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Classical Wisdom
Enheduanna A VERY Ancient Snapshot
a week ago
History Today Feed
What was the Industrial Revolution? What was the Industrial Revolution? JamesHoare Thu, 04/24/2025 - 09:22
a week ago
Flashbak
A Stroll Through Amsterdam’s Red Light District by Huub Prickaert in the 1990s Huub Prickaerts was walking around the De Wallen area of Amsterdam’s red light district between 1993...
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Huub Prickaerts was walking around the De Wallen area of Amsterdam’s red light district between 1993 and 1996. Prickaerts moved to the Dutch capital in the early 1990s after a client agreed to let him stay in his home in exchange for keeping an eye on his restaurant. Things have...
Trying to Understand...
The End? There must be some way out of here ... surely?
a week ago
TheCollector
6 Terrible Historical Facts About Typhus Epidemic typhus is one of the oldest diseases known to affect humankind, and despite advances in...
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Epidemic typhus is one of the oldest diseases known to affect humankind, and despite advances in modern medicine, it continues to be a contemporary concern. Often infiltrating human existence hand in hand with disasters such as war and weather phenomena, typhus has demonstrated a...
Overcoming Bias
Can Humanity Choose Its Future? For all my lifetime, futurists have had a dream, of humanity coming together to consciously decide...
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a week ago
For all my lifetime, futurists have had a dream, of humanity coming together to consciously decide its fate.
TheCollector
5 Quotes by Plato Explained Plato, the most intelligent of Socrates’ students, laid the foundations of ethics, aesthetics,...
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Plato, the most intelligent of Socrates’ students, laid the foundations of ethics, aesthetics, epistemology, metaphysics, and early forms of science.   When Socrates was sentenced to death by the Athenian government, Plato decided to travel to learn all he could about philosophy,...
Flashbak
Soviet Caviar Harvest by Carl Mydans, Astrakhan 1960 “The cream and hot butter mingled and overflowed separating each glucose bead of caviar from its...
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“The cream and hot butter mingled and overflowed separating each glucose bead of caviar from its fellows, capping it in white and gold.” — Evelyn Waugh, Brideshead Revisited     In 1960, American photographer Carl Mydans (May 20, 1907 – August 16, 2004) journeyed behind the Iron...
TheCollector
Eos: Goddess of the Dawn in Greek Mythology In Greek mythology, Eos was the goddess of the dawn. Though, like other primordial gods, she was not...
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In Greek mythology, Eos was the goddess of the dawn. Though, like other primordial gods, she was not widely worshiped by the ancient Greeks, Eos was nevertheless essential to the Greek understanding of the universe, playing an important role in mythology. Perhaps one of the most...
Classical Wisdom
The Brightly Colored Past Burn Ivory, Melt Wax... just like the Ancient Artists
a week ago
TheCollector
What Is the History of Utopian Societies? The term Utopia is derived from Sir Thomas More’s 1516 literary work titled Utopia. The book...
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The term Utopia is derived from Sir Thomas More’s 1516 literary work titled Utopia. The book described an ideal fictional island nation that used a communal social system. He got the term from the Greek word ou-topos which meant nowhere. The satirical book was More’s attempt to...
History Today Feed
‘Epic of the Earth’ by Edith Hall review ‘Epic of the Earth’ by Edith Hall review JamesHoare Wed, 04/23/2025 - 09:52
a week ago
TheCollector
Typhon: The Monster Who Threatened Olympus in Greek Mythology Typhon, or Typhoeus as he was also called, was a monstrous, serpentine creature with a hundred heads...
a week ago
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a week ago
Typhon, or Typhoeus as he was also called, was a monstrous, serpentine creature with a hundred heads that could shoot fire from his eyes. He spoke with a myriad of sounds and voices, sometimes bellowing like a bull, barking like a dog, or roaring like a lion. He was the greatest...
Overcoming Bias
Songs Regulate Emotion The point I make in this post is quite unlikely to be original.
a week ago
Wrong Side of...
What would Rosa Parks do? Modern activists are defeated by their lack of restraint
a week ago
TheCollector
Crusading Against Crusaders: Clement V’s Persecution of the Templars On March 18th, 1314, Jasque de Molay, the 23rd Grand Master of the monastic order of the Knights...
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On March 18th, 1314, Jasque de Molay, the 23rd Grand Master of the monastic order of the Knights Templar, was burned at the stake on an island in the middle of the river Seine. After years and years of torture, confessions of heresy, and trial, the 23rd Grand Master of one of...
Hidden History
A Closer Look at: Sahelanthropus Sahelanthropus may be the earliest human ancestor that we know about, but it is mired in...
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Sahelanthropus may be the earliest human ancestor that we know about, but it is mired in controversy. In the 1980s, French paleontologist Michel Brunet and his partner David Pilbeam were searching for hominin fossils in Cameroon, in deposits formed along an ancient shoreline when...
TheCollector
Was the New Testament Canon Chosen at the Council of Nicaea? Thanks to Dan Brown’s novel, The Da Vinci Code, and its film adaptation, many people think that the...
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Thanks to Dan Brown’s novel, The Da Vinci Code, and its film adaptation, many people think that the books that constitute today’s New Testament (NT) were first chosen in the 4th century at the Council of Nicaea. However, early in the 2nd century, Church Fathers had already...
History Today Feed
Stalin’s Man in Belgrade Stalin’s Man in Belgrade JamesHoare Tue, 04/22/2025 - 08:06
a week ago
TheCollector
Beyond Human: Supernatural Beings in Medieval England In our secular age, most of us scoff at the supernatural. Consequently, it is difficult to put...
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In our secular age, most of us scoff at the supernatural. Consequently, it is difficult to put ourselves in the mindsets of our medieval counterparts who still lived in a world of unexplored wilderness and unexplained phenomena. God’s natural creation was potentially infinite,...
Overcoming Bias
Adaptive Status Markers As polls and asking LLMs didn’t give me much insight into which status markers are more adaptive,...
a week ago
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a week ago
As polls and asking LLMs didn’t give me much insight into which status markers are more adaptive, let me try to think the issue through myself.
TheCollector
Pope Francis Dies at 88 Today, the Vatican announced the death of Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church, at age...
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Today, the Vatican announced the death of Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church, at age 88. The pope’s death comes just one day after he addressed a crowd of thousands in St. Peter’s Square following Easter Sunday Mass.   “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome,...
Classical Wisdom
The Secret of the Roman Pantheon Watch now | Spotlight on one of Rome's greatest buildings
a week ago
Overcoming Bias
Status Marker Polls In an attempt to learn more about status, I asked some polls comparing status markers.
a week ago
Flashbak
Street Style from 1970s and 80s London by Al Vandenberg American photographer Al Vandenberg (1932-2012) is arguably best known for his art direction of The...
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American photographer Al Vandenberg (1932-2012) is arguably best known for his art direction of The Beatles’ album cover for Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. But here we look at his street photographs of 1970s London. Born in 1932 to Dutch parents, Vandenberg was raised in...
TheCollector
Painting vs. Sculpture: The Renaissance Battle for Supremacy in Art It seems like humans always need to know who or what is the best in any category. Renaissance people...
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It seems like humans always need to know who or what is the best in any category. Renaissance people were no different. A quest to find the superior art between painting and sculpture led to lengthy discussions about the purpose of art and the limits and qualities of each medium....
