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Flashbak
Photographs From Amundsen’s South Pole Expedition – 1910-1912 “There were five of us — Hanssen, Wisting, Hassel, Bjaaland, and myself. We had four sledges, with...
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17 hours ago
“There were five of us — Hanssen, Wisting, Hassel, Bjaaland, and myself. We had four sledges, with thirteen dogs to each.” – Roald Amundsen (6 July 1872 – c. 18 June 1928), South Pole Expedition – 1910-1912     These photographs are found in the page of The South pole; an account...
TheCollector
Rodin’s “The Gates of Hell”: Bringing Dante’s Inferno to Life The famous French sculptor Auguste Rodin spent most of his life working on the monumental structure...
19 hours ago
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The famous French sculptor Auguste Rodin spent most of his life working on the monumental structure The Gates of Hell. Initially planned as an entrance door to the Decorative Arts Museum, it eventually gained a life of its own, inspiring Rodin’s most famous free-standing...
A Collection of...
Collections: The Logistics of Road War in the Wasteland This week, we’re doing another ‘silly’ topic, but this being me, it is a silly logistics topic,...
2 days ago
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2 days ago
This week, we’re doing another ‘silly’ topic, but this being me, it is a silly logistics topic, because – as the saying goes – amateurs talk tactics, professionals talk logistics. So we’re going to be professionally silly this week and talk about the logistics of vehicle warfare...
TheCollector
The Heartbreaking Story Behind Rodin’s “Kiss” Auguste Rodin’s Kiss is one of the most famous sculptures in art history and a well-known masterwork...
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Auguste Rodin’s Kiss is one of the most famous sculptures in art history and a well-known masterwork of the sculptor. Initially planned as a part of a larger project, it gained a life of its own, appearing in bronze, terracotta, marble, and plaster. Numerous copies of The Kiss...
Classical Wisdom
The Myths of History Facts, Fiction, and Hollywood
2 days ago
TheCollector
Artemis and Her Sacred Animals: The Goddess’s Mythological Pets Artemis didn’t just have an affinity for animals—she was the huntress who held dominion when it came...
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Artemis didn’t just have an affinity for animals—she was the huntress who held dominion when it came to wildlife, including both prey animals and predators. Goddess of the hunt, queen of the wilderness, and the administrator of all things untamed, she made no apologies to those...
History Today Feed
Medieval Queen by Grace of God Medieval Queen by Grace of God JamesHoare Fri, 05/23/2025 - 09:13
2 days ago
TheCollector
10 Must-See Historic Sites in Maine Maine’s history is a rich blend of Indigenous heritage, colonial conflict, maritime industry, and...
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Maine’s history is a rich blend of Indigenous heritage, colonial conflict, maritime industry, and cultural resilience. Once part of Massachusetts, Maine played a pivotal role in early American warfare, from French and Indian battles to Revolutionary outposts like Fort Western and...
Flashbak
A Line Is The Main Protagonist : Paul Klee’s Black and White Lithographies The artist cannot do without his dialogue with nature, for he is a man, himself of nature, a piece...
3 days ago
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The artist cannot do without his dialogue with nature, for he is a man, himself of nature, a piece of nature and within the space of nature. – Paul  Klee, 1923   For German-Swiss artist Paul Klee (1879 -1940) the line is “a dot that went for a walk”. For him, drawing the line and...
TheCollector
Did the Black Death Happen During Queen Elizabeth’s Reign? The Black Death, also known as the Bubonic Plague, ravaged Europe between 1346 and 1352, decimating...
3 days ago
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3 days ago
The Black Death, also known as the Bubonic Plague, ravaged Europe between 1346 and 1352, decimating almost half of the continent’s population. This pestilence, which we now know was carried by fleas, spread like wildfire across Europe in the mid-14th century. However, there were...
History Today Feed
Canada and the US: Sleeping with the Elephant Canada and the US: Sleeping with the Elephant JamesHoare Thu, 05/22/2025 - 09:11
3 days ago
TheCollector
Sacred Stones: The Enduring Legacy of Ancient Greek Temples Despite initial impressions, ancient Greek temples were not built to impress 21st-century tourists;...
3 days ago
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Despite initial impressions, ancient Greek temples were not built to impress 21st-century tourists; they were made to house gods. Although the statues are gone and the ceremonies have long since ended, these places still hold a quiet kind of power. It’s not just the scale of the...
History Today Feed
The Black Chamber: Opening Europe’s Post The Black Chamber: Opening Europe’s Post JamesHoare Thu, 05/22/2025 - 08:20
3 days ago
TheCollector
Romance in Color: Exploring African American Love in Art Various expressions and forms of love have always been among the most popular artistic topics. Yet,...
3 days ago
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Various expressions and forms of love have always been among the most popular artistic topics. Yet, for a long time, the voices of Black artists were unheard. In white-dominated culture, Black bodies were excluded from the narratives of romantic or parental love. However, during...
Res Obscura
Why were Belle Époque cities beautiful? It's not because they were "traditional" or "classical" — in fact it's just the opposite
4 days ago
TheCollector
9 Facts About Sam Gilliam, the Great Abstract Artist Sam Gilliam was a famous American abstract painter known for his suspended canvases, soaked in...
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Sam Gilliam was a famous American abstract painter known for his suspended canvases, soaked in acrylic paint. As a young artist, Gilliam was inspired to experiment with the Abstract Expressionist scene that dominated the art market. However, in his works he went much further,...
Classical Wisdom
The Maligning of Medusa Justice for the Gorgon
4 days ago
History Today Feed
Execution of the Thief-Taker General Execution of the Thief-Taker General JamesHoare Wed, 05/21/2025 - 09:15
4 days ago
Flashbak
Raw Punk Streets UK 1979–1982 “It wasn’t just about the bands; I documented the whole scene, particularly the fans. The fans were...
