Full Width [alt+shift+f] Shortcuts [alt+shift+k]
Sign Up [alt+shift+s] Log In [alt+shift+l]
Top Categories > history
#all #programming #technology #startups #history #life #science #literature #architecture #creative #design #finance #travel #comics #AI #indiehacker #cartography Muted Categories [alt+←][alt+→]
Flashbak
Vintage Posters for The Royal Court Theatre Founded by the English Stage Company (ESC in 1956, London’s Royal Court Theatre focuses on...
7 hours ago
2
7 hours ago
Founded by the English Stage Company (ESC in 1956, London’s Royal Court Theatre focuses on contemporary theatre. The building on Sloane Square has put on plays since its completion in 1888. The venue truly arrived when on 8 May 1956, John Osborne’s Look Back in Anger opened – a...
History Today Feed
England’s Prison Population Problems England’s Prison Population Problems JamesHoare Thu, 06/26/2025 - 08:58
18 hours ago
TheCollector
8 Myths About the Greek God Ares Ares was the Greek god of war and battle frenzy. He numbered among the twelve Olympian gods who...
2 days ago
1
2 days ago
Ares was the Greek god of war and battle frenzy. He numbered among the twelve Olympian gods who ruled over the cosmos. While his sister Athena was a goddess of war, representing strategy and temperance, Ares represented battle lust and the horrors of war. He was often followed...
TheCollector
Battle of Andrassos: Byzantine Empire vs. Sayf al-Dawla’s Jihad During the 10th century CE Sayf al-Dawla, Sword of the Dynasty, ruler of the Emirate of Aleppo...
2 days ago
1
2 days ago
During the 10th century CE Sayf al-Dawla, Sword of the Dynasty, ruler of the Emirate of Aleppo became the most prominent antagonist of the Byzantine Empire. Taking up the call of jihad, he launched devastating raids year after year across the Taurus mountains into the lands of...
Classical Wisdom
On The Shortness of Life Seneca’s Advice for Dealing with Death
2 days ago
TheCollector
Who Were the Desert Fathers (& Mothers)? The Desert Fathers appeared on the Christian historical scene in the third century CE. Saint Anthony...
2 days ago
1
2 days ago
The Desert Fathers appeared on the Christian historical scene in the third century CE. Saint Anthony is often considered the most notable among them, though he was not the first. The Desert Fathers were committed and dedicated believers who chose an ascetic lifestyle that would...
TheCollector
The Metaphysics of Stoicism: 4 Key Tenets One of the most fundamental questions examined by most philosophical schools of thought is the...
2 days ago
1
2 days ago
One of the most fundamental questions examined by most philosophical schools of thought is the nature of existence. According to Stoicism, everything in the universe is matter, created, animated, destroyed, and recreated by divine fire, logos. Consequently, everything is...
Trying to Understand...
Digging Deeper. Because the alternative is worse.
2 days ago
TheCollector
8 Important Norse Symbols From the Viking World While many stories survive about Norse mythology and legendary Viking warriors, these mostly come...
2 days ago
1
2 days ago
While many stories survive about Norse mythology and legendary Viking warriors, these mostly come from later Christian accounts, as the pagan Vikings wrote very little about themselves. But symbols were powerful in the Viking world. They could be used as shorthand for important...
TheCollector
How Did People Track Time Before Clocks? Humans’ age-old desire to tell time has helped propel the rise of more advanced time-telling tools....
2 days ago
1
2 days ago
Humans’ age-old desire to tell time has helped propel the rise of more advanced time-telling tools. The need to track the different parts of the day and night led people in ancient civilizations, such as those in Greece and Egypt, to develop water clocks, sundials, and other...
History Today Feed
Artificial Inspiration Artificial Inspiration JamesHoare Wed, 06/25/2025 - 08:26
2 days ago
TheCollector
The Forgotten Son of Claudius Who Never Became an Emperor Britannicus was the son of the Roman emperor Claudius and his third wife Messalina. The infant boy...
2 days ago
1
2 days ago
Britannicus was the son of the Roman emperor Claudius and his third wife Messalina. The infant boy was proudly named Britannicus by his father following his conquest of Britain, and as Claudius’s only living son, Britannicus was his presumed heir.   But when Messalina fell from...
TheCollector
Francisco Goya’s Descent into Madness: The Disturbing Black Paintings Francisco Goya grew up to be a vibrant young artist in late 18th-century Spain, yet he is known for...
3 days ago
2
3 days ago
Francisco Goya grew up to be a vibrant young artist in late 18th-century Spain, yet he is known for some of art history’s darkest works. The Black Paintings were a series of dark, pessimistic subjects that an elderly Goya painted on the interior walls of his private home, never...
TheCollector
10 Masterpieces of Ottoman Architecture In its early years, the Ottoman Empire was inspired by Persio-Islamic and Byzantine culture. This...
3 days ago
2
3 days ago
In its early years, the Ottoman Empire was inspired by Persio-Islamic and Byzantine culture. This affected the style of Ottoman architecture, and Mosques, madrasas, hospitals, bazaars, and palaces reflected this rich cultural blend. Learn about ten architectural marvels from the...
TheCollector
7 Great Medieval Cities That Thrived on Trade In medieval Europe, trade was a key part of the day-to-day economy. Great trading cities would see...
3 days ago
2
3 days ago
In medieval Europe, trade was a key part of the day-to-day economy. Great trading cities would see hundreds, if not thousands, of merchants pass through their city gates every year, selling wares from lands as far away as India and China. It is hard to fathom in today’s...
TheCollector
4 Historic Sites in Arizona Arizona, home to Phoenix, the fifth-largest city in the United States, maybe one of the youngest...
3 days ago
2
3 days ago
Arizona, home to Phoenix, the fifth-largest city in the United States, maybe one of the youngest states in the nation, but its history runs deep. Beyond its reputation for spring training games, vibrant universities, and record-high temperatures, Arizona offers a wealth of...
Flashbak
The Lives of Stray Cats In Gay Talese’s New York: A Serendipiter’s Journey, 1961 “When street traffic dwindles and most people are sleeping, some New York neighborhoods begin to...
3 days ago
3
3 days ago
“When street traffic dwindles and most people are sleeping, some New York neighborhoods begin to crawl with cats.” – Gay Talese, Serendipiter’s Journey   Written in 1961 when he was 29 and working for Esquire magazine, Gay Talese’s New York: A Serendipiter’s Journey.is an...
TheCollector
How Frida Kahlo Transformed Pain Into a Timeless Artistic Legacy Characterized by deep symbolism and vibrant color palettes, the works of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo...
3 days ago
2
3 days ago
Characterized by deep symbolism and vibrant color palettes, the works of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo have been described as introspective and deeply personal. Best known for her powerful self-portraits, Kahlo’s works reflect lifelong health struggles, including her chronic pain...
TheCollector
Who Is Lilith and Did Adam Have a Wife Before Eve? Although medieval folklore abounds with demonesses, none is more prominent than Lilith. Her origins...
3 days ago
2
3 days ago
Although medieval folklore abounds with demonesses, none is more prominent than Lilith. Her origins trace back to Mesopotamian myths older than 2000 BCE, and similar spirits appear in even earlier traditions. Apart from one vague reference in Isaiah 34, Lilith is absent from the...
History Today Feed
‘The Writer’s Lot’ by Robert Darnton review ‘The Writer’s Lot’ by Robert Darnton review JamesHoare Tue, 06/24/2025 - 08:09
3 days ago
TheCollector
The Life & Death of John (Son of Zebedee) of the Twelve Disciples John was the youngest among the Twelve Disciples. Throughout church history, Bible scholars have...
3 days ago
2
3 days ago
John was the youngest among the Twelve Disciples. Throughout church history, Bible scholars have known him as John the Beloved, John the Evangelist, John of Patmos, John the Elder, and the Beloved Apostle. He seems to have been a two-sided character, on the one hand “a son of...
TheCollector
Thor’s Adventures in Jotunheim (The Norse Myth of Utgard-Loki) The Prose Edda preserves a strange story that sees Thor, Loki, and two servants traveling to...
4 days ago
3
4 days ago
The Prose Edda preserves a strange story that sees Thor, Loki, and two servants traveling to Jotunheim. But when they get there, nothing is as it seems. They encounter a world of illusion. Overall, it feels a bit like the Norse version of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Many of...
TheCollector
Anne of Cleves: The Wife King Henry Loved Most? Anne of Cleves is often characterized as Henry VIII’s least favorite wife. The infamous womanizer...
4 days ago
3
4 days ago
Anne of Cleves is often characterized as Henry VIII’s least favorite wife. The infamous womanizer had his marriage to her annulled on the basis that her looks were so unappealing that he could not consummate the union. But the evidence of Henry’s treatment of Anne after their...
TheCollector
Bayezid the “Thunderbolt”, the Ottoman Sultan Who Died in Captivity In the late 14th century, Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I annexed several Turkic emirates to ensure the...
4 days ago
3
4 days ago
In the late 14th century, Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I annexed several Turkic emirates to ensure the political unity of Anatolia (modern-day Turkey). The lords who had their principalities usurped by Bayezid requested the aid of Timur, founder of the Samarqand-based Timurid dynasty,...
TheCollector
The Iconography of Augustus’s Ara Pacis in Rome Rome’s first emperor Augustus erected the Ara Pacis, an altar dedicated to Pax Romana, in 13 BCE. It...
4 days ago
3
4 days ago
Rome’s first emperor Augustus erected the Ara Pacis, an altar dedicated to Pax Romana, in 13 BCE. It celebrated that Augustus had brought peace to Rome following years of war, and its dedication coincided with a period during which Augustus promoted the importance of family and...
TheCollector
Meet Henry the Navigator, the Man Who Began the Age of Exploration The late Middle Ages and the Early Modern period saw the “Age of Exploration” really come into play,...
4 days ago
2
4 days ago
The late Middle Ages and the Early Modern period saw the “Age of Exploration” really come into play, from a Eurocentric viewpoint. Some of the biggest names in history are to be found in this period: Christopher Columbus, Vasco de Gama, Marco Polo, and perhaps a man that you’ve...
TheCollector
How Many Children Did Genghis Khan Have? Separating Myth from Reality Genghis Khan’s genetic legacy has never been doubted. The question is, how many kids did Genghis...
4 days ago
1
4 days ago
Genghis Khan’s genetic legacy has never been doubted. The question is, how many kids did Genghis Khan have? According to historical records, Khan’s official heirs numbered four through his primary wife Börte. Married to Temujin, later Khan, at age 17, Börte’s original tribe...
Classical Wisdom
Oh Muses, You Sound So Heavenly! The Myth Behind the Music and the Stars...
4 days ago
History Today Feed
Marcus Garvey Meets the KKK Marcus Garvey Meets the KKK JamesHoare Mon, 06/23/2025 - 08:06
4 days ago
TheCollector
Was Camelot Inspired by a Real Location? In the legends of King Arthur, the famous capital city of the king is Camelot. Yet despite the fact...
4 days ago
3
4 days ago
In the legends of King Arthur, the famous capital city of the king is Camelot. Yet despite the fact that the Arthurian legends are based in a historical setting, Camelot itself is widely regarded as fictional. It is considered to have been an invention of the French writers who...
TheCollector
How Virgil Made Aeneas an Epic Hero Originally a minor figure in the Homeric epic The Iliad, Aeneas is cast by Virgil as the hero in his...
5 days ago
3
5 days ago
Originally a minor figure in the Homeric epic The Iliad, Aeneas is cast by Virgil as the hero in his epic The Aeneid. This is an appropriate choice for Augustan Rome when Virgil was writing. Aeneas displays important virtues and an expedient bloodline, but he does not always meet...
Patterns in Humanity
Africa's Poor Numbers How much do we really know about African state of affairs?
5 days ago
TheCollector
9 Myths About Hermes From Greek Mythology Hermes was the messenger of the gods and one of the twelve Olympian deities the ancient Greeks...
5 days ago
4
5 days ago
Hermes was the messenger of the gods and one of the twelve Olympian deities the ancient Greeks believed ruled over the cosmos. He was a patron of merchants and thieves, and a protector of travelers. Identifiable by his herald’s wand and winged sandals, Hermes’ main role in...
TheCollector
How Were Medieval Battles Fought? A Guide to Medieval Warfare The medieval period was a time of near-constant conflict throughout Europe. In spite of the...
5 days ago
3
5 days ago
The medieval period was a time of near-constant conflict throughout Europe. In spite of the seemingly endless wars, full-scale pitched battles—the favorite subject of history enthusiasts and Hollywood alike—were actually rare compared to other types of warfare. However, when they...
Classical Wisdom
Weekly Wisdom Quiz The REAL Islands of the Odyssey
5 days ago
TheCollector
How the Byzantines Retook Crete From the Arabs in the Siege of Chandax In the 820s CE, Byzantium was embroiled in a destructive civil war. Taking advantage of the...
5 days ago
4
5 days ago
In the 820s CE, Byzantium was embroiled in a destructive civil war. Taking advantage of the Byzantines being occupied with killing one another, a group of exiled Andalusian Arabs landed on the island of Crete and conquered it. From their new island home, they launched devastating...
TheCollector
How Ancient Assyria Used Religion to Become a Superpower Religious policies have been utilized by monarchies and governments for political gains since the...
5 days ago
2
5 days ago
Religious policies have been utilized by monarchies and governments for political gains since the beginning of civilization. Few have done so as successfully as the Neo-Assyrian Empire. The kings of both the Old and Middle Assyrian periods provided their successors with the...
Flashbak
Alice Austen : The New York Photojournalist For Ladies Who Bicycle And Other City Types Alice Austen (March 17, 1866–June 9, 1952) lived in Clear Comfort, a Victorian Gothic waterfront...
5 days ago
5
5 days ago
Alice Austen (March 17, 1866–June 9, 1952) lived in Clear Comfort, a Victorian Gothic waterfront property on the Staten Island shoreline by the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, with her her life partner Gertrude Tate. This unique vantage point gave the photographer a view of the...
