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Patterns in Humanity
How many are criminals? Probably more than you think...
19 hours ago
Classical Wisdom
The Lost Psychedelic Cult of Ancient Greece Where Fasting, Feasting, and Visions Collided
19 hours ago
History Today Feed
‘The Graces’ by Breeze Barrington review ‘The Graces’ by Breeze Barrington review JamesHoare Tue, 08/12/2025 - 08:23
6 hours ago
Flashbak
Harry Clarke’s 24 Sinsiter Illustrations for Edgar Allan Poe’s Tales of Mystery and Imagination,... By the time Harry Clarke (17 March 1889 – 6 January 1931) came to illustrate Edgar Allan Poe’s Tales...
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17 hours ago
By the time Harry Clarke (17 March 1889 – 6 January 1931) came to illustrate Edgar Allan Poe’s Tales of Mystery and Imagination in 1919, the work first published in 1902 had already been illustrated by Arthur Rackham, Edmund Dulac and Gustave Doré. Those were tough acts to...
TheCollector
How Did Arthur Schopenhauer Become Known as the Philosopher of Pessimism? Arthur Schopenhauer was a prominent German philosopher during the 19th century. Known as the...
yesterday
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yesterday
Arthur Schopenhauer was a prominent German philosopher during the 19th century. Known as the philosopher of pessimism, he distinguished himself from post-Kantian philosophers with his unique take on idealism, free will, and human nature. Adherents of his philosophy believe that...
History Today Feed
‘The Blood in Winter’ by Jonathan Healey review ‘The Blood in Winter’ by Jonathan Healey review JamesHoare Mon, 08/11/2025 - 08:55
yesterday
TheCollector
The Mythology Behind Avatar and the Sacred Planet Trope In 2009, James Cameron’s Avatar was released in theaters around the world and garnered critical...
yesterday
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yesterday
In 2009, James Cameron’s Avatar was released in theaters around the world and garnered critical acclaim as one of the most successful movies of all time. It introduced us to the world of Pandora, a mystical and sacred place, and a symbol of life itself. The visual spectacle was...
Flashbak
Sometimes Overwhelming: New York City People in the 1970s and 80s by Arlene Gottfried “My mother used to say ‘Arlene – just don’t wander!’ Then I started wandering, but I got a camera...
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“My mother used to say ‘Arlene – just don’t wander!’ Then I started wandering, but I got a camera because it gave it a little more meaning…a life of wandering is really what it all is.” –  Arlene Gottfried New Yorker Arlene Gottfried (August 26, 1950 – August 8, 2017) walked...
TheCollector
Where Did Native Americans Originate From? The Native American story began some 15,000-plus years ago. Using a now-submerged Arctic land...
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The Native American story began some 15,000-plus years ago. Using a now-submerged Arctic land bridge, they crossed from Siberia to Alaska. The land bridge, now known as Beringia, emerged during a period of low sea levels during the last Ice Age. Connecting North America and Asia,...
Global Inequality...
Dr. Morell and the Patient A A review of Normal Ohler’s "Blitzed: Drugs in Nazi Germany"
3 days ago
Flashbak
Rampant Women On Sex Strike: Aubrey Beardsley’s 8 Erotic Illustrations For Lysistrata, 1896 As for old flames and lovers  they’re none left. And since Milesians went against us, I’ve not seen...
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As for old flames and lovers  they’re none left. And since Milesians went against us, I’ve not seen a decent eight-inch dildo. Yes, it’s just leather, but it helps us out. So would you be willing, if I found a way, to work with me to make this fighting end? – Lysistrata prepares...
TheCollector
How the Women of the Gothic Revival Inspired Christina Rossetti’s Poetry Beginning with Horace Walpole’s 1764 novel The Castle of Otranto, literature and architecture began...
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Beginning with Horace Walpole’s 1764 novel The Castle of Otranto, literature and architecture began to develop a unique relationship in Great Britain. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, British authors wrote poetry, novels, and short stories that evoked the mystery and drama...
Flashbak
Irving Penn and Missy Miyake’s Creative Matchup, 1986-1999 “Through his eyes Penn-san reinterprets the clothes, gives them new breath, and presents them to me...