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“It wasn’t just about the bands; I documented the whole scene, particularly the fans. The fans were often as intriguing a subject as the bands themselves. They would frequently end up fronting a band themselves a week or so later.” – Janette Beckman on British punks Janette...
TheCollector
The Twelve Labors of Heracles: List of Tasks, Meaning, and Facts The story of the twelve labors tells the tale of Heracles’s journey from a sinful pariah to the...
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The story of the twelve labors tells the tale of Heracles’s journey from a sinful pariah to the ancient world’s most revered hero. To atone for a crime he committed while under the curse of his stepmother Hera, Heracles undertook twelve seemingly impossible tasks from his cousin...
Trying to Understand...
Back To The Un-Table For more non-negotiations.
4 days ago
TheCollector
Installing Pinochet: How the US Laid the Groundwork for Chile’s 1973 Coup On September 11, 1973, Chile entered a new era. On this day, Augusto Pinochet took power and began a...
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On September 11, 1973, Chile entered a new era. On this day, Augusto Pinochet took power and began a reign that would be characterized by brutal anti-communist sentiment and consolidation of right-wing principles. One of many instances of illegal interference in foreign...
Classical Wisdom
Fiction for Heraclitus? Clean. White. Sheets.
5 days ago
TheCollector
Commodore Matthew Perry: The Man Who Forced Japan to Open Its Doors For 220 years, Japan was isolated from the outside world due to years of internal conflict and fear...
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For 220 years, Japan was isolated from the outside world due to years of internal conflict and fear of colonization by European powers. When Commodore Matthew Perry sailed into Edo Bay in 1853, he changed the course of history in the Pacific. The opening of Japan would have...
Flashbak
Nights at The Fabulous Cabaret Fledermaus by the Wiener Werkstätte, 1907-1913 The Wiener Werkstätte (Vienna Workshop). saw the Cabaret Fledermaus as a place where the “boredom”...
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The Wiener Werkstätte (Vienna Workshop). saw the Cabaret Fledermaus as a place where the “boredom” of contemporary life would be replaced by “ease, art and culture”. Opening on October 1907, on the corner of Kärntner Straße 33 and Johannesgasse 1 in Vienna, the club was housed in...
TheCollector
Art Basel Expands with New Qatar Fair The Middle East’s first major art fair is set to launch next February. Art Basel, which already...
5 days ago
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The Middle East’s first major art fair is set to launch next February. Art Basel, which already operates four major fairs around the world, announced the addition of Art Basel Qatar to its roster this week. The new fair follows a major multinational partnership. It also responds...
History Today Feed
Medieval Fogge: In Defence of the Middle Ages Medieval Fogge: In Defence of the Middle Ages JamesHoare Tue, 05/20/2025 - 09:14
5 days ago
TheCollector
The Artistic Inspiration Behind 10 Iconic Paintings Inspiration is a powerful force that ignites creativity. It is essential for artists striving to...
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Inspiration is a powerful force that ignites creativity. It is essential for artists striving to create masterpieces. Every work of art originates from a unique spark influenced by various sources, such as significant historical events, personal experiences, mythology,...
Classical Wisdom
Is Everything Becoming its Opposite? Heraclitus, Strife and the Need for Conflict
6 days ago
Global Inequality...
Nothing (meaningful) to say Mainstream economics’ inability to explain domestic inequality and competition between nations
6 days ago
TheCollector
Absolute Monarchy and the Divine Right of Kings: History & Definition In the early modern period, it was not rare for the ruler to claim the divine right to rule and to...
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In the early modern period, it was not rare for the ruler to claim the divine right to rule and to proclaim himself above the earthly laws. Absolute monarchy was one of the common political systems and had a lot of sympathizers not only among the rulers and kings but also among...
History Today Feed
‘Hitler’s Deserters’ by Douglas Carl Peifer review ‘Hitler’s Deserters’ by Douglas Carl Peifer review JamesHoare Mon, 05/19/2025 - 09:01
6 days ago
Flashbak
Tall Socks and Strangers: A Low-Level View of 1970s NYC “The whole county is my studio. I used to go work under a certain bridge if it was pouring, because...
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“The whole county is my studio. I used to go work under a certain bridge if it was pouring, because people used to hide there from the rain” – Mark Cohen     Mark Cohen shot from the hip, taking photographs with his camera hung low as his took a daily walk in New York … Continue...
TheCollector
What if the Aztecs Had Captured and Killed the Spanish Conquistadors? The place: Tenochtitlan, a metropolis built in the middle of a lake, with floating islands supported...
6 days ago
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The place: Tenochtitlan, a metropolis built in the middle of a lake, with floating islands supported by piles. The date: November 1519. Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés and his men must have been astonished. Tenochtitlan had more inhabitants than London or Paris and, in many...
Classical Wisdom
Weekly Wisdom Quiz Wrath of the Gods!
a week ago
TheCollector
8 Facts About Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was a famous French artist and illustrator, celebrated for his images of...
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a week ago
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was a famous French artist and illustrator, celebrated for his images of cafes and posters advertising performances of famous dancers. However, he was also a skilled painter, who had a profound interest in Japanese art, and an aspiring chef....
Dreams of Space -...
Make Your Own Space Station (1970) Today I have found some "space crafting" : ) projects for you. Make Your Own Space Station is a...
a week ago
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Today I have found some "space crafting" : ) projects for you. Make Your Own Space Station is a series of cards that show you how to built some cute little space toys. It seems to have been part of of series of crafting cards of projects you could make from household objects....
TheCollector
7 Greek & Roman Characters in Modern Artworks Ancient myths and legends have fascinated artists and writers long after the civilizations that...
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Ancient myths and legends have fascinated artists and writers long after the civilizations that produced them collapsed. For centuries, mythological painting was a traditional subject matter, but in the 19th and 20th centuries, painters revived it by using modern techniques and...