Classical Wisdom
Happy Birthday Rome! The Violent Birth of Civilization
a week ago
History Today Feed
Death of Zaga Christ Death of Zaga Christ JamesHoare Mon, 04/21/2025 - 13:38
a week ago
TheCollector
Was Lancelot Really a French Invention? The Arthurian Legend Explained In the Arthurian legends, Lancelot is one of the most famous and popular characters. He was one of...
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In the Arthurian legends, Lancelot is one of the most famous and popular characters. He was one of Arthur’s best and most powerful knights. However, despite his initial loyalty, he eventually turned on Arthur, engaging in an affair with the king’s wife, Guinevere. This dramatic...
Flashbak
Whose Streets? Our Streets! New York Protests 1980 – 2000 “Disobedience is the true foundation of liberty. The obedient must be slaves.” ― Henry David...
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“Disobedience is the true foundation of liberty. The obedient must be slaves.” ― Henry David Thoreau,    Photographs of demonstrations in New York City between 1980 and 2000 are at the Whose Streets? Our Streets! exhibition at the Bronx Documentary Center. The show explores New...
TheCollector
The Great Seljuk Empire: History, Culture, Facts In the late 10th century, a nomadic chief named Seljuk broke away from his Khazar overlords in the...
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In the late 10th century, a nomadic chief named Seljuk broke away from his Khazar overlords in the north of the Caspian Sea. Thus began his tribe’s migration from the lands of modern-day Kazakhstan down to Iran and Azerbaijan.   The Great Seljuks (ca. 1038-1194), a nomadic people...
African History...
A forgotten African empire: the history of medieval Kānem (ca. 800-1472) A century before Mansa Musa’s famous pilgrimage, the political and cultural landscape of medieval...
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A century before Mansa Musa’s famous pilgrimage, the political and cultural landscape of medieval West Africa was dominated by the empire of Kānem.
TheCollector
What Do Mormons Believe? Mormons, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), have a unique faith in...
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Mormons, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), have a unique faith in Christendom. Where most Churches hold scripture in high regard, they have other sacred sources that inform their faith and practice. They are a late development on the Christian...
Classical Wisdom
Weekly Wisdom Quiz Homer, Heroes, and Hesiod
a week ago
TheCollector
Balto the Dog: A Famous Canine Hero In the 1920s, Alaska was one of America’s last remaining frontiers. The isolated region was one full...
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In the 1920s, Alaska was one of America’s last remaining frontiers. The isolated region was one full of hardship but offered a quiet existence. After a mining boom that waned in the early 20th century, Nome, on the Western coast, became a city occupied by brave souls. Driving, or...
Flashbak
Beatrix Potter’s Illustrated Peter Rabbit Letters The Peter Rabbit letters were written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter on 4th September 1893. What...
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The Peter Rabbit letters were written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter on 4th September 1893. What would become The Tale of Peter Rabbit was first told in a letter to Noel Moore, the five-year-old son of Beatrix’s former governess Annie Moore (née Carter). Noel was ill in bed...
TheCollector
10 Must-See Historic Sites in Tennessee Tennessee’s story is built on moments that shaped the course of American history. It was the last...
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Tennessee’s story is built on moments that shaped the course of American history. It was the last state to secede and the first to rejoin the Union after the Civil War. It witnessed the birth of country music, the struggle for civil rights, and the presidency of Andrew Jackson....
Wrong Side of...
The Times They Have Changed The Transition #3
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
10 Must-Visit Historic Small Towns in Minnesota Minnesota’s history is filled with defining moments that left a lasting imprint on the land, from...
2 weeks ago
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Minnesota’s history is filled with defining moments that left a lasting imprint on the land, from its early Indigenous heritage and fur trading posts to the formation of the state itself in the mid-19th century. Key events such as the 1848 territorial convention in Stillwater...
CrimethInc.
The Vanguard of Fantasy : A Poster in Homage to Up Against the Wall Motherfucker We’ve prepared a poster in homage to Up Against the Wall Motherfucker, the self-styled “street gang...
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We’ve prepared a poster in homage to Up Against the Wall Motherfucker, the self-styled “street gang with an analysis” active in the Lower East Side of Manhattan in the late 1960s. Up Against the Wall Motherfucker gained notoriety participating in the occupation of Columbia...
Dreams of Space -...
Space Explorer (1960) A promotional comic from 1960 called Space Explorer. It was part of the comic series Boys’ and...
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A promotional comic from 1960 called Space Explorer. It was part of the comic series Boys’ and Girls’ March of Comics, #202. These promotional comics were distributer to retailers who would brand them with their name and give them away to customers to attract them to shop at that...
TheCollector
Who Was Leo Strauss? (Bio and Philosophy) Leo Strauss was not just an ordinary philosopher or political thinker; his influence spanned...
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Leo Strauss was not just an ordinary philosopher or political thinker; his influence spanned continents and still generates discussion long after he died in 1973. So, who exactly was Leo Strauss? By delving into his time at the University of Chicago, how he approached classic...
A Collection of...
Collections: Why Celebrimbor Fell but Boromir Conquered: the Moral Universe of Tolkien This week (and probably next) I want to talk a bit more Tolkien, but in a somewhat different vein...
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This week (and probably next) I want to talk a bit more Tolkien, but in a somewhat different vein from normal. Rather than discussing the historicity of Tolkien’s world or adaptations of it, I want to take a moment to discuss some of the themes of Tolkien’s work, which express...
TheCollector
Not Just Balto: 7 Other Heroes From Nome’s 1925 Serum Run Living in isolated Alaska has its risks. Particularly in the early days of its development, Alaskan...
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Living in isolated Alaska has its risks. Particularly in the early days of its development, Alaskan citizens had limited access to resources, especially in the winter when the snow and ice made transport by traditional means difficult. In 1925, disaster struck when an outbreak of...
Classical Wisdom
Homer Vs Hesiod Poets of War and Peace
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus: Key Similarities and Differences Life in Europe in the first half of the twentieth century was unstable; wars, economic crises, a...
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Life in Europe in the first half of the twentieth century was unstable; wars, economic crises, a pandemic—it was hard not to feel humanity was facing one “existential crisis” after another. One philosophical response to this historical context was the philosophy of...
Flashbak
Gigs, Fights And An Alien Sex Fiend: Posters In London, c. 1990 Alien Sex Fiend played at Camden Palace on February 13, 1990, as part of the venue’s Feet First...
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Alien Sex Fiend played at Camden Palace on February 13, 1990, as part of the venue’s Feet First indie nights. Posters advertising the show went up around the area in other parts of London, featuring the faces of lead singer Nicholas Wade (aka Nik Fiend) and Christine Wade (Mrs...
TheCollector
10 Must-Visit Historic Small Towns in the UK From the Norman Conquest to the Tudor wool boom, from monastic power to the Industrial Age, the UK’s...
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From the Norman Conquest to the Tudor wool boom, from monastic power to the Industrial Age, the UK’s most defining moments have left their imprint on landscapes far beyond the major cities. Historic castles, abbey ruins, medieval marketplaces, and literary landmarks can all be...
History Today Feed
The Ghosts of Gaelic The Ghosts of Gaelic JamesHoare Thu, 04/17/2025 - 09:07
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
Mummified Cats: Companion Cats and Feline Worship in Ancient Egypt While it is common to see cats in modern households, cats are among the most recently domesticated...
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While it is common to see cats in modern households, cats are among the most recently domesticated animals. Archaeological evidence indicates their presence among human communities from approximately 9,000 years ago, far more recent than dogs, nearly 30,000 years ago, or even...
Overcoming Bias
Efficiency Is Sacred We all see some things as sacred.