TheCollector
Why Did René Descartes Say “I Think, Therefore I Am”? “Cogito, ergo sum”, Latin for “I think, therefore I am”, is René Descartes’ most celebrated and...
5 days ago
2
5 days ago
“Cogito, ergo sum”, Latin for “I think, therefore I am”, is René Descartes’ most celebrated and influential contribution to humanity. The statement was the prized conclusion of his famous journey of radical skepticism, one that served as the solid foundation of his philosophy. In...
TheCollector
Ptolemy I Soter, the Successor of Alexander Who Became a Pharaoh Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece were two of the greatest civilizations of the Mediterranean world....
5 days ago
3
5 days ago
Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece were two of the greatest civilizations of the Mediterranean world. They were brought closer together when the Macedonian king Alexander the Great established his grand empire across the Greek-speaking world and the Near East, including conquering...
Flashbak
The Teds – Photographs of The Second Coming of Britain’s First Youth Tribe, 1979 “In early 1954, on a late train from Southend, someone pulled the communication cord. The train...
6 days ago
4
6 days ago
“In early 1954, on a late train from Southend, someone pulled the communication cord. The train ground to a halt. Light bulbs were smashed. Police arrested a gang dressed in Edwardian suits. In April, two gangs, also dressed Edwardian-style, met after a dance. They were ready for...
TheCollector
Rome vs. the Alamanni at the Battle of Strasbourg (357 CE) In the mid-4th century CE, the Roman Empire found itself in a precarious position. While the emperor...
6 days ago
3
6 days ago
In the mid-4th century CE, the Roman Empire found itself in a precarious position. While the emperor Constantius II had been entrenched in a protracted war against the Sassanids in the East, the other Augustus, Constans, was murdered by the Germanic usurper, Magnentius. The power...
TheCollector
Tracing the Roots of Shaolin Kung Fu Back to Ancient China Shaolin kung fu, or Shaolinquan is one of the oldest extant styles of martial arts and one of the...
6 days ago
3
6 days ago
Shaolin kung fu, or Shaolinquan is one of the oldest extant styles of martial arts and one of the most influential. It has existed since the 6th century CE as a means of self-defense and exercise for Buddhist monks. Over time it spread throughout Eastern Asia. Even many modern...
TheCollector
Marquis de Lafayette: 12 Details About “The Soldier’s Friend” With nicknames like “The Soldier’s Friend” and “Hero of Two Worlds,” Marquis de Lafayette went down...
6 days ago
3
6 days ago
With nicknames like “The Soldier’s Friend” and “Hero of Two Worlds,” Marquis de Lafayette went down in history as a man of means who used his resources for good. Involved in causes such as the American Revolution, French Revolution, and human rights for all, he was a soldier,...
TheCollector
Did a Real Woman Inspire Caravaggio’s Judith? Caravaggio’s depiction of Judith is unlike many of his contemporaries’ depictions of her. Could...
6 days ago
4
6 days ago
Caravaggio’s depiction of Judith is unlike many of his contemporaries’ depictions of her. Could Caravaggio have known a real-life Judith to inspire him in 16th-century Rome?   The Biblical Judith   Judith was a woman described in the Bible as a savior for her village and people....
TheCollector
Sulla’s Brutal Siege of Athens (87-86 BCE) With the sack of Corinth in 146 BCE, Greek resistance to Roman power had been dealt a crushing blow....
6 days ago
2
6 days ago
With the sack of Corinth in 146 BCE, Greek resistance to Roman power had been dealt a crushing blow. After Lucius Mummius had defeated the Achaean League, there was an influx of art and loot into the Republic. These treasures profoundly shaped Roman culture, as “captive Greece...
TheCollector
What Did Socrates Really Mean When He Said “Know Thyself”? Inscribed at the Delphic temple of Apollo was the famous maxim, ‘know thyself’, a charge that...
6 days ago
2
6 days ago
Inscribed at the Delphic temple of Apollo was the famous maxim, ‘know thyself’, a charge that Socrates continuously invoked in numerous Platonic dialogues. Self-knowledge was the essence of Socrates’ philosophical project, not in the modern sense of self-discovery, but in the...
TheCollector
3 Dark Age Kings of Britain Confirmed by Archaeology Early Dark Age Britain is notorious for being poorly recorded. Most of our information about the era...
6 days ago
4
6 days ago
Early Dark Age Britain is notorious for being poorly recorded. Most of our information about the era comes from much later records, written centuries after the events they allegedly describe. There is endless debate among scholars, based on the literary evidence, surrounding the...
Dreams of Space -...
My Weekly Reader April 23, 1962 I am having fun sending out an issue of My Weekly Reader every week to you. This week is the April...
6 days ago
7
6 days ago
I am having fun sending out an issue of My Weekly Reader every week to you. This week is the April 23, 1962 issue and "Flying wings." Just for fun, here is your "silent reading quiz." Try not to make any noise while you read and see how you do.
A Collection of...
Collections: Nitpicking Gladiator’s Iconic Opening Battle, Part III This week at long last we come to the clash of men and horses as we finish our three-part (I, II,...
a week ago
7
a week ago
This week at long last we come to the clash of men and horses as we finish our three-part (I, II, III) look at the iconic opening battle scene from the film Gladiator (2000). Last time, we brought the sequence up through the infantry advance, observing that the tactics of the...
Flashbak
Marcia Resnick: Re-Visions, 1978 “In 1975, while driving my car in Manhattan, I was in an accident and my entire life flashed before...
a week ago
6
a week ago
“In 1975, while driving my car in Manhattan, I was in an accident and my entire life flashed before me. When I awoke in the hospital, I began to think about all of the events which led to my being there.” – Marcia Resnick on who she was inspired to create Re-Visions   In 1975, …...
TheCollector
6 Female Kings From World History Most societies throughout world history have been ruled by men. In these patriarchal systems, women...
a week ago
4
a week ago
Most societies throughout world history have been ruled by men. In these patriarchal systems, women typically come to the throne in the absence of male dynasts or as queens who outlive or overthrow their spouses. Most female rulers who exercised power in their own right are known...
TheCollector
How Pompeii’s Bodies Are Preserved, Frozen in Time In 79 CE, the Vesuvius volcano in Southern Italy erupted, destroying settlements around it and...
a week ago
3
a week ago
In 79 CE, the Vesuvius volcano in Southern Italy erupted, destroying settlements around it and taking the lives of up to 16,000 residents. The most significant death toll occurred in the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, wealthy local centers of trade and production. Since their...
TheCollector
What the Sanctuary of Odysseus Reveals About Ancient Greek Beliefs What if the myths you know are hiding deeper truths? For thousands of years, Odysseus—the legendary...
a week ago
2
a week ago
What if the myths you know are hiding deeper truths? For thousands of years, Odysseus—the legendary king of Ithaca and hero of Homer’s Odyssey—has captured the imaginations of people worldwide. Now, thanks to modern archaeological discoveries on the storied Greek island, the gap...
TheCollector
The Mystery of the Black Madonnas and Their Connection to Ancient Egypt She’s more than stood the test of time; once hidden in grottos and secreted away in caves, the Black...
a week ago
3
a week ago
She’s more than stood the test of time; once hidden in grottos and secreted away in caves, the Black Madonnas were “rediscovered” by her people who couldn’t bear to be parted from her. Instead of, “Behold the earth goddess, granter of fertility!” many pre-modern people simply...
Classical Wisdom
Stoics and the Self What makes you YOU?
a week ago
TheCollector
Why Did Pausanias Write His Travel Guide to Ancient Greece? In the 2nd century CE, the Greek writer Pausanias spent decades traveling around ancient Greece,...
a week ago
3
a week ago
In the 2nd century CE, the Greek writer Pausanias spent decades traveling around ancient Greece, which was then part of the Roman Empire. He recorded what he saw and compiled a guide for other travelers called the Perigereis Hellados or Guide to Greece. Through his descriptions,...
TheCollector
What Caused the Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire? Ancient Rome is hailed as one of the most distinguished civilizations in history due to the amount...
a week ago
2
a week ago
Ancient Rome is hailed as one of the most distinguished civilizations in history due to the amount of power and control it wielded at its peak. The empire had advanced technologies and outstanding military successes. Beginning in the 8th century BCE, it grew from a small town...
History Today Feed
Italian Emigrant Soldiers in the First World War Italian Emigrant Soldiers in the First World War JamesHoare Fri, 06/20/2025 - 08:00
a week ago
TheCollector
Hegel’s Master-Slave Dialectic Explained Philosophers often find it useful to narrate a hypothetical conversation or confrontation between...
a week ago
6
a week ago
Philosophers often find it useful to narrate a hypothetical conversation or confrontation between individuals to illustrate a theoretical idea. Plato’s famous Socratic dialogues are an example of this. Similarly, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel’s master-slave dialectic tells the...
Flashbak
Rewilding Humanity – Dougal Dixon’s Man After Man : An Anthropology of the Future (1990) Dougal Dixon’s Man After Man : An Anthropology of the Future (1990) begins with the impact of...
a week ago
7
a week ago
Dougal Dixon’s Man After Man : An Anthropology of the Future (1990) begins with the impact of genetic engineering. “For 200 years modern humans morphed the genetics of other humans to create genetically-altered creatures. The aquamorphs and aquatics are marine humans with gills...
TheCollector
The Debasement of Roman Coinage During the Third-Century Crisis The history of Roman coins goes deep into the past, with the first true Roman coins introduced at...
a week ago
4
a week ago
The history of Roman coins goes deep into the past, with the first true Roman coins introduced at the beginning of the 3rd century BCE. By the end of the 3rd century BCE, the silver denarius was first introduced, and it remained the dominant coin in the Roman world for the next...
TheCollector
How the Flight of the Earls Changed Irish History Forever The Flight of the Earls took place on September 4, 1607 when three prominent Gaelic noble...
a week ago
4
a week ago
The Flight of the Earls took place on September 4, 1607 when three prominent Gaelic noble families,those of Hugh O’Neill, Rory O’Donnell, and the Maguire clan, fled Ireland to escape feared arrest and seek Spanish assistance for resumption of hostilities against the British...
TheCollector
Alix of Hesse, the Tragic German Princess Who Became the Last Tsarina Princess Alexandra led a privileged childhood in the German Empire, close to her cousins in the...
a week ago
5
a week ago
Princess Alexandra led a privileged childhood in the German Empire, close to her cousins in the British royal family. Her charmed upbringing led to a teenage romance with the future tsar of Russia, Nicholas Romanov. She became the empress of the Russian Empire when her husband...
TheCollector
6 Developments Which Revolutionized Early Modern European Warfare The early modern period is often cited as a military revolution. Though some scholars describe an...
a week ago
4
a week ago
The early modern period is often cited as a military revolution. Though some scholars describe an evolutionary rather than a revolutionary process, it is undeniable that European battlefields of the 16th and 17th centuries witnessed major changes in tactics and equipment. The...
TheCollector
What Is the Most Visited Wonder of the World? Throughout human history, people have sought to build and to find the most incredible and...
a week ago
4
a week ago
Throughout human history, people have sought to build and to find the most incredible and awe-inspiring things. Alongside this effort, people have also sought to categorize and determine which things are worthy of the greatest attention. In ancient times, the Greeks published...
Flashbak
Wonderwalls: Public Toilets in Shibuya Tokyo Are Better Than Your Home What can we tell from looking at the state of a country’s public toilets? The loos in Tokyo’s...
a week ago
5
a week ago
What can we tell from looking at the state of a country’s public toilets? The loos in Tokyo’s Shibuya district are special. Commissioned by The Nippon Foundation as “a symbol of Japan’s world-renowned hospitality culture” in 2019, architects Shigeru Ban and the late Fumihiko Maki...
History Today Feed
Does a Focus on Royalty Obscure British History? Does a Focus on Royalty Obscure British History? JamesHoare Thu, 06/19/2025 - 08:00
a week ago
TheCollector
The 9 Largest Cities of the Medieval World The Medieval Period, which lasted roughly 1,000 years between the 470s CE and 1400- 1450 CE was a...
a week ago
3
a week ago
The Medieval Period, which lasted roughly 1,000 years between the 470s CE and 1400- 1450 CE was a period of cultural evolution and religious power. Growing populations gave way to major urban developments and became symbols of power that benefited the ruling class through the...
History Today Feed
The Speed of Early Modern News The Speed of Early Modern News JamesHoare Thu, 06/19/2025 - 07:00
a week ago
TheCollector
5 Important Schools of Philosophy in Ancient Rome Roman philosophy generally shared an interest in studying the art of living. Ancient Roman schools...
a week ago
5
a week ago
Roman philosophy generally shared an interest in studying the art of living. Ancient Roman schools of philosophy often wanted to answer the question: how does one live best? And they all proposed answers, albeit with important differences, on how the individual is to achieve...
TheCollector
Was King Arthur… a King in the Earliest Legends? The question of King Arthur’s historicity continues to be debated. However, something that is...
a week ago
5
a week ago
The question of King Arthur’s historicity continues to be debated. However, something that is frequently seen in many modern debates is the claim that Arthur, if he existed, was definitely not a king. Rather, he would have been just a war leader. This is based on the supposed...
TheCollector
Discover Caral-Supe: The Cradle of Civilization in the Americas Cradles of civilization are regions where humans developed complex social systems independently....
a week ago
42
a week ago
Cradles of civilization are regions where humans developed complex social systems independently. There are six accepted cradles of civilization: Egypt, India, Mesopotamia, China, Olmec, and Caral-Supe. The first societies all formed around agriculture. The Caral-Supe, who emerged...
TheCollector
How France Overthrew Its King (Again) in the July Revolution of 1830 In the last days of July 1830, a series of repressive ordinances issued by King Charles X provoked...
a week ago
5
a week ago
In the last days of July 1830, a series of repressive ordinances issued by King Charles X provoked widespread protests. Led by liberals and moderates, the demonstrations in Paris soon turned into a full-fledged revolution: the Second French Revolution. After three days of street...