Classical Wisdom
Aristotle and Ethics Practical Philosophy
a week ago
TheCollector
Comparing Austen & Ibsen: Women & Finance in 19th-Century Literature Jane Austen’s novels read as the ultimate in romantic fiction, where heroines fallen on hard times...
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Jane Austen’s novels read as the ultimate in romantic fiction, where heroines fallen on hard times are saved by decent and powerful men. But reading against our sentimental instincts reveals a darker tale, with women excluded from property ownership and inheritance, leaving them...
A Collection of...
Collections: Alexander Goes West (A Silly Counterfactual) This week we’re going to do something a bit silly, in part because I have to prepare for and travel...
a week ago
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a week ago
This week we’re going to do something a bit silly, in part because I have to prepare for and travel to an invited workshop/talk event later this week and so don’t have quite the time for a more normal ‘full’ post and in part because it is fun to be silly sometimes (and we might …...
TheCollector
What Does the Old Testament Say About Slavery? Slavery is evil, period! So, does the Bible approve of such a vile practice? Does the Bible condone...
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Slavery is evil, period! So, does the Bible approve of such a vile practice? Does the Bible condone kidnapping, human trafficking, forced labor, rape, and the mistreatment of servants, even to the point of taking the life of a slave? Some Southern slave owners in the US from the...
Flashbak
Blackpool 1984–1989 “We stayed in boarding houses with similar families, made intense friendships and lived on the...
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a week ago
“We stayed in boarding houses with similar families, made intense friendships and lived on the memories through the following winter!” – Barry Lewis on magic holidays in Blackpool, Lancashire     Since Victorian times Blackpool on Britain’s north west coast has been the country’s...
TheCollector
8 Works by Michelangelo You Should Know Michelangelo Buonarotti was one of the key figures of the Italian Renaissance and art history....
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Michelangelo Buonarotti was one of the key figures of the Italian Renaissance and art history. Equally gifted as a painter and a sculptor, he reportedly learned to sculpt objects from clay before he learned to read and write. His most famous works included Pieta, David, and the...
Classical Wisdom
The Greco-Roman-Indian Exchange Podcast with Professor Roberto Morales
a week ago
TheCollector
What Is Atonement in Christianity? (7 Theories) In just under two millennia, Christianity has grown from a fledgling religion to the biggest in the...
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In just under two millennia, Christianity has grown from a fledgling religion to the biggest in the world, with around 2.3 billion adherents. With so many Christians and such a long time during which Christian theology has developed and refined, it is surprising that there is no...
History Today Feed
Smuggling Under the Cover of Plague Smuggling Under the Cover of Plague JamesHoare Thu, 05/15/2025 - 08:59
a week ago
TheCollector
Surprising Archeological Discoveries in the Heart of the Amazon Jungle In the heart of the dense Amazonian jungle, researchers are realizing that what was long believed to...
a week ago
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In the heart of the dense Amazonian jungle, researchers are realizing that what was long believed to be an untouched wilderness is anything but. Recent archeological discoveries indicate that the rainforest’s native populations spent centuries modifying and transforming the...
Flashbak
An Interview with Andrew Loog Oldham “I didn’t think. I had no reference point. I had no fear. It was all really simple. Peter Jones of...
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“I didn’t think. I had no reference point. I had no fear. It was all really simple. Peter Jones of the Record Mirror told me to go and see them. I did. It was good for everybody… I was quite happy doing PR and I became happier managing the Rolling Stones.” – Andrew Loog Oldham …...
TheCollector
8 Unmissable Heritage Sites in Beijing Nearly any person you speak to has heard of Beijing’s most famous site — the Great Wall of China....
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Nearly any person you speak to has heard of Beijing’s most famous site — the Great Wall of China. However, Beijing is an intriguing city for many other reasons. Ancient temples stand side-by-side with uber-modern skyscrapers. Some residents live in traditional courtyard homes,...
Trying to Understand...
What We Have. The new is dying, but the old cannot be reborn. What do we do?
a week ago
TheCollector
An Overview of the Three Kingdoms, Jin, Northern & Southern Chinese Dynasties The final years of the Han Dynasty witnessed the emergence of powerful warlords who consolidated...
a week ago
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a week ago
The final years of the Han Dynasty witnessed the emergence of powerful warlords who consolidated into three major powers at the formal dissolution of the Han Dynasty in 220 CE: Cao Wei in the north, Eastern Wu in the southeast, and Shu Han in the southwest. Shortly after...
History Today Feed
Martin Crusius’ Armchair Voyage Martin Crusius’ Armchair Voyage JamesHoare Wed, 05/14/2025 - 10:36
a week ago
TheCollector
The Mitanni Kingdom: Rise & Fall of a Bronze Age Superpower Located in northern Mesopotamia, the enigmatic Mitanni Kingdom influenced the course of ancient Near...
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Located in northern Mesopotamia, the enigmatic Mitanni Kingdom influenced the course of ancient Near Eastern history during the Late Bronze Age (c. 1550-1200 BCE). The majority of the Mitanni population was of the Hurrian ethnic group, while the elites were mainly Indo-European,...
History Today Feed
‘Liverpool and the Unmaking of Britain’ by Sam Wetherell review ‘Liverpool and the Unmaking of Britain’ by Sam Wetherell review JamesHoare Tue, 05/13/2025 - 07:58
a week ago
TheCollector
Who Were the Notorious Barbary Pirates? (History & Wars) Upon the mention of pirates, most people envision the swashbuckling brigands who terrorized the seas...
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a week ago
Upon the mention of pirates, most people envision the swashbuckling brigands who terrorized the seas of the Caribbean. However, the calmer waters of the Mediterranean would also suffer the scourge of piracy. Between the 16th and 19th centuries, pirates from the Barbary States of...
Flashbak
Ute Mahler Shows Us The Real East Germany “I wanted to see what was hiding behind the prescribed official false optimism. I was looking for...