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
Lascaux Cave Paintings: Secrets of Prehistoric Art Amid the Second World War, four young boys unearthed a Paleolithic masterpiece when they stumbled...
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Amid the Second World War, four young boys unearthed a Paleolithic masterpiece when they stumbled upon a cave in southwest France. The boys were entranced by the vivid hues of red, yellow, and black that formed vast scenes of animals appearing to move across the cave walls....
Classical Wisdom
The Odyssey Begins Thoughts on the New Translation?
2 weeks ago
Flashbak
Nudes With Attitude from Vienna’s Studio Manasse (NSFW) Actress Olga Solarics (1895-1969) and her husband, a former Austro-Hungarian army officer with an...
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Actress Olga Solarics (1895-1969) and her husband, a former Austro-Hungarian army officer with an artistic background, Adorja’n von Wlassics (1893-1946) ran the Studio Manasse Foto-Salon in Vienna, Austria, from 1922 til 1938. The studio was big on nudes and left a fabulous...
Res Obscura
Onfim's world Child artists in history
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
5 Discoveries That Made Archaeologists Question the Origins of Art Discoveries in the archaeological record have sparked debate about how we should define art. Some...
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Discoveries in the archaeological record have sparked debate about how we should define art. Some researchers argue that art must go beyond simple representations and instead convey symbolic ideas, beliefs, or concepts that transcend what was immediately visible to the artist....
History Today Feed
Bismarck’s Britain Bismarck’s Britain JamesHoare Wed, 04/16/2025 - 08:56
2 weeks ago
Wrong Side of...
The Sacred Fetish of Academic Freedom The Transition #2
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
Eye of Horus Symbol: Meaning & Myth Egyptian religion was filled with magical symbols, amulets, and totems. The Eye of Horus, often...
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Egyptian religion was filled with magical symbols, amulets, and totems. The Eye of Horus, often called the Wadjet or Wedjat Wye, was one of the most significant. Sometimes seen as a distinctive goddess, it was also represented as an aspect of the sky god, Horus, and seen as a...
Trying to Understand...
What Is This "War" Of Which You Speak? Do we mean what they mean?
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
Bikers, Outlaws, and Mobsters: A Brief History of New Hollywood By the end of the 1950s, Hollywood studios were verging on economic disaster after forty years of...
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By the end of the 1950s, Hollywood studios were verging on economic disaster after forty years of ruling U.S. and world cinema. Much of their core audience had grown up and moved to the suburbs, away from the grand city theaters but infinitely closer to their new living-room TVs....
Overcoming Bias
AI Is GPT, & GPTs Go Slow Back in the dot-com boom of the late 90s, many said a new economy loomed that invalidated all the...
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Back in the dot-com boom of the late 90s, many said a new economy loomed that invalidated all the old rules, and would soon cause big fast change.
TheCollector
Who Are the Pharisees in the Bible? The New Testament presents the Pharisees as a group that vehemently opposed the ministry of Jesus....
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The New Testament presents the Pharisees as a group that vehemently opposed the ministry of Jesus. Yet, a select few among the Pharisees were open to considering what Jesus taught and even defended his ministry. The Pharisees played a significant role in Jewish society and...
Flashbak
The Mercedes-Benz 190 SL Assembly Line, February 1958 In February 1958, production was underway on the Mercedes-Benz 190 SL open-topped sports car. Made...
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In February 1958, production was underway on the Mercedes-Benz 190 SL open-topped sports car. Made between May 1955 and February 1963, and known by the company as W121, the 190 SL roadster made its debut at the 1954 New York Auto Show at Madison Square Garden (February 6 – 14,...
Hidden History
Submarine USS Dolphin The submarine USS Dolphin was specially built as a test-bed for deep-diving designs. At the outbreak...
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The submarine USS Dolphin was specially built as a test-bed for deep-diving designs. At the outbreak of the Second World War, a typical submarine or u-boat was capable of diving to a maximum depth of round 250 feet. By the time the war ended, advanced models like the...
Classical Wisdom
The World of Homer Classical Wisdom Litterae
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
Did Jephthah Sacrifice His Daughter in the Bible? Judges 11:29-40 tells the intriguing story of a mighty warrior named Jephthah who made an...
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Judges 11:29-40 tells the intriguing story of a mighty warrior named Jephthah who made an irresponsible vow to God that was not required of him. He vowed that if God gave his enemies in his hand, he would sacrifice whatever came out of the doors of his house when he returned...
History Today Feed
Coronation of Bolesław the Brave Coronation of Bolesław the Brave JamesHoare Tue, 04/15/2025 - 09:14
2 weeks ago
Open Culture
William Faulkner’s Review of Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea (1952) Images via Wikimedia Commons In the mid-20th century, the two big dogs in the American literary...
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Images via Wikimedia Commons In the mid-20th century, the two big dogs in the American literary scene were William Faulkner and Ernest Hemingway. Both were internationally revered, both were masters of the novel and the short story, and both won Nobel Prizes. Born in Mississippi,...
TheCollector
5 Significant Islamic Philosophers of the Middle Ages Who were the most important thinkers of the Islamic world during the Middle Ages? While there would...
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Who were the most important thinkers of the Islamic world during the Middle Ages? While there would be too many to include in a single article, there have been several Islamic philosophers from the medieval period whose influence on philosophy stands out. This article discusses...
CrimethInc.
Retailiation: Robin Hood in the Workplace : Steal Something from Work Day 2025 Every year, like many other people, we observe April 15 as Steal Something from Work Day. This year,...
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Every year, like many other people, we observe April 15 as Steal Something from Work Day. This year, April 15 finds a new cast of authoritarians in control of the United States government, recklessly overhauling it to spread terror and fill their pockets. But this will not put an...
TheCollector
What Are the Dead Sea Scrolls (and Why Do They Matter)? Many people have doubted the accuracy of Biblical transmission over the ages. Claims that it no...
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Many people have doubted the accuracy of Biblical transmission over the ages. Claims that it no longer represents a true reflection of the original texts were commonplace. With the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in late 1946 or early 1947, those concerns were laid to rest....
Classical Wisdom
What Makes a Hero? The Ancient Ideals of Heroism: Odysseus and Aeneas
2 weeks ago
Flashbak
A Prisoner of War Stitched A Secret Message To The Nazis: God Save the King – Fu*k Hitler! At the prisoner of war camp in Spangenberg castle, Germany, Major Alexis Casdagli began to stitch....
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At the prisoner of war camp in Spangenberg castle, Germany, Major Alexis Casdagli began to stitch. Using a piece of canvas handed to him by a fellow inmate, thread from an old jumper and a hidden needle, Casdagli created a border of dots and dashes around a frame of swastikas and...
TheCollector
12 Unexpected Facts About Samuel Johnson There are many basic but essential facts to be learned about Samuel Johnson. For example, he was...
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There are many basic but essential facts to be learned about Samuel Johnson. For example, he was born in 1709 and died in 1784. His life spanned the reign of four British Monarchs: Queen Anne (1702-1714), King George I (1714-1727), King George II (1727-1760), and King George III...
Open Culture
What the World Will Look Like in 250 Million Years: Mapping the Distant Future Most of us now accept the idea that all of Earth’s continents were once part of a single, enormous...
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Most of us now accept the idea that all of Earth’s continents were once part of a single, enormous land mass. That wasn’t the case in the early nineteen-tens, when the geologist Alfred Wegener (1880–1930) first publicized his theory of not just the supercontinent Pangea, but also...