TheCollector
How Did the Small Kingdom of Georgia Beat the Mighty Seljuks in 1121? Decades of conflict between the Kingdom of Georgia and the Seljuk Turks culminated in a decisive...
a week ago
5
a week ago
Decades of conflict between the Kingdom of Georgia and the Seljuk Turks culminated in a decisive battle fought in 1121 CE in the Didgori mountain ranges, 40 km west of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. King David IV (reigned 1089-1125) longed to put an end to the Seljuk raids and...
Classical Wisdom
The Tyrant Who Birthed a Republic Tarquin the Proud: Rome’s Final King
a week ago
TheCollector
How Did the Spice Trade Influence Global Exploration? The spice trade is credited with bringing spices such as cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and pepper to...
a week ago
4
a week ago
The spice trade is credited with bringing spices such as cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and pepper to many parts of the world. The trade which started several millennia ago flourished due to high demand for spices, and is considered to be one of the main catalysts of globalization as...
History Today Feed
The First Men’s Cricket World Cup The First Men’s Cricket World Cup JamesHoare Wed, 06/18/2025 - 08:00
a week ago
Flashbak
Limousine: The Driver Photographs Her Passengers in 1980s New York “I wanted an intimate setting so that I would be able to engage with people while also giving them...
a week ago
7
a week ago
“I wanted an intimate setting so that I would be able to engage with people while also giving them the opportunity to feel comfortable with me. A limousine seemed like a perfect choice.” – Kathy Shorr     In 1988, Kathy Shorr became a limousine driver. A graduate of the School...
TheCollector
Disaster for Sparta! The Battle of Sphacteria (425 BCE) In 425 BCE, during the early phase of the Peloponnesian War, known as the Archidamian War (431-421...
a week ago
5
a week ago
In 425 BCE, during the early phase of the Peloponnesian War, known as the Archidamian War (431-421 BCE), the Athenians under Demosthenes captured the Island of Pylos. The Athenian capture of Pylos posed a significant threat to Sparta by providing a prime raiding base near Spartan...
History Today Feed
Gods at the Margins: How European Paganism Survived Gods at the Margins: How European Paganism Survived JamesHoare Wed, 06/18/2025 - 07:00
a week ago
Trying to Understand...
Such Times. And the banalisation of Evil.
a week ago
TheCollector
Battle of Cynoscephalae: Macedonian Phalanx vs Roman Legion Since the time of Alexander the Great (336-323 BCE), the Macedonians had dominated the eastern...
a week ago
5
a week ago
Since the time of Alexander the Great (336-323 BCE), the Macedonians had dominated the eastern Mediterranean. Their heavy infantry phalanx rolled over the Greek cities and then the Persian Empire. To the west, Roman legionnaires had conquered Italy and were overwhelming Carthage....
TheCollector
The Evolution of Still Life From Baroque Art to Modern Minimalism Although still life painting as a representational form has existed since antiquity, it only began...
a week ago
5
a week ago
Although still life painting as a representational form has existed since antiquity, it only began to take a form familiar to us in the 16th century during the Baroque era. Still life painting was fairly popular among women artists as it did not require studying nude human...
TheCollector
9 Strangest Colors in Art History Humans have always been fascinated with color and its transformations. Starting from earth pigments...
a week ago
5
a week ago
Humans have always been fascinated with color and its transformations. Starting from earth pigments at the dawn of humankind, they moved to experimenting with minerals, organic substances, and even synthetic materials to create new tones to use in art and design. Some of these...
TheCollector
6 Facts About Freyr, the Norse God of Virility & Fertility The Norse god Freyr, with his shining golden boar, was associated with virility, fertility, and good...
a week ago
4
a week ago
The Norse god Freyr, with his shining golden boar, was associated with virility, fertility, and good fortune. He was one of the most popular gods in the Viking Age. He was widely worshiped in a trinity along with Odin and Thor. Claimed as a divine ancestor by the Swedish kings,...
TheCollector
When Is Juneteenth and What Does It Celebrate? Also known as “Juneteenth Independence Day” or “Emancipation Day,” Juneteenth is a federal holiday...
a week ago
4
a week ago
Also known as “Juneteenth Independence Day” or “Emancipation Day,” Juneteenth is a federal holiday marking the day when enslaved African Americans living in Galveston, Texas, learned of their freedom. While President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, it would...
Flashbak
Oliver Sacks: Why the Oxford English Dictionary is the most ‘coveted and desirable book in the... “Each of us … constructs and lives a ‘narrative’ and is defined by this narrative … I suspect that a...
a week ago
6
a week ago
“Each of us … constructs and lives a ‘narrative’ and is defined by this narrative … I suspect that a feeling for stories, for narrative, is a universal human disposition, going with our powers of language, consciousness of self, and autobiographical memory.” – Oliver Sacks, the...
TheCollector
The Fragile Beauty of Glass Art (From Ancient Glassware to Modern Art) Glass is an ancient artistic material, used by artists of all cultures for millennia. Despite its...
a week ago
4
a week ago
Glass is an ancient artistic material, used by artists of all cultures for millennia. Despite its fragility, it managed to preserve quite well, with traditions and artifacts being passed down from generation to generation of artists. Read on to take a look at the long history of...
TheCollector
Who Was the Only Sole-Ruling Queen in Biblical History? In the biblical book of Second Samuel, God gives the recently crowned King David a promise via the...
a week ago
2
a week ago
In the biblical book of Second Samuel, God gives the recently crowned King David a promise via the Prophet Nathan: David’s dynasty would never end. There would never cease to be a king in David’s line sitting on this throne. But in a dramatic incident several generations later,...
History Today Feed
‘Strike’ by Sarah E. Bond review ‘Strike’ by Sarah E. Bond review JamesHoare Tue, 06/17/2025 - 08:00
a week ago
TheCollector
The Dark History Behind Repin’s “Ivan the Terrible and His Son” Painting Ilya Repin was one of the most versatile and talented artists of his day and age. More than a...
a week ago
5
a week ago
Ilya Repin was one of the most versatile and talented artists of his day and age. More than a century has passed since Ilya Repin’s Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan on 16 November 1581 was revealed to the public, and yet the work still manages to scare, provoke, and spark...
History Today Feed
Did Germany Read Mein Kampf? Did Germany Read Mein Kampf? JamesHoare Tue, 06/17/2025 - 07:00
a week ago
TheCollector
7 Misunderstood Masterpieces and the Surprising Truth Behind Them Some famous paintings are not what they seem at first glance. Some symbols and forms transform over...
a week ago
4
a week ago
Some famous paintings are not what they seem at first glance. Some symbols and forms transform over the years, leaving viewers unable to decode the true intentions of artists, even if it is a well-known and revered one. For example, for almost two centuries, art historians...
TheCollector
How Did Plato Influence the Early Church? Plato played an important role in the works of several Church Fathers as they defended the truth...
a week ago
4
a week ago
Plato played an important role in the works of several Church Fathers as they defended the truth claims of Christianity in the early centuries. The writings of Church Fathers like Justin Martyr, Clement of Rome, and Origen demonstrate how Plato was used to synthesize Christianity...
TheCollector
How the Sans-Culottes Became the French Revolution’s Radical Fighters With their long trousers, short jacket, and red cap of liberty, the sans-culottes are one of the...
a week ago
5
a week ago
With their long trousers, short jacket, and red cap of liberty, the sans-culottes are one of the more distinctive figures commonly associated with the French Revolution. From 1792, the term sans-culottes referred to the most radical supporters of the revolution, demanding...
TheCollector
The Hero’s Journey & Classical Hero Archetypes in the Bible The “hero’s journey” is a staple of mythology, narratology, and psychology. The Bible contains many...
a week ago
4
a week ago
The “hero’s journey” is a staple of mythology, narratology, and psychology. The Bible contains many examples of this monomyth in its stories of archetypal heroes and their journeys. This includes myths surrounding the birth of the hero, as well as the hero’s inner and outer...
Flashbak
Melanie’s ‘Average Weekends’ out in Leeds in 1984 In 1984, Melanie turned 18. Margaret Thatcher was prime Minister and the UK was mired by the seismic...
a week ago
8
a week ago
In 1984, Melanie turned 18. Margaret Thatcher was prime Minister and the UK was mired by the seismic Miners’ Strike (here, here, here and here). Home to Leeds for the Christmas holidays, Melanie’s daughter Victoria Gill was going through her stuff when she spotted two old boxes...
TheCollector
When Was Britain’s Oldest College Founded? The post-Roman era of Britain is synonymous with the Dark Ages. Due to the very name of this era,...
a week ago
5
a week ago
The post-Roman era of Britain is synonymous with the Dark Ages. Due to the very name of this era, many today view it as a time during which society had collapsed and Britain was in chaos. While such a view is not entirely without basis, there was still considerable development...
Classical Wisdom
Can We Find the Real Ithaka? In Search of Homer and the meeting of like minds
a week ago
TheCollector
What Does the Bible Say About Polygamy? Despite frequent references in popular Western culture to heterosexual monogamy as the traditional...
a week ago
4
a week ago
Despite frequent references in popular Western culture to heterosexual monogamy as the traditional (and sometimes even “biblical”) view of marriage, the Bible itself neither condemns polygamy nor enjoins monogamy. Christians or Jews interested in forming a theology of marriage...
TheCollector
The Story of Cleisthenes:, the Founder of Democracy in Ancient Athens The Athenians were generous when it came to commemorating the founders of their democracy. The...
a week ago
2
a week ago
The Athenians were generous when it came to commemorating the founders of their democracy. The 6th-century reformer Solon was held in high regard, as were the two assassins of Hipparchus, Harmodius and Aristogeiton. Even the mythological king Theseus was venerated. Oddly, the one...
History Today Feed
On the Spot: Imaobong Umoren On the Spot: Imaobong Umoren JamesHoare Mon, 06/16/2025 - 08:00
a week ago
TheCollector
Why Did It Take Two Years for Juneteenth to Happen? The abolition of slavery in the United States is usually associated with the Emancipation...
a week ago
3
a week ago
The abolition of slavery in the United States is usually associated with the Emancipation Proclamation, issued in its final form by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. Juneteenth, a US federal holiday commemorating the liberation of African-American slaves in Texas,...
History Today Feed
Europe and the End of Old Java Europe and the End of Old Java JamesHoare Mon, 06/16/2025 - 06:00
a week ago
TheCollector
The Controversial Story of Olympias, Alexander the Great’s Powerful Mother Jealous, vengeful, cruel, foreign, and with a fondness for snakes, Olympias has often been portrayed...
a week ago
5
a week ago
Jealous, vengeful, cruel, foreign, and with a fondness for snakes, Olympias has often been portrayed as a malevolent figure. More than two thousand years after she lived and died, it is impossible to know what she was actually like, but the actions of the mother of Alexander the...
TheCollector
How Rembrandt’s Art Became a Masterclass in Light and Shadow From the highest praise of some critics to the lowest execrations comparing his painting to “dung,”...
a week ago
5
a week ago
From the highest praise of some critics to the lowest execrations comparing his painting to “dung,” Rembrandt’s later art was provocative in the 17th-century Dutch Golden Age. Today, his status is justly assured as an exquisite and intuitive handler of light and shadow as a...
TheCollector
The Last Effort to Save the Empire During the Fall of Rome The fall of Rome may be seen as irreversible in hindsight. However, several significant Roman...
a week ago
5
a week ago
The fall of Rome may be seen as irreversible in hindsight. However, several significant Roman leaders of the 5th century were able to bring the empire to the brink of salvation. It was a betrayal that prevented the general Flavius Aetius from being able to complete the...
TheCollector
Why Is Goliath Killed Twice in the Bible? David’s slaying of Goliath is one of the Bible’s most well-known stories. But the story’s plot line...
a week ago
5
a week ago
David’s slaying of Goliath is one of the Bible’s most well-known stories. But the story’s plot line in the Hebrew Bible contains three confusing wrinkles. First, the reader is introduced to David twice in the narrative. Second, David meets Saul, the king of Israel, twice in the...
Classical Wisdom
Weekly Wisdom Quiz From Macedonia to the Moon
a week ago
TheCollector
4 Notorious Roman Emperors and Their Scandalous Stories Evolving from the Roman Republic, Rome became an empire in 27 BCE and seemed to be off to a good...
a week ago
6
a week ago
Evolving from the Roman Republic, Rome became an empire in 27 BCE and seemed to be off to a good start with Augustus, who had a posthumous reputation for a high moral character and effective rule. Some Roman emperors seem to have followed in his footsteps, such as the “five good...
TheCollector
What Court Rules Did Marie Antoinette Have to Follow? With privilege comes specific obligations, or so it would seem in the 1700 French royal court of...
a week ago
3
a week ago
With privilege comes specific obligations, or so it would seem in the 1700 French royal court of Versailles. In order to reinforce the hierarchy and culture the French royal family had specific rules and pageantry attached to regular every day occurrences that Marie Antoinette...
TheCollector
9 Ancient Roman Roads That Still Exist Today During Roman times, the empire stretched from Britain to the Middle East, held together by fortified...
a week ago
3
a week ago
During Roman times, the empire stretched from Britain to the Middle East, held together by fortified cities, sprawling forums, aqueducts, and military camps. Sites like Diocletian’s Palace in Split, the arena in Nîmes, the Roman theater in Cartagena, and the arches of Narbonne...
TheCollector
How Locke and His Heirs Redefined Beauty (Aesthetic Sense) The century that is very important for the development of modern aesthetics was influenced by the...
a week ago
4
a week ago
The century that is very important for the development of modern aesthetics was influenced by the philosophers of the 17th century. This century is dominated by rationalism and empiricism. The latter begins with the philosophy of John Locke. Then, there is almost no mention of...
TheCollector
Is Pascal’s Wager About Happiness? Pascal’s Wager is frequently misunderstood as an argument for the existence of God. In fact, Pascal...
a week ago
6
a week ago
Pascal’s Wager is frequently misunderstood as an argument for the existence of God. In fact, Pascal believed it was impossible to argue that God either exists or does not exist. His wager is essentially a bet we can make on the existence of God: the stake is our happiness, and...