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“I wanted to see what was hiding behind the prescribed official false optimism. I was looking for the truth in the inner realm of people’s lives.” – Ute Mahler, photographs of communist East Germany     Between 1972 and 1988, Ute Mahler repeatedly turned her camera on the people...
TheCollector
Second Servile War: The Soothsayer’s Slave Rebellion That Shook Rome Even though the revolt of the would-be slave-king Eunus ended in bloodshed and defeat for the slaves...
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Even though the revolt of the would-be slave-king Eunus ended in bloodshed and defeat for the slaves of Sicily, the dreams and possibilities of breaking the shackles the Romans bound them in remained. Very little changed in terms of material conditions on Sicily between the end...
Classical Wisdom
The Fury Within Anger in Ancient Greek and Roman Mythology
a week ago
TheCollector
Why Were Cornflakes Invented? The invention of cornflakes is a curious story, tangled in a history of religious fervor, radical...
a week ago
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a week ago
The invention of cornflakes is a curious story, tangled in a history of religious fervor, radical health reform, commercial success, and a decades-long feud between two brothers. Born in the kitchens of the Battle Creek Sanitarium, Michigan, cornflakes began life as part of a...
History Today Feed
On the Spot: Vladislav Zubok On the Spot: Vladislav Zubok JamesHoare Mon, 05/12/2025 - 09:13
a week ago
TheCollector
Top 10 Museums of Cusco, Peru In the high Andes Mountains of Peru lies Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire. It’s a...
a week ago
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a week ago
In the high Andes Mountains of Peru lies Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire. It’s a popular destination for trekkers looking to visit monuments such as Machu Picchu. It’s also a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city preserves its cultural legacy in dozens of...
Classical Wisdom
Mother's Day Quiz Mothers of Myth and History
a week ago
TheCollector
9 Russian & Soviet Artists Who Influenced Ballet A ballet performance is a high art form that can awe audiences. However, audiences only see the...
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A ballet performance is a high art form that can awe audiences. However, audiences only see the result, not the blood, sweat, and tears it takes to become a dancer at a premier ballet company like the Bolshoi Ballet. In the Soviet Union, dancers at the top of their game had...
Flashbak
Summer in Nags Head, North Carolina, 1975 “I was working on my own, and I was wrestling with what the highest and best use of the photograph...
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“I was working on my own, and I was wrestling with what the highest and best use of the photograph in color could be. Eventually, I came up with a formulation for myself that went something like, “in the good or successful color photograph, the definition or the meaning of the...
TheCollector
Beyond the Pyramids: The Modern History of Egypt Ancient Egypt looms large in popular culture, from Indiana Jones to The Prince of Egypt. The country...
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Ancient Egypt looms large in popular culture, from Indiana Jones to The Prince of Egypt. The country is a treasure trove of pyramids, pharaohs, and nods to ancient cats. The country’s location at the nexus of its African home and of Asia and Europe has led to its fascinating...
Wrong Side of...
Reflections on the Turquoise Revolution in England Wrong Side of History Newsletter #62
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
10 Must-See Historic Sites in North Carolina Originally part of the Carolina Colony granted by King Charles II in 1663, North Carolina became a...
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Originally part of the Carolina Colony granted by King Charles II in 1663, North Carolina became a separate province in 1712 and one of the original thirteen colonies. In 1776, it made history by being the first colony to officially call for independence through the Halifax...
Flashbak
Found Studio Portraits of Children – 1970-71 We’re back to the late mid-Century in this album of found photographs from Steenbergen in the south...
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We’re back to the late mid-Century in this album of found photographs from Steenbergen in the south of The Netherlands. Last time going through this haul we focused on weddings. Now we look at studio portraits of children. The photos were taken by professional photographer Van...
TheCollector
What Is the Story Behind Van Gogh’s “Café Terrace at Night”? One of the first works that come to mind when thinking about Van Gogh is his signature ink-blue sky...
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One of the first works that come to mind when thinking about Van Gogh is his signature ink-blue sky dotted with dazzling stars. Not content with painting a traditional night scene in austere dark paints, Van Gogh used color, movement, and contrast to bring life into his Café...
A Collection of...
Fireside Friday, May 9, 2025 (On Lighter Bows) Fireside this week! First off, it seems like last week’s post on the Hollywood myth of archery...
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2 weeks ago
Fireside this week! First off, it seems like last week’s post on the Hollywood myth of archery volley fire really got out there, so if you are a new reader just joining us, welcome! If you are in to discussions of historical tactics with an eye towards correcting common myths in...
Patterns in Humanity
The Assimilation Myth Across the world, ethnic socioeconomic disparities are here to stay
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
Gustave Courbet Masterpiece Undergoes Public Restoration Completed in 1850, A Burial at Ornans made Gustave Courbet an enemy of the French art establishment....
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2 weeks ago
Completed in 1850, A Burial at Ornans made Gustave Courbet an enemy of the French art establishment. Now, the life-sized masterwork is undergoing restoration work at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris.   “This painting is a manifesto of the Realist movement,” said the museum in a...
Classical Wisdom
The Rage of Achilles The Ultimate Hero?
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
Can You Live Forever? A Philosophical Approach to Immortality For thousands of years, people have been fascinated by the idea of living forever and what that...
2 weeks ago
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2 weeks ago
For thousands of years, people have been fascinated by the idea of living forever and what that means for our place in the world. Is it possible to leave behind the inevitability of death? This has been debated by many philosophers, who have come up with a range of ideas that are...
CrimethInc.
The Occupation of the Sha'ban al-Dalou Building : A Report-Back from the University of Washington In this anonymously submitted report, participants in the occupation of the engineering building at...
2 weeks ago
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2 weeks ago
In this anonymously submitted report, participants in the occupation of the engineering building at the University of Washington explore their motivations and recount the events in detail. This courageous action comes as the Israeli military prepares to open a new chapter in its...
