ album cover for Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. But here we look at his street photographs of 1970s London. Born in 1932 to Dutch parents, Vandenberg was raised in...
TheCollector
Painting vs. Sculpture: The Renaissance Battle for Supremacy in Art It seems like humans always need to know who or what is the best in any category. Renaissance people...
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It seems like humans always need to know who or what is the best in any category. Renaissance people were no different. A quest to find the superior art between painting and sculpture led to lengthy discussions about the purpose of art and the limits and qualities of each medium....
Classical Wisdom
Happy Birthday Rome! The Violent Birth of Civilization
3 days ago
History Today Feed
Death of Zaga Christ Death of Zaga Christ JamesHoare Mon, 04/21/2025 - 13:38
3 days ago
History Today Feed
VE Day: The Quiet After the Peace VE Day: The Quiet After the Peace JamesHoare Mon, 04/21/2025 - 13:35
3 days ago
TheCollector
Was Lancelot Really a French Invention? The Arthurian Legend Explained In the Arthurian legends, Lancelot is one of the most famous and popular characters. He was one of...
3 days ago
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3 days ago
In the Arthurian legends, Lancelot is one of the most famous and popular characters. He was one of Arthur’s best and most powerful knights. However, despite his initial loyalty, he eventually turned on Arthur, engaging in an affair with the king’s wife, Guinevere. This dramatic...
TheCollector
What Is the Voynich Manuscript? History is full of manuscript books, scriptures, and codex collections that are preserved in...
3 days ago
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History is full of manuscript books, scriptures, and codex collections that are preserved in historical institutions for future generations to enjoy and study. The Voynich Manuscript is unique, because it is written in an undecipherable language, one which has been baffling...
Open Culture
The Extreme Life and Philosophy of Hunter S. Thompson: Gonzo Journalism and the American Condition Hunter S. Thompson has been gone for two decades now. When he went out, as the new Pursuit of Wonder...
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Hunter S. Thompson has been gone for two decades now. When he went out, as the new Pursuit of Wonder video on his life and work reminds us, he did so in a highly American manner: with a gun, and at the moment of his own choosing. Even his longtime fans who respected something...
Open Culture
James Joyce, With His Eyesight Failing, Draws a Sketch of Leopold Bloom (1926) James Joyce had a terrible time with his eyes. When he was six years old he received his first set...
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3 days ago
James Joyce had a terrible time with his eyes. When he was six years old he received his first set of eyeglasses, and, when he was 25, he came down with his first case of iritis, a very painful and potentially blinding inflammation of the colored part of the eye, the iris. A...
Flashbak
Whose Streets? Our Streets! New York Protests 1980 – 2000 “Disobedience is the true foundation of liberty. The obedient must be slaves.” ― Henry David...
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“Disobedience is the true foundation of liberty. The obedient must be slaves.” ― Henry David Thoreau,    Photographs of demonstrations in New York City between 1980 and 2000 are at the Whose Streets? Our Streets! exhibition at the Bronx Documentary Center. The show explores New...
TheCollector
The Great Seljuk Empire: History, Culture, Facts In the late 10th century, a nomadic chief named Seljuk broke away from his Khazar overlords in the...
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In the late 10th century, a nomadic chief named Seljuk broke away from his Khazar overlords in the north of the Caspian Sea. Thus began his tribe’s migration from the lands of modern-day Kazakhstan down to Iran and Azerbaijan.   The Great Seljuks (ca. 1038-1194), a nomadic people...
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,...
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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
You Cannot Step Into the Same River Twice: What Was Heraclitus Trying to Say? Heraclitus, a mysterious philosopher from ancient Greece, said something that has stuck with people...
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Heraclitus, a mysterious philosopher from ancient Greece, said something that has stuck with people for centuries: “You can’t step into the same river twice.” It sounds like a pretty straightforward observation about the world we live in. But is it? What did Heraclitus mean when...
TheCollector
Puebla: Where Mesoamerican and Spanish History Collide In a region packed with historically important cities, few can claim to have played such a long and...
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In a region packed with historically important cities, few can claim to have played such a long and pivotal role as Puebla. Long before the Aztec, it was the Vatican of Mesoamerica, where priests and pilgrims flocked to the largest pyramid in the world. It was the site of one of...
African History...
A forgotten African empire: the history of medieval Kānem (ca. 800-1472) A century before Mansa Musa’s famous pilgrimage, the political and cultural landscape of medieval...
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A century before Mansa Musa’s famous pilgrimage, the political and cultural landscape of medieval West Africa was dominated by the empire of Kānem.
TheCollector
What Do Mormons Believe? Mormons, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), have a unique faith in...
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Mormons, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), have a unique faith in Christendom. Where most Churches hold scripture in high regard, they have other sacred sources that inform their faith and practice. They are a late development on the Christian...
Classical Wisdom
Weekly Wisdom Quiz Homer, Heroes, and Hesiod
4 days ago
TheCollector
Balto the Dog: A Famous Canine Hero In the 1920s, Alaska was one of America’s last remaining frontiers. The isolated region was one full...
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In the 1920s, Alaska was one of America’s last remaining frontiers. The isolated region was one full of hardship but offered a quiet existence. After a mining boom that waned in the early 20th century, Nome, on the Western coast, became a city occupied by brave souls. Driving, or...
TheCollector
How Did Apostle Paul’s Letters Shape Thessalonica’s Heritage? With a long history stretching back to ancient Greece, Thessalonica (known today as Thessaloniki) is...
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With a long history stretching back to ancient Greece, Thessalonica (known today as Thessaloniki) is Greece’s second-largest city. The church of Thessalonica was the last congregation of the New Testament era to which the apostle Paul wrote two of his epistles. What were these...
Flashbak
Beatrix Potter’s Illustrated Peter Rabbit Letters The Peter Rabbit letters were written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter on 4th September 1893. What...
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The Peter Rabbit letters were written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter on 4th September 1893. What would become The Tale of Peter Rabbit was first told in a letter to Noel Moore, the five-year-old son of Beatrix’s former governess Annie Moore (née Carter). Noel was ill in bed...
TheCollector
10 Must-See Historic Sites in Tennessee Tennessee’s story is built on moments that shaped the course of American history. It was the last...
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Tennessee’s story is built on moments that shaped the course of American history. It was the last state to secede and the first to rejoin the Union after the Civil War. It witnessed the birth of country music, the struggle for civil rights, and the presidency of Andrew Jackson....
TheCollector
Derrida vs. Saussure: Structuralism’s Criticism of Logocentrism Jacques Derrida is one of the foremost thinkers associated with “poststructuralism,” a tendency in...
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Jacques Derrida is one of the foremost thinkers associated with “poststructuralism,” a tendency in the latter half of the twentieth century to overturn structuralism. The disjuncture between the two hinges on a whole constellation of theoretical and attitudinal differences, but...
TheCollector
Agatha Christie: Discover the Woman Behind the Mystery Known as the “Queen of Crime,” Agatha Christie was a prolific novelist and playwright from England....
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Known as the “Queen of Crime,” Agatha Christie was a prolific novelist and playwright from England. Some of her most-known works include books like And Then There Were None and Murder on the Orient Express. She invented beloved fictional detectives like the iconic Hercule Poirot...
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...
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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 Battle of Raban, 958: The Byzantine Empire Breaks the Hamdanids In 944, Sayf al-Dawla established himself as the head of the independent Hamdanid Emirate of Aleppo....
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In 944, Sayf al-Dawla established himself as the head of the independent Hamdanid Emirate of Aleppo. Sayf’s rule over his emirate and his entire reputation rested on jihad against the infidels. In his case, the Byzantine Empire with whom he shared a border. He quickly became the...
TheCollector
Skara Brae: The Mysterious Neolithic Village of Scotland Nestled in the Orkney Islands of Scotland, Skara Brae is a prehistoric village that has intrigued...
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Nestled in the Orkney Islands of Scotland, Skara Brae is a prehistoric village that has intrigued archaeologists and historians for generations. Built over 5,000 years ago, it predates even the Egyptian pyramids. The village, perfectly preserved under layers of sand for...
TheCollector
How South Sudan Won Its Independence South Sudan, which split from Sudan in 2011, is one of the youngest countries in the world and the...
5 days ago
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South Sudan, which split from Sudan in 2011, is one of the youngest countries in the world and the youngest in Africa.   It represents one of a handful of cases in which an independence movement has actually succeeded and generated a fully sovereign state recognized by the United...
TheCollector
Christie’s to Auction Basquiat Family Portrait Christie’s announced that a triple portrait by Jean-Michel Basquiat will headline the auction...
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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...
TheCollector
What Do Methodists Believe? Born in England from a revival in the Anglican Church, Methodism soon jumped across the ocean to...
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Born in England from a revival in the Anglican Church, Methodism soon jumped across the ocean to become a significant denomination among American churches. It originated with the brothers Wesley, John, and Charles, though the most notable name in Methodism was Francis Asbury....
TheCollector
Memories From the Mire: 5 Revealing Bog Bodies In prehistoric Northwest Europe, it was not uncommon for the dead to be deliberately placed in the...
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In prehistoric Northwest Europe, it was not uncommon for the dead to be deliberately placed in the watery pools of peatlands. It was not the customary burial rite at the time, and many of these people ended up in bogs after meeting a very violent end, leading archeologists to...
TheCollector
Escaping the Void: What Is the Human Paradox? The intellect has crowned the human being at the summit of the animal kingdom. With their...
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The intellect has crowned the human being at the summit of the animal kingdom. With their unprecedently refined ability to rationalize, analyze, and self-reflect, humans could manipulate and control their environment like no other species. However, such an extraordinary gift of...
Wrong Side of...
The Times They Have Changed The Transition #3
5 days ago
TheCollector
10 Must-Visit Historic Small Towns in Minnesota Minnesota’s history is filled with defining moments that left a lasting imprint on the land, from...
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Minnesota’s history is filled with defining moments that left a lasting imprint on the land, from its early Indigenous heritage and fur trading posts to the formation of the state itself in the mid-19th century. Key events such as the 1848 territorial convention in Stillwater...