TheCollector
What Happened to Olympias, Mother of Alexander the Great? By the time Alexander the Great died in the summer of 323 BCE Olympias had over three decades of...
a week ago
5
a week ago
By the time Alexander the Great died in the summer of 323 BCE Olympias had over three decades of experience at the forefront of Macedonian politics, first as a wife and then as a mother of kings. She was one of the first ancient Greek women to have a significant impact on...
TheCollector
Your Ultimate Guide to São Paulo’s Must-See Art Attractions São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil and in the western hemisphere with over 22 million people....
a week ago
2
a week ago
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil and in the western hemisphere with over 22 million people. Within this massive metropolis are world-class museums, art galleries, and endless street art. The city is home to famous artists and collectors who fuel its creative energy. This...
TheCollector
What Was the Relationship Between Assyria and Babylon? The Assyrian Empire grew out of the city of Assur, which was named for the principal god of Assyria,...
a week ago
4
a week ago
The Assyrian Empire grew out of the city of Assur, which was named for the principal god of Assyria, and became a significant military power. Meanwhile, Babylon was under the patronage of the god Marduk and was known as an important cultural and religious center in the region....
TheCollector
Who Were the Legendary Sons of King Arthur? In the Arthurian legends, Mordred is by far the most famous son of King Arthur to modern audiences....
a week ago
5
a week ago
In the Arthurian legends, Mordred is by far the most famous son of King Arthur to modern audiences. He was the figure who instigated a civil war against Arthur, leading to the downfall of Camelot. However, in the earliest traces of the Arthurian legends, Mordred was not Arthur’s...
TheCollector
What Did People Eat in the Middle Ages? People often have several misconceptions about medieval food. There seems to be a notion that...
a week ago
6
a week ago
People often have several misconceptions about medieval food. There seems to be a notion that peasants survived on crusts of stale bread and watered-down ale, while every night the lord of the manor and the kings and emperors around the globe were feasting on rich, expensive...
TheCollector
How Did James VI and I React to the Scottish Reformation? We know King James I of England primarily through his name being attached to the King James Version...
a week ago
4
a week ago
We know King James I of England primarily through his name being attached to the King James Version of the Holy Bible, which was printed in 1611. Before he was James I of England, he was James VI of Scotland, enthroned there in 1567. He was a Protestant King, but also believed in...
Flashbak
American: Robin de Puy’s Portraits of People of Notice “You can’t lump all Americans together,” she points out. “The project emerged from this thought. Who...
a week ago
9
a week ago
“You can’t lump all Americans together,” she points out. “The project emerged from this thought. Who lives in America? Who are we talking about when we refer to ‘the American’?” – Robin de Puys   In 2015, Dutch photographer Robin de Puy drove 8,000 miles across the US on a Harley...
TheCollector
10 Must-See Medieval Castles in Japan Medieval castles in Japan originated during the Sengoku period (1467–1603), a time of relentless...
a week ago
7
a week ago
Medieval castles in Japan originated during the Sengoku period (1467–1603), a time of relentless civil war when regional warlords, or daimyō, fortified strategic sites to defend territory and assert power. Unlike European castles, these structures evolved into complex hubs of...
TheCollector
Hannibal’s First Great Victory Over Rome at the Battle of Trebbia (218 BCE) In 218 BCE, the Second Punic War erupted when Carthage captured the Spanish city of Saguntum, an...
a week ago
3
a week ago
In 218 BCE, the Second Punic War erupted when Carthage captured the Spanish city of Saguntum, an ally of the Roman Republic. The war was one of the ancient world’s largest conflicts. It was fought across Spain, Italy, and Africa, eventually spilling over into Greece and Asia....
Dreams of Space -...
My Weekly Reader April 9, 1962 My Weekly Reader for April 9, 1961 is now YOUR weekly reader! Just a minor article about space...
a week ago
Global Inequality...
Too much or not enough of Ricardo? Review of “Ricardo’s Dream” by Nat Dyer
a week ago
TheCollector
Was Charles VI of France Truly Mad or Misunderstood? Few monarchs have caused so much controversy among historians as Charles VI of France (r....
a week ago
7
a week ago
Few monarchs have caused so much controversy among historians as Charles VI of France (r. 1380-1422). Charles VI is perhaps most well-known for his losses during the Hundred Years’ War and for turning the tide in favor of the English. However, should we be looking at his reign in...
TheCollector
How Nietzsche’s Zarathustra Redefined Morality & Revolutionized Philosophy Few philosophical writings are as evocative and poetic as Thus Spoke Zarathustra. Written in...
a week ago
6
a week ago
Few philosophical writings are as evocative and poetic as Thus Spoke Zarathustra. Written in dramatic, even prophetic style, Nietzsche’s Zarathustra is not so much literature—it’s more of a provocation, a vision, and a call to humanity to go beyond itself. Through mystical...
A Collection of...
Collections: Nitpicking Gladiator’s Iconic Opening Battle, Part II This week we’re continuing our three-part (I) look at one of film’s most famous Roman battle...
a week ago
13
a week ago
This week we’re continuing our three-part (I) look at one of film’s most famous Roman battle sequences, the iconic opening battle from Gladiator (2000). I had planned this to be in two parts, but even though this sequence is relatively short, it provides an awful lot to talk...
Flashbak
July 12 in Northern Ireland, 1987–1998 Much has changed in Northern Ireland Mike Abrahams took these pictures, including the Good Friday...
a week ago
9
a week ago
Much has changed in Northern Ireland Mike Abrahams took these pictures, including the Good Friday Agreement and a return to power sharing. “I am not a news photographer,” says Abrahams to Cafe Royal, which has published a zine of his pictures of July 12 celebrations, “there are...
Classical Wisdom
The First EVER Sci-Fi Novel? An Ancient Journey to the Moon
a week ago
TheCollector
How Did Nubia Shape Ancient Egypt? The ancient Egyptians were known for disliking, or even despising, foreigners. In art and texts,...
a week ago
7
a week ago
The ancient Egyptians were known for disliking, or even despising, foreigners. In art and texts, they often depicted their closest neighbors—the Libyans, Asiatics/Canaanites, and the Nubians. Of those, they perhaps had the most complex relationship with the Nubians. The Egyptians...
TheCollector
Was Virgil’s Aeneid For or Against Emperor Augustus? The Aeneid was written at the end of the 1st century BCE, in the aftermath of numerous civil wars,...
a week ago
6
a week ago
The Aeneid was written at the end of the 1st century BCE, in the aftermath of numerous civil wars, the fall of the Roman Republic, and the emergence of Augustus as the principal power in Rome. In this landscape, Augustus, the adoptive son of Caesar, strove to present himself as...
TheCollector
British Museum Curator Jill Cook on the Artistic Renaissance of the Ice Age In a discussion with TheCollector, Jill Cook, Keeper of the Department of Britain, Europe, and...
a week ago
6
a week ago
In a discussion with TheCollector, Jill Cook, Keeper of the Department of Britain, Europe, and Prehistory at the British Museum, tells us about her latest book, “Ice Age Art Now” by British Museum Press. The conversation explored the concept and nature of Ice Age art, its...
TheCollector
Here’s Why John the Baptist Was Called the Greatest Prophet John was Jesus’s relative—perhaps a second cousin—born about six months before Jesus. With the...
a week ago
3
a week ago
John was Jesus’s relative—perhaps a second cousin—born about six months before Jesus. With the exception of Mary, John could be considered the most important witness to Jesus’s identity as the Messiah of Israel, as recorded in the Four Gospels. His baptism of Jesus defined how he...
TheCollector
6 Monastic Marvels of Medieval Europe Monasteries helped shape medieval Europe in ways that often go unnoticed today. Beyond their...
a week ago
3
a week ago
Monasteries helped shape medieval Europe in ways that often go unnoticed today. Beyond their religious role, they influenced learning, politics, and art across the continent. Of the thousands built between the 5th and 15th centuries, more than 500 still stand; some in truly...
TheCollector
What Happened to Anne Boleyn’s Iconic “B” Necklace? The tale of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s fiercest queen, is as captivating as it is shocking. Despite...
a week ago
6
a week ago
The tale of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s fiercest queen, is as captivating as it is shocking. Despite Henry’s efforts to erase her from history as if she were Nefertiti instead of a woman in the modern era, Anne’s legacy persists — she was, after all, mother to the monarch who ruled...
TheCollector
Fascinating Medieval Creatures (From Krakens to Dragons) Folk beliefs in the Middle Ages included a variety of fantastical creatures pulled from a hodgepodge...
2 weeks ago
6
2 weeks ago
Folk beliefs in the Middle Ages included a variety of fantastical creatures pulled from a hodgepodge of local customs, ancient tales, Judeo-Christian teachings, and limited understanding of zoology. The sea monsters and demons that feature in these stories range from the famous...
TheCollector
How Did the Public React to Henry Fuseli’s “The Nightmare”? The public reacted to Henry Fuseli’s The Nightmare immediately after it was exhibited at the Royal...
2 weeks ago
6
2 weeks ago
The public reacted to Henry Fuseli’s The Nightmare immediately after it was exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts in 1782. It rattled audiences, spurring artists to copy the painting into prints and satires for a wider distribution of the image. As the image spread, so did its...
Flashbak
All 41 Plates From Evelyn Waugh’s Victorian Blood Book, Durenstein! Among the papers left behind by the English writer Evelyn Waugh (8 October 1903 – 10 April 1966) is...
2 weeks ago
7
2 weeks ago
Among the papers left behind by the English writer Evelyn Waugh (8 October 1903 – 10 April 1966) is a so-called Victorian Blood Book. This large rectangular decoupage scrapbook of 41 plates bound and wrapped in marble endpapers is remarkable, strange and unsettling, with echoes...
TheCollector
11 Essential Movies to Watch to Understand Film Noir Film noir is a genre of stylish American crime movies that emerged in the 1940s and 1950s, pushing...
2 weeks ago
7
2 weeks ago
Film noir is a genre of stylish American crime movies that emerged in the 1940s and 1950s, pushing boundaries as they explored the darker side of humanity. These films feature some of Hollywood’s biggest Golden Age actors in labyrinthine plots that take them through the darkened...
TheCollector
How Bellerophon and Pegasus Took Down the Fire Breathing Chimera The heroic tale of Bellerophon and Pegasus is an inspiring story of perseverance and triumph in the...
2 weeks ago
5
2 weeks ago
The heroic tale of Bellerophon and Pegasus is an inspiring story of perseverance and triumph in the face of insurmountable challenges. Despite facing misfortune initially, Bellerophon refused to let fate dictate his destiny. He accomplished the seemingly impossible by defeating...
TheCollector
Why Was the Islamic Golden Age a Turning Point in History? The Islamic Golden Age, spanning the 8th to the 14th centuries, was a rare historical period where...
2 weeks ago
6
2 weeks ago
The Islamic Golden Age, spanning the 8th to the 14th centuries, was a rare historical period where developments in arts, culture and science coalesced, leading to a series of seismic academic breakthroughs. Islamic scholars advanced older knowledge or created their own...
TheCollector
9 Must-Visit World Heritage Sites in the Netherlands From medieval storms like the St. Lucia’s Flood in 1287 and the catastrophic All Saints’ Flood of...
2 weeks ago
3
2 weeks ago
From medieval storms like the St. Lucia’s Flood in 1287 and the catastrophic All Saints’ Flood of 1570 to the brutal Siege of Haarlem during the Eighty Years’ War and the 1953 North Sea Flood that reshaped flood policy, the Netherlands has repeatedly faced existential threats....
TheCollector
How the Scythian Empire Ruled the Near East for Just 28 Years In the early 1st millennium BCE, the Scythians burst onto the ancient Near Eastern geopolitical...
2 weeks ago
6
2 weeks ago
In the early 1st millennium BCE, the Scythians burst onto the ancient Near Eastern geopolitical scene in a frenzy of violence. The upstart Indo-European nomads upended the early Iron Age system that had developed in the region. By the late 7th century BCE, they made themselves...
History Today Feed
A Royal Skeleton in the Chapel A Royal Skeleton in the Chapel JamesHoare Thu, 06/12/2025 - 07:00
2 weeks ago
Flashbak
Ralph Eugene Meatyard : Masks And Dolls American photographer Ralph Eugene Meatyard said that masks erased the differences between people.  ...
2 weeks ago
10
2 weeks ago
American photographer Ralph Eugene Meatyard said that masks erased the differences between people.     One day in 1958 or ’59, professional optician and “dedicated amateur” photographer Ralph Eugene Meatyard (May 15, 1925 – May 7, 1972) bought a few dozen masks in a branch of...
TheCollector
Athena, Greek Goddess of Wisdom, War, and Weaving Athena was one of the most beloved and complex gods in the Greek pantheon. She was an arbiter of...
2 weeks ago
9
2 weeks ago
Athena was one of the most beloved and complex gods in the Greek pantheon. She was an arbiter of justice and the goddess of war, a patron of peaceful crafts and protector of the state. To modern audiences, she is best known as the goddess of wisdom, yet this association was not...
TheCollector
8 Inventions to Thank the Aztec, Maya, & Inca For Columbus may have sailed in pursuit of gold, but what he and his successors found was a new world...
2 weeks ago
6
2 weeks ago
Columbus may have sailed in pursuit of gold, but what he and his successors found was a new world full of never-before-seen plants, animals, and even technology. From unique foods to mind-boggling tools and skills, civilizations in Meso- and South America wowed newcomers with...
TheCollector
How Aeneas of Troy Set the Stage for Rome’s Rise Aeneas of Troy is a figure from ancient Greek mythology. However, he found fame for his involvement...
2 weeks ago
6
2 weeks ago
Aeneas of Troy is a figure from ancient Greek mythology. However, he found fame for his involvement in the foundation of Rome thanks to an epic written about him by the Roman poet Virgil in the 1st century BCE. There are many misconceptions about what the sources say about...
TheCollector
10 Must-See Ancient Treasures From the Ashmolean Museum Oxford University’s Ashmolean Museum is one of the world’s oldest public museums, replacing private...