TheCollector
How the Nopal Cactus Bridges Culture and Climate in Mexico Nopal cactus grows where others wouldn’t dare. Resilient, versatile, and adaptive, it is one of the...
2 weeks ago
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2 weeks ago
Nopal cactus grows where others wouldn’t dare. Resilient, versatile, and adaptive, it is one of the most widely recognized endemic plants of the Americas. Yet the cactus’s symbolism is especially deep-seated in Mexico, where its importance to national identity is reflected in...
Overcoming Bias
Details Avoid Bias Long ago I noted:
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
Frieze New York Starts Strong With $3 Million Jeff Koons Sale Frieze New York 2025 opened its doors to collectors, museum leaders, artists, and other VIP guests...
2 weeks ago
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2 weeks ago
Frieze New York 2025 opened its doors to collectors, museum leaders, artists, and other VIP guests on Wednesday, May 7. The thirteenth edition of the famed contemporary art fair brings together 67 exhibitors from over 25 countries at The Shed in New York City’s Hudson Yards...
Flashbak
International Graffiti Times – 1884-1994 Dedicated to New York City street art, International Graffiti Times – IGTimes (aka: Subway Sun,...
2 weeks ago
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2 weeks ago
Dedicated to New York City street art, International Graffiti Times – IGTimes (aka: Subway Sun, InterGalactic Times, GetHip International Times, Tight and IGT) announced itself with an image of the city’s Mayor Ed Koch covered in tags. After Koch, the arch enemy of “graffiti”,...
TheCollector
Agatha Christie: Queen of…Theater? Renowned as the “Queen of Crime” for her iconic detectives such as Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple,...
2 weeks ago
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Renowned as the “Queen of Crime” for her iconic detectives such as Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, many readers never learn that Christie was also an avid fan of theater and quite the playwright herself. Lovers of Christie’s work are missing a significant aspect of the author’s...
Wrong Side of...
A nation’s rebirth after Nazism Germany’s integration miracle and other stories
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
10 Must-See Historic Sites in Faro, Portugal In Faro, you will marvel at the Moorish and Medieval buildings that stand beside the stunning...
2 weeks ago
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2 weeks ago
In Faro, you will marvel at the Moorish and Medieval buildings that stand beside the stunning Baroque and Neoclassical monuments that define the city’s landscape. In this article, we will show you the city’s iconic must-visit landmarks.   1. Milreu Roman Ruins   Located nine...
Res Obscura
AI makes the humanities more important, but also a lot weirder Historians are finally having their AI debate
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
Military Structures and More Found at Egypt’s “Fortress of the East” Situated in the Sinai Desert, the Tell Abu Saifi archaeological site is known as ancient Egypt’s...
2 weeks ago
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2 weeks ago
Situated in the Sinai Desert, the Tell Abu Saifi archaeological site is known as ancient Egypt’s “Fortress of the East” for its extensive military infrastructure. New excavations at the site are further illuminating the area’s strategic importance during the Ptolemaic and Roman...
Classical Wisdom
Learn Like an Ancient Egyptian Who did it better: Egypt or Greek?
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
5 Māori Leaders Who Shaped Aotearoa’s/New Zealand’s History The opposition between the Māori, the original inhabitants of Aotearoa/New Zealand, and the Pākehā,...
2 weeks ago
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2 weeks ago
The opposition between the Māori, the original inhabitants of Aotearoa/New Zealand, and the Pākehā, the European newcomers, has been central to New Zealand’s recent history. Some Māori chiefs were open to dialogue with the Europeans and even fought alongside them. However,...
Trying to Understand...
The Day After. And the day after that.
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
A Guide to 5 Virtual Russian Museums for Art & History Lovers Vibrant, traditional, and modern, Russia’s two major cultural centers represent centuries of the...
2 weeks ago
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2 weeks ago
Vibrant, traditional, and modern, Russia’s two major cultural centers represent centuries of the country’s rich and turbulent history. If you want to explore streets packed with museums and galleries, an online tour of Russia’s top five museums offers armchair travelers a perfect...
Flashbak
Miners Strike, Bob Dylan Acts and ‘Iran Kills Children’: Posters in 1980s London Back to the 1980s now, to look at some of the posters stuck on walls in London captured by Peter...
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Back to the 1980s now, to look at some of the posters stuck on walls in London captured by Peter Marshall as he walked around the city. There are posters calling for Iran and the country’s leader Ayatollah Khomeini (1900-1989) to ‘stop killing children’. Another tells passersby...
History Today Feed
The Hidden Death in the Victorian Wallpaper The Hidden Death in the Victorian Wallpaper JamesHoare Wed, 05/07/2025 - 08:50
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
Positivism: Is it Dead? While positivism was the most defining philosophy of science in the 20th century, it is now...
2 weeks ago
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2 weeks ago
While positivism was the most defining philosophy of science in the 20th century, it is now considered dead and has primarily been used as an oppositional term, a caricature, and a strawman easily dismissed and used for propping up ideas. Despite the derision of positivism,...
Classical Wisdom
Ancient Egypt Classical Wisdom Litterae
2 weeks ago
Overcoming Bias
Sincerity Adds To Drift The 2008 book Ritual and Its Consequences: An Essay on the Limits of Sincerity is hard for me to...
2 weeks ago
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2 weeks ago
The 2008 book Ritual and Its Consequences: An Essay on the Limits of Sincerity is hard for me to understand, but I’ve been trying to figure it out, as the concepts it considers seem interesting and important:
TheCollector
The 13 Original Colonies: History, Map, and Facts Achieving independence as the United States of America was a lengthy and unlikely struggle for the...
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Achieving independence as the United States of America was a lengthy and unlikely struggle for the 13 original colonies. Over the centuries, the territory of the 13 colonies was contested by several European powers before the British established control of the Atlantic coast of...
Wrong Side of...
Friends and enemies of the liberal order Bombing democracy in order to save it
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
What’s the Best Time of Year to Visit Peru? Trying to determine the right time to visit Peru is challenging. If you have glanced at a map, noted...