History Today Feed
‘Scholars and Their Kin’ review ‘Scholars and Their Kin’ review JamesHoare Mon, 04/14/2025 - 09:00
2 weeks ago
Wrong Side of...
The Transition The Great Awokening and the end of the cultural revolution
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
First Servile War: The Prophet’s Revolt That Shook Rome All parts of the Greek and later Roman world were built upon exploiting either their conquered foes...
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All parts of the Greek and later Roman world were built upon exploiting either their conquered foes or those with the simple misfortune of being born in the wrong place at the wrong time. Despite its supreme importance in daily life, there were several attempts by slaves to throw...
Global Inequality...
The stock market fetish The most recent turmoil in the stock market caused by Donald Trump’s ill-considered policy to impose...
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The most recent turmoil in the stock market caused by Donald Trump’s ill-considered policy to impose tariffs on the entire world, has brought up one legitimate question: what is the correct attitude towards stock market declines and crashes?
Overcoming Bias
Should I Be Clearly Conservative? A conservative is someone who stands athwart history, yelling Stop, at a time when no one is...
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A conservative is someone who stands athwart history, yelling Stop, at a time when no one is inclined to do so, or to have much patience with those who so urge it. ― William F.
TheCollector
Ulrich Zwingli: A Forgotten Pillar of the Reformation When discussing the Reformation, names like Martin Luther and John Calvin are often at the...
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When discussing the Reformation, names like Martin Luther and John Calvin are often at the forefront. However, Ulrich Zwingli, a Swiss reformer, also played a pivotal role in shaping Protestant theology and influencing religious history. Zwingli was instrumental in the Swiss...
African History...
Online resources for African history: links to African collections held at 33 Western Museums Up to 90% of Sub-Saharan Africa’s material cultural legacy is kept outside of the continent,...
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Up to 90% of Sub-Saharan Africa’s material cultural legacy is kept outside of the continent, according to a French government-commissioned 2018 report by Senegalese economist Felwine Sarr and French historian Bénédicte Savoy.
TheCollector
Who Was Saint Paul? A Short Biography Saint Paul authored more epistles in the New Testament than any other apostle. Most of Christian...
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Saint Paul authored more epistles in the New Testament than any other apostle. Most of Christian theology builds on his writings at least in part. Few people who knew Saul (Paul) as a young man would have thought he would make such a significant impact on Christianity seeing that...
Classical Wisdom
Weekly Wisdom Quiz Gatsby and the Greek Miracle
2 weeks ago
Flashbak
David the Dreamer: Ralph Bergengren’s Children’s Book Illustrated by Tom Seidmann-Freud, 1922 ‘The earth is heavy and opaque without dreams.” – Anaïs Nin     Published in 1922 with illustrations...
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‘The earth is heavy and opaque without dreams.” – Anaïs Nin     Published in 1922 with illustrations by Tom Seidmann-Freud, Ralph Bergengren’s David the Dreamer: His Book of Dreams tells the story of a boy’s dreams for his pet dog Fido’s third birthday. David finds himself in a...
TheCollector
Who Are the Philistines That Appear in the Bible? The Bible presents the Philistines as notable enemies of Israel and they are involved in some iconic...
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The Bible presents the Philistines as notable enemies of Israel and they are involved in some iconic scenes from the Old Testament. Among these are the narratives of David and Goliath, the Philistine giant warrior who was defeated by a shepherd boy, and the time when the Ark of...
Flashbak
Found Portraits from Steenbergen in The Netherlands – 1970s These found photographs are from Steenbergen in the south of The Netherlands. The find holds 220...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
These found photographs are from Steenbergen in the south of The Netherlands. The find holds 220 negatives from different families from Steenbergen. The photos were taken by professional photographer Van Mechelen. We like them because of their bold colours and the subjects’...
TheCollector
10 Historic Towns in Queensland Worth Exploring Australia’s story stretches back over 60,000 years, beginning with its First Nations peoples and...
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Australia’s story stretches back over 60,000 years, beginning with its First Nations peoples and evolving through waves of colonial exploration, gold rushes, wars, and modern nation-building. While major cities reflect this layered past, Queensland in particular holds a distinct...
Global Inequality...
Intelligentsia in power On Bukharin's critique of the Austrian school and John Bates Clark
3 weeks ago
TheCollector
Christian Views on Limbo Explained: Definition & History The concept of Limbo is a theological view that many Roman Catholics held from the time of the...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
The concept of Limbo is a theological view that many Roman Catholics held from the time of the Church Fathers until recently. The “Limbo of the Infants” was never an official doctrine of the Catholic Church, while the Limbo of the Fathers and Patriarchs was. Limbo refers to a...
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Collections: The Siege of Eregion, Part V: What Tactics? This is the final part of our five part (I, II, III, IV) series on the Siege of Eregion in Amazon’s...
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This is the final part of our five part (I, II, III, IV) series on the Siege of Eregion in Amazon’s Rings of Power. Last time, we looked at the orc siege and marveled at both their lack of works and also their nonsensical siege engines, concluding that Adar had launched a siege...
TheCollector
Maria Edgeworth’s Educational Philosophy in 5 Core Concepts Maria Edgeworth was ahead of her time in educational philosophy. She supported new teaching methods...
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Maria Edgeworth was ahead of her time in educational philosophy. She supported new teaching methods that remain important today. Her interesting ideas included practical education, moral instruction, critical thinking skills, individualized learning, and more parental involvement...
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How Chinese Characters Work: The Evolution of a Three-Millennia-Old Writing System Contrary to somewhat popular belief, Chinese characters aren’t just little pictures. In fact, most...
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Contrary to somewhat popular belief, Chinese characters aren’t just little pictures. In fact, most of them aren’t pictures at all. The very oldest, whose evolution can be traced back to the “oracle bone” script of thirteenth century BC etched directly onto the remains of turtles...
TheCollector
10 Must-See Historic Sites in Siena, Italy Added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list, the city center of Siena is distinctive for its...
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Added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list, the city center of Siena is distinctive for its winding streets and medieval and Renaissance buildings. Located in the Chianti Valley in Tuscany, a region renowned for its wine production, Siena is famous for its biannual horse race...
Wrong Side of...
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What Are the Names of God in the Bible (and Why Are There So Many)? In the Bible, there are many names for God. Some apply to God in general, while others refer to...
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In the Bible, there are many names for God. Some apply to God in general, while others refer to Jesus specifically. Most of these names are expressions of character. They highlight specific aspects of who God is and generally correlate with the circumstance and situation God...
Flashbak
Photos Found In Croton on Hudson from the 1970s These found photos and negatives date from the 1970s and 80s and were taken by James Mc Intyre,...
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These found photos and negatives date from the 1970s and 80s and were taken by James Mc Intyre, Croton on Hudson in Westchester County, New York. Some of the subjects have been named. So we’ll add them here, and if you see yourself or someone you know, we’d love to hear from you....
TheCollector
Who Was Black Hawk? (Life & War) Leading a band of rebels against the forces of the United States, Black Hawk was a prominent Native...
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Leading a band of rebels against the forces of the United States, Black Hawk was a prominent Native American leader whose actions changed the lives of thousands of people. In his time, he was a controversial figure, both revered and reviled for his actions that took his people to...
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What Is Kafkaesque?: The Philosophy of Franz Kafka It’s difficult to imagine that there was ever a time without the word “Kafkaesque.” Yet the term...
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It’s difficult to imagine that there was ever a time without the word “Kafkaesque.” Yet the term would have meant nothing at all to anyone alive at the same time as Franz Kafka — including, in all probability, Kafka himself. Born in Prague in 1883, he grew up under a stern,...