2 weeks ago
4
2 weeks ago
Oxford University’s Ashmolean Museum is one of the world’s oldest public museums, replacing private cabinets of curiosity with organized displays designed to educate the public. It opened its doors in 1683 and is still open to the public for free today. The core of the original...
Classical Wisdom
How Calypso Helped Odysseus... Homer's Women: Podcast with Emily Hauser
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
What Do We Actually Know about Hieronymus Bosch? Unlike some artists, Hieronymus Bosch was famous in his own time and inspired a generation of...
2 weeks ago
7
2 weeks ago
Unlike some artists, Hieronymus Bosch was famous in his own time and inspired a generation of artists with his groundbreaking style and unusual subject matter. Even in his pieces that seem more straightforward and less fantastical, Bosch often wove in nuanced layers of meaning,...
TheCollector
Was Belisarius Byzantium’s Greatest General? Belisarius arrived in Constantinople around 520, serving in the military and joining Emperor...
2 weeks ago
3
2 weeks ago
Belisarius arrived in Constantinople around 520, serving in the military and joining Emperor Justinian’s personal bodyguard. By 526, he had achieved a senior rank but had already commanded troops in battles for Emperor Justin. Upon Justin’s death, the new Emperor Justinian I gave...
TheCollector
7 Must-See Paintings by Edvard Munch The most famous of all Norwegian painters, Edvard Munch, is well-known for his dark and often...
2 weeks ago
2
2 weeks ago
The most famous of all Norwegian painters, Edvard Munch, is well-known for his dark and often disturbing Expressionist works painted in screaming bold colors. He was a nervous man with poor health, prone to sudden disturbances and exaggerated emotional responses. Illness, both...
History Today Feed
‘Miracles and Wonder’ by Elaine Pagels review ‘Miracles and Wonder’ by Elaine Pagels review JamesHoare Wed, 06/11/2025 - 07:00
2 weeks ago
Trying to Understand...
Politics Without Purpose. And its consequences.
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
The Qin: How One Dynasty United Ancient China Few dynasties have had the cultural or historical impact that the Qin Dynasty had. China has a rich,...
2 weeks ago
7
2 weeks ago
Few dynasties have had the cultural or historical impact that the Qin Dynasty had. China has a rich, varied, and sometimes complex history—but it all had to start somewhere. The Qin Dynasty was ancient China’s first imperial dynasty, and its legacy meant that China would be ruled...
TheCollector
Christianization of the Viking World: Why Did the Vikings Convert? One of the main causes of the end of the Viking era was the Vikings’ conversion to Christianity....
2 weeks ago
6
2 weeks ago
One of the main causes of the end of the Viking era was the Vikings’ conversion to Christianity. This changed their political relationship with their neighbors, making raids more difficult, and made them less distinct from the rest of Europe. While there are stories of Christian...
TheCollector
Who Were the Cyclopes? The One-Eyed Giants of Greek Myth The one-eyed Cyclops is one of the most recognizable monsters in Greek mythology, but there is more...
2 weeks ago
7
2 weeks ago
The one-eyed Cyclops is one of the most recognizable monsters in Greek mythology, but there is more to the story of the Cyclops than meets the eye. Homer depicted them as familiar, uncivilized brutes, while Hesiod described them as equals to the Titans and praised them as the...
TheCollector
The Incredible Life & Military Campaigns of the Assyrian King Sargon II Sargon II ascended the Assyrian throne in 722 BCE and reigned until 705 BCE. Little is known about...
2 weeks ago
6
2 weeks ago
Sargon II ascended the Assyrian throne in 722 BCE and reigned until 705 BCE. Little is known about him before his contentious rise to power. Throughout his tenure as king, Sargon II entangled himself in political disputes, which often led to war, and in most cases, he emerged...
Flashbak
When Sly Stone Traded His New Album For Cocaine Sly Stone (March 15, 1943 – June 9, 2025) was frontman for the brilliant Sly and the Family Stone...
2 weeks ago
8
2 weeks ago
Sly Stone (March 15, 1943 – June 9, 2025) was frontman for the brilliant Sly and the Family Stone (formerly Sly and the Stoners). The audacious and playful musician behind such infectious funk-rock-soul hits as the often-sampled hit Everyday People (1969), the gospel-influenced...
TheCollector
New British Museum Book Celebrates Hiroshige’s Lasting Legacy A new exhibition and publication bring to life the work of Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858), one of...
2 weeks ago
8
2 weeks ago
A new exhibition and publication bring to life the work of Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858), one of Japan’s most popular and prolific artists. Hiroshige: artist of the open road presents a rarely seen range of prints, paintings, books, and sketches. It is the first-ever exhibition...
TheCollector
New British Museum Book Celebrates Hiroshige’s Lasting Legacy A new exhibition and publication bring to life the work of Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858), one of...
2 weeks ago
2
2 weeks ago
A new exhibition and publication bring to life the work of Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858), one of Japan’s most popular and prolific artists. Hiroshige: artist of the open road presents a rarely seen range of prints, paintings, books, and sketches. It is the first-ever exhibition...
TheCollector
How Many People Are Related to Genghis Khan? The Genetic Legacy May Surprise You The question of Genghis Khan’s genetic history arose in the 2000s, when academics began looking into...
2 weeks ago
2
2 weeks ago
The question of Genghis Khan’s genetic history arose in the 2000s, when academics began looking into how many descendants belonged to the fearsome leader. Researchers have tracked Khan’s Y chromosome and discovered a dizzying number of relations, tracing Genghis Khan’s genetic...
History Today Feed
Renaissance Florence’s Missing Bronzes Renaissance Florence’s Missing Bronzes JamesHoare Tue, 06/10/2025 - 08:18
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
Battle of Manzikert: Byzantine Empire vs Seljuk Empire Continuous Seljuk raids and sieges in Anatolia in the 11th century CE culminated in a war between...
2 weeks ago
4
2 weeks ago
Continuous Seljuk raids and sieges in Anatolia in the 11th century CE culminated in a war between these nomadic newcomers and the Byzantine, or Eastern Roman, Empire. When the Seljuk sultan, Alp Arslan, and the Byzantine emperor, Romanos IV Diogenes, met on the fields of...
TheCollector
What Is Kant’s Theory of Knowledge? One of Kant’s most distinctive contributions to philosophy is his theory of knowledge. This article...
2 weeks ago
6
2 weeks ago
One of Kant’s most distinctive contributions to philosophy is his theory of knowledge. This article begins with a discussion of relevant theoretical context before addressing certain difficulties with summarizing Kant’s philosophy. The idea of transcendental idealism is then...
TheCollector
James II vs. William of Orange (Williamite War in Ireland) The Glorious Revolution of 1688 that brought Prince William of Orange to the throne of England at...
2 weeks ago
6
2 weeks ago
The Glorious Revolution of 1688 that brought Prince William of Orange to the throne of England at the expense of King James II soon caused Ireland to be dragged into a European war as part of a contest involving Britain, the Netherlands, France, Spain, and the Holy Roman Empire....
TheCollector
Heidegger’s Being and Time: Understanding Dasein and Temporality Martin Heidegger’s Being and Time transformed philosophy in the 20th century by attempting something...
2 weeks ago
7
2 weeks ago
Martin Heidegger’s Being and Time transformed philosophy in the 20th century by attempting something huge: trying to understand what it means to exist. Or, as Heidegger puts it, to be Dasein. He asks: how do our experiences in the past and present, our hopes and fears for the...
Flashbak
Before And After: Polaroids then Magic from Richard Avedon, In the American West “Sometimes I think all my pictures are just pictures of me. My concern is… the human predicament;...
2 weeks ago
8
2 weeks ago
“Sometimes I think all my pictures are just pictures of me. My concern is… the human predicament; only what I consider the human predicament may simply be my own. ” – Richard Avedon, photographer of In The American West     During the making his opus In The American West (1979 –...
TheCollector
How Caravaggio’s Dramatic Use of Light Revolutionized Baroque Art Caravaggio’s dramatic chiaroscuro technique revolutionized Baroque painting. His use of light and...
2 weeks ago
5
2 weeks ago
Caravaggio’s dramatic chiaroscuro technique revolutionized Baroque painting. His use of light and shadow as an expressive technique inspired countless artists and transformed the history of art. Instead of mathematical precision, the famous artist aimed for emotional impact....
Classical Wisdom
Macedonia Before Alexander the Great Were the Macedonians Greek?
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
How Did People Survive the Little Ice Age? Human resilience shines during the Little Ice Age, a period of intense cooling from the 14th to 19th...
2 weeks ago
5
2 weeks ago
Human resilience shines during the Little Ice Age, a period of intense cooling from the 14th to 19th centuries. Europe, Alaska, and the North Atlantic battled severely low temperatures. While the exact cause is unclear, theories range from volcanic activity to changes in Earth’s...
History Today Feed
‘The Alienation Effect’ by Owen Hatherley review ‘The Alienation Effect’ by Owen Hatherley review JamesHoare Mon, 06/09/2025 - 09:05
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
The Myth of Morgan le Fey: The Witch of Arthurian Legend Morgan le Fey, or Morgan le Fay, is a character who appears in many versions of the Arthurian...
2 weeks ago
6
2 weeks ago
Morgan le Fey, or Morgan le Fay, is a character who appears in many versions of the Arthurian legends and is a popular character in modern retellings. She is famous as an evil sorceress who schemed against King Arthur throughout his life. In reality, she was more complicated than...
TheCollector
What Was Athena the Goddess Of? Her 3 Domains Athena is one of the most famous deities from Greek antiquity. Born in full armor, springing forth...
2 weeks ago
6
2 weeks ago
Athena is one of the most famous deities from Greek antiquity. Born in full armor, springing forth from the head of her father Zeus, the virgin goddess was her father’s favorite daughter. She was also a favorite among the Greek people as the patron of not just Athens but also...
TheCollector
The Valley of the Kings: Ancient Egypt’s Royal Necropolis Egypt is known the world over for its archaeological wonders—impressive tombs that froze dynasties...
2 weeks ago
6
2 weeks ago
Egypt is known the world over for its archaeological wonders—impressive tombs that froze dynasties in time, complete with massive treasures and wonders of history. The Valley of the Kings is one of the most incredible locations in the country, home to dozens of tombs that...
TheCollector
The Antikythera Mechanism: An Ancient Greek Planetarium Since its discovery in 1901 off the coast of the Greek island of Antikythera, the Antikythera...
2 weeks ago
8
2 weeks ago
Since its discovery in 1901 off the coast of the Greek island of Antikythera, the Antikythera Mechanism has fascinated scholars in many fields. Studies of the inscriptions on the mechanism and reconstructions of its gears have established that it was an astronomical calculator....
Classical Wisdom
Weekly Wisdom Quiz Money, Myth, and Madness
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
How to Gain Power as a Medieval Woman For medieval women, carving out a place of power was exceedingly difficult. For hundreds of years,...
2 weeks ago
5
2 weeks ago
For medieval women, carving out a place of power was exceedingly difficult. For hundreds of years, medieval women and their stories were overlooked and forgotten. However, a select few managed to gain power for themselves in the form of influence or money. These extraordinary...
TheCollector
What Is the Smallest Country in Africa? The African continent is a big place. It is the second-largest continent and contains 54 countries,...
2 weeks ago
6
2 weeks ago
The African continent is a big place. It is the second-largest continent and contains 54 countries, including the island nations that dot the coastline. While some countries, like Algeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Libya, and Sudan, are huge, there are many others...
TheCollector
10 Must-See Medieval Castles in the UK The medieval period in the UK, spanning roughly 1066 to 1500, was marked by conquest, rebellion,...
2 weeks ago
6
2 weeks ago
The medieval period in the UK, spanning roughly 1066 to 1500, was marked by conquest, rebellion, feudalism, and architectural innovation. Following the Norman Conquest, stone castles sprang up across England, Wales, and Scotland, not just as military strongholds, but as symbols...
TheCollector
Aeneas’s Family: Parents, Children, and Legacy In Greek and Roman legend, Aeneas was a prince of Troy who survived the fall of the city. After the...
2 weeks ago
7
2 weeks ago
In Greek and Roman legend, Aeneas was a prince of Troy who survived the fall of the city. After the Trojan War, he was said to have traveled to Italy carrying his father on his back. He then married, and his descendants went on to found the city of Rome. What do we know about his...
TheCollector
3 Key Battles of the Third Crusade There have been countless “Crusades” over the centuries. In today’s world, the word crusade has been...
2 weeks ago
6
2 weeks ago
There have been countless “Crusades” over the centuries. In today’s world, the word crusade has been used several times by extremist groups who wish to profit from the emotion and extreme connections to that word. Read on to learn more about the battles of one particular crusade...
TheCollector
Everything You Need to Know About Orthodox Christian Art Orthodox Christian art has almost nothing in common with its Catholic and Protestant counterparts...
2 weeks ago
5
2 weeks ago
Orthodox Christian art has almost nothing in common with its Catholic and Protestant counterparts despite the shared foundation found in the Holy Scripture. It was initially based on the Byzantine tradition of painting and mosaic-making. Highly stylized, dark, and strict toward...
TheCollector
What Are Athena’s Symbols? (Owl, Olive Tree, Gorgoneion) Athena, a goddess of wisdom and warfare and the patron goddess of Athens, was one of the most...
2 weeks ago
6
2 weeks ago
Athena, a goddess of wisdom and warfare and the patron goddess of Athens, was one of the most popular deities in the Greek pantheon. The Olympian goddess was frequently represented and associated with symbols drawn from her complex mythology. From the wise little owl to the...
TheCollector
Camus’ “Jonas or the Artist at Work”: Analysis & Ending Explained Camus wrote the short stories included in the collection “Exile and the Kingdom” at a time of...
2 weeks ago
6
2 weeks ago
Camus wrote the short stories included in the collection “Exile and the Kingdom” at a time of extreme turmoil in his life. Recently shunned by the Parisian literary community, Camus suffered a crisis of confidence in both himself as a writer and as a man. What came of this period...
TheCollector
When Did the Mongols Launch Their Invasions of Japan? By the 1260s, the Mongols controlled most of China, except for the Song Dynasty in southern China....