2 weeks ago
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Trying to determine the right time to visit Peru is challenging. If you have glanced at a map, noted the proximity of the country to the Equator, and deduced the climate must be idyllic and glorious all year round, you’ll be surprised. Peru boasts an eclectic geography and...
Hidden History
Florida’s Barker Gang Shootout In January 1935, gangster “Ma” Barker and her son Fred were killed by the FBI in a multi-hour...
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In January 1935, gangster “Ma” Barker and her son Fred were killed by the FBI in a multi-hour shootout in the little town of Ocklawaha FL. Arizona “Arrie” Clark was born in the rural town of Ash Grove MO in October 1873, where she played the fiddle and sang in the local church...
TheCollector
Why Is the Bolshoi Ballet So Famous? A Brief History For almost 250 years, the Bolshoi Ballet has remained synonymous with the art of dance. As one of...
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For almost 250 years, the Bolshoi Ballet has remained synonymous with the art of dance. As one of the most celebrated companies, the Bolshoi Ballet has roots in eighteenth-century imperial Russia. Beloved by Romanov tsars and Soviet leaders, the Bolshoi Ballet has a reputation...
History Today Feed
The Otsu Incident The Otsu Incident JamesHoare Tue, 05/06/2025 - 08:56
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
Napoleon’s Rise, Fall, and Legacy in History Born on the island of Corsica in 1769, Napoleon Bonaparte came to prominence as a brilliant military...
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Born on the island of Corsica in 1769, Napoleon Bonaparte came to prominence as a brilliant military commander during the French Revolution. After taking power in Paris in November 1799, Napoleon made himself emperor in 1804. He led a series of victorious campaigns to dominate...
Overcoming Bias
Elite Confidence Rob Henderson has a great essay summarizing the expert vs elite distinction I discussed in 6 prior...
2 weeks ago
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2 weeks ago
Rob Henderson has a great essay summarizing the expert vs elite distinction I discussed in 6 prior posts (1 2 3 4 5 6):
TheCollector
Meet the Māori: History & Culture of Aotearoa’s People The ancestors of the Māori sailed to Aotearoa/ New Zealand, “the land of the long white cloud,” from...
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The ancestors of the Māori sailed to Aotearoa/ New Zealand, “the land of the long white cloud,” from Eastern Polynesia, between 1250 and 1300 CE. They had inhabited the North and South Islands of present-day New Zealand for at least three centuries before the coming of Dutch...
Flashbak
Show Us Your Knickers: Vintage Snapshots Of People And Their Underwear Underwear. Comfy apple catchers, snaggy thongs or reassuring Y-fronts? In this gallery from Robert...
2 weeks ago
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Underwear. Comfy apple catchers, snaggy thongs or reassuring Y-fronts? In this gallery from Robert E. Jackson’s photograph collection, we see some of the vast range of undies – those designed to be seen and other ‘unmentionables’ Victoria really should keep secret.    “Made you...
TheCollector
Lucas Horenbout: The Highest Paid Artist at the Court of Henry VIII Lucas Horenbout, also known as Lucas Hornebolt, was a Flemish painter who worked in England as the...
2 weeks ago
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Lucas Horenbout, also known as Lucas Hornebolt, was a Flemish painter who worked in England as the king’s painter. He was taught to illuminate manuscripts and paint miniatures by his father, alongside his sister, who also became an artist at the English court. Lucas Horenbout...
Classical Wisdom
The Forgotten Pyramids of Africa Uncovering the Majesty of Ancient Nubia
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
6 Great Political Compromises That Shaped America The American nation under the US Constitution began with a compromise that, among other things,...
2 weeks ago
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The American nation under the US Constitution began with a compromise that, among other things, quelled the founding fathers’ anxieties over slavery and racial equality before the law. As the United States grew in size and influence, the very same issue would bring future leaders...
Trying to Understand...
Another Of My Essays In French. "C’est quoi cette « guerre » dont vous parlez ?"
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
The Art of the Ancient Canaanites: Overview & Images The Canaanites occupied the Levant, sometimes known as Syria-Palestine, during the Bronze Age (c....
2 weeks ago
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The Canaanites occupied the Levant, sometimes known as Syria-Palestine, during the Bronze Age (c. 3300-1200 BCE). They developed all the hallmarks of an advanced culture, including art, which is perhaps better categorized as “material culture” because it includes objects that...
Classical Wisdom
Weekly Wisdom Quiz Cleopatra, Alexander, Socrates
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
What Remains of Roman York? A Visitor’s Guide York was originally a small Celtic settlement before the arrival of the Roman Empire, but it soon...
2 weeks ago
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York was originally a small Celtic settlement before the arrival of the Roman Empire, but it soon became one of the most important cities on the island. It was first a fort but quickly flourished into a vibrant regional capital. The city of York nowadays, with its narrow...
African History...
Stone towns on the Highveld of South Africa: an archaeological history of the Sotho-Tswana capitals... The eastern plateau of South Africa, known as the Highveld, is dotted with the ruins of numerous...
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
Is the Sign of Jonah a Contradiction in the Bible? The Gospel of Matthew refers to the sign of Jonah on two occasions and the Gospel of Luke, once...
2 weeks ago
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The Gospel of Matthew refers to the sign of Jonah on two occasions and the Gospel of Luke, once (Matthew 12:39-41; Matthew 16:4; Luke 11:29-30). Matthew 12:39-41 specifies a detail that the other two do not. In the minds of many, this detail results in a contradiction in the...
Global Inequality...
A view of the world After the Global Financial Crisis, the World Bank got more much involved in South-East Asian...
2 weeks ago
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2 weeks ago
After the Global Financial Crisis, the World Bank got more much involved in South-East Asian countries than before.