TheCollector
9 Historic Attractions You Need to See in St. Augustine, Florida Beautiful and historic St. Augustine is the oldest city on the Atlantic, also known as the “First...
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Beautiful and historic St. Augustine is the oldest city on the Atlantic, also known as the “First Coast” of Florida. It’s an endlessly walkable town with a charming downtown core and gorgeous seaside views. It’s also home to one of the state’s most iconic treasures; the Fountain...
Open Culture
Actor John Lithgow Reads 20 Lessons on Tyranny, Penned by Historian Timothy Snyder In 2017, historian Timothy Snyder wrote the concise book On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the...
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In 2017, historian Timothy Snyder wrote the concise book On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century, which went on to become a New York Times bestseller. A historian of fascism (then at Yale, now at U. Toronto), Snyder wanted to offer Americans a useful guide for...
Global Inequality...
Rich life He would always set his alarm for 8.
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The 1999 Apartment Bombings in Russia: History & Unanswered Questions In late 1999, a series of explosions destroyed apartments across Russia. When Chechen separatists...
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In late 1999, a series of explosions destroyed apartments across Russia. When Chechen separatists were found guilty of orchestrating the attacks, the Second Chechen War began, and Vladimir Putin’s popularity skyrocketed. Today, the bombings have become one of the most debated...
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The Assimilation Myth: America Persistence and the Not-So Melting Pot
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“This Hotel Is a Detention Center” : An Account from the Front Lines of the Fight against... This account picks up where our previous article about the Anti-Deportation Collective left off,...
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This account picks up where our previous article about the Anti-Deportation Collective left off, chronicling scenes from the movement against deportations in Paris in the late 1990s. As Donald Trump attempts to put $45 billion towards expanding the gulag system of immigrant...
TheCollector
The 12 Best Places to Visit in Chile for History Buffs Chile has endured a long and at times tumultuous history over the years. Although the brutal...
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Chile has endured a long and at times tumultuous history over the years. Although the brutal military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet continues to influence many of the country’s struggles, it is not—or rather should not be—the historical event that defines it most. With a...
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“I shall largely speak of mice, but my thoughts are on man.” – John Calhoun, Universe 25     The Universe 25 experiment, carried out by American scientist John Calhoun between 1968 and 1972, produced an unexpected result. A once thriving community of 2,200 of mice had collapsed....
TheCollector
10 Top Tourist Destinations in Japan It is undeniable that Japan is a land with many things that make it unique. From its history to its...
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It is undeniable that Japan is a land with many things that make it unique. From its history to its culture to its magnificent natural beauty, Japan has been enticing tourists for centuries. It is one of the world’s most visited countries, and for good reason!   Packed into...
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The Medieval Manuscript That Features “Yoda”, Killer Snails, Savage Rabbits & More: Discover The... As much as you may enjoy a night in with a book, you might not look so eagerly forward to it if that...
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As much as you may enjoy a night in with a book, you might not look so eagerly forward to it if that book comprised 314 folios of 1,971 papal letters and other documents relating to ecclesiastical law, all from the thirteenth century. Indeed, even many specialists in the field...
History Today Feed
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5 Medieval & Renaissance Jokes That Made People Laugh While comedy might seem like a modern art form, the desire to joke, pun, or play pranks on others is...
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While comedy might seem like a modern art form, the desire to joke, pun, or play pranks on others is a basic human trait, versions of which can be found during all periods of recorded history. A few examples of Renaissance and Medieval jokes stand out as especially significant,...
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The Map of Mathematics: Animation Shows How All the Different Fields in Math Fit Together Back in December, you hopefully thoroughly immersed yourself in The Map of Physics, an animated...
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Back in December, you hopefully thoroughly immersed yourself in The Map of Physics, an animated video–a visual aid for the modern age–that mapped out the field of physics, explaining all the connections between classical physics, quantum physics, and relativity. You can’t do...
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Colombia is a captivating land rich in cultural heritage and ancient treasures, with countless tales to tell. From sophisticated pre-Columbian civilizations to colonial triumphs and struggles, this country showcases its colorful history with abundant enthusiasm. Here is a guide...
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Washington D.C.’s National Gallery of Art announced plans to lend major works from its collection to regional museums across the country. The historic loan program is part of a larger initiative marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.   National Gallery’s “Across the...
Hidden History
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The first diary in a series which looks at significant species in the evolution of humans. Humans evolved from apelike ancestors. This idea was first put forth in 1859, when Charles Darwin wrote On the Origin of Species and spelled out his idea of evolution through natural...
TheCollector
Collectivization in the USSR: How Did It Work? From the 1920s onward, the Soviet Union began the process of industrialization with an aggressive...
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From the 1920s onward, the Soviet Union began the process of industrialization with an aggressive policy known as collectivization. However, transforming the rural economy over such a short space of time affected the lives of millions of people. To come to terms with how...
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“I came up with the genius ideas of being a rockstar photographer. I could still feel important and literally hide behind a sexy camera. I dropped out of school. I was going to be the next David Bailey, Helmut Newton, or Irving Penn, or even better, a combination of all of them.”...
Open Culture
Watch Composer Wendy Carlos Demo an Original Moog Synthesizer (1989) She’s worked with Stanley Kubrick *and* “Weird Al” Yankovic, and helped Robert Moog in the...
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She’s worked with Stanley Kubrick *and* “Weird Al” Yankovic, and helped Robert Moog in the development of his eponymous synthesizer. Wendy Carlos is also one of the first high profile transgender artists–credited as Walter Carlos for Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange but having...
TheCollector
10 Beautiful Places in Florida Tourists Tend to Overlook Florida is filled with loads of activities to do ranging from the world class amusement parks down...
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Florida is filled with loads of activities to do ranging from the world class amusement parks down to local springs. If you are planning a visit to the Sunshine State don’t fret, we’re here to help. If you want to take a journey off the beaten path there is still an abundance of...
CrimethInc.
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This May Day, gather in defiance of tyranny and oppression. Gather to create communities based in solidarity and mutual aid. Gather with everyone who wants a better life. Gather to honor those who fought before us. Gather to show that another world is possible. As May Day 2025...
Flashbak
Day Of The Fight: 24-Hours With Stanley Kubrick And Boxer Walter Cartier “…like almost everything else good that’s ever happened to me, by the sheerest stroke of luck, I had...
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“…like almost everything else good that’s ever happened to me, by the sheerest stroke of luck, I had a very good friend at Look, which gave me a job as a still photographer. After about six months, I was made a full-fledged staff photographer. My highest salary was $105 a week,...
TheCollector
6 Fascinating Historical Sites in the Maritimes, Canada Canada is a popular destination for people who wish to enjoy some fresh air, open space, and...
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Canada is a popular destination for people who wish to enjoy some fresh air, open space, and stunning natural scenery. Tourists flock to Vancouver, Toronto, Niagara Falls, and Montreal, but most fail to add the Maritimes to their itinerary. Tucked away in the east of Canada, the...
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Against Critical Trade Theory He’s given the word populism a bad name
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Battle of the Milvian Bridge: The Battle That Shaped Christianity? The victory of Emperor Constantine during a civil war allowed for some of the most dramatic events...
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The victory of Emperor Constantine during a civil war allowed for some of the most dramatic events in Roman history. The emperor’s tale of divine intervention at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge proved to be the key event in the legalization of Christianity and its subsequent...
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Dante’s Inferno: A Visitor’s Guide to Hell In most places across the world, speak the name of Dante, and your listeners will think of Inferno....