2 weeks ago
4
2 weeks ago
By the 1260s, the Mongols controlled most of China, except for the Song Dynasty in southern China. Korea (Goryeo) remained independent but as a vassal state. Now Kublai Khan looked to Imperial Japan which lay not far. Kublai sent six diplomatic missions between 1268 and 1273,...
Flashbak
The Minox Files: The Spy Camera Photos “I like the timelessness of the photos. Of course, I am a bit of a dreamer and somewhat poetic....
2 weeks ago
7
2 weeks ago
“I like the timelessness of the photos. Of course, I am a bit of a dreamer and somewhat poetic. Distance and proximity are also what my photos are about” – Mark van den Brink     Walter Zapp [O.S. 22 August] 1905 – 17 July 2003) produced the lightweight, aluminium Minox pocket...
TheCollector
8 Cambodian Temples that Aren’t Angkor Wat The Hindu-Buddhist Khmer Empire stretched across what is now known as Cambodia, and you can see...
2 weeks ago
6
2 weeks ago
The Hindu-Buddhist Khmer Empire stretched across what is now known as Cambodia, and you can see numerous relics from this incredible empire today. The most popular and famous is Angkor Wat, but when you visit Siem Reap and beyond, you’ll find fantastic ruins that rival anything...
TheCollector
How Belisarius Recaptured (and Defended) Rome From the Goths Belisarius was a renowned military commander with impressive battlefield achievements. Hampered by...
2 weeks ago
5
2 weeks ago
Belisarius was a renowned military commander with impressive battlefield achievements. Hampered by limited resources in both men and money, he spearheaded Emperor Justinian’s attempt to reconquer the key territories of the former Western Roman Empire: Africa, Hispania, Italy, and...
Dreams of Space -...
My Weekly Reader November 6, 1961 It is your Weekly Reader for this week of November 6, 1961. Here is the space flight news of this...
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
How the Treaty of Kanagawa (1854) Ended the Tokugawa Shogunate After Commodore Matthew Perry visited Japan and cajoled the Tokugawa Shogunate to establish...
2 weeks ago
6
2 weeks ago
After Commodore Matthew Perry visited Japan and cajoled the Tokugawa Shogunate to establish commercial and diplomatic relations, Japanese society was riven by divisions between modernizers and traditionalists. The modernizers eventually triumphed in the Meiji Restoration of 1868,...
Classical Wisdom
The Revolution To Come ***New Event: June 19th @ 11:30am EDT
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
The Roman Myth of Aeneas, Lavinia, and the King Who Started It All The figure of Aeneas of Troy first appears in the Homeric epics of Greek mythology, but he emerges...
2 weeks ago
7
2 weeks ago
The figure of Aeneas of Troy first appears in the Homeric epics of Greek mythology, but he emerges as a central figure in Roman mythology, described most thoroughly in Virgil’s Aeneid. In Roman legends, Aeneas is involved in the founding of Rome. He is said to have become a king...
A Collection of...
Collections: Nitpicking Gladiator’s Iconic Opening Battle, Part I This week, we’re going to take a close look at arguably the most famous and recognizable Roman...
2 weeks ago
11
2 weeks ago
This week, we’re going to take a close look at arguably the most famous and recognizable Roman battle sequence in film: the iconic opening battle from Gladiator (2000). Despite being a relatively short sequence (about ten minutes), there’s actually enough to talk about here that...
Flashbak
A Mid-Century Day At The Beach in Rochester, Upstate New York These photos were taken on the beaches of Rochester, the city on Lake Ontario, in Upstate New York....
2 weeks ago
9
2 weeks ago
These photos were taken on the beaches of Rochester, the city on Lake Ontario, in Upstate New York. There’s something especially right about looking at pictures from Rochester, what with it being home to The George Eastman Museum, sited on the estate of the Kodak founder. The...
TheCollector
Son of a Witch! Greg Houle on the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 Few historical events fascinate modern audiences as much as the Salem witch trials of 1692, which...
2 weeks ago
6
2 weeks ago
Few historical events fascinate modern audiences as much as the Salem witch trials of 1692, which saw more than 200 people accused and 19 people executed for witchcraft. But what underlying factors allowed the witch trials to happen in 17th century Massachusetts, and can we...
TheCollector
How Hermes Became a God: The Mischievous Tale of the Homeric Hymn Hermes, known by his Roman name Mercury, is one of the most unconventional Olympian gods. As the god...
2 weeks ago
6
2 weeks ago
Hermes, known by his Roman name Mercury, is one of the most unconventional Olympian gods. As the god of shepherds, thieves, lies, commerce, and boundaries, he embodies a diverse range of human experiences. Considered a close friend to humanity, Hermes is credited with inventing...
Classical Wisdom
Money and the Ancient World Thoughts from Plato, Aristotle and more!
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
Solon: The Athenian Lawmaker Who Shaped Ancient Democracy Solon was considered by Plutarch and many other ancient authors as one of the seven wise men, or...
2 weeks ago
7
2 weeks ago
Solon was considered by Plutarch and many other ancient authors as one of the seven wise men, or sages, of Greece. He became famous as a statesman but was also a philosopher and poet. He came to power in Athens in the early 6th century BCE when the city was in political and...
TheCollector
What Are the Most Famous Albert Einstein Quotes? ‘Einstein’ is today a byword for genius. His groundbreaking work in theoretical physics constitutes...
2 weeks ago
6
2 weeks ago
‘Einstein’ is today a byword for genius. His groundbreaking work in theoretical physics constitutes the foundations of modern science. He was also a deeply moral thinker, a philosopher, a political activist, and pacifist. Albert Einstein is revered as one of the greatest...
TheCollector
The History & Beliefs of Anglicanism Henry VIII wanted an heir. Catherine of Aragon could not provide him with an heir, so he wanted the...
2 weeks ago
4
2 weeks ago
Henry VIII wanted an heir. Catherine of Aragon could not provide him with an heir, so he wanted the marriage annulled since divorce was not an option. When the pope refused, most likely due to potential political repercussions, Henry VIII decided to reject the authority of the...
TheCollector
Shadow Work 101, Applying Jung’s Teachings (With Philosophical Examples) Have you ever become irritated with a chatty person and then realized that you’re just as chatty...
3 weeks ago
5
3 weeks ago
Have you ever become irritated with a chatty person and then realized that you’re just as chatty yourself? That awareness can represent a glimpse of your “shadow.” In Carl Jung’s theory of analytic psychology, shadow refers to parts, memories, and longings that have been pushed...
TheCollector
What Does the Domesday Book Tell Us About the Norman Conquest? The Anglo-Saxon aristocracy, many of whom had fought and died with King Harold Godwinson at Senlac...
3 weeks ago
4
3 weeks ago
The Anglo-Saxon aristocracy, many of whom had fought and died with King Harold Godwinson at Senlac Hill, were systematically shorn of their landed wealth after 1066. In their place stood the Norman aristocrats whose superior skill at arms had granted them victory on that fateful...
TheCollector
Guide to the History & Beliefs of Roman Catholicism The Roman Catholic Church traces its origin to the apostles and specifically to Peter. They are by...
3 weeks ago
5
3 weeks ago
The Roman Catholic Church traces its origin to the apostles and specifically to Peter. They are by far the largest denomination of Christianity with more than 1.2 billion Roman Catholic believers worldwide. The Church played a significant role in history and had a marked...
TheCollector
9 Works by Donatello You Should Know Donatello, born Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi, was one of the most outstanding sculptors of the...
3 weeks ago
6
3 weeks ago
Donatello, born Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi, was one of the most outstanding sculptors of the Italian Renaissance. He was the frontrunner in reviving the art of Antiquity, and he was interested in Roman art and archaeology long before his contemporaries. Read on to learn...
TheCollector
Why Nietzsche Considered Himself Ahead of His Time Untimely Meditations is one of the least read of Nietzsche’s works. In this article, we look at why...
3 weeks ago
6
3 weeks ago
Untimely Meditations is one of the least read of Nietzsche’s works. In this article, we look at why more attention ought to be paid to the essays in this collection, but also why Nietzsche considered them to be “untimely.”   What Are the Untimely Meditations?   Nietzsche’s...
TheCollector
How Tall Was Genghis Khan? Debunking the Myths The man history knows as Genghis Khan was called initially Temujin. Born near Lake Baikal, Mongolia,...
3 weeks ago
3
3 weeks ago
The man history knows as Genghis Khan was called initially Temujin. Born near Lake Baikal, Mongolia, around 1162, Temujin faced a difficult childhood. Yet he possessed cunning and determination, rising to power through alliances, military victories, and uniting the Mongol clans....
Flashbak
New York City Streets by Al Jaffee “Photographs are born of the positives and negatives accumulated in a lifetime.” – Al Jaffee  ...
3 weeks ago
9
3 weeks ago
“Photographs are born of the positives and negatives accumulated in a lifetime.” – Al Jaffee   Brooklyn-born Jay Jaffee (1921 – 1999) takes us to a New York City of energy, isolation, emotion and ambition. His sublime black-and-white photographs evoke stories in their textured...
TheCollector
10 Must-Visit Museums in Texas Texas preserves its past in ways that reflect the scale and complexity of the state itself. From the...
3 weeks ago
4
3 weeks ago
Texas preserves its past in ways that reflect the scale and complexity of the state itself. From the borderlands to the Gulf, and from the Hill Country to the Panhandle, its history includes Indigenous nations, Spanish colonization, independence from Mexico, statehood, war,...
History Today Feed
Cannibal Crusaders Cannibal Crusaders JamesHoare Thu, 06/05/2025 - 09:05
3 weeks ago
TheCollector
The Origins of Agriculture: How We Domesticated Crops and Livestock For much of our history, humans have sustained themselves through hunting and gathering wild plants...
3 weeks ago
6
3 weeks ago
For much of our history, humans have sustained themselves through hunting and gathering wild plants and animals. However, our trajectory changed around 12,000 years ago when agriculture emerged as humans began to domesticate livestock and crops, permanently altering our...
TheCollector
The Emperor Majorian’s Heroic Attempt to Save the Crumbling Roman Empire As the Roman Empire fell into serious decline in the 5th century, there were several attempts to...
3 weeks ago
6
3 weeks ago
As the Roman Empire fell into serious decline in the 5th century, there were several attempts to restore Roman power amid the invasion of outside groups and social problems. The Emperor Majorian came close to reconnecting the Roman Empire in the middle of the 5th century, coming...
TheCollector
How Cyrus the Great Founded the Persian Empire & Conquered Lydia Cyrus the Great (590-529 BCE) was known as an innovative warrior and a benevolent king. He expanded...
3 weeks ago
4
3 weeks ago
Cyrus the Great (590-529 BCE) was known as an innovative warrior and a benevolent king. He expanded the Achaemenid Dynasty to reach from the Mediterranean coasts to Himalayan hills. He encouraged the diverse people of his empire to practice their religions, continue cultural...
TheCollector
Mary Cassatt at Work: Interview with Curator Alejandra Rojas Silva TheCollector recently had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Alejandra Rojas Silva, Curator of...
3 weeks ago
4
3 weeks ago
TheCollector recently had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Alejandra Rojas Silva, Curator of European and American Art at the Honolulu Museum of Art (HoMA) in Honolulu, Hawai’i. She took us behind the scenes of Mary Cassatt at Work, which opens at HoMA on June 21. The...
TheCollector
What Did the Romans Think of Alexander the Great? Why was Alexander the Great seen by the Romans as the greatest military leader of the ancient world?...
3 weeks ago
4
3 weeks ago
Why was Alexander the Great seen by the Romans as the greatest military leader of the ancient world? This question would endlessly fascinate and drive Roman commanders to envy his innovative military strategies since he was the standard for battlefield excellence. The Martial...
TheCollector
Has Odysseus’ Palace on Ithaca Been Discovered? In Homer’s Odyssey, composed in the 7th century BCE, Odysseus is a king. As such, he obviously has a...
3 weeks ago
3
3 weeks ago
In Homer’s Odyssey, composed in the 7th century BCE, Odysseus is a king. As such, he obviously has a palace of sorts on Ithaca, his home island. Ithaca was a real place, as were most of the places described by Homer. However, does this mean that Homer was describing a real place...
TheCollector
What Is the Most Widely Spoken Language in Africa? Africa is the second-largest continent after Asia and is home to 1.5 billion people. It is a dynamic...
3 weeks ago
3
3 weeks ago
Africa is the second-largest continent after Asia and is home to 1.5 billion people. It is a dynamic place with ever-changing demographics, as people and nations shift their paths in the pursuit of survival and success. Central to the workings of this whirlwind of human activity...
Classical Wisdom
The Darker Side of Dionysus Understanding the Bacchae
3 weeks ago
History Today Feed
‘The Illegals’ by Shaun Waker review ‘The Illegals’ by Shaun Waker review JamesHoare Wed, 06/04/2025 - 08:04
3 weeks ago
TheCollector
From Gladiators to Football: The Evolution of Spectator Sports Humans have always loved sports—tests of skill, strength, endurance, and mettle—even before history...
3 weeks ago
6
3 weeks ago
Humans have always loved sports—tests of skill, strength, endurance, and mettle—even before history was recorded. Sports could have a number of purposes: preparing for war, religious or ceremonial significance, a form of self-discipline, or simply something to pass the time....
Trying to Understand...
After "Victory." How much is enough?
3 weeks ago
TheCollector
An Overview of Russian Dynasties: From the Rurikids to the Romanovs The Rurik and Romanov dynasties of Russia have shaped modern-day Russia’s land and people. From the...
3 weeks ago
7
3 weeks ago
The Rurik and Romanov dynasties of Russia have shaped modern-day Russia’s land and people. From the first dynasty, which began around the 780s, to 1917, when the Romanov dynasty fell to the Bolshevik Revolution, tsars and emperors ruled. With more than 1,000 years of rule between...
TheCollector
Julia Domna, Syrian Empress of Ancient Rome (Wife of Septimius Severus) Julia Domna can stake a claim to being one of the most influential women of the Roman Empire. Aside...