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“Through his eyes Penn-san reinterprets the clothes, gives them new breath, and presents them to me from a new vantage point” – Issey Miyake on Irving Penn   From 1986 til 1999, Japanese fashion designer Issey Miyake (22 April 1938 – 5 August 2022) and American photographer...
TheCollector
5 Sufi Orders That Changed the World Sufism began as an ascetic and mystical movement in the early centuries of Islam. However, over the...
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Sufism began as an ascetic and mystical movement in the early centuries of Islam. However, over the centuries, the movement developed into an intricate system of philosophy, ethics, and practices that Muslims could follow to experience the fullest depth of the Prophet Muhammad’s...
A Collection of...
Collections: Life, Work, Death and the Peasant, Part IIIb: Children and Childrearing This is the back half of the third part of our series (I, II, IIIa) discussing the patterns of life...
4 days ago
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4 days ago
This is the back half of the third part of our series (I, II, IIIa) discussing the patterns of life for the pre-modern peasants who made up the great majority of humans who lived in the past. Last week, we started looking at family formation through the lens of marriage, this...
TheCollector
What Happened to Troy After the Trojan War? Archaeological & Mythical Evidence The city of Troy is most famous today for being at the center of the Trojan War. Its dramatic...
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The city of Troy is most famous today for being at the center of the Trojan War. Its dramatic defeat, brought about by the deception of the Trojan Horse, reportedly led to its utter destruction. For many researchers, this story can ultimately be linked to the destruction of Troy...
Flashbak
The Merrie Tales of Jacques Tournebroche, 1923 The Merrie Tales of Jacques Tournebroche And Child Life in Town and Country (1909) is a collection...
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The Merrie Tales of Jacques Tournebroche And Child Life in Town and Country (1909) is a collection of short stories set in the 1400s by French writer and Noel Laureate Anatole France (1844 – 1924). The 1923 edition contains illustrations from woodcuts by the British artist Marcia...
TheCollector
Tantra’s Complicated Relationship With the Modern Western World Tantra is a concept at once familiar and utterly foreign. It is everywhere and nowhere. Most of us...
5 days ago
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Tantra is a concept at once familiar and utterly foreign. It is everywhere and nowhere. Most of us would imagine that we have a clear idea of what Tantra is and yet many of us would be surprised about how much history and complexity lies in the philosophy and the practice. In the...
History Today Feed
How Important was the French Revolution? How Important was the French Revolution? JamesHoare Thu, 08/07/2025 - 08:38
5 days ago
TheCollector
Taoism, the Philosophy of Flow & Embracing Effortlessness The struggle for control over every aspect of life is common in modern Western society. However,...
5 days ago
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The struggle for control over every aspect of life is common in modern Western society. However, this approach can be juxtaposed with the ancient Chinese religious and philosophical ideas of Taoism. Taoism offers a guide for living a free-flowing life that is guided by the...
Flashbak
Logan Airport Versus Neptune Road, Photographing Boston’s ‘War’ of 1973 “I look at these photographs and feel the overwhelming sensation of the noise of these low-flying...
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“I look at these photographs and feel the overwhelming sensation of the noise of these low-flying aircraft. Yet I could leave what seemed like a war zone. And it was a kind of war, long-time residents trying for normalcy and the powers that be wanting them out.” – Michael Philip...
TheCollector
The Art of Deception: How WWII Was Won With Trickery In 1939, World War II erupted in Europe. This war, mechanized with tanks, trucks, and fighter...
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In 1939, World War II erupted in Europe. This war, mechanized with tanks, trucks, and fighter planes, was faster and more mobile than any previous conflict. To gain an advantage over similarly matched rivals, both the Allied and Axis powers added a significant new element to...
Trying to Understand...
It Gets Worse. This time, there will be consequences.
6 days ago
TheCollector
What Was the Phoenician Trade Network? The Phoenicians’ success from the late Bronze Age on sat astride an already strong foundation. This...
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The Phoenicians’ success from the late Bronze Age on sat astride an already strong foundation. This base in what’s now Lebanon consisted of three successful trade hubs (Tyre, Sidon, and Byblos). With fewer opportunities inland, they took to the seas. They sailed west across the...
History Today Feed
What’s in a Pope’s Name? What’s in a Pope’s Name? JamesHoare Wed, 08/06/2025 - 09:03
6 days ago
TheCollector
What Is the Book of Ezekiel About? From the first chapter, the Book of Ezekiel is packed with vivid imagery and colorful descriptions...