TheCollector
7 Historic Sites in Hoi An: Stunning Scenes From the Lantern City Hoi An, Vietnam, is a tourist hotspot and a must-stop for foodies and history buffs alike. Strolling...
5 days ago
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Hoi An, Vietnam, is a tourist hotspot and a must-stop for foodies and history buffs alike. Strolling through Hoi An is like stepping back in time with its perfectly colorful, well-preserved, UNESCO World Heritage Site old city. The hustle and bustle of the streets, combined with...
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...
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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...
Dreams of Space -...
Space Explorer (1960) A promotional comic from 1960 called Space Explorer. It was part of the comic series Boys’ and...
6 days ago
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6 days ago
A promotional comic from 1960 called Space Explorer. It was part of the comic series Boys’ and Girls’ March of Comics, #202. These promotional comics were distributer to retailers who would brand them with their name and give them away to customers to attract them to shop at that...
TheCollector
Who Was Leo Strauss? (Bio and Philosophy) Leo Strauss was not just an ordinary philosopher or political thinker; his influence spanned...
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Leo Strauss was not just an ordinary philosopher or political thinker; his influence spanned continents and still generates discussion long after he died in 1973. So, who exactly was Leo Strauss? By delving into his time at the University of Chicago, how he approached classic...
TheCollector
What Was the Domesday Book & How Was It Produced? The Domesday Book is a record of landholding in England from the reign of the Conqueror, surviving...
6 days ago
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6 days ago
The Domesday Book is a record of landholding in England from the reign of the Conqueror, surviving in its original manuscript and kept at the National Archives. The manuscript as we have it, as well as several of its antecedents, give insight into an extraordinary process of...
A Collection of...
Collections: Why Celebrimbor Fell but Boromir Conquered: the Moral Universe of Tolkien This week (and probably next) I want to talk a bit more Tolkien, but in a somewhat different vein...
6 days ago
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6 days ago
This week (and probably next) I want to talk a bit more Tolkien, but in a somewhat different vein from normal. Rather than discussing the historicity of Tolkien’s world or adaptations of it, I want to take a moment to discuss some of the themes of Tolkien’s work, which express...
TheCollector
Not Just Balto: 7 Other Heroes From Nome’s 1925 Serum Run Living in isolated Alaska has its risks. Particularly in the early days of its development, Alaskan...
6 days ago
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6 days ago
Living in isolated Alaska has its risks. Particularly in the early days of its development, Alaskan citizens had limited access to resources, especially in the winter when the snow and ice made transport by traditional means difficult. In 1925, disaster struck when an outbreak of...
TheCollector
The Ugliest (& Most Interesting) Buildings in Beijing When you imagine Beijing, China’s characteristic architecture likely comes to mind — red walls,...
6 days ago
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6 days ago
When you imagine Beijing, China’s characteristic architecture likely comes to mind — red walls, tiled roofs, and quaint courtyard dwellings. What visitors might not expect is to see skyscrapers and fantastical modern architecture that wouldn’t look out of place in Singapore or...
Classical Wisdom
Homer Vs Hesiod Poets of War and Peace
6 days ago
TheCollector
Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus: Key Similarities and Differences Life in Europe in the first half of the twentieth century was unstable; wars, economic crises, a...
6 days ago
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6 days ago
Life in Europe in the first half of the twentieth century was unstable; wars, economic crises, a pandemic—it was hard not to feel humanity was facing one “existential crisis” after another. One philosophical response to this historical context was the philosophy of...
TheCollector
Magritte Drawing Bought on eBay Heads to Auction Last year, a Surrealist drawing by René Magritte sold on eBay for the bargain price of $1,580. Next...
6 days ago
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6 days ago
Last year, a Surrealist drawing by René Magritte sold on eBay for the bargain price of $1,580. Next month, the pen-on-paper work is heading to auction with a much larger price tag.   Magritte Drawing Predicted to Sell for Six Figures   New Jersey auctioneer Rago/Wright will offer...
TheCollector
What Is the History of Maritime Trade in the Indian Ocean? (Pre-European) To understand the history of the Indian Ocean trade, it is important to firstly understand its...
6 days ago
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6 days ago
To understand the history of the Indian Ocean trade, it is important to firstly understand its location and geographical coverage. The Indian Ocean derives its name from India. The water body got its name from early European explorers who named it so due to its close proximity to...
Open Culture
Carl Sagan Issues a Chilling Warning About the Decline of Scientific Thinking in America: Watch His... Until the end of his life, Carl Sagan (1934–1996) continued doing what he did all along —...
6 days ago
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6 days ago
Until the end of his life, Carl Sagan (1934–1996) continued doing what he did all along — popularizing science and “enthusiastically conveying the wonders of the universe to millions of people on television and in books.” Whenever Sagan appeared on The Tonight Show with Johnny...
Flashbak
Gigs, Fights And An Alien Sex Fiend: Posters In London, c. 1990 Alien Sex Fiend played at Camden Palace on February 13, 1990, as part of the venue’s Feet First...
6 days ago
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6 days ago
Alien Sex Fiend played at Camden Palace on February 13, 1990, as part of the venue’s Feet First indie nights. Posters advertising the show went up around the area in other parts of London, featuring the faces of lead singer Nicholas Wade (aka Nik Fiend) and Christine Wade (Mrs...
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...
6 days ago
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6 days 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...
Open Culture
The Real Story of Easter: How We Got from the First Easter in the Bible to Bunnies, Eggs & Chocolate Popular culture has long since claimed Easter as an occasion for trickster rabbits, dyed-egg hunts,...
6 days ago
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6 days ago
Popular culture has long since claimed Easter as an occasion for trickster rabbits, dyed-egg hunts, and marshmallow chicks of unnatural hues — none of which are actually in the Bible. Though that probably doesn’t surprise you, you may not be aware of just how far the modern...
TheCollector
5 Women in Artificial Intelligence You Should Know Since the dawn of computer science, the quest for artificial general intelligence (AGI) has spurred...
6 days ago
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6 days ago
Since the dawn of computer science, the quest for artificial general intelligence (AGI) has spurred fear and enthusiasm. “Can machines think?” was the question that kept great minds like Alan Turing awake at night and later gave rise to the famous Turing test and other thought...
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 week ago
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a week 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...
TheCollector
A Guide to the Best Historic Sites in South Korea Though many visit South Korea for its K-Dramas and K-Pop, the peninsula and islands also feature...
a week ago
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a week ago
Though many visit South Korea for its K-Dramas and K-Pop, the peninsula and islands also feature numerous cultural charms and historic sites as well. South Korea has an expansive history, and tales of monks, soldiers, indigenous peoples, and royalty linger in these locations....
TheCollector
Understanding Philip Glass in 5 Compositions Philip Glass’s music is often labeled as minimalist. Minimalism is an art movement that erupted in...
a week ago
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a week ago
Philip Glass’s music is often labeled as minimalist. Minimalism is an art movement that erupted in New York during the 1960s. However, one could (and, perhaps, should), label him as an economical composer: “Every note, every movement, every gesture [is used] with purpose” 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 week ago
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a week 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
The Roman Kings Who Ruled Rome Before the Republic Rome was famous for rejecting the idea of kingship. For almost 500 years, Rome was a staunch...
a week ago
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a week ago
Rome was famous for rejecting the idea of kingship. For almost 500 years, Rome was a staunch Republic, with rules in place to prevent any one man from gaining too much power. When Julius Caesar found himself king in all-but-name in 44 BCE, he was killed for it by his fellow...
TheCollector
What Was Socrates’s Daemon? Socrates, the famous ancient Greek philosopher, was put to death in Athens on charges of impiety and...
a week ago
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a week ago
Socrates, the famous ancient Greek philosopher, was put to death in Athens on charges of impiety and corruption. In his own defense, Socrates testified that his inner voice, often called his “daemon,” prevented impious actions. Daemons are intermediary spiritual beings like...
TheCollector
What Was the Radical Reformation? As its title suggests, the Reformation was a movement in central, eastern, and northern Europe that...
a week ago
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a week ago
As its title suggests, the Reformation was a movement in central, eastern, and northern Europe that tried to “reform” the teachings and practices of the established church centered in Rome. Some who agreed with the need for reform, however, were persuaded that the changes this...
Open Culture
How to Evade Taxes in Ancient Rome: A 1,900-Year-Old Papyrus Reveals an Ancient Tax Evasion Scheme It was surely not a coincidence that the New York Times published its story on the trial of a...
a week ago
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a week ago
It was surely not a coincidence that the New York Times published its story on the trial of a certain Gadalias and Saulos this past Monday, April 14th. The defendants, as their names suggest, did not live in modernity: the papyrus documenting their legal troubles dates to the...
TheCollector
Walking Around Vienna: Pro Tips to Understand the City and Its History A walled-in city up until the late 19th century, Vienna has expanded over the last two-plus...
a week ago
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a week ago
A walled-in city up until the late 19th century, Vienna has expanded over the last two-plus centuries to include 23 “districts” and to incorporate a variety of foreign influences into its architecture. Historical figures like Mozart, Beethoven, and Freud have their roots here, as...
History Today Feed
The Ghosts of Gaelic The Ghosts of Gaelic JamesHoare Thu, 04/17/2025 - 09:07
a week ago
Open Culture
How to Enter a ‘Flow State’ on Command: Peak Performance Mind Hack Explained in 7 Minutes You can be forgiven for thinking the concept of “flow” was cooked up and popularized by yoga...
a week ago
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a week ago
You can be forgiven for thinking the concept of “flow” was cooked up and popularized by yoga teachers. That word gets a lot of play when one is moving from Downward-Facing Dog on through Warrior One and Two. Actually, flow — the state of  “effortless effort” — was coined by...