TheCollector
Sports in the Ancient World Before the Greeks Today, when one thinks of the origin of sports and athletic competitions, the ancient Greeks often...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
Today, when one thinks of the origin of sports and athletic competitions, the ancient Greeks often come to mind. Although many popular modern sports were inherited from the Greeks and Romans, the Greeks and Romans were influenced by earlier cultures. An examination of textual,...
Overcoming Bias
Surprisingly Blind You might expect us to understand our romantic couple breakups very well.
3 weeks ago
TheCollector
Complete List of Roman Emperors: From Augustus to the Fall of Rome The start of imperial Rome is officially dated to 27 BCE, when Gaius Octavius Caesar was awarded the...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
The start of imperial Rome is officially dated to 27 BCE, when Gaius Octavius Caesar was awarded the name Augustus, signaling his position as emperor. Following his precedent, Rome would be ruled by men with the title Augustus until Germanic tribes deposed the last emperor in...
Flashbak
Toxic Clowns, Grandpa’s Underwear and Matchbox Cars: Found Kodachrome Photos from the 1970s These found Kodachrome photograph from the 1970s are the second instalment from collector Thomas...
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These found Kodachrome photograph from the 1970s are the second instalment from collector Thomas Hawk. His 1960s Kodachrome pictures were a treat, and now we move on a decade. We’ve started with the above picture of a circus clown. The effect of the lurid colours, that little...
TheCollector
7 Historic Sites in Chiang Mai (Thailand’s “Rose of the North”) Chiang Mai, the second largest province in Thailand and the epicenter of education in Northern...
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Chiang Mai, the second largest province in Thailand and the epicenter of education in Northern Thailand, is a mashup of captivating cultural experiences, mouthwatering food, and stunning architecture. As the capital of the Lanna Kingdom until 1558, Chiang Mai intermixes its...
Wrong Side of...
The Bards of the Second Reformation 'John and Paul: A Love Story in Songs' by Ian Leslie
3 weeks ago
TheCollector
A Complete Timeline of Ancient Greece: From Mycenaean to Roman Greece For over two thousand years, successive societies forged the civilization of ancient Greece. From...
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For over two thousand years, successive societies forged the civilization of ancient Greece. From the early societies of the Bronze Age to its conquest by and cultural fusion with Rome, ancient Greece has had a significant impact on shaping the modern world. Understand the flow...
A Collection of...
Collections: Why Archers Didn’t Volley Fire This week we’re looking at a specific visual motif common in TV and film: the arrow volley. You know...
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This week we’re looking at a specific visual motif common in TV and film: the arrow volley. You know the scene: the general readies his archers, he orders them to ‘draw!’ and then holds up his hand with that ‘wait for it’ gesture and then shouts ‘loose!’ (or worse yet, ‘fire!’)...
Dreams of Space -...
Journey to the Sun (1961) The second promotional comic I wanted to share is Journey to the Sun. It is also from Boys’ and...
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The second promotional comic I wanted to share is Journey to the Sun. It is also from Boys’ and Girls’ March of Comics and the only other one I've found that is about space flight.  It was handed to customers of stores that sold Little Yankee Shoes.   Journey to the Sun is a...
TheCollector
What Are the Seven Deadly Sins? The seven deadly sins are pride, envy, wrath, sloth, greed, gluttony, and lust. During early...
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The seven deadly sins are pride, envy, wrath, sloth, greed, gluttony, and lust. During early Christianity, some Church Fathers identified them as deadly because they damage the believer’s relationship with God and usually lead to other sins. The idea of seven deadly sins has its...
Overcoming Bias
Abstraction Worsens Drift My Ph.D.
3 weeks ago
TheCollector
Before the White House: Who Really Was America’s First President? As commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, George...
3 weeks ago
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As commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, George Washington performed many of the functions of a chief executive and head of state. After presiding over the convention that framed the US Constitution of 1787, Washington was elected the...
Classical Wisdom
Xenophon Hemingway of the Ancient World?
3 weeks ago
TheCollector
Roosevelt’s Big Stick: How America Flexed Its Muscle on the World Stage Theodore Roosevelt embraced a belief throughout his entire adult life that America was destined to...
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Theodore Roosevelt embraced a belief throughout his entire adult life that America was destined to be a major player in world affairs. Roosevelt was fond of saying that America should “speak softly, but carry a big stick.” Roosevelt’s Big Stick Policy not only defined his...
Classical Wisdom
Should We Cherry Pick? Or Should We Be Purists? [VIDEO] on Beyond Stoicism
3 weeks ago
TheCollector
American Civil War Uniforms: A Visual Journey Uniforms are used for identification as well as to provide a sense of unity during any conflict, and...
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Uniforms are used for identification as well as to provide a sense of unity during any conflict, and the American Civil War (1861-1865) was no exception. At their most basic level, Civil War uniforms distinguished Union troops from Confederate troops: Union troops wore blue while...
Flashbak
Dorothy Pulis Lathrop’s Illustrations For Walter de la Mare’s The Three Mulla-Mulgars “Long long is Time, though books be brief: Adventures strange ay, past belief…” – Walter de la Mare,...
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“Long long is Time, though books be brief: Adventures strange ay, past belief…” – Walter de la Mare, The Three Mulla-Mulgars illustrated by Dorothy Pulis Lathrop   Soon after Dorothy Pulis Lathrop (April 16, 1891–December 30, 1980) was hired to illustrate a book of experimental...
TheCollector
Live Slower: What is the Slow Movement? Speed has long been synonymous with efficiency, productivity, and success. Bewitched by the promises...
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Speed has long been synonymous with efficiency, productivity, and success. Bewitched by the promises of speed, we now collectively find ourselves caught in a constant dizzying rush. No matter how much we hurry up, we never seem fast enough to catch up with our endless...
Trying to Understand...
Do You Believe In Magic? In our fragile society, what other hope is there?
3 weeks ago
TheCollector
Patrick Henry’s “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” Two-and-a-half centuries after it was first delivered, Patrick Henry’s famous quote, “give me...