3 weeks ago
5
3 weeks ago
Julia Domna can stake a claim to being one of the most influential women of the Roman Empire. Aside from perhaps the indomitable Livia or the calculating Agrippina the Younger, there were few women who were so important in Rome’s history. Domna’s ideological importance—as...
Global Inequality...
Difficulties with Fanon Observations stimulated by Adam Shatz’s Rebel’s Clinic
3 weeks ago
TheCollector
Rare Roman Mosaics with Dolphin Artwork Found in Austria Excavations near the ancient Roman city of Ovilava in Austria have revealed a highly decorated villa...
3 weeks ago
4
3 weeks ago
Excavations near the ancient Roman city of Ovilava in Austria have revealed a highly decorated villa complex. Among these decorations are three Roman mosaic floors—one of which bears an uncommon aquatic motif.   The discovery, announced by a joint team from OÖ Landes-Kultur GmbH...
TheCollector
What Are the Origins of the Trojan War? Myths & Archaeology While Helen may have had the face that launched a thousand ships, the origins of the Trojan War are...
3 weeks ago
7
3 weeks ago
While Helen may have had the face that launched a thousand ships, the origins of the Trojan War are much more complex than an ill-thought-out love affair in the surviving sources for the mythological Greek battle. While it is still unclear whether the Trojan War was a real...
TheCollector
How to Read Eastern Orthodox Icons: A Guide to Their Symbolism & Style The tradition of icon painting began to develop simultaneously with the development of Christianity....
3 weeks ago
3
3 weeks ago
The tradition of icon painting began to develop simultaneously with the development of Christianity. In the modern era, avant-garde artists who searched for new expressive methods directed their attention to Eastern Orthodox icon painting. This tradition developed in a direction...
TheCollector
Edward Said’s Orientalism: Reductive or Revolutionary? When Edward Said published his book Orientalism in 1978, his insights shattered previous notions of...
3 weeks ago
3
3 weeks ago
When Edward Said published his book Orientalism in 1978, his insights shattered previous notions of East-West relations and caused late twentieth-century thinkers to reexamine the motivations and messaging behind everything from popular literature and art to advertisements and...
TheCollector
How Did Queen Victoria’s Childhood Impact Her Reign? Queen Victoria is as well known for leading the second longest reign in England, as she is for her...
3 weeks ago
3
3 weeks ago
Queen Victoria is as well known for leading the second longest reign in England, as she is for her iron will. Her childhood, however, was a lonely one of solitude, dominated by her mother, the Duchess of Kent, and Sir John Conroy who wished to “help” Victoria, while also securing...
History Today Feed
Thatcher’s Wordsmiths Thatcher’s Wordsmiths JamesHoare Tue, 06/03/2025 - 09:08
3 weeks ago
Classical Wisdom
The Bacchae Ebook
3 weeks ago
Flashbak
Riding With Strangers: California Hitchhikers in the 1970s Whenever Doug Biggert (1941-2023) picked up a hitch-hiker in Northern California he took their...
3 weeks ago
39
3 weeks ago
Whenever Doug Biggert (1941-2023) picked up a hitch-hiker in Northern California he took their picture. To make the  “explanation simpler”, and reassure hitchhikers of his intentions, he kept a binder full of his pictures to show them. What turned into a decades-long project...
TheCollector
The Nine Years’ War: The End of Gaelic Ireland Ireland had been under nominal English control since the 1100s but across much of the island local...
3 weeks ago
8
3 weeks ago
Ireland had been under nominal English control since the 1100s but across much of the island local Gaelic lords continued to enjoy great autonomy, similar to the highlands of Scotland. The English Crown’s efforts to extend its political control over the island during the 16th...
TheCollector
5 Women in Political Philosophy You Should Know Being deprived of political rights for most of world history, women tried to contribute to political...
3 weeks ago
7
3 weeks ago
Being deprived of political rights for most of world history, women tried to contribute to political theory and philosophy as soon as they could find themselves pen, paper, and free time from making the world spin around. Furthermore, institutional political philosophy often...
TheCollector
Charlie Chaplin: Hollywood’s Original Superstar Whenever we hear the name Charlie Chaplin, our minds likely jump to an amusing, cane-wielding man...
3 weeks ago
7
3 weeks ago
Whenever we hear the name Charlie Chaplin, our minds likely jump to an amusing, cane-wielding man with a hat and a mustache. This is understandable, for this character—the Tramp—is the most recognizable figure from Chaplin’s career.   However, when one digs deeper into Chaplin’s...
TheCollector
5 Now-Illegal Remedies That Used to Be Medicinal Medical advancements are constantly changing and improving the state of human health. As doctors...
3 weeks ago
7
3 weeks ago
Medical advancements are constantly changing and improving the state of human health. As doctors learn more about the human body, they improve standards of care. But did you know that once upon a time, many drugs that are now considered addictive and illegal were everyday medical...
TheCollector
Get to Know John Singer Sargent Through 10 Edwardian Portraits Renowned for his portrait paintings, John Singer Sargent was one of the most remarkable artists of...
3 weeks ago
10
3 weeks ago
Renowned for his portrait paintings, John Singer Sargent was one of the most remarkable artists of the Edwardian era. He combined influences and left careful references, including those to the works of Bruegel, Velazquez, and van Dyck. He also loved a good provocation, sometimes...
Flashbak
Miss Margaret Morris’ Merry Mermaids “Everyone should live creatively. It is now recognised that the creative urge – other than sex – is...
3 weeks ago
9
3 weeks ago
“Everyone should live creatively. It is now recognised that the creative urge – other than sex – is manifest in varying degrees, not only in musicians, writers and painters, but in all human beings…. Creation in the widest sense must surely be adding to what already exists. If...
Classical Wisdom
At What Cost Should We Have Great Works? Does unearthing the history take away from the grandeur?
3 weeks ago
TheCollector
What Role Did the Métis Play in the Depletion of Bison Herds? In the 19th century, the Métis hunted bison for food and economic purposes. The Métis emerged as a...
3 weeks ago
3
3 weeks ago
In the 19th century, the Métis hunted bison for food and economic purposes. The Métis emerged as a distinct group, with their own culture, language, and political leaders between the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century, through the intermarriage of...
TheCollector
Why Were African American Drivers Essential to the Red Ball Express? In mid-1944, the Western Allied advance stalled due to acute supply problems. Thus, they created the...
3 weeks ago
4
3 weeks ago
In mid-1944, the Western Allied advance stalled due to acute supply problems. Thus, they created the Red Ball Express, a truck convoy system utilizing thousands of stalwart drivers. And 75% of these drivers were African American.   How Did the Supply Problem Happen?   The Allied...
History Today Feed
‘America, América’ by Greg Grandin review ‘America, América’ by Greg Grandin review JamesHoare Mon, 06/02/2025 - 09:07
3 weeks ago
TheCollector
A Detailed History of New Zealand’s Colonial Period From their first encounters with Europeans in 1642 to the Musket Wars in the first half of the 19th...
3 weeks ago
8
3 weeks ago
From their first encounters with Europeans in 1642 to the Musket Wars in the first half of the 19th century, the Māori, the Indigenous people of New Zealand, actively resisted British rule, both peacefully and violently. Led by their chiefs, Māori tribes from both the North and...
TheCollector
How Marcus Aurelius Influenced Famous American Military Leaders When the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius wrote down his personal memoirs while on a campaign against...
3 weeks ago
7
3 weeks ago
When the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius wrote down his personal memoirs while on a campaign against barbarian tribes in Germany, he could not have fathomed how practicing his Stoicism would help determine the outcome of battles across the globe far into the future. From Ulysses S....
TheCollector
3 Events That Shaped 20th Century America The 20th century got on to a rocky start with a slew of wars and revolutions of varying scales. From...
3 weeks ago
8
3 weeks ago
The 20th century got on to a rocky start with a slew of wars and revolutions of varying scales. From the Russo-Japanese War to World War I, peace seemed elusive. Mankind would then outdo itself with World War II in 1939, less than 25 years after World War I. Later, Cold War...
TheCollector
6 Women Artists Overshadowed by Their Husbands Art history has put aside women artists for a long period of time. Art was a predominantly...
3 weeks ago
6
3 weeks ago
Art history has put aside women artists for a long period of time. Art was a predominantly male-oriented field, so women were often overlooked. The situation was even more complicated when it came to couples who shared the same profession. Those women were only known as wives of...
Classical Wisdom
Weekly Wisdom Quiz Ancient Egypt, Diogenes, and more!
3 weeks ago
TheCollector
The 5 Most Unique Aircraft of World War II The tumult and competition of World War II ignited innovation in military technology at an...
3 weeks ago
6
3 weeks ago
The tumult and competition of World War II ignited innovation in military technology at an unprecedented pace. The development of new technologies and doctrines spurred innovation as the combatants battled for technical supremacy on and off the battlefield. The field of aviation...
TheCollector
Bandung Conference: Decolonization and the Rise of the Third World The Bandung Conference, attended by 29 Asian and African countries, was held in April 1955 in the...
3 weeks ago
6
3 weeks ago
The Bandung Conference, attended by 29 Asian and African countries, was held in April 1955 in the Indonesian city of Bandung. The participants of the conference condemned colonialism, racial discrimination, and segregation, expressed support for people fighting for independence,...
Flashbak
32 Hotdogs and A Pocketful of Chops: Eating With Duke Ellington Duke Ellington (born Edward Kennedy Ellington; April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) had a voracious...
3 weeks ago
10
3 weeks ago
Duke Ellington (born Edward Kennedy Ellington; April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) had a voracious appetite for sex and food. The elegant American jazz pianist, composer, master of instrumental colour and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra wrote thousands of songs and performed...
TheCollector
What Is the History of Belief Bias in Cognitive Psychology? Belief bias is a cognitive bias that makes us assess knowledge claims based on how believable they...
3 weeks ago
7
3 weeks ago
Belief bias is a cognitive bias that makes us assess knowledge claims based on how believable they sound, rather than how logical they are. As a result, we may accept believable yet logically invalid claims, and reject unbelievable yet logically valid ones. As one of the earliest...
TheCollector
The History of Split: From Diocletian’s Palace to Party Town The modern visitor to the Croatian coastal city of Split marvels at the towering walls of Emperor...
3 weeks ago
6
3 weeks ago
The modern visitor to the Croatian coastal city of Split marvels at the towering walls of Emperor Diocletian’s Palace, which were later woven into the fabric of the medieval old town. Located on the Dalmatian coast, the history of Split consists of periods under Byzantine,...
TheCollector
Do Apes Ponder an Afterlife? A Philosophical View The Great Apes are humanity’s closest relatives. They look like us, walk like us, raise children...
3 weeks ago
4
3 weeks ago
The Great Apes are humanity’s closest relatives. They look like us, walk like us, raise children like us, and can use tools like us. But do they think like us too? A major difference between apes (e.g., gorillas, orangutans and chimpanzees) and humans is the use of language....
TheCollector
The Mystery of Hitler’s Right-Hand Man: What Really Happened to Rudolf Hess? A top official in the Third Reich, Rudolf Hess started out as one of Adolf Hitler’s most trusted...
3 weeks ago
7
3 weeks ago
A top official in the Third Reich, Rudolf Hess started out as one of Adolf Hitler’s most trusted right-hand men. However, as the Nazi party embedded itself across Germany, then Europe, pushing towards World War II, Hess made decisions that resulted in his ousting, with no friends...
TheCollector
5 Ways White Russian Émigrés Influenced French Culture After the Russian Empire’s collapse, the USSR hemorrhaged aristocrats, artists, and intellectuals....
3 weeks ago
6
3 weeks ago
After the Russian Empire’s collapse, the USSR hemorrhaged aristocrats, artists, and intellectuals. The first refugee wave came during the Russian Civil War. These exiles became known as “White émigrés” due to their association with the White armies that fought the Red Army. As...
TheCollector
Over 100 Hidden Ancient Structures Uncovered in Peru Researchers uncovered over 100 previously unknown buildings at Gran Pajatén, a hilltop...
3 weeks ago
8
3 weeks ago
Researchers uncovered over 100 previously unknown buildings at Gran Pajatén, a hilltop archaeological site in northern Peru. The findings promise to shed new light on the mysterious Chachapoya civilization, an ancient Andean culture that was lost to Incan and Spanish conquest.  ...
TheCollector
What Is the Relationship Between the Old and New Testaments? For many years, Bible versions that contain only the New Testament and Psalms have been available on...
3 weeks ago
7
3 weeks ago
For many years, Bible versions that contain only the New Testament and Psalms have been available on the market. Understanding what the Bible is all about would be impossible if readers only have access to this limited version of it. The relationship between the Old and New...
TheCollector
The Top 10 Open-Air Museums in the World From the ceilings of Renaissance churches to the white cube, the spaces where art is exhibited have...
3 weeks ago
5
3 weeks ago
From the ceilings of Renaissance churches to the white cube, the spaces where art is exhibited have changed and evolved alongside the artworks they hold inside. Outdoor art sites have developed a devoted crowd in public and artists, connecting art and nature and allowing greater...
Flashbak
12 Variety Acts by the Wiener Werkstätte, 1907 In 1907, the Wiener Werkstätte art movement produced a set of 12 prints featuring different Variety...
3 weeks ago
8
3 weeks ago
In 1907, the Wiener Werkstätte art movement produced a set of 12 prints featuring different Variety acts. These Varieténummer – Vaudeville performances – were both madly daring and fanciful. Mac Bull from Philadelphia (Act 11) would drive his car around a rainbow. A. Lucci the...
TheCollector
Old World vs. New World: Time to Abolish These Outdated Concepts? “New World” and “Old World” are concepts still widely used to refer to the Western and Eastern...
3 weeks ago
6
3 weeks ago
“New World” and “Old World” are concepts still widely used to refer to the Western and Eastern Hemispheres, respectively, first adopted in European society after Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas in 1492. Sixteenth-century European cartographers consolidated the terms,...
TheCollector
How Did the Industrial Revolution Take Place in Non-Western Countries? The Industrial Revolution refers to past changes from agrarian and manual labor systems of...