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From the first chapter, the Book of Ezekiel is packed with vivid imagery and colorful descriptions of God’s warnings to his people about the impending destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. Like Jeremiah, Ezekiel pivots later to messages of hope and restoration, calling on the...
History Today Feed
The Islamic Ethics of the Wine Tax The Islamic Ethics of the Wine Tax JamesHoare Tue, 08/05/2025 - 09:06
a week ago
TheCollector
The Statue of Athena Parthenos: Everything You Need to Know The statue of Athena Parthenos was a large-scale ivory and gold statue created in the 5th century...
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The statue of Athena Parthenos was a large-scale ivory and gold statue created in the 5th century BCE and dedicated to the goddess in the Parthenon on the Athenian Acropolis. The larger-than-life devotional image of one of ancient Greece’s most important goddesses was considered...
History Today Feed
‘The Colonialist’ by William Kelleher Storey review ‘The Colonialist’ by William Kelleher Storey review JamesHoare Mon, 08/04/2025 - 09:08
a week ago
TheCollector
What Is the Book of Daniel About? The Book of Daniel contains some of the most iconic scenes from the Bible. Children’s Bibles often...
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The Book of Daniel contains some of the most iconic scenes from the Bible. Children’s Bibles often depict Daniel in the lion’s den, or his friends in the fiery furnace. Yet, there is much more to Daniel than fantastic stories to entertain children. It holds significant lessons...
Dreams of Space -...
Merry Mouse and His Trip to the Moon (1953) My next 4 posts are celebrating children's illustrated fiction about going to the Moon. Even though...
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My next 4 posts are celebrating children's illustrated fiction about going to the Moon. Even though I have been collecting these children's book for over 30 years it still is very exciting to find one that you never knew existed. Jack Coggins was an amazing space artist in the...
Flashbak
I Am a Stranger in This Country: An Outsider Photographs Britain and Ireland’s Travellers In I Am a Stranger in This Country Berlin-based photograph Frederik Rüegger shows us pictures from...
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In I Am a Stranger in This Country Berlin-based photograph Frederik Rüegger shows us pictures from the two years he spent visiting the Roma and Traveller communities in Britain and Ireland. The book’s title is a nod to his reflects his status as a foreigner abroad and the...
TheCollector
How the Hospitallers Lost the Holy Land but Survived the Ages During the Crusades, warriors devoted themselves to protecting the Holy Land from attack, dedicating...
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During the Crusades, warriors devoted themselves to protecting the Holy Land from attack, dedicating themselves to God, the Church, and their mission. Several orders of devout knights emerged, the most famous of which was the Knights Templar, but another well-known order was the...
A Collection of...
Collections: Life, Work, Death and the Peasant, Part IIIa: Family Formation This is the first part of the third part of our series (I, II) discussing the patterns of life of...
a week ago
16
a week ago
This is the first part of the third part of our series (I, II) discussing the patterns of life of the pre-modern peasants who made up the great majority of all humans who lived in our agrarian past and indeed a majority of all humans who have ever lived. Last week, we looked at...
TheCollector
The Musket Wars That Changed Māori Society Forever The Musket Wars, which occurred from the early 1800s to the 1840s, brought about a significant...
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The Musket Wars, which occurred from the early 1800s to the 1840s, brought about a significant transformation in Māori society and warfare. This four-decades-long conflict was characterized by the widespread use of muskets, which had been introduced (both willingly and...
Patterns in Humanity
Immigration and crime in the Nordics A collection, description and visualization of data from the Nordic countries
a week ago
TheCollector
The Tumultuous Ottoman Interregnum (Bayezid’s Fall & Civil War) Under Sultan Bayezid, “The Thunderbolt,” the Ottoman Empire had a series of stunning military...
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Under Sultan Bayezid, “The Thunderbolt,” the Ottoman Empire had a series of stunning military victories in the Balkans and Western Asia. However, Bayezid’s ambitions placed him in the path of the Turco-Mongol conqueror Timur, who captured the Sultan in battle. Known as the...
Res Obscura
OpenAI's "Study Mode" and the risks of flattery Serious learning requires friction, frustration... and other humans
a week ago
TheCollector
How the Crusades Reshaped Medieval Europe From 1096 to about 1300 CE, during the Middle Ages in Europe, European monarchs and other royals...
a week ago
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From 1096 to about 1300 CE, during the Middle Ages in Europe, European monarchs and other royals sent armies to the Holy Land in the Middle East to attempt to secure the city of Jerusalem and surrounding territory for Christendom. These “holy wars,” fought between Christians and...
Flashbak
Teenagers in Their Bedrooms in the 1990s “Our bedrooms tell stories about us. They become the repository for memories, desire and self-image”...
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“Our bedrooms tell stories about us. They become the repository for memories, desire and self-image” – American photographer Adrienne Salinger   When Adrienne Salinger first published her portraits of teenagers in their bedrooms in the 1990s, the American photographer wanted In...
TheCollector
5 Alluring Female Portraits Painted by Gustav Klimt Gustav Klimt redefined the modern female portrait. He introduced elements that were previously...
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Gustav Klimt redefined the modern female portrait. He introduced elements that were previously reserved for decorative arts or medieval icons. Klimt used gold, restless geometrical shapes, and dazzling enamel-like colors. While most portraitists of his time focused on showing...
History Today Feed
Mental Health and the 17th-Century Ship’s Doctor Mental Health and the 17th-Century Ship’s Doctor JamesHoare Thu, 07/31/2025 - 08:19
a week ago
TheCollector
What Did Sargon of Akkad and Sargon of Assyria Have in Common? Sargon of Akkad (ruled c. 2334-2279 BCE) and Sargon II of Assyria (ruled 721-705 BCE) were two of...
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Sargon of Akkad (ruled c. 2334-2279 BCE) and Sargon II of Assyria (ruled 721-705 BCE) were two of the greatest rulers in ancient Near Eastern history. Despite sharing the same name, the two men were from different dynasties and lived more than 1,500 years and hundreds of miles...
Trying to Understand...
Living With Russia. The alternative is what, exactly?
a week ago
TheCollector
7 Unusual Saints of the Middle Ages During the Middle Ages, devout Christians venerated holy people known as saints. As everyday...
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During the Middle Ages, devout Christians venerated holy people known as saints. As everyday Christians made it through the struggles of life, they found comfort by identifying with saints, some of whom had extremely strange and unusual stories, or vitae. As strange as some of...
History Today Feed
Charles de Gaulle is Sentenced to Death Charles de Gaulle is Sentenced to Death JamesHoare Wed, 07/30/2025 - 09:02
a week ago
TheCollector
What the Book of Nahum Says About the Fall of Nineveh Nahum prophesied about the imminent destruction of Nineveh and, by extension, the Assyrian Empire,...
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Nahum prophesied about the imminent destruction of Nineveh and, by extension, the Assyrian Empire, though he did not prophesy directly to them. Instead, he brought his message to an audience in Judah that gained much hope from the news that Nineveh was about to fall. The Kingdom...
Flashbak
Saving Jesus: An Interview with Broadcasting Legend Melvyn Bragg, 1984 “I wear suits now basically because it’s easier if you are doing a television programme to wear the...
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“I wear suits now basically because it’s easier if you are doing a television programme to wear the same thing all the time. You don’t want to go in way over the programme. It’s another way to get people to forget about me and concentrate on the person I am talking to.” – Melvyn...
TheCollector
What Lao Tzu Believed and How It Shaped Taoism Lao Tzu (Laozi) is a complex figure, which makes capturing his essence through words difficult. This...
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Lao Tzu (Laozi) is a complex figure, which makes capturing his essence through words difficult. This is not only because of the minimal information we have about his existence but also the many titles that can be given to him. The ancient Chinese philosopher, sage, and to some,...
History Today Feed
‘José Martí Reader: Writings on the Americas’ review ‘José Martí Reader: Writings on the Americas’ review JamesHoare Mon, 07/28/2025 - 09:00
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
The Adventures of Perseus, the Greek Hero Who Defeated Medusa Perseus, the son of Zeus, was abandoned by his grandfather, King Acrisius, due to a dark prophecy....
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Perseus, the son of Zeus, was abandoned by his grandfather, King Acrisius, due to a dark prophecy. He and his mother, Danae, were saved by a fisherman named Diktys on the island of Seriphos. However, Diktys’s brother, King Polydectes, desired to marry Danae and devised a plan to...
Global Inequality...
New capitalism III: Capital Why is capital so concentrated and why so few have it?
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
The Inca Empire’s Four Quarters Explained (Government & Challenges) The Inca Empire was the largest of the pre-Columbian civilizations. At its peak, the empire spanned...
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The Inca Empire was the largest of the pre-Columbian civilizations. At its peak, the empire spanned from the highest peaks of the Andes mountains to the inhospitable Atacama desert. At its peak between 1438 and 1533, the Inca Empire, known in the Quechua language as Tawantinsuyu,...
Global Inequality...
New Capitalism II: Compositional vs income inequality Are all class-based societies unequal?
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
8 Facts About Huey Long, the Kingfish Who Promised Every Man a King Political powerhouse Huey Long was a radical democrat who had no qualms about making his opinions...
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Political powerhouse Huey Long was a radical democrat who had no qualms about making his opinions known. Rising through political ranks in Louisiana, he began making an impact on the national stage. Long made a number of reforms during his tenure in government, many of which made...
Flashbak
Dublin in 1991: Photographing The Feeling Of A City On The Edge “The photo always holds two layers, the concrete and the emotional. You must involve your own...
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“The photo always holds two layers, the concrete and the emotional. You must involve your own experience and perception when decoding the photo, and only then does it disseminate its full message” – photographer Krass Clement     In 1991 Danish photographer Krass Clement took...
TheCollector
8 of the Most Famous Castles in the Middle East Not confined to the medieval history of Europe, massive stone fortifications were also a common...
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Not confined to the medieval history of Europe, massive stone fortifications were also a common sight throughout the Middle East. Many of these castles still stand, their impenetrable stone walls having withstood centuries of war and strife.   Some, however, have crumbled to...
Flashbak
Various Episodes of Human Life Performed by Monkeys, 1635 This small print series is called ‘Verschillende Bedrijven uit het Menselijke Leven Door Apen...
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This small print series is called ‘Verschillende Bedrijven uit het Menselijke Leven Door Apen Voorgesteld’ (Various episodes of human life performed by monkeys) from designs by the Flemish printer Quirin Boel (or Coryn Bol; 25 January 1620 – 1668) and compatriot painter David...
TheCollector
Tiresias, the Blind Prophet of Greek Mythology Tiresias, the blind prophet from Thebes, is one of the most renowned seers in Greek mythology. After...
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Tiresias, the blind prophet from Thebes, is one of the most renowned seers in Greek mythology. After being struck blind by one of the gods, Tiresias was granted the gifts of prophecy and longevity. As a prophet, Tiresias played a vital role in the mythology of Thebes. However,...
Flashbak
Let’s Hear It For The Toilet Paper: 25 Vintage Snapshots of People And Toilets Have you been? Do you need to go? We’ve seen Janet Leigh on the toilet in the Psycho bathroom, men...
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Have you been? Do you need to go? We’ve seen Janet Leigh on the toilet in the Psycho bathroom, men of all ages on the pot and admired the bog at New York’s CBGB club and the dawning of the 1980s bathroom. In this gallery, photograph collector Robert E. Jackson share vintage...
History Today Feed
Shakespeare’s Lost Years Shakespeare’s Lost Years JamesHoare Thu, 07/24/2025 - 09:14
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
Is There a Cure for Male Loneliness? Unpacking the Myths of Masculinity Male loneliness runs deeper than just feeling alone. Many men find it difficult to make close...
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2 weeks ago
Male loneliness runs deeper than just feeling alone. Many men find it difficult to make close connections because they are imprisoned by out-of-date concepts of masculinity: be strong, don’t cry, handle it alone, be a man! Such fallacies are not only harmful but also separate...
Global Inequality...
New Capitalism in America Richest capitalists and richest workers are increasingly the same people
2 weeks ago
Trying to Understand...
Layer Upon Layer. It's Empires all the way down.
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
The Four Crusader States in the Holy Land As a site of great significance for three world religions, the Levant has been subject to brutal...
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As a site of great significance for three world religions, the Levant has been subject to brutal wars over the centuries. When Pope Urban II launched the First Crusade in 1095, the main target was Jerusalem and the Holy Land. During the First Crusade, the Christians successfully...
History Today Feed
‘Gods, Guns and Missionaries’ by Manu S. Pillai review ‘Gods, Guns and Missionaries’ by Manu S. Pillai review JamesHoare Wed, 07/23/2025 - 09:08
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
Alexander Gardner: The Man Who Captured the Civil War Alexander Gardner is one of the principal photographers responsible for capturing the horrors of the...
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Alexander Gardner is one of the principal photographers responsible for capturing the horrors of the Civil War and the adventure of the expansion into the American West, not only for posterity but for his contemporaries, shaping public opinion. His relationship with Abraham...
Classical Wisdom
The Birth of Gods Hesiod's Theogony
2 weeks ago
TheCollector
How the Antigonids Endured and Ruled Macedonia After Alexander Following the death of Alexander the Great, his generals fought for control of the various parts of...
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Following the death of Alexander the Great, his generals fought for control of the various parts of his empire. Despite taking control of the Macedonian homeland, the Antigonids are less famous than the Ptolemies of Egypt and the Seleucids of Asia Minor. Meet the rulers of the...
Flashbak
Phenomena of Materialisation : Investigating The Naked Psychic Eva Carrière “Miss Eva prepared the heads before every séance, and endeavoured to make them unrecognizable. A...
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“Miss Eva prepared the heads before every séance, and endeavoured to make them unrecognizable. A clean-shaven face was decorated with a beard. Grey hairs became black curls, a broad forehead was made into a narrow one. But, in spite of all her endeavours, she could not obliterate...
Classical Wisdom
Democracy and Tyranny Plato's Academy Event: This Weekend
3 weeks ago
TheCollector
No One Knows How Cleopatra Really Died But These Are the Most Compelling Theories Cleopatra VII, the last active pharaoh of Egypt, died in August 30 BCE after her kingdom was invaded...
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Cleopatra VII, the last active pharaoh of Egypt, died in August 30 BCE after her kingdom was invaded and conquered by Rome’s first emperor, Octavian. Political ambition, strategic alliances, and legendary relationships with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony marked her life. But her...
History Today Feed
Kikunae Ikeda’s MSG Revolution Kikunae Ikeda’s MSG Revolution JamesHoare Tue, 07/22/2025 - 09:00
3 weeks ago
TheCollector
The Symbols and Strange Stories Behind Rembrandt’s Night Watch The Night Watch by Rembrandt van Rijn is one of the most analyzed paintings in the history of art....
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The Night Watch by Rembrandt van Rijn is one of the most analyzed paintings in the history of art. This fascinating artwork has survived many wars, three attacks by vandals, and years of extensive research and attempts to decode its meaning and complex composition. Let’s explore...
Dreams of Space -...
My Weekly Reader March 12, 1962 Happy Moon Day! This is the last of this batch of My Weekly Readers. I hope you haven't gotten too...
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Happy Moon Day! This is the last of this batch of My Weekly Readers. I hope you haven't gotten too tired of this summer break. In this issue we celebrate the USA in Space. This March 12th issue celebrates John Glenn's success and looking forward to the next set of missions...
TheCollector
What Is the Celtic Revival? (History, Art, and Impact) The Celtic Revival, which began in 19th-century Ireland, was a resurgence of popular interest in a...
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The Celtic Revival, which began in 19th-century Ireland, was a resurgence of popular interest in a variety of Celtic and medieval Irish traditions, including art, language, and mythology. The movement held great significance for Irish art history and archaeology, as well as for...
Flashbak
The Life and Extraordinary History of the Chevalier John Taylor: The Eye Surgeon Who Robbed You... “The Eye, that most amazing, that stupendous, that comprehending, that incomprehensible, that...
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“The Eye, that most amazing, that stupendous, that comprehending, that incomprehensible, that miraculous Organ, the Eye, is the Proteus of the Passions, the Herald of the Mind, The Interpreter of the Heart, and the Window of the Soul. The Eye has Dominion over all Things. The...
TheCollector
The Draugr (Norse Undead) Who Haunted the Viking World The Vikings believed in life after death, but also that people could get caught between life and...
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The Vikings believed in life after death, but also that people could get caught between life and death. Returning as a revenant usually happened to evil people who clung to life for their own vile purposes. These zombie-like creatures were called, among other things, “draugr,”...
A Collection of...