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3 weeks ago
Two-and-a-half centuries after it was first delivered, Patrick Henry’s famous quote, “give me liberty or give me death,” lives on in American culture as a symbol of defiance against British colonial authorities intent on oppressing the 13 colonies. From a speech at the Virginia...
Global Inequality...
‘Now, things are different, we must not look to the past’ Lenin in 1917 and 1922, applied to the present
3 weeks ago
TheCollector
8 Key Battles of Napoleon Napoleon proved to be a capable military commander from a young age. From his actions during the...
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Napoleon proved to be a capable military commander from a young age. From his actions during the Siege of Toulon to his accession as Emperor of the French to his final defeat at Waterloo, Napoleon stamped his legacy upon the continent of Europe and beyond.   The history of his...
Classical Wisdom
In Search of Cleopatra: The Early Years Taking a Title Literally
3 weeks ago
History Today Feed
Remembering South Vietnam Remembering South Vietnam JamesHoare Wed, 04/30/2025 - 09:14
3 weeks ago
Flashbak
A History Of War Photography “War, is, above all, grief. I photographed non-stop for years and I know that in all that time I...
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“War, is, above all, grief. I photographed non-stop for years and I know that in all that time I produced only five or six real photographs. War is not for photography. If, heaven forbid, I had to photograph war again, I would do it quite differently. I agonise now at the thought...
Hundred Rabbits
Summary of changes for April 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 April. 100r.co, updated water, ditch bag, woodstove installation, and added new photos and information on first-aid kit. Rabbit Waves, updated Triangular Bandages with animated gifs,...
TheCollector
Wild Bill Hickok: The Legendary Lawman of the Wild West Wild Bill Hickok’s life story was subject to huge amounts of exaggeration. His deeds were told and...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
Wild Bill Hickok’s life story was subject to huge amounts of exaggeration. His deeds were told and retold in grandiose style to adoring audiences obsessed with tales of larger-than-life characters and their wild adventures.   Hickok, however, hardly needed the exaggeration. He...
Hidden History
The Japanese Fugo Balloon Bomb During the Second World War, the Japanese launched thousands of incendiary bombs against the United...
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During the Second World War, the Japanese launched thousands of incendiary bombs against the United States that were carried by top secret balloons. In April 1942, the United States launched a daring raid on Japan using 16 B-25 Mitchell bombers under the command of Lt Col Jimmy...
TheCollector
Pope Francis: A Pope Like No Other Pope Francis was elected pope on March 13, 2013, after Pope Benedict XVI resigned on February 28,...
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Pope Francis was elected pope on March 13, 2013, after Pope Benedict XVI resigned on February 28, 2013. He served as head of the papacy for 12 years, 1 month, and 1 week, during which he proved unique in several ways.   Although Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio received some votes...
Wrong Side of...
Labour’s demographic crisis Will they lose the 'green wall'?
3 weeks ago
TheCollector
The Pantheon of Greek Gods and Goddesses: Olympians, Titans, and More Worshiping the gods was an important part of daily life in ancient Greece. The most powerful gods...
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Worshiping the gods was an important part of daily life in ancient Greece. The most powerful gods were the 12 Olympians who held supreme power over the world. These gods and goddesses resided on Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece. From there, they oversaw human...
Open Culture
The Simple, Ingenious Design of the Ancient Roman Javelin: How the Romans Engineered a Remarkably... As Mike Tyson once put it, with characteristic straightforwardness, “Everybody has a plan until they...
3 weeks ago
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As Mike Tyson once put it, with characteristic straightforwardness, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” Back in the time of the Roman Republic and the early Roman Empire, all of Rome’s enemies must have had a plan until pila punched through their shields....
History Today Feed
‘Rot: A History of the Irish Famine’ by Padraic X. Scanlan review ‘Rot: A History of the Irish Famine’ by Padraic X. Scanlan review JamesHoare Tue, 04/29/2025 - 08:50
3 weeks ago
Flashbak
Cats At The Grand Canyon And More Found Kodachrome Photos From the 1960s “For me, collecting found photos is a process of pulling lost, orphaned images from analog obscurity...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
“For me, collecting found photos is a process of pulling lost, orphaned images from analog obscurity and elevating them to a digital, widely shared and accessible permanent longevity,” – Thomas Hawk   “As a photographer, I have been making photographs with my own cameras my...
TheCollector
Iris: Greek Goddess and Divine Messenger Being able to pass freely between Olympus, the Underworld, and the mortal realm, Hermes fulfilled an...
3 weeks ago
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Being able to pass freely between Olympus, the Underworld, and the mortal realm, Hermes fulfilled an important role in Greek mythology as the messenger god. However, the Angelos Athanatôn, or “messenger of the gods,” was not the only emissary for the Olympians. The goddess Iris,...
Classical Wisdom
Madness or Melting Pot? Alexandria and the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa.
3 weeks ago
TheCollector
What Is the “Synagogue of Satan” in Revelation? The New Testament refers to a synagogue 40 times. Except for the last two references, the word...
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The New Testament refers to a synagogue 40 times. Except for the last two references, the word refers to a Jewish place of worship. The last two instances, however, refer to “the synagogue of Satan,” a shocking flip of allegiance. These references occur alongside mentions of...
History Today Feed
Jane Austen: A Partial and Prejudiced Historian Jane Austen: A Partial and Prejudiced Historian JamesHoare Mon, 04/28/2025 - 08:57
3 weeks ago
TheCollector
What Are the Vedas? (Samhitas, Upanishads, and Influence) Today, many people in India follow the religious and cultural tenets we now call Hinduism. But where...
3 weeks ago
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Today, many people in India follow the religious and cultural tenets we now call Hinduism. But where did the belief systems that formed modern-day Hinduism originate? Part of the answer can be located thousands of years in the past, in and around modern-day India. Much of modern...