TheCollector
Mummified Cats: Companion Cats and Feline Worship in Ancient Egypt While it is common to see cats in modern households, cats are among the most recently domesticated...
a week ago
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a week ago
While it is common to see cats in modern households, cats are among the most recently domesticated animals. Archaeological evidence indicates their presence among human communities from approximately 9,000 years ago, far more recent than dogs, nearly 30,000 years ago, or even...
TheCollector
The Curse Of Atreus and the House of Atreides in Greek Mythology In Greek mythology, the kings of Mycenae and Sparta, Agamemnon and Menelaus, are both members of the...
a week ago
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a week ago
In Greek mythology, the kings of Mycenae and Sparta, Agamemnon and Menelaus, are both members of the House of Atreus. These Atreides, or sons of Atreus, were heroes of the Trojan War but also afflicted by a hereditary curse that saw each generation succumb to murder, cannibalism,...
TheCollector
Monet Landscape Could Fetch Over $30 Million at Auction Next month, Claude Monet’s 1891 landscape Peupliers au bord de l’Epte, crépuscule will hit the...
a week ago
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a week ago
Next month, Claude Monet’s 1891 landscape Peupliers au bord de l’Epte, crépuscule will hit the auction block at Christie’s New York. The iconic Impressionist’s painting of a poplar tree-lined riverbank at sunset carries a pre-sale estimate of $30 million to $50 million.   Monet...
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...
a week ago
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a week 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....
TheCollector
What Do Adventists Believe? The Adventist Church has a unique set of beliefs on several doctrines that set them apart from other...
a week ago
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a week ago
The Adventist Church has a unique set of beliefs on several doctrines that set them apart from other denominations. Their theology focuses on the Hebrew Sanctuary, they keep the seventh-day Sabbath, they believe people enter an unconscious state when they die, and they highly...
Overcoming Bias
Efficiency Is Sacred We all see some things as sacred.
a week ago
TheCollector
Lascaux Cave Paintings: Secrets of Prehistoric Art Amid the Second World War, four young boys unearthed a Paleolithic masterpiece when they stumbled...
a week ago
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a week 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....
TheCollector
The Real Robin Hoods: Two Criminal Gangs in Medieval England The first written stories about Robin Hood emerged in the late 14th century, although they likely...
a week ago
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a week ago
The first written stories about Robin Hood emerged in the late 14th century, although they likely stem from an older oral tradition. There are multiple theories as to where the tradition came from, but it may have been partly inspired by turmoil in the earlier part of the century...
Classical Wisdom
The Odyssey Begins Thoughts on the New Translation?
a week ago
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 week ago
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a week 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...
Res Obscura
Onfim's world Child artists in history
a week ago
TheCollector
5 Discoveries That Made Archaeologists Question the Origins of Art Discoveries in the archaeological record have sparked debate about how we should define art. Some...
a week ago
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a week ago
Discoveries in the archaeological record have sparked debate about how we should define art. Some researchers argue that art must go beyond simple representations and instead convey symbolic ideas, beliefs, or concepts that transcend what was immediately visible to the artist....
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 week ago
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a week 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...
Open Culture
A Forgotten 16th-Century Manuscript Reveals the First Designs for Modern Rockets The Austrian military engineer Conrad Haas was a man ahead of his time — indeed, about 400 years...
a week ago
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a week ago
The Austrian military engineer Conrad Haas was a man ahead of his time — indeed, about 400 years ahead, considering that he was working on rockets aimed for outer space back in the mid-sixteenth century. Needless to say, he never actually managed to launch anything into the upper...
Open Culture
Why Most Ancient Civilizations Had No Word for the Color Blue In an old Zen story, two monks argue over whether a flag is waving or whether it’s the wind that...
a week ago
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a week ago
In an old Zen story, two monks argue over whether a flag is waving or whether it’s the wind that waves. Their teacher strikes them both dumb, saying, “It is your mind that moves.” The centuries-old koan illustrates a point Zen masters — and later philosophers, psychologists, and...
History Today Feed
Bismarck’s Britain Bismarck’s Britain JamesHoare Wed, 04/16/2025 - 08:56
a week ago
Wrong Side of...
The Sacred Fetish of Academic Freedom The Transition #2
a week ago
TheCollector
Eye of Horus Symbol: Meaning & Myth Egyptian religion was filled with magical symbols, amulets, and totems. The Eye of Horus, often...
a week ago
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a week 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...
Trying to Understand...
What Is This "War" Of Which You Speak? Do we mean what they mean?
a week ago
TheCollector
Bikers, Outlaws, and Mobsters: A Brief History of New Hollywood By the end of the 1950s, Hollywood studios were verging on economic disaster after forty years of...
a week ago
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a week ago
By the end of the 1950s, Hollywood studios were verging on economic disaster after forty years of ruling U.S. and world cinema. Much of their core audience had grown up and moved to the suburbs, away from the grand city theaters but infinitely closer to their new living-room TVs....
Overcoming Bias
AI Is GPT, & GPTs Go Slow Back in the dot-com boom of the late 90s, many said a new economy loomed that invalidated all the...
a week ago
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a week ago
Back in the dot-com boom of the late 90s, many said a new economy loomed that invalidated all the old rules, and would soon cause big fast change.
TheCollector
Who Are the Pharisees in the Bible? The New Testament presents the Pharisees as a group that vehemently opposed the ministry of Jesus....
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a week ago
The New Testament presents the Pharisees as a group that vehemently opposed the ministry of Jesus. Yet, a select few among the Pharisees were open to considering what Jesus taught and even defended his ministry. The Pharisees played a significant role in Jewish society and...
TheCollector
Who Was Jan Smuts & Why Is He Important to World History? Jan Smuts is well known in South Africa as a major historical figure. He helped establish South...
a week ago
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a week ago
Jan Smuts is well known in South Africa as a major historical figure. He helped establish South African autonomy while still a subject of the British crown and was vital to the formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910.   His influence, however, spread far beyond the...
TheCollector
Remains of Ancient Roman Wall Paintings Found in Spain Spanish archaeologists unearthed over 4,000 fragments of wall paintings that once decorated the...
a week ago
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a week ago
Spanish archaeologists unearthed over 4,000 fragments of wall paintings that once decorated the Roman villa of Barberes Sud in the town of Villajoyosa. By restoring and reassembling the painted pieces, conservators are beginning to reveal the rich decoration of the stately Roman...
TheCollector
What Do Reformed Churches Believe? John Calvin is one of the most recognized names among the reformers, and for good reason. Calvinism...
a week ago
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a week ago
John Calvin is one of the most recognized names among the reformers, and for good reason. Calvinism is named after this theologian and the Reformed Churches have the doctrines that he espoused at their core. Though there are several similarities between Reformed Churches and...
Flashbak
The Mercedes-Benz 190 SL Assembly Line, February 1958 In February 1958, production was underway on the Mercedes-Benz 190 SL open-topped sports car. Made...
a week ago
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a week ago
In February 1958, production was underway on the Mercedes-Benz 190 SL open-topped sports car. Made between May 1955 and February 1963, and known by the company as W121, the 190 SL roadster made its debut at the 1954 New York Auto Show at Madison Square Garden (February 6 – 14,...
Hidden History
Submarine USS Dolphin The submarine USS Dolphin was specially built as a test-bed for deep-diving designs. At the outbreak...
a week ago
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a week ago
The submarine USS Dolphin was specially built as a test-bed for deep-diving designs. At the outbreak of the Second World War, a typical submarine or u-boat was capable of diving to a maximum depth of round 250 feet. By the time the war ended, advanced models like the...
Classical Wisdom
The World of Homer Classical Wisdom Litterae
a week ago
TheCollector
Did Jephthah Sacrifice His Daughter in the Bible? Judges 11:29-40 tells the intriguing story of a mighty warrior named Jephthah who made an...
a week ago
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a week ago
Judges 11:29-40 tells the intriguing story of a mighty warrior named Jephthah who made an irresponsible vow to God that was not required of him. He vowed that if God gave his enemies in his hand, he would sacrifice whatever came out of the doors of his house when he returned...
TheCollector
Catherine de Medici: Who Was the Real ‘Serpent Queen’? The Medici family was one of the most powerful Italian families during the Renaissance era,...
a week ago
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a week ago
The Medici family was one of the most powerful Italian families during the Renaissance era, particularly when Catherine de Medici married King Henry II and became the Queen of France. Now known as the Serpent Queen, she had three sons who would rule much of France. But who was...
Open Culture
The Ark Before Noah: Discover the Ancient Flood Myths That Came Before the Bible The Lord said to Noah, there’s going to be a floody, floody; then to get those children out of the...
a week ago
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a week ago
The Lord said to Noah, there’s going to be a floody, floody; then to get those children out of the muddy, muddy; then to build him an arky, arky. This much we heard while toasting marshmallows around the campfire, at least if we grew up in a certain modern Protestant tradition....
History Today Feed
Coronation of Bolesław the Brave Coronation of Bolesław the Brave JamesHoare Tue, 04/15/2025 - 09:14
a week ago
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...
a week ago
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a week 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
5 Significant Islamic Philosophers of the Middle Ages Who were the most important thinkers of the Islamic world during the Middle Ages? While there would...
a week ago
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a week ago
Who were the most important thinkers of the Islamic world during the Middle Ages? While there would be too many to include in a single article, there have been several Islamic philosophers from the medieval period whose influence on philosophy stands out. This article discusses...
CrimethInc.
Retailiation: Robin Hood in the Workplace : Steal Something from Work Day 2025 Every year, like many other people, we observe April 15 as Steal Something from Work Day. This year,...
a week ago
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a week ago
Every year, like many other people, we observe April 15 as Steal Something from Work Day. This year, April 15 finds a new cast of authoritarians in control of the United States government, recklessly overhauling it to spread terror and fill their pockets. But this will not put an...
TheCollector
What Are the Dead Sea Scrolls (and Why Do They Matter)? Many people have doubted the accuracy of Biblical transmission over the ages. Claims that it no...
a week ago
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a week ago
Many people have doubted the accuracy of Biblical transmission over the ages. Claims that it no longer represents a true reflection of the original texts were commonplace. With the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in late 1946 or early 1947, those concerns were laid to rest....
TheCollector
What Is the Song of Solomon About? The Song of Solomon is different from any other book in the Bible. Some people are surprised at its...
a week ago
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a week ago
The Song of Solomon is different from any other book in the Bible. Some people are surprised at its content. It seems like letters two lovers wrote one another where the male and female describe the other from their perspective. The poems express excitement at the thought of the...
TheCollector
Embalming Lenin: Why Was the Soviet Founder Permanently Preserved? At the edge of Moscow’s Red Square, by the walls of the Kremlin, stands a stone mausoleum that is...
a week ago
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a week ago
At the edge of Moscow’s Red Square, by the walls of the Kremlin, stands a stone mausoleum that is home to the preserved body of Vladimir Lenin, the founding father of the Soviet Union. While other world leaders throughout history were embalmed and later buried, Lenin’s remains...
Classical Wisdom
What Makes a Hero? The Ancient Ideals of Heroism: Odysseus and Aeneas
a week ago
Flashbak
A Prisoner of War Stitched A Secret Message To The Nazis: God Save the King – Fu*k Hitler! At the prisoner of war camp in Spangenberg castle, Germany, Major Alexis Casdagli began to stitch....
a week ago
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a week ago
At the prisoner of war camp in Spangenberg castle, Germany, Major Alexis Casdagli began to stitch. Using a piece of canvas handed to him by a fellow inmate, thread from an old jumper and a hidden needle, Casdagli created a border of dots and dashes around a frame of swastikas and...
TheCollector
12 Unexpected Facts About Samuel Johnson There are many basic but essential facts to be learned about Samuel Johnson. For example, he was...
a week ago
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a week ago
There are many basic but essential facts to be learned about Samuel Johnson. For example, he was born in 1709 and died in 1784. His life spanned the reign of four British Monarchs: Queen Anne (1702-1714), King George I (1714-1727), King George II (1727-1760), and King George III...
TheCollector
Why Is the Gospel of Mark so Short? Of the four gospels in the Biblical canon, the Gospel of Mark is the shortest by a significant...
a week ago
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a week ago
Of the four gospels in the Biblical canon, the Gospel of Mark is the shortest by a significant margin. The writer of John had a different approach to compiling and describing the message he wished to convey, so a difference in length would be understandable. With Matthew and...
TheCollector
When Did Albert Einstein Die? After fleeing Nazi Germany for the United States in 1933, Albert Einstein spent the final years of...
a week ago
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a week ago
After fleeing Nazi Germany for the United States in 1933, Albert Einstein spent the final years of his life in America. Though he failed to contribute any more groundbreaking scientific contributions, he used his fame and voice to address the pressing issues of his day, from...
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 week ago
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a week 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...
Open Culture
What Was Smoot-Hawley, and Why Are We Doing It Again? Anyone? Anyone? When most Americans think of the Smoot-Hawley Tariffs, they think of economic disaster. But if you...
a week ago
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a week ago
When most Americans think of the Smoot-Hawley Tariffs, they think of economic disaster. But if you ask why, most Americans may need a short refresher course. Below, you will find just that. Appearing on Derek Thompson’s Plain History podcast, Douglas Irwin (an economist and...
History Today Feed
‘Scholars and Their Kin’ review ‘Scholars and Their Kin’ review JamesHoare Mon, 04/14/2025 - 09:00
a week ago
Wrong Side of...
The Transition The Great Awokening and the end of the cultural revolution
a week ago
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 week ago
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a week 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...
Global Inequality...
The stock market fetish The most recent turmoil in the stock market caused by Donald Trump’s ill-considered policy to impose...
a week ago
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a week ago
The most recent turmoil in the stock market caused by Donald Trump’s ill-considered policy to impose tariffs on the entire world, has brought up one legitimate question: what is the correct attitude towards stock market declines and crashes?
Overcoming Bias
Should I Be Clearly Conservative? A conservative is someone who stands athwart history, yelling Stop, at a time when no one is...
a week ago
11
a week ago
A conservative is someone who stands athwart history, yelling Stop, at a time when no one is inclined to do so, or to have much patience with those who so urge it. ― William F.
TheCollector
Ulrich Zwingli: A Forgotten Pillar of the Reformation When discussing the Reformation, names like Martin Luther and John Calvin are often at the...
a week ago
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a week ago
When discussing the Reformation, names like Martin Luther and John Calvin are often at the forefront. However, Ulrich Zwingli, a Swiss reformer, also played a pivotal role in shaping Protestant theology and influencing religious history. Zwingli was instrumental in the Swiss...
African History...
Online resources for African history: links to African collections held at 33 Western Museums Up to 90% of Sub-Saharan Africa’s material cultural legacy is kept outside of the continent,...
a week ago
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a week ago
Up to 90% of Sub-Saharan Africa’s material cultural legacy is kept outside of the continent, according to a French government-commissioned 2018 report by Senegalese economist Felwine Sarr and French historian Bénédicte Savoy.
TheCollector
Who Was Saint Paul? A Short Biography Saint Paul authored more epistles in the New Testament than any other apostle. Most of Christian...
a week ago
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a week ago
Saint Paul authored more epistles in the New Testament than any other apostle. Most of Christian theology builds on his writings at least in part. Few people who knew Saul (Paul) as a young man would have thought he would make such a significant impact on Christianity seeing that...
Classical Wisdom
Weekly Wisdom Quiz Gatsby and the Greek Miracle
a week ago
Flashbak
David the Dreamer: Ralph Bergengren’s Children’s Book Illustrated by Tom Seidmann-Freud, 1922 ‘The earth is heavy and opaque without dreams.” – Anaïs Nin     Published in 1922 with illustrations...
a week ago
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a week ago
‘The earth is heavy and opaque without dreams.” – Anaïs Nin     Published in 1922 with illustrations by Tom Seidmann-Freud, Ralph Bergengren’s David the Dreamer: His Book of Dreams tells the story of a boy’s dreams for his pet dog Fido’s third birthday. David finds himself in a...
TheCollector
Who Are the Philistines That Appear in the Bible? The Bible presents the Philistines as notable enemies of Israel and they are involved in some iconic...
a week ago
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a week ago
The Bible presents the Philistines as notable enemies of Israel and they are involved in some iconic scenes from the Old Testament. Among these are the narratives of David and Goliath, the Philistine giant warrior who was defeated by a shepherd boy, and the time when the Ark of...
TheCollector
What Were the Cities Paul’s Letters Reached? The Apostle Paul, following his conversion to Christianity, became not only a literary champion for...
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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,...
TheCollector
10 Must-Visit Historic Towns in Maine Maine’s story begins long before statehood, with Indigenous cultures, rugged coastlines, and early...
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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....
TheCollector
What Is the Holy Spirit in Christianity, and Its Significance? The doctrine of the Trinity identifies the Holy Spirit as the third person in the Godhead. This...
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The doctrine of the Trinity identifies the Holy Spirit as the third person in the Godhead. This teaching was established at the First Council of Nicaea (325 CE) and defined the Godhead more clearly than ever. The books of the New Testament were foundational in developing the...
TheCollector
What Is the Book of Jasher and Why Is It Not in the Bible? The Bible mentions the Book of Jasher twice. The Book of Jasher was lost sometime in antiquity, and...
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The Bible mentions the Book of Jasher twice. The Book of Jasher was lost sometime in antiquity, and no mention of it appears in the Dead Sea Scrolls, early Jewish or Christian tradition, or early Rabbinic writings. During the Middle Ages, a time notorious for people passing off...
TheCollector
10 Best Places to Visit in Mexico for History Buffs Mexico might be renowned as a beach lover’s ideal destination, yet the allure for history lovers is...
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a week ago
Mexico might be renowned as a beach lover’s ideal destination, yet the allure for history lovers is even greater. With a capital city built atop the ruins of ancient empires, a head-spinning array of sensational pre-Columbian ruins, world-famous pyramids, enchanting colonial...
TheCollector
Socialism vs. Capitalism: What’s the Difference? As philosophy, politics, and economics evolve, the debate between socialism and capitalism becomes...
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a week ago
As philosophy, politics, and economics evolve, the debate between socialism and capitalism becomes increasingly important. These ideologies differ in how they distribute resources and structure society. Socialism aims for more equality by having shared ownership. Capitalism...
TheCollector
What Technological & Cultural Advances Were Achieved During the Gupta Empire? The Gupta Empire is widely regarded as India’s Golden Age. Although it existed for only about 230...
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The Gupta Empire is widely regarded as India’s Golden Age. Although it existed for only about 230 years (from the 3rd century AD to 543 AD), it had a profound influence on many areas of Indian society, including arts and science. The empire was established by Sri Gupta who came...
Flashbak
Found Portraits from Steenbergen in The Netherlands – 1970s These found photographs are from Steenbergen in the south of The Netherlands. The find holds 220...
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a week ago
These found photographs are from Steenbergen in the south of The Netherlands. The find holds 220 negatives from different families from Steenbergen. The photos were taken by professional photographer Van Mechelen. We like them because of their bold colours and the subjects’...
TheCollector
10 Historic Towns in Queensland Worth Exploring Australia’s story stretches back over 60,000 years, beginning with its First Nations peoples and...
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Australia’s story stretches back over 60,000 years, beginning with its First Nations peoples and evolving through waves of colonial exploration, gold rushes, wars, and modern nation-building. While major cities reflect this layered past, Queensland in particular holds a distinct...
Global Inequality...
Intelligentsia in power On Bukharin's critique of the Austrian school and John Bates Clark
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TheCollector
Christian Views on Limbo Explained: Definition & History The concept of Limbo is a theological view that many Roman Catholics held from the time of the...
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The concept of Limbo is a theological view that many Roman Catholics held from the time of the Church Fathers until recently. The “Limbo of the Infants” was never an official doctrine of the Catholic Church, while the Limbo of the Fathers and Patriarchs was. Limbo refers to a...