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In most places across the world, speak the name of Dante, and your listeners will think of Inferno. Since its first publication more than 700 years ago, its depiction of Hell has become influential enough to shape the perceptions of even those who don’t believe that such a place...
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‘Queen James’ by Gareth Russell review ‘Queen James’ by Gareth Russell review JamesHoare Mon, 04/07/2025 - 09:00
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3 Hidden Gems in Occitanie, France: Off the Beaten Path In 2016, France created Occitanie from two smaller regions: Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées....
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In 2016, France created Occitanie from two smaller regions: Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées. Its name comes from Occitan, the historical language of southwestern France. Although this region is home to important cities like Narbonne (the first Roman colony in France) and...
Overcoming Bias
Why Not Inquire Together More? My podcast cohost Agnes Callard has been thinking lately about why we don’t have more deep...
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My podcast cohost Agnes Callard has been thinking lately about why we don’t have more deep conversations wherein we try to figure out important things together.
African History...
What did they write about? : An intellectual history of Timbuktu ca. 1450-1900. No single body of primary sources in the literary heritage of West Africa has attracted as much...
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No single body of primary sources in the literary heritage of West Africa has attracted as much attention and attained as much celebrity as the fabled manuscripts of Timbuktu.
TheCollector
5 Crimes Henry Kissinger Committed in Latin America Henry Kissinger was a consequential American diplomat who served as U.S. National Security Advisor...
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Henry Kissinger was a consequential American diplomat who served as U.S. National Security Advisor and Secretary of State, helping shape American foreign policy for much of the 1970s. In the broader context of the Cold War, Kissinger led American diplomacy with pragmatism and...
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Bierpfaff’s Alphabet of Organic Type (c. 1650) These lively prints are from the series Libellus Novus Elementorum Latinorum by Polish goldsmith Jan...
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These lively prints are from the series Libellus Novus Elementorum Latinorum by Polish goldsmith Jan Christian Bierpfaff (1600-ca.1690) and engraved by Jeremias Falck (1610–1677). These hugely imaginative, abstract and fluid prints come to life on the page. Bierpfaff worked as an...
TheCollector
10 Archeological Gems of South America (That Are Not Machu Picchu) South America, with its vibrant history and cultural diversity, is a paradise for history...
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9
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South America, with its vibrant history and cultural diversity, is a paradise for history enthusiasts. While the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Machu Picchu often steals the spotlight, the sub-continent is home to numerous other archeological marvels that provide a fascinating...
Overcoming Bias
Seek What Outcomes Via Futarchy? There’s an off chance that futarchy might solve cultural drift, if we could show that it works, then...
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There’s an off chance that futarchy might solve cultural drift, if we could show that it works, then get some big place to adopt it, and also get them to set an outcome metric in conflict with civ collapse.
TheCollector
The Impact of NASA’s Shuttle-Mir Program on Space Exploration When the Soviet Union collapsed, the space agencies of the United States and Russia began working...
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When the Soviet Union collapsed, the space agencies of the United States and Russia began working together like never before. The culmination of the new partnership was the Shuttle-Mir program, a mission that took place over several years and saw American astronauts working...
Open Culture
Who Really Built the Egyptian Pyramids—And How Did They Do It? Although it’s certainly more plausible than hypotheses like ancient aliens or lizard people, the...
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Although it’s certainly more plausible than hypotheses like ancient aliens or lizard people, the idea that slaves built the Egyptian pyramids is no more true. It derives from creative readings of Old Testament stories and technicolor Cecil B. Demille spectacles, and was a classic...
TheCollector
The Arch of Titus in Rome: Iconography and Ideology The Arch of Titus is one of the most magnificent ancient monuments surviving in Rome and offers a...
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The Arch of Titus is one of the most magnificent ancient monuments surviving in Rome and offers a fascinating insight into one of the most volatile periods in Roman imperial history. The Flavians bridged the end of Augustus’s Julio-Claudian Dynasty, when the Romans still...
Flashbak
Terrible Visions of Death And Evil on Alfred Kubin’s Journey Back To The Womb “I definitely prefer the four-horned cow to the one having only two horns” – Alfred Kubin (10 April...
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“I definitely prefer the four-horned cow to the one having only two horns” – Alfred Kubin (10 April 1877 – 20 August 1959), 1911   In Alfred Kubin’s bizarre and horrific illustrations, humans appear as skeletal, ghost-like creatures or hideously deformed things. They share...
TheCollector
What is Purim? Exploring the Story of Esther and Jewish Resilience The most well-known Jewish holiday is probably either Passover or Hanukkah. Passover is prescribed...
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The most well-known Jewish holiday is probably either Passover or Hanukkah. Passover is prescribed in the Bible, while Hanukkah commemorates events that happened after the Hebrew Bible was written. These two holidays are similar, however, since they both celebrate divine...
Overcoming Bias
Unleash Capitalism Capitalism today is in chains, allowed to perform many social functions, but held back from...
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Capitalism today is in chains, allowed to perform many social functions, but held back from realizing its full potential.
TheCollector
What Were the Economic Effects of the Iran-Iraq War? In September 1980, fearful of the fiery Islamic revolution in neighboring Iran and taking advantage...
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In September 1980, fearful of the fiery Islamic revolution in neighboring Iran and taking advantage of the resulting chaos (including Western sanctions), Iraq invaded. At the time, Iraq was flush with cash thanks to high oil prices resulting from the 1973 OPEC oil embargo. Taking...
Dreams of Space -...
Caroline Sur La Lune (Caroline on the Moon) 1965 A nice treat today as Caroline goes to the Moon! This was a popular French fictional series but I...
4 weeks ago
15
4 weeks ago
A nice treat today as Caroline goes to the Moon! This was a popular French fictional series but I had not been able to find the one about the Moon trip until recently. The illustrations are beautiful and full color. Well worth examining each one for its details. Pierre Probst...
A Collection of...
Fireside Friday, April 4, 2025 Fireside this week! I am still a bit behind after attending the annual meeting of the Society for...
4 weeks ago
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4 weeks ago
Fireside this week! I am still a bit behind after attending the annual meeting of the Society for Military History – conferences always leave me a bit tired and slow to get back to writing, even as they also stimulate my thinking – so the conclusion of our look at Rings of Power...
TheCollector
The 8 Must-See Rooms at the Metropolitan Museum of Art New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met) is home to one of the world’s most spectacular...
4 weeks ago
12
4 weeks ago
New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met) is home to one of the world’s most spectacular collections of art, sculpture, and artifacts. The museum offers a wide array of exhibits spread across multiple galleries, from a fully reconstructed Egyptian temple to mosaics and...
Flashbak
Painted Ants Scurry Over Vintage Porcelain by Evelyn Bracklow German artist Evelyn Bracklow’s porcelain cups, saucers, teapots and dinner service is covered in...
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German artist Evelyn Bracklow’s porcelain cups, saucers, teapots and dinner service is covered in ants. On some she’s painted a piece of food and then had her hand-painted black ants congregate around it. The effect is fascinating stuff and unsettling. We know that ants exist in...
Classical Wisdom
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Auguste Comte: The Life & Legacy of the Philosopher of Positivism Auguste Comte developed a way of thinking that says you should have evidence and reasons for what...
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Auguste Comte developed a way of thinking that says you should have evidence and reasons for what you believe. Comte had a big effect on how people in the 19th century thought. He came up with some really new ideas. They changed completely how people looked at things like history...