3 weeks ago
106
3 weeks ago
The Industrial Revolution refers to past changes from agrarian and manual labor systems of production to mechanization. Britain was the first nation in the world to experience the transformation which started in the 18th century. The trend then spread to other nations around the...
TheCollector
10 Must-See Historic Sites in Spain Spain’s past is layered with conquest, coexistence, and creativity. From the ancient Iberians and...
3 weeks ago
7
3 weeks ago
Spain’s past is layered with conquest, coexistence, and creativity. From the ancient Iberians and Roman rule to Islamic dynasties and the Catholic Monarchs, each era left behind enduring landmarks that speak to shifting powers and cultural fusion. Visitors today don’t just come...
TheCollector
Giuseppe Verdi: The Bard of the Risorgimento (Bio & Facts) On January 30, 1901, as a hearse drove the coffin of Giuseppe Verdi to the cemetery in Milan, a huge...
3 weeks ago
2
3 weeks ago
On January 30, 1901, as a hearse drove the coffin of Giuseppe Verdi to the cemetery in Milan, a huge crowd gathered to honor the greatest 19th-century Italian composer. As the small funeral procession advanced through the city, the people waiting along the route began to sing the...
Dreams of Space -...
My Weekly Reader September 11, 1961 September 11, 1961 So I came across another "stash" of old Weekly Readers that I am going to share...
3 weeks ago
10
3 weeks ago
September 11, 1961 So I came across another "stash" of old Weekly Readers that I am going to share for the next few weeks. I have written before how these tiny newspaper appeared in our classrooms every week during the school year (and the summer too). I really love how our...
TheCollector
Does Life Have Meaning? Acte Gratuit & Free Will Does life have meaning? Brought into the vast and guideless world with a brain bent on...
3 weeks ago
8
3 weeks ago
Does life have meaning? Brought into the vast and guideless world with a brain bent on understanding, we struggle with randomness and even despise it. Yet the meaninglessness appears repeatedly in art—a desperate attempt to understand, perhaps? In this whirlwind of...
TheCollector
The Year of the Six Emperors (238 CE): A Complete Guide Herodian’s History of the Roman Empire starts with the observation that “in a period of 60 years,...
3 weeks ago
6
3 weeks ago
Herodian’s History of the Roman Empire starts with the observation that “in a period of 60 years, the Roman imperial power was held by more emperors than would seem possible in so short a time…” This is a preface to his history of Rome, from the death of the last “good emperor,”...
A Collection of...
Fireside Friday, May 30, 2025 (On Professional Military Education) Hey all, we’re doing a Fireside this week! For this week’s musing, I thought it might be worthwhile...
3 weeks ago
13
3 weeks ago
Hey all, we’re doing a Fireside this week! For this week’s musing, I thought it might be worthwhile – this being a frequent space for military history – to offer a brief outline of professional military education (PME) in the United States, which is to say the various stages by...
TheCollector
New Banksy Mural Confirmed in South of France Yesterday, after a six-month hiatus, Banksy’s official Instagram account unveiled a new public...
3 weeks ago
6
3 weeks ago
Yesterday, after a six-month hiatus, Banksy’s official Instagram account unveiled a new public mural: a small lighthouse on a beige building facade. The mystery of the mural’s location has since been solved. Its intended meaning, however, is still up for debate.   Banksy Unveils...
TheCollector
3 Fun Facts About the Iconic Ciniselli Circus Like most Victorian-era circuses, the Ciniselli Circus represented a space where rich and poor could...
3 weeks ago
7
3 weeks ago
Like most Victorian-era circuses, the Ciniselli Circus represented a space where rich and poor could enjoy a good show. In Imperial Russia, aristocrats gazed from balconies while the working class crowded the stalls below. While historic circuses remain problematic due to race,...
TheCollector
The Untold Story of Selene, Greek Goddess of the Moon While traveling the Greek world in the 2nd century CE, the geographer Pausanias visited the statue...
3 weeks ago
6
3 weeks ago
While traveling the Greek world in the 2nd century CE, the geographer Pausanias visited the statue of Zeus at Olympia. The ancient geographer noted a curious detail about the statue’s pedestal. At the end of the carved relief depicting various deities was a goddess driving a...
Classical Wisdom
King Croesus Fate, Fortunes, and the Fall of an Empire
3 weeks ago
TheCollector
Sweden’s Ugliest City? Music & Art in Borlänge Whenever I say I live in this magical little city, I get asked by Swedish locals, Borlänge?? You...
3 weeks ago
7
3 weeks ago
Whenever I say I live in this magical little city, I get asked by Swedish locals, Borlänge?? You live in Borlänge?? Why??. This is a city with a nationally recognized bad reputation. I guess I can understand why; it has the proud title of “The Ugliest City in Sweden,” and it is...
TheCollector
Did Einstein Believe in God? His “Cosmic Religion” Explained For Einstein, God was not a divine being in the traditional religious sense, but a metaphor for the...
3 weeks ago
5
3 weeks ago
For Einstein, God was not a divine being in the traditional religious sense, but a metaphor for the elegant, harmonious, ultimately knowable order of the cosmos. He believed that the universe functioned according to precise, universal laws – and that understanding these laws was...
TheCollector
10 Historic Sites in Miami You Should Visit Florida’s history stretches from early Spanish colonization and the Seminole Wars to its role in the...
3 weeks ago
6
3 weeks ago
Florida’s history stretches from early Spanish colonization and the Seminole Wars to its role in the Civil War and the Cuban exile era. But no city within the state reflects this layered past quite like Miami. Founded in 1896, Miami quickly grew from a swampy frontier town into a...
TheCollector
The Ugly Duchess: A Joke Between Quentin Matsys & Leonardo da Vinci? The Ugly Duchess by Quentin Matsys is an influential painting that has many theories surrounding its...
3 weeks ago
5
3 weeks ago
The Ugly Duchess by Quentin Matsys is an influential painting that has many theories surrounding its intention and meaning. The painting is a grotesque—an ancient Greek and Roman art style that was revived during the Renaissance, especially in Italy, as artists began to look back...
Classical Wisdom
Understanding Ancient Egypt with Kara Cooney A recording from Classical Wisdom's live video
4 weeks ago
TheCollector
Washington DC Street Named ‘Alma Thomas Way’ After Artist Alma Thomas (1891-1978) was a longtime educator and a prolific abstract painter who spent most of...
4 weeks ago
6
4 weeks ago
Alma Thomas (1891-1978) was a longtime educator and a prolific abstract painter who spent most of her career in Washington, DC. Now, to honor her local legacy, the street on which she lived and worked for seven decades has been renamed Alma Thomas Way.   The Hometown Legacy of...
TheCollector
10 Famous Japanese Artists Who Achieved Greatness From fascinating woodblock prints and beautiful landscape paintings to eye-catching sculptures,...
4 weeks ago
8
4 weeks ago
From fascinating woodblock prints and beautiful landscape paintings to eye-catching sculptures, Japanese artists have created monumental pieces that have transformed the world of art. These famous artists have channeled their creativity, culture, and environment to create some of...
TheCollector
Neanderthals May Have Made Art, New Research Suggests Centering on one “peculiar pebble,” a new research paper offers evidence that Neanderthals were...
4 weeks ago
7
4 weeks ago
Centering on one “peculiar pebble,” a new research paper offers evidence that Neanderthals were actually capable of creating art. Excavated from a rock shelter in Segovia, the pebble challenges the assumption that art did not emerge until later, after more modern humans evolved....
TheCollector
How Many Māori Iwi (Tribes) Are There in Aotearoa/New Zealand? In New Zealand’s North and South Islands, each Māori tribe (iwi) has its own history, founding...
4 weeks ago
7
4 weeks ago
In New Zealand’s North and South Islands, each Māori tribe (iwi) has its own history, founding ancestor or ancestress, tribal territory (rohe), and governance structure, often based around a tribal council known as rūnanga.   The role of Māori tribes has evolved considerably in...
TheCollector
The 10 Greatest Military Leaders of the High Medieval Period While the High Medieval Period is famous for its warrior and martial cultures, there are some...
4 weeks ago
7
4 weeks ago
While the High Medieval Period is famous for its warrior and martial cultures, there are some military leaders who really stand out above the rest. These are the men known not merely as great fighters, but as generals whose successes are studied even to this day. The ten figures...
TheCollector
Komnenian Restoration: The Byzantine Empire Under the Komnenos Dynasty The Komnenos Dynasty came from obscure origins to revive the Byzantine Empire after a disastrous...
4 weeks ago
7
4 weeks ago
The Komnenos Dynasty came from obscure origins to revive the Byzantine Empire after a disastrous period of weak emperors and military setbacks. Alexios Komnenos took power in 1081 CE and began an astonishing reversal of the empire’s dire fortunes, continued by his descendants...
TheCollector
The Dogs of War: Genghis Khan’s 4 Legendary Generals During Genghis Khan’s rise to power and subsequent conquests, he gathered many men to his side who...
4 weeks ago
5
4 weeks ago
During Genghis Khan’s rise to power and subsequent conquests, he gathered many men to his side who became his trusted confidants and most able commanders. Four of them came to be known as his notorious “Four Dogs of War.” In this article, we shall explore the extraordinary...
TheCollector
What Is the Philosophy of Film? Ancient Greek philosophers were among the first thinkers to introduce art to philosophy. Plato, in...
4 weeks ago
3
4 weeks ago
Ancient Greek philosophers were among the first thinkers to introduce art to philosophy. Plato, in his famous Socratic dialogues, talked extensively about painting, sculpture, and poetry. In Poetics, Aristotle delved into the art of tragedy, comedy, and epic poetry. Although...
Flashbak
The Artists’ & Writers’ Cookbook, 1961 First published in 1961, The Artists’ & Writers’ Cookbook shares 220 recipes by 55 painters, 61...
4 weeks ago
13
4 weeks ago
First published in 1961, The Artists’ & Writers’ Cookbook shares 220 recipes by 55 painters, 61 novelists, 15 sculptors and 19 poets. Dedicated to the art of imperfection in the kithc”, it’s a fun book in which wit and wine feature heavily.   American novelist William Styron...
TheCollector
Armenia or Georgia? Which Country Was the First Wine Producer? Any trip through Armenia and Georgia will offer you many opportunities to sample delicious wines...
4 weeks ago
9
4 weeks ago
Any trip through Armenia and Georgia will offer you many opportunities to sample delicious wines from the various vineyards and some questionable wines from home-brewing cellars. But while taking a tour, it is interesting to discover a little more about the history of wine...
History Today Feed
Why Did Rome Fall? Why Did Rome Fall? JamesHoare Thu, 05/29/2025 - 09:06
4 weeks ago
TheCollector
How Did the Gnostics View Jesus Christ? Jesus Christ is one of the most important religious figures in history. During his life, he was a...
4 weeks ago
7
4 weeks ago
Jesus Christ is one of the most important religious figures in history. During his life, he was a revolutionary, sage, teacher, and purported miracle worker. In death, he has been revered and studied through a myriad of different lenses. Many religions incorporate Jesus and his...
TheCollector
Motherhood Through the Ages: Depictions of Breastfeeding in Art Breastfeeding has been depicted in art throughout the centuries, forming a visual representation of...
4 weeks ago
7
4 weeks ago
Breastfeeding has been depicted in art throughout the centuries, forming a visual representation of women’s lived experiences concerning religion and societal expectations. Ancient civilizations focused on motherhood through the symbolic use of religious figures, such as Isis in...
TheCollector
The History of Faro, Portugal: A Guide for Visitors Explore Faro Old Town “Vila Adentro” to unravel the remains of the Phoenician, Roman, and Moorish...
4 weeks ago
10
4 weeks ago
Explore Faro Old Town “Vila Adentro” to unravel the remains of the Phoenician, Roman, and Moorish occupations. The stunning historical landmarks, narrow cobbled streets, and impressive plazas will make you travel back in time. As you wander around the city, you will be impressed...
Trying to Understand...
What Are You Doing After The End? The Ego will not save us now.
4 weeks ago
TheCollector
Is There a Historical Basis for King Arthur’s European Campaign? In the legends of King Arthur, the leader of the Britons is most famous for fighting against the...
4 weeks ago
6
4 weeks ago
In the legends of King Arthur, the leader of the Britons is most famous for fighting against the Saxons during their conquest of Britain. Most scholars acknowledge that this may have a factual basis. However, at least as early as the 12th century, King Arthur is also presented as...
Classical Wisdom
Who Were the Mycenaeans? Classical Wisdom Litterae: Mycenaean
4 weeks ago
Flashbak
Living Color: Strange Square Snapshots “This is less of a themed group and more just a grouping of odd and unusual color photos,” says...
4 weeks ago
10
4 weeks ago
“This is less of a themed group and more just a grouping of odd and unusual color photos,” says photograph collector Robert E. Jackson of this, his latest album of snapshots for flashbak. “I call it: Living Color: Strange Square Snapshots. We’ll being with his gent form the 1960s...
TheCollector
What Happened to Mary, the Mother of Jesus? Lauded in the world’s two largest religions as the mother of God’s Chosen One—for Muslims a great...
4 weeks ago
9
4 weeks ago
Lauded in the world’s two largest religions as the mother of God’s Chosen One—for Muslims a great prophet and for Christians God incarnate— Mary of Nazareth is almost without contest the most famous woman who ever lived. Yet, very little was recorded and preserved about her life...
History Today Feed
‘The Sun Rising’ by Anna Whitelock review ‘The Sun Rising’ by Anna Whitelock review JamesHoare Wed, 05/28/2025 - 09:21
4 weeks ago
TheCollector
Moebius: The Artist Who Pushed the Boundaries of Our Imagination Jean Giraud, known by his artistic pseudonym Moebius, was a French artist who revolutionized...
4 weeks ago
10
4 weeks ago
Jean Giraud, known by his artistic pseudonym Moebius, was a French artist who revolutionized European comic books between the 1970s and the early 1980s. His works elevated the visual imagination of science fiction to new heights while also popularizing new subgenres in Europe...