TheCollector
The 10 Best Places to Visit in Argentina for History Buffs Argentina is one of the most captivating and varied destinations in Latin America. It is a nation...
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Argentina is one of the most captivating and varied destinations in Latin America. It is a nation enriched with centuries of fascinating history and indescribable natural beauty. Luckily, even in its remotest and most breathtaking regions, like Patagonia in the far south and...
TheCollector
Deadly Earthquake Unearths Forgotten Monument in Myanmar A major earthquake struck central Myanmar on March 28, 2025, claiming thousands of lives and causing...
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A major earthquake struck central Myanmar on March 28, 2025, claiming thousands of lives and causing extensive damage across the Southeast Asian nation. Amidst the devastation, new fissures in the earth revealed long-buried ruins near Inwa, where the Burmese imperial capital of...
TheCollector
5 Great Achievements of the Roman Emperor Nerva Marcus Cocceius Nerva became emperor of the Roman Empire following the assassination of Domitian in...
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Marcus Cocceius Nerva became emperor of the Roman Empire following the assassination of Domitian in 96 CE. Chosen by the senate, he was the first in the series known as the “Five Good Emperors.” But his short reign is often overshadowed by the chaos and fear caused by his...
Classical Wisdom
The Original Great Gatsby Ancient Inspiration
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A Collection of...
Collections: The Siege of Eregion, Part V: What Tactics? This is the final part of our five part (I, II, III, IV) series on the Siege of Eregion in Amazon’s...
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This is the final part of our five part (I, II, III, IV) series on the Siege of Eregion in Amazon’s Rings of Power. Last time, we looked at the orc siege and marveled at both their lack of works and also their nonsensical siege engines, concluding that Adar had launched a siege...
TheCollector
Maria Edgeworth’s Educational Philosophy in 5 Core Concepts Maria Edgeworth was ahead of her time in educational philosophy. She supported new teaching methods...
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Maria Edgeworth was ahead of her time in educational philosophy. She supported new teaching methods that remain important today. Her interesting ideas included practical education, moral instruction, critical thinking skills, individualized learning, and more parental involvement...
TheCollector
How Was King Louis XIV Involved in the “Affair of the Poisons?” Magic, poison, executions and King Louis XIV came together to create what is now known as the...
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a week ago
Magic, poison, executions and King Louis XIV came together to create what is now known as the ‘Affair of the Poisons’. How did one woman’s crime lead to a hunt to root out corruption at the heart of the royal court, and what role did the king come to play?   Who Was King […]
Open Culture
How Chinese Characters Work: The Evolution of a Three-Millennia-Old Writing System Contrary to somewhat popular belief, Chinese characters aren’t just little pictures. In fact, most...
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a week ago
Contrary to somewhat popular belief, Chinese characters aren’t just little pictures. In fact, most of them aren’t pictures at all. The very oldest, whose evolution can be traced back to the “oracle bone” script of thirteenth century BC etched directly onto the remains of turtles...
Open Culture
Hear the World’s Oldest Known Song, “Hurrian Hymn No. 6” Written 3,400 Years Ago Do you like old timey music? Splendid. You can’t get more old timey than Hurrian Hymn No. 6, which...
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Do you like old timey music? Splendid. You can’t get more old timey than Hurrian Hymn No. 6, which was discovered on a clay tablet in the ancient Syrian port city of Ugarit in the 1950s, and is over 3400 years old. Actually, you can — a similar tablet, which references a hymn...
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...
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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...
Wrong Side of...
Rallying around the (Progress Pride) Flag The European Right must learn to hate Trump
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TheCollector
What Are the Names of God in the Bible (and Why Are There So Many)? In the Bible, there are many names for God. Some apply to God in general, while others refer to...
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a week ago
In the Bible, there are many names for God. Some apply to God in general, while others refer to Jesus specifically. Most of these names are expressions of character. They highlight specific aspects of who God is and generally correlate with the circumstance and situation God...
TheCollector
Hidden Portrait Found Beneath Joan Miró Painting The Fundació Joan Miró revealed a surprising new insight into the Spanish-Catalan artist’s work. The...
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a week ago
The Fundació Joan Miró revealed a surprising new insight into the Spanish-Catalan artist’s work. The enigmatic composition Pintura, according to a press statement from the foundation, overlays an earlier portrait of Miró’s mother. This announcement comes nearly a century after...
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...
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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...
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,...
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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....
TheCollector
Who Was Black Hawk? (Life & War) Leading a band of rebels against the forces of the United States, Black Hawk was a prominent Native...
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Leading a band of rebels against the forces of the United States, Black Hawk was a prominent Native American leader whose actions changed the lives of thousands of people. In his time, he was a controversial figure, both revered and reviled for his actions that took his people to...
TheCollector
Creepy Happenings at King Henry VIII’s Haunted Palace (Hampton Court) The Palace of Hampton Court, located in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, is undoubtedly...
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2 weeks ago
The Palace of Hampton Court, located in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, is undoubtedly the most famous residence associated with King Henry VIII. Over the last five centuries, the palace has acquired an enormous amount of history, and not all of it is particularly...
TheCollector
Why Did Genghis Khan’s Empire Decline? Genghis Khan died in 1227 fighting in China. Upon his successor’s death in 1259, squabbles over...
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Genghis Khan died in 1227 fighting in China. Upon his successor’s death in 1259, squabbles over succession led to the Mongol Empire being split into four khanates, each ruled by a son or grandson. These included the Yuan Dynasty in China, the European Golden Horde, Persia’s...
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...
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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,...
TheCollector
9 Historic Attractions You Need to See in St. Augustine, Florida Beautiful and historic St. Augustine is the oldest city on the Atlantic, also known as the “First...
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Beautiful and historic St. Augustine is the oldest city on the Atlantic, also known as the “First Coast” of Florida. It’s an endlessly walkable town with a charming downtown core and gorgeous seaside views. It’s also home to one of the state’s most iconic treasures; the Fountain...
Open Culture
Actor John Lithgow Reads 20 Lessons on Tyranny, Penned by Historian Timothy Snyder In 2017, historian Timothy Snyder wrote the concise book On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the...
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2 weeks ago
In 2017, historian Timothy Snyder wrote the concise book On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century, which went on to become a New York Times bestseller. A historian of fascism (then at Yale, now at U. Toronto), Snyder wanted to offer Americans a useful guide for...
Global Inequality...
Rich life He would always set his alarm for 8.
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
The 1999 Apartment Bombings in Russia: History & Unanswered Questions In late 1999, a series of explosions destroyed apartments across Russia. When Chechen separatists...
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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...
Patterns in Humanity
The Assimilation Myth: America Persistence and the Not-So Melting Pot
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CrimethInc.
“This Hotel Is a Detention Center” : An Account from the Front Lines of the Fight against... This account picks up where our previous article about the Anti-Deportation Collective left off,...
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This account picks up where our previous article about the Anti-Deportation Collective left off, chronicling scenes from the movement against deportations in Paris in the late 1990s. As Donald Trump attempts to put $45 billion towards expanding the gulag system of immigrant...
TheCollector
The 12 Best Places to Visit in Chile for History Buffs Chile has endured a long and at times tumultuous history over the years. Although the brutal...
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Chile has endured a long and at times tumultuous history over the years. Although the brutal military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet continues to influence many of the country’s struggles, it is not—or rather should not be—the historical event that defines it most. With a...
Classical Wisdom
The Greek Miracle? Podcast with Professor Reviel Netz
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Death Squared: No-One Got Out Alive in The Universe 25 Experiment, 1968-1972 “I shall largely speak of mice, but my thoughts are on man.” – John Calhoun, Universe 25     The...
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“I shall largely speak of mice, but my thoughts are on man.” – John Calhoun, Universe 25     The Universe 25 experiment, carried out by American scientist John Calhoun between 1968 and 1972, produced an unexpected result. A once thriving community of 2,200 of mice had collapsed....
TheCollector
10 Top Tourist Destinations in Japan It is undeniable that Japan is a land with many things that make it unique. From its history to its...
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It is undeniable that Japan is a land with many things that make it unique. From its history to its culture to its magnificent natural beauty, Japan has been enticing tourists for centuries. It is one of the world’s most visited countries, and for good reason!   Packed into...
TheCollector
Meet the Prime Ministers: 10 Men Who Served Queen Victoria Who were the ten British prime ministers of Queen Victoria’s reign? What were the highlights of...
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Who were the ten British prime ministers of Queen Victoria’s reign? What were the highlights of their careers, and what did they achieve on behalf of the United Kingdom? Most importantly, what was the nature of their relationship with Queen Victoria herself?   Let us now step...
TheCollector
The Philosopher of Nature: Who Was Friedrich Wilhelm Schelling? Schelling is among the most influential German philosophers in history. As a post-Kantian thinker,...
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Schelling is among the most influential German philosophers in history. As a post-Kantian thinker, he is considered a midpoint between the Fichtean and Hegelian philosophical systems along the development of German Idealism. Unlike his predecessors, Schelling placed nature at the...
Wrong Side of...
Do I have Trump Derangement Syndrome? The US president is going to give us a thousand years of woke
2 weeks ago
Open Culture
The Medieval Manuscript That Features “Yoda”, Killer Snails, Savage Rabbits & More: Discover The... As much as you may enjoy a night in with a book, you might not look so eagerly forward to it if that...
2 weeks ago
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2 weeks ago
As much as you may enjoy a night in with a book, you might not look so eagerly forward to it if that book comprised 314 folios of 1,971 papal letters and other documents relating to ecclesiastical law, all from the thirteenth century. Indeed, even many specialists in the field...
History Today Feed
On the Spot: Patricia Fara On the Spot: Patricia Fara JamesHoare Wed, 04/09/2025 - 09:08
2 weeks ago
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...
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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,...
Open Culture
The Map of Mathematics: Animation Shows How All the Different Fields in Math Fit Together Back in December, you hopefully thoroughly immersed yourself in The Map of Physics, an animated...
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2 weeks ago
Back in December, you hopefully thoroughly immersed yourself in The Map of Physics, an animated video–a visual aid for the modern age–that mapped out the field of physics, explaining all the connections between classical physics, quantum physics, and relativity. You can’t do...
Trying to Understand...
Another Country. And other peoples' heroes.
2 weeks ago
Classical Wisdom
Plato and the Tyrant Power, Philosophy, and the Perils of Idealism: Plato’s Republic Reimagined Through Political...
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Power, Philosophy, and the Perils of Idealism: Plato’s Republic Reimagined Through Political Upheaval
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8 Best Places to Visit in Colombia for History Buffs Colombia is a captivating land rich in cultural heritage and ancient treasures, with countless tales...
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Colombia is a captivating land rich in cultural heritage and ancient treasures, with countless tales to tell. From sophisticated pre-Columbian civilizations to colonial triumphs and struggles, this country showcases its colorful history with abundant enthusiasm. Here is a guide...
TheCollector
What Does the Bible Say About the Tree of Life? Genesis 3 suggests that eating the fruit from the Tree of Life gave eternal life. After the Fall,...
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Genesis 3 suggests that eating the fruit from the Tree of Life gave eternal life. After the Fall, God prevented access to the tree by posting two cherubs at the entrance to the garden. Humans should not have access to eternal life while in their fallen state. Access to the tree...
Overcoming Bias
Might Makes The Best Right Does “might make right”?
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
Major Works by Botticelli, Renoir, and More to Tour 10 US States Washington D.C.’s National Gallery of Art announced plans to lend major works from its collection to...
2 weeks ago
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2 weeks ago
Washington D.C.’s National Gallery of Art announced plans to lend major works from its collection to regional museums across the country. The historic loan program is part of a larger initiative marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.   National Gallery’s “Across the...
Hidden History
Hominins The first diary in a series which looks at significant species in the evolution of humans. Humans...
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The first diary in a series which looks at significant species in the evolution of humans. Humans evolved from apelike ancestors. This idea was first put forth in 1859, when Charles Darwin wrote On the Origin of Species and spelled out his idea of evolution through natural...
TheCollector
Collectivization in the USSR: How Did It Work? From the 1920s onward, the Soviet Union began the process of industrialization with an aggressive...
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From the 1920s onward, the Soviet Union began the process of industrialization with an aggressive policy known as collectivization. However, transforming the rural economy over such a short space of time affected the lives of millions of people. To come to terms with how...
TheCollector
How Were Mycenaean Tombs Built? The Mycenaean civilization emerged during the Late Bronze Age that spanned from approximately 1750...
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The Mycenaean civilization emerged during the Late Bronze Age that spanned from approximately 1750 BCE to 1050 BCE. The civilization derived its name from Mycenae, its main city in the Argolid region of the Peloponnese. When the society reached its apex between 1500 BCE and 1200...
History Today Feed
Catherine of Siena’s American Daughters Catherine of Siena’s American Daughters JamesHoare Tue, 04/08/2025 - 09:01
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Flashbak
Photographer’s Lost Photos of Punk and New Wave Stars of the 1970s “I came up with the genius ideas of being a rockstar photographer. I could still feel important and...
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“I came up with the genius ideas of being a rockstar photographer. I could still feel important and literally hide behind a sexy camera. I dropped out of school. I was going to be the next David Bailey, Helmut Newton, or Irving Penn, or even better, a combination of all of them.”...
Open Culture
Watch Composer Wendy Carlos Demo an Original Moog Synthesizer (1989) She’s worked with Stanley Kubrick *and* “Weird Al” Yankovic, and helped Robert Moog in the...
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She’s worked with Stanley Kubrick *and* “Weird Al” Yankovic, and helped Robert Moog in the development of his eponymous synthesizer. Wendy Carlos is also one of the first high profile transgender artists–credited as Walter Carlos for Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange but having...
TheCollector
10 Beautiful Places in Florida Tourists Tend to Overlook Florida is filled with loads of activities to do ranging from the world class amusement parks down...
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Florida is filled with loads of activities to do ranging from the world class amusement parks down to local springs. If you are planning a visit to the Sunshine State don’t fret, we’re here to help. If you want to take a journey off the beaten path there is still an abundance of...
CrimethInc.
May Day Means Resistance : A Call to Take Action on May First This May Day, gather in defiance of tyranny and oppression. Gather to create communities based in...
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This May Day, gather in defiance of tyranny and oppression. Gather to create communities based in solidarity and mutual aid. Gather with everyone who wants a better life. Gather to honor those who fought before us. Gather to show that another world is possible. As May Day 2025...
Flashbak
Day Of The Fight: 24-Hours With Stanley Kubrick And Boxer Walter Cartier “…like almost everything else good that’s ever happened to me, by the sheerest stroke of luck, I had...
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“…like almost everything else good that’s ever happened to me, by the sheerest stroke of luck, I had a very good friend at Look, which gave me a job as a still photographer. After about six months, I was made a full-fledged staff photographer. My highest salary was $105 a week,...
TheCollector
6 Fascinating Historical Sites in the Maritimes, Canada Canada is a popular destination for people who wish to enjoy some fresh air, open space, and...
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Canada is a popular destination for people who wish to enjoy some fresh air, open space, and stunning natural scenery. Tourists flock to Vancouver, Toronto, Niagara Falls, and Montreal, but most fail to add the Maritimes to their itinerary. Tucked away in the east of Canada, the...
TheCollector
First Ancient Greek Theater Unearthed on Ionian Islands Following a decade of excavation efforts, archaeologists unearthed the remains of an ancient Greek...
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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...
Classical Wisdom
Archeology... Or Grave Robbing? Is it OK to dig up the Dead?
2 weeks ago
Wrong Side of...
Against Critical Trade Theory He’s given the word populism a bad name
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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...
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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...
TheCollector
Justinian I’s Surprising Recapture of Rome: What Happened? The Byzantine Emperor Justinian I came close to uniting the former Roman Empire less than a century...
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2 weeks ago
The Byzantine Emperor Justinian I came close to uniting the former Roman Empire less than a century after its fall. However, popular discontent, foreign war, and a plague all combined to bring his dream of reestablishing Roman glory to an end, despite remarkable successes.   Rome...
TheCollector
Color Psychology: What Does Purple Represent? The color purple is the meeting point of water and fire, sorrow and love, introspection and...
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The color purple is the meeting point of water and fire, sorrow and love, introspection and creativity, stillness and activity, serenity and anger – it is a color of union, where opposites collide. Thanks to these characteristics, purple has long colored our imagination across...
Open Culture
Dante’s Inferno: A Visitor’s Guide to Hell In most places across the world, speak the name of Dante, and your listeners will think of Inferno....
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2 weeks ago
In most places across the world, speak the name of Dante, and your listeners will think of Inferno. Since its first publication more than 700 years ago, its depiction of Hell has become influential enough to shape the perceptions of even those who don’t believe that such a place...
History Today Feed
‘Queen James’ by Gareth Russell review ‘Queen James’ by Gareth Russell review JamesHoare Mon, 04/07/2025 - 09:00
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3 Hidden Gems in Occitanie, France: Off the Beaten Path In 2016, France created Occitanie from two smaller regions: Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées....
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In 2016, France created Occitanie from two smaller regions: Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées. Its name comes from Occitan, the historical language of southwestern France. Although this region is home to important cities like Narbonne (the first Roman colony in France) and...
TheCollector
Who Was Flavius Josephus? The Problematic Chronicler of the Jewish War Flavius Josephus was a Jewish aristocrat who was initially a general in the Jewish rebellion of...
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Flavius Josephus was a Jewish aristocrat who was initially a general in the Jewish rebellion of 66-71 CE, but soon surrendered to the Romans and became a collaborator during the destruction of the Second Temple of Jerusalem. He famously ingratiated himself with the Romans by...
Overcoming Bias
Why Not Inquire Together More? My podcast cohost Agnes Callard has been thinking lately about why we don’t have more deep...
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My podcast cohost Agnes Callard has been thinking lately about why we don’t have more deep conversations wherein we try to figure out important things together.
African History...
What did they write about? : An intellectual history of Timbuktu ca. 1450-1900. No single body of primary sources in the literary heritage of West Africa has attracted as much...
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No single body of primary sources in the literary heritage of West Africa has attracted as much attention and attained as much celebrity as the fabled manuscripts of Timbuktu.
TheCollector
5 Crimes Henry Kissinger Committed in Latin America Henry Kissinger was a consequential American diplomat who served as U.S. National Security Advisor...
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Henry Kissinger was a consequential American diplomat who served as U.S. National Security Advisor and Secretary of State, helping shape American foreign policy for much of the 1970s. In the broader context of the Cold War, Kissinger led American diplomacy with pragmatism and...
Classical Wisdom
Weekly Wisdom Quiz To Hell and Back!
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Flashbak
Bierpfaff’s Alphabet of Organic Type (c. 1650) These lively prints are from the series Libellus Novus Elementorum Latinorum by Polish goldsmith Jan...
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These lively prints are from the series Libellus Novus Elementorum Latinorum by Polish goldsmith Jan Christian Bierpfaff (1600-ca.1690) and engraved by Jeremias Falck (1610–1677). These hugely imaginative, abstract and fluid prints come to life on the page. Bierpfaff worked as an...
TheCollector
10 Archeological Gems of South America (That Are Not Machu Picchu) South America, with its vibrant history and cultural diversity, is a paradise for history...
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2 weeks ago
South America, with its vibrant history and cultural diversity, is a paradise for history enthusiasts. While the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Machu Picchu often steals the spotlight, the sub-continent is home to numerous other archeological marvels that provide a fascinating...
TheCollector
How Did Grigori Rasputin Contribute to the Russian Revolution? Grigori Rasputin was a mystic who was originally only a peasant, so how did he become entangled with...
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Grigori Rasputin was a mystic who was originally only a peasant, so how did he become entangled with the Emperor of Russia, and did it contribute to their downfall during the Russian Revolution? It all was to do with the youngest child and only son of Tsar Nicholas II and his...
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...
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2 weeks 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...
TheCollector
The Real-Life Inspirations Behind Japanese Yōkai Folklore For the Japanese, summer is when the border between the real world and the spirit world becomes...
2 weeks ago
5
2 weeks ago
For the Japanese, summer is when the border between the real world and the spirit world becomes weak, and the legendary yōkai can walk among the living. The yōkai are a complex amalgamation of legendary ghosts, goblins, and spirits that have played a role in Japanese culture for...
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...
2 weeks ago
11
2 weeks 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.
TheCollector
The Impact of NASA’s Shuttle-Mir Program on Space Exploration When the Soviet Union collapsed, the space agencies of the United States and Russia began working...
2 weeks ago
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2 weeks ago
When the Soviet Union collapsed, the space agencies of the United States and Russia began working together like never before. The culmination of the new partnership was the Shuttle-Mir program, a mission that took place over several years and saw American astronauts working...
Open Culture
Who Really Built the Egyptian Pyramids—And How Did They Do It? Although it’s certainly more plausible than hypotheses like ancient aliens or lizard people, the...
2 weeks ago
15
2 weeks ago
Although it’s certainly more plausible than hypotheses like ancient aliens or lizard people, the idea that slaves built the Egyptian pyramids is no more true. It derives from creative readings of Old Testament stories and technicolor Cecil B. Demille spectacles, and was a classic...
TheCollector
The Arch of Titus in Rome: Iconography and Ideology The Arch of Titus is one of the most magnificent ancient monuments surviving in Rome and offers a...
2 weeks ago
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2 weeks ago
The Arch of Titus is one of the most magnificent ancient monuments surviving in Rome and offers a fascinating insight into one of the most volatile periods in Roman imperial history. The Flavians bridged the end of Augustus’s Julio-Claudian Dynasty, when the Romans still...
Flashbak
Terrible Visions of Death And Evil on Alfred Kubin’s Journey Back To The Womb “I definitely prefer the four-horned cow to the one having only two horns” – Alfred Kubin (10 April...
2 weeks ago
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2 weeks ago
“I definitely prefer the four-horned cow to the one having only two horns” – Alfred Kubin (10 April 1877 – 20 August 1959), 1911   In Alfred Kubin’s bizarre and horrific illustrations, humans appear as skeletal, ghost-like creatures or hideously deformed things. They share...
TheCollector
What is Purim? Exploring the Story of Esther and Jewish Resilience The most well-known Jewish holiday is probably either Passover or Hanukkah. Passover is prescribed...
2 weeks ago
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2 weeks ago
The most well-known Jewish holiday is probably either Passover or Hanukkah. Passover is prescribed in the Bible, while Hanukkah commemorates events that happened after the Hebrew Bible was written. These two holidays are similar, however, since they both celebrate divine...
TheCollector
10 Historic Maritime Sites on the East Coast Stretching from the rocky harbors of Maine to the barrier islands of North Carolina, the East Coast...
2 weeks ago
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2 weeks ago
Stretching from the rocky harbors of Maine to the barrier islands of North Carolina, the East Coast of the United States is a living archive of the nation’s maritime history. This coastline saw merchant ships launch into global trade, naval battles that helped shape independence,...
TheCollector
6 Fascinating Facts About Niki de Saint Phalle In her multifaceted artistic career, Niki de Saint Phalle explored femininity, gender inequality,...
2 weeks ago
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2 weeks ago
In her multifaceted artistic career, Niki de Saint Phalle explored femininity, gender inequality, violence, and joy. She continually rejected traditional conventions in art and society, caring little for what others thought about her work. Saint Phalle created highly expressive...
Overcoming Bias
Unleash Capitalism Capitalism today is in chains, allowed to perform many social functions, but held back from...
2 weeks ago
11
2 weeks ago
Capitalism today is in chains, allowed to perform many social functions, but held back from realizing its full potential.
TheCollector
What Were the Economic Effects of the Iran-Iraq War? In September 1980, fearful of the fiery Islamic revolution in neighboring Iran and taking advantage...
2 weeks ago
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2 weeks ago
In September 1980, fearful of the fiery Islamic revolution in neighboring Iran and taking advantage of the resulting chaos (including Western sanctions), Iraq invaded. At the time, Iraq was flush with cash thanks to high oil prices resulting from the 1973 OPEC oil embargo. Taking...
Dreams of Space -...
Caroline Sur La Lune (Caroline on the Moon) 1965 A nice treat today as Caroline goes to the Moon! This was a popular French fictional series but I...
2 weeks ago
13
2 weeks ago
A nice treat today as Caroline goes to the Moon! This was a popular French fictional series but I had not been able to find the one about the Moon trip until recently. The illustrations are beautiful and full color. Well worth examining each one for its details. Pierre Probst...
A Collection of...
Fireside Friday, April 4, 2025 Fireside this week! I am still a bit behind after attending the annual meeting of the Society for...
2 weeks ago
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2 weeks ago
Fireside this week! I am still a bit behind after attending the annual meeting of the Society for Military History – conferences always leave me a bit tired and slow to get back to writing, even as they also stimulate my thinking – so the conclusion of our look at Rings of Power...
TheCollector
The 8 Must-See Rooms at the Metropolitan Museum of Art New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met) is home to one of the world’s most spectacular...
2 weeks ago
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2 weeks ago
New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met) is home to one of the world’s most spectacular collections of art, sculpture, and artifacts. The museum offers a wide array of exhibits spread across multiple galleries, from a fully reconstructed Egyptian temple to mosaics and...
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 weeks ago
12
2 weeks 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
Odysseus in Hell Classics and the Divine Comedy
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
Auguste Comte: The Life & Legacy of the Philosopher of Positivism Auguste Comte developed a way of thinking that says you should have evidence and reasons for what...
2 weeks ago
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2 weeks ago
Auguste Comte developed a way of thinking that says you should have evidence and reasons for what you believe. Comte had a big effect on how people in the 19th century thought. He came up with some really new ideas. They changed completely how people looked at things like history...
TheCollector
When Did Baseball’s Negro Leagues Occur? 19th-century America regularly enforced segregation, especially after the American Civil War. This...
2 weeks ago
9
2 weeks ago
19th-century America regularly enforced segregation, especially after the American Civil War. This also included baseball, the rapidly growing sport dubbed “America’s Pastime.” Black teams formed before the American Civil War, playing white, integrated, or other black teams. But...
Open Culture
How Italy Became the Most Divided Country in Europe: Understanding the Great Divide Between North &... Prada, Alfa Romeo, Pellegrino, Ferrari, Illy, Lamborghini, Gucci: these are a few Italian...
2 weeks ago
20
2 weeks ago
Prada, Alfa Romeo, Pellegrino, Ferrari, Illy, Lamborghini, Gucci: these are a few Italian corporations we all know, though we don’t necessarily know that they’re all from the north of Italy. The same is true, in fact, of most Italian brands that now enjoy global recognition, and...
TheCollector
10 Must-Visit Historic Towns in Washington Washington State has a history as expansive and layered as its landscapes. Long before statehood in...
2 weeks ago
9
2 weeks ago
Washington State has a history as expansive and layered as its landscapes. Long before statehood in 1889, the region was home to numerous Indigenous tribes who shaped its identity and geography. The arrival of explorers, traders, and pioneers brought about a new chapter, marked...
Wrong Side of...
40k Wrong Side of History Newsletter #61
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
Pop Art and Surrealism: What Do They Have in Common? Surrealism and Pop Art remain some of the most popular and loved art movements of the 20th century,...
2 weeks ago
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2 weeks ago
Surrealism and Pop Art remain some of the most popular and loved art movements of the 20th century, well-known even by those who are not deeply interested in the history of art. The aestheticized weirdness of Surrealist art gave birth to countless images and ideas that settled in...
TheCollector
Excavations at Pompeii Reveal Rare Life-Sized Statues An ongoing excavation at the ancient Roman city of Pompeii yielded an unusual pair of marble...
2 weeks ago
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2 weeks ago
An ongoing excavation at the ancient Roman city of Pompeii yielded an unusual pair of marble funerary statues. The figures depict a man in a toga and a bejeweled woman, who experts believe may have been a Pompeiian priestess.   Statues Found at Pompeii’s Porta Sarno Necropolis  ...
TheCollector
What Is the Armor of God in Christianity? Paul often used metaphors his audience would have been familiar with to explain spiritual realities....
2 weeks ago
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2 weeks ago
Paul often used metaphors his audience would have been familiar with to explain spiritual realities. In Ephesians 6 he identifies the enemy in distinctly spiritual terms, using phrases such as “… we do not wrestle against flesh and blood,” “cosmic powers over this present...
Open Culture
The Steps a President Would Take to Destroy His Nation, According to Grok Just out of curiosity, and apropos of nothing, we asked Grok (the AI chatbot created by Elon Musk)...
2 weeks ago
14
2 weeks ago
Just out of curiosity, and apropos of nothing, we asked Grok (the AI chatbot created by Elon Musk) the following question: If a president of a superpower wanted to destroy his own country, what steps would he take? Here’s what Grok had to say: If a president of a superpower aimed...
TheCollector
What Is an Ideal Government? A Philosophical Approach What makes a perfect government? Is it one governed by the wisest people or one that ensures the...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
What makes a perfect government? Is it one governed by the wisest people or one that ensures the greatest possible happiness for the largest number of citizens? These questions have fascinated thinkers since ancient times—from Plato and other classical philosophers to John Locke...
TheCollector
Language Is Fake! (And Here’s Why) Many of us grew up hearing from teachers, parents, and other adults that there are right and wrong...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
Many of us grew up hearing from teachers, parents, and other adults that there are right and wrong ways to speak. While grammar rules enable streamlined, coherent communication, the point of language—to convey an idea to another person—can be accomplished without adhering to...
TheCollector
What Is the History of Maritime Law? Modern maritime law is a medley of some of the oldest seafaring principles and contemporary rules...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
Modern maritime law is a medley of some of the oldest seafaring principles and contemporary rules that became necessary as the industry evolved. Since ancient times, maritime law has addressed key maritime issues such as insurance coverage, salvage events, and the rights of ship...
CrimethInc.
A Demonstrator's Guide to Lockdowns and Blockades A complete guide to assembling and employing lockboxes and other means of blockading. There is a...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
A complete guide to assembling and employing lockboxes and other means of blockading. There is a broad spectrum of tactics to choose from between simply holding up a protest sign and setting things on fire. If you are looking to intensify a pressure campaign or to stand your...
Open Culture
Why the Romans Stopped Reading Books Nobody reads books anymore. Whether or not that notion strikes you as true, you’ve probably heard it...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
Nobody reads books anymore. Whether or not that notion strikes you as true, you’ve probably heard it expressed fairly often in recent decades — just as you might have had you lived in the Roman Empire of late antiquity. During that time, as ancient-history YouTuber Garrett Ryan...
Flashbak
The Mystery Remains: Found Kodachrome Photos From 1960s San Francisco In 2020, David Gallagher, who runs SF Memory, opened a cabinet found abandoned in San Francisco’s...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
In 2020, David Gallagher, who runs SF Memory, opened a cabinet found abandoned in San Francisco’s Mission District, somewhere around Tiffany and Duncan streets. Inside were 920 Kodachrome slides by a then unknown photographer capturing life in the city throughout the 1960s. They...
TheCollector
10 Must-See UNESCO World Heritage Sites in France UNESCO World Heritage Sites are places of outstanding cultural or natural importance recognized for...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
UNESCO World Heritage Sites are places of outstanding cultural or natural importance recognized for their universal value to humanity. Spanning continents, these sites include ancient ruins, architectural marvels, sacred landscapes, and natural wonders, each telling a unique...
History Today Feed
Early Modern Millers’ Tales Early Modern Millers’ Tales JamesHoare Thu, 04/03/2025 - 09:05
3 weeks ago
TheCollector
6 Famous Land Artists You Should Know Land Art, also known as Earth Art, is a name applied to artworks that operate within the natural...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
Land Art, also known as Earth Art, is a name applied to artworks that operate within the natural realm rather than in artistic studios, using earth, stones, and other natural materials. In some ways, Land Art was a category of art rather than a coherent movement. Artists who...
Open Culture
Watch Jazz ‘Hot’, the Rare 1938 Short Film With Jazz Legend Django Reinhardt Here’s a remarkable short film of the great jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, violinist Stéphane...
3 weeks ago
15
3 weeks ago
Here’s a remarkable short film of the great jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, violinist Stéphane Grappelli and their band the Quintette du Hot Club de France performing on a movie set in 1938. The film was hastily organized by the band’s British agent Lew Grade as a way to...
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...
3 weeks ago
8
3 weeks 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...
Overcoming Bias
Futarchy For Fundraising The Making of Modern Corporate Finance: A History of the Ideas and How They Help Build the Wealth of...
3 weeks ago
15
3 weeks ago
The Making of Modern Corporate Finance: A History of the Ideas and How They Help Build the Wealth of Nations (quotes below), by Donald Chew, persuaded me that for-profit-firm capitalism has varied quite a lot over space and time, and that the U.S.
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...
3 weeks ago
21
3 weeks ago
One reason I became a historian is the joy of encountering moments in the past that are foreign, yet also oddly familiar.
TheCollector
Antiochus IV & the Siege of Jerusalem: What Really Happened For centuries, the people of Judaea had seen many foreign dynasts claim hegemony over them; the...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
For centuries, the people of Judaea had seen many foreign dynasts claim hegemony over them; the Greeks were but the latest. Antiochus IV’s interactions with the Judaeans were, to put it mildly, troubled. Does Antiochus IV deserve the mantle of villainy that ancient sources such...
Classical Wisdom
The Madness of Messalina What Sort of Woman Makes History?
3 weeks ago
Trying to Understand...
Being Non-Transactional. Beyond "What's in it for me?"
3 weeks ago
TheCollector
What Were the Political Effects of the Iran-Iraq War? The Iranian Revolution and Iran Hostage Crisis of 1979 shocked the world and turned the West against...
3 weeks ago
8
3 weeks ago
The Iranian Revolution and Iran Hostage Crisis of 1979 shocked the world and turned the West against the new Islamic revolutionary government of Iran. Less than a year later, the neighboring nation of Iraq, a secular dictatorship under former army officer Saddam Hussein, invaded...
TheCollector
What Was the Significance of Ephesus? By the first century CE, Ephesus was already ancient. Established sometime around 1000 BCE in what...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks 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...
Wrong Side of...
Fiction is truer than fact Willing suspension of disbelief is not a good basis for lawmaking
3 weeks ago
Open Culture
In 1927, Fritz Lang’s Metropolis Created a Dystopian Vision of What the World Would Look Like in... Ultra-tall high-rises against dark skies. A huge distance between the rich and the poor. Robber...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
Ultra-tall high-rises against dark skies. A huge distance between the rich and the poor. Robber barons at the helm of large-scale industrial operations that turn man into machine. Machines that have become intelligent enough to displace man. These have all been standard elements...
History Today Feed
‘The Crisis of Colonial Anglicanism’ by Martyn Percy review ‘The Crisis of Colonial Anglicanism’ by Martyn Percy review JamesHoare Wed, 04/02/2025 - 09:13
3 weeks ago
Open Culture
Watch Bob Dylan Make His Debut at the Newport Folk Festival in Colorized 1963 Footage ?si=l7KWVf9NZBUkPyM6 In July 1963, Bob Dylan made his first appearance at the Newport Folk Festival....
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
?si=l7KWVf9NZBUkPyM6 In July 1963, Bob Dylan made his first appearance at the Newport Folk Festival. On opening night, he captivated a crowd of 13,000 with a performance of “Blowin’ in the Wind,” accompanied by Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, and Peter, Paul, and Mary. Then, the...
TheCollector
Paulo Freire’s Philosophy of Education: An In-Depth Guide If you’re an educator, student, or just someone who loves to learn, it’s worth checking out Paulo...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
If you’re an educator, student, or just someone who loves to learn, it’s worth checking out Paulo Freire. His educational philosophy changed the game. Freire believed that teaching shouldn’t be about bossing kids around—and that schools shouldn’t reproduce systems of oppression....
Global Inequality...
Do you want to be a synonym? I had a dinner with a friend tonight and we spoke of how the new era which has just begun makes lots...
3 weeks ago
18
3 weeks ago
I had a dinner with a friend tonight and we spoke of how the new era which has just begun makes lots of our knowledge, or the ways of thinking, about international relations, economic policies, poverty and wealth etc.
TheCollector
Archaeologists Find Ancient Tomb of Egyptian Military Commander The ancient tomb of a military commander has been uncovered in Egypt, reported the country’s...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
The ancient tomb of a military commander has been uncovered in Egypt, reported the country’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The burial site belonged to a high-ranking leader who served under King Ramesses III, who is considered to be the last pharaoh of Egypt’s New Kingdom...
TheCollector
A Brief History of the Hungarian Soviet Republic The idea of a communist Hungary is usually associated with the Cold War that arose post-World War...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
The idea of a communist Hungary is usually associated with the Cold War that arose post-World War II. Hungary, however, had a brush with communist leadership several decades before, in the aftermath of the First World War.   The short-lived Hungarian Soviet Republic ultimately...
TheCollector
Honoring the Nameless: History of the US Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Perched atop a hill at Arlington National Cemetery, the American Tomb of the Unknown Soldier stands...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
Perched atop a hill at Arlington National Cemetery, the American Tomb of the Unknown Soldier stands quietly, remembering those heroes lost to the annals of history. Guarded by the elite soldiers of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as the Old Guard, this sacred memorial...
Hidden History
The Assassination of Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Civil rights icon Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr was shot and killed on April 4, 1968, on a motel...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
Civil rights icon Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr was shot and killed on April 4, 1968, on a motel balcony in Memphis. One of the earliest successes of the civil rights movement was a boycott in Montgomery, Alabama.  In 1955, after Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her...
Classical Wisdom
How Extra Virgin Olive Oil Got its Name The Ancient History in Your Kitchen
3 weeks ago
TheCollector
What Were the Sociocultural Effects of the Iran-Iraq War? After the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and the start of the Iran Hostage Crisis, Iran fought its...
3 weeks ago
10
3 weeks ago
After the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and the start of the Iran Hostage Crisis, Iran fought its neighbor Iraq for eight years. This war—the largest industrialized war since World War II—demonstrated the tenacity and radicalism of Iran’s Islamist regime. In battle, it used...
Flashbak
The Life of Flowers In Vintage Found Photographs Flowers speak a language we understand. They tell us of time and its passing. They speak of life and...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
Flowers speak a language we understand. They tell us of time and its passing. They speak of life and death, enduring, waiting and survival. They speak of hope and renewal. “To be a flower,” Emily Dickinson wrote in Bloom, a poem, “is profound Responsibility”. We’re thinking of...
TheCollector
Elizabethan vs. Jacobean Theatre: What are the Differences? Before Elizabeth I ascended to the British throne, theatre was broadly seen as sinful and crude. The...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
Before Elizabeth I ascended to the British throne, theatre was broadly seen as sinful and crude. The Renaissance, accompanied by the Reformation and philosophical Humanism, elevates the artform from traditional church led ‘mystery plays’ to classical drama. It could be argued...
Open Culture
The Only Illustrated Manuscript of Homer’s Iliad from Antiquity Despite its status as one of the most widely known and studied epic poems of all time, Homer’s Iliad...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
Despite its status as one of the most widely known and studied epic poems of all time, Homer’s Iliad has proven surprisingly resistant to adaptation. However much inspiration it has provided to modern-day novelists working in a variety of different traditions, it’s translated...
History Today Feed
Wool Aliens of the British Empire Wool Aliens of the British Empire JamesHoare Tue, 04/01/2025 - 09:07
3 weeks ago