Open Culture
How Italy Became the Most Divided Country in Europe: Understanding the Great Divide Between North &... Prada, Alfa Romeo, Pellegrino, Ferrari, Illy, Lamborghini, Gucci: these are a few Italian...
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Prada, Alfa Romeo, Pellegrino, Ferrari, Illy, Lamborghini, Gucci: these are a few Italian corporations we all know, though we don’t necessarily know that they’re all from the north of Italy. The same is true, in fact, of most Italian brands that now enjoy global recognition, and...
TheCollector
10 Must-Visit Historic Towns in Washington Washington State has a history as expansive and layered as its landscapes. Long before statehood in...
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Washington State has a history as expansive and layered as its landscapes. Long before statehood in 1889, the region was home to numerous Indigenous tribes who shaped its identity and geography. The arrival of explorers, traders, and pioneers brought about a new chapter, marked...
Wrong Side of...
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TheCollector
Pop Art and Surrealism: What Do They Have in Common? Surrealism and Pop Art remain some of the most popular and loved art movements of the 20th century,...
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Surrealism and Pop Art remain some of the most popular and loved art movements of the 20th century, well-known even by those who are not deeply interested in the history of art. The aestheticized weirdness of Surrealist art gave birth to countless images and ideas that settled in...
Open Culture
The Steps a President Would Take to Destroy His Nation, According to Grok Just out of curiosity, and apropos of nothing, we asked Grok (the AI chatbot created by Elon Musk)...
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a month ago
Just out of curiosity, and apropos of nothing, we asked Grok (the AI chatbot created by Elon Musk) the following question: If a president of a superpower wanted to destroy his own country, what steps would he take? Here’s what Grok had to say: If a president of a superpower aimed...
TheCollector
What Is an Ideal Government? A Philosophical Approach What makes a perfect government? Is it one governed by the wisest people or one that ensures the...
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What makes a perfect government? Is it one governed by the wisest people or one that ensures the greatest possible happiness for the largest number of citizens? These questions have fascinated thinkers since ancient times—from Plato and other classical philosophers to John Locke...
CrimethInc.
A Demonstrator's Guide to Lockdowns and Blockades A complete guide to assembling and employing lockboxes and other means of blockading. There is a...
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A complete guide to assembling and employing lockboxes and other means of blockading. There is a broad spectrum of tactics to choose from between simply holding up a protest sign and setting things on fire. If you are looking to intensify a pressure campaign or to stand your...
Open Culture
Why the Romans Stopped Reading Books Nobody reads books anymore. Whether or not that notion strikes you as true, you’ve probably heard it...
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15
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Nobody reads books anymore. Whether or not that notion strikes you as true, you’ve probably heard it expressed fairly often in recent decades — just as you might have had you lived in the Roman Empire of late antiquity. During that time, as ancient-history YouTuber Garrett Ryan...
Flashbak
The Mystery Remains: Found Kodachrome Photos From 1960s San Francisco In 2020, David Gallagher, who runs SF Memory, opened a cabinet found abandoned in San Francisco’s...
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In 2020, David Gallagher, who runs SF Memory, opened a cabinet found abandoned in San Francisco’s Mission District, somewhere around Tiffany and Duncan streets. Inside were 920 Kodachrome slides by a then unknown photographer capturing life in the city throughout the 1960s. They...
TheCollector
10 Must-See UNESCO World Heritage Sites in France UNESCO World Heritage Sites are places of outstanding cultural or natural importance recognized for...
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UNESCO World Heritage Sites are places of outstanding cultural or natural importance recognized for their universal value to humanity. Spanning continents, these sites include ancient ruins, architectural marvels, sacred landscapes, and natural wonders, each telling a unique...
History Today Feed
Early Modern Millers’ Tales Early Modern Millers’ Tales JamesHoare Thu, 04/03/2025 - 09:05
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6 Famous Land Artists You Should Know Land Art, also known as Earth Art, is a name applied to artworks that operate within the natural...
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Land Art, also known as Earth Art, is a name applied to artworks that operate within the natural realm rather than in artistic studios, using earth, stones, and other natural materials. In some ways, Land Art was a category of art rather than a coherent movement. Artists who...
Open Culture
Watch Jazz ‘Hot’, the Rare 1938 Short Film With Jazz Legend Django Reinhardt Here’s a remarkable short film of the great jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, violinist Stéphane...
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19
a month ago
Here’s a remarkable short film of the great jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, violinist Stéphane Grappelli and their band the Quintette du Hot Club de France performing on a movie set in 1938. The film was hastily organized by the band’s British agent Lew Grade as a way to...
TheCollector
Was Chernobyl the Catalyst for the Soviet Union’s Collapse? On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant exploded. The fallout left large parts of modern-day...
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On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant exploded. The fallout left large parts of modern-day Ukraine and Belarus uninhabitable. Six years after the explosion, the Soviet Union collapsed. Many historians, including Mikhail Gorbachev himself, believe Chernobyl was the real...
Overcoming Bias
Futarchy For Fundraising The Making of Modern Corporate Finance: A History of the Ideas and How They Help Build the Wealth of...
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The Making of Modern Corporate Finance: A History of the Ideas and How They Help Build the Wealth of Nations (quotes below), by Donald Chew, persuaded me that for-profit-firm capitalism has varied quite a lot over space and time, and that the U.S.
Res Obscura
When Jorge Luis Borges met one of the founders of AI One reason I became a historian is the joy of encountering moments in the past that are foreign, yet...
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One reason I became a historian is the joy of encountering moments in the past that are foreign, yet also oddly familiar.
TheCollector
Antiochus IV & the Siege of Jerusalem: What Really Happened For centuries, the people of Judaea had seen many foreign dynasts claim hegemony over them; the...
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For centuries, the people of Judaea had seen many foreign dynasts claim hegemony over them; the Greeks were but the latest. Antiochus IV’s interactions with the Judaeans were, to put it mildly, troubled. Does Antiochus IV deserve the mantle of villainy that ancient sources such...
Classical Wisdom
The Madness of Messalina What Sort of Woman Makes History?
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Being Non-Transactional. Beyond "What's in it for me?"
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TheCollector
What Were the Political Effects of the Iran-Iraq War? The Iranian Revolution and Iran Hostage Crisis of 1979 shocked the world and turned the West against...
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The Iranian Revolution and Iran Hostage Crisis of 1979 shocked the world and turned the West against the new Islamic revolutionary government of Iran. Less than a year later, the neighboring nation of Iraq, a secular dictatorship under former army officer Saddam Hussein, invaded...
Wrong Side of...
Fiction is truer than fact Willing suspension of disbelief is not a good basis for lawmaking
a month ago
Open Culture
In 1927, Fritz Lang’s Metropolis Created a Dystopian Vision of What the World Would Look Like in... Ultra-tall high-rises against dark skies. A huge distance between the rich and the poor. Robber...
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Ultra-tall high-rises against dark skies. A huge distance between the rich and the poor. Robber barons at the helm of large-scale industrial operations that turn man into machine. Machines that have become intelligent enough to displace man. These have all been standard elements...
History Today Feed
‘The Crisis of Colonial Anglicanism’ by Martyn Percy review ‘The Crisis of Colonial Anglicanism’ by Martyn Percy review JamesHoare Wed, 04/02/2025 - 09:13
a month ago
Open Culture
Watch Bob Dylan Make His Debut at the Newport Folk Festival in Colorized 1963 Footage ?si=l7KWVf9NZBUkPyM6 In July 1963, Bob Dylan made his first appearance at the Newport Folk Festival....
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?si=l7KWVf9NZBUkPyM6 In July 1963, Bob Dylan made his first appearance at the Newport Folk Festival. On opening night, he captivated a crowd of 13,000 with a performance of “Blowin’ in the Wind,” accompanied by Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, and Peter, Paul, and Mary. Then, the...
TheCollector
Paulo Freire’s Philosophy of Education: An In-Depth Guide If you’re an educator, student, or just someone who loves to learn, it’s worth checking out Paulo...
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If you’re an educator, student, or just someone who loves to learn, it’s worth checking out Paulo Freire. His educational philosophy changed the game. Freire believed that teaching shouldn’t be about bossing kids around—and that schools shouldn’t reproduce systems of oppression....
Global Inequality...
Do you want to be a synonym? I had a dinner with a friend tonight and we spoke of how the new era which has just begun makes lots...
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I had a dinner with a friend tonight and we spoke of how the new era which has just begun makes lots of our knowledge, or the ways of thinking, about international relations, economic policies, poverty and wealth etc.
TheCollector
Archaeologists Find Ancient Tomb of Egyptian Military Commander The ancient tomb of a military commander has been uncovered in Egypt, reported the country’s...
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The ancient tomb of a military commander has been uncovered in Egypt, reported the country’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The burial site belonged to a high-ranking leader who served under King Ramesses III, who is considered to be the last pharaoh of Egypt’s New Kingdom...
Hidden History
The Assassination of Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Civil rights icon Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr was shot and killed on April 4, 1968, on a motel...
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Civil rights icon Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr was shot and killed on April 4, 1968, on a motel balcony in Memphis. One of the earliest successes of the civil rights movement was a boycott in Montgomery, Alabama.  In 1955, after Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her...
Classical Wisdom
How Extra Virgin Olive Oil Got its Name The Ancient History in Your Kitchen
a month ago
TheCollector
What Were the Sociocultural Effects of the Iran-Iraq War? After the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and the start of the Iran Hostage Crisis, Iran fought its...
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After the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and the start of the Iran Hostage Crisis, Iran fought its neighbor Iraq for eight years. This war—the largest industrialized war since World War II—demonstrated the tenacity and radicalism of Iran’s Islamist regime. In battle, it used...
Flashbak
The Life of Flowers In Vintage Found Photographs Flowers speak a language we understand. They tell us of time and its passing. They speak of life and...
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Flowers speak a language we understand. They tell us of time and its passing. They speak of life and death, enduring, waiting and survival. They speak of hope and renewal. “To be a flower,” Emily Dickinson wrote in Bloom, a poem, “is profound Responsibility”. We’re thinking of...
TheCollector
Elizabethan vs. Jacobean Theatre: What are the Differences? Before Elizabeth I ascended to the British throne, theatre was broadly seen as sinful and crude. The...
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Before Elizabeth I ascended to the British throne, theatre was broadly seen as sinful and crude. The Renaissance, accompanied by the Reformation and philosophical Humanism, elevates the artform from traditional church led ‘mystery plays’ to classical drama. It could be argued...
Open Culture
The Only Illustrated Manuscript of Homer’s Iliad from Antiquity Despite its status as one of the most widely known and studied epic poems of all time, Homer’s Iliad...
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Despite its status as one of the most widely known and studied epic poems of all time, Homer’s Iliad has proven surprisingly resistant to adaptation. However much inspiration it has provided to modern-day novelists working in a variety of different traditions, it’s translated...
History Today Feed
Wool Aliens of the British Empire Wool Aliens of the British Empire JamesHoare Tue, 04/01/2025 - 09:07
a month ago
Open Culture
The Great Gatsby: A Free Audio Book April 10th will mark the 100th anniversary of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic American novel, The...
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April 10th will mark the 100th anniversary of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic American novel, The Great Gatsby. As A.O. Scott notes in a recent tribute, when first published, The Great Gatsby got off to a slow start. Initially, “Reviewers shrugged. Sales were sluggish. The novel...
TheCollector
Trofim Lysenko: The Controversial Scientist Who Changed the Soviet Union During the early 20th century, Trofim Lysenko was perhaps the most influential scientist within the...
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During the early 20th century, Trofim Lysenko was perhaps the most influential scientist within the Soviet Union. He steered Soviet biology and agriculture through the 20th century, and today he is remembered as a figure known for his controversial and dangerous theories. With...
The Scholar's Stage
The Eight Tribes of Trump and China LAST OCTOBER I published a short breakdown of four geopolitical ‘schools’ that might shape China...
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LAST OCTOBER I published a short breakdown of four geopolitical ‘schools’ that might shape China strategy under Trump. That piece was a pre-election preview of a much larger report I was writing for the Foreign Policy Research Institute. I published the preview as security: Trump...
TheCollector
“To Be Is to Be Perceived”: The Concept of Berkeley’s Idealism Ever thought about whether the world is there only because you think it is? That’s what George...
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Ever thought about whether the world is there only because you think it is? That’s what George Berkeley meant with his philosophy of idealism. The 18th-century philosopher came up with a pretty wild idea: “To be is to be perceived.” According to him, we don’t find objects, and...
Classical Wisdom
The 7 Sages of Ancient Greece From Dwarfs to Wise Men... What's Up With the Number 7?
a month ago
Flashbak
‘Goldfish Are Wankers’: London Graffiti, 1984-1994 In 1994, the graffiti on the wall that ran along the Riverside Path in London’s Thamesmead told...
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In 1994, the graffiti on the wall that ran along the Riverside Path in London’s Thamesmead told everyone that “GOLDFISH ARE WANKERS”.  We’ve seen “LESBIAN TURDS“, learned that “Cats like plain Crisps” and that you can “FREE KUWAIT WITH TIGER TOKENS“, but this is the first...
TheCollector
What Was Isaiah Berlin’s Political Philosophy? Isaiah Berlin had a major influence on 20th-century political philosophy that continues to be felt...
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Isaiah Berlin had a major influence on 20th-century political philosophy that continues to be felt today through his essay “Two Concepts of Liberty.” In this work, Berlin examines the tension between individual freedom and collective governance. Negative liberty is about being...
Wrong Side of...
The return of the Europeans Reflections on ‘Reflections on the Revolution in Europe’, Part Eight
a month ago
TheCollector
An Overview of the Qin and Han Chinese Dynasties In 221 BCE, King Ying Zheng of Qin conquered the rival warring states and established the Qin empire...
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In 221 BCE, King Ying Zheng of Qin conquered the rival warring states and established the Qin empire as Qin Shi Huangdi (The First August Emperor of Qin). The Qin emperor centralized state administration, built an extensive road network, and built the first Great Wall.   While...
Open Culture
Did the Tower of Babel Actually Exist?: A Look at the Archaeological Evidence For all the means of communication and exchange we’ve established between the cultures of the world,...
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For all the means of communication and exchange we’ve established between the cultures of the world, no matter how distant they may be from one another, we still have no truly universal single human language. The reason could date back to antiquity, when we first attempted a...
History Today Feed
‘Buddhism’ by Donald S. Lopez Jr. review ‘Buddhism’ by Donald S. Lopez Jr. review JamesHoare Mon, 03/31/2025 - 08:57
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Hundred Rabbits
Summary of changes for March 2025 Hey everyone! This is the list of all the changes we've done to our projects during the month of...
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Hey everyone! This is the list of all the changes we've done to our projects during the month of March. Summary Of Changes In the above illustration, little Ninj is going through a first-aid kit, looking through our supplies to see what needs to be topped off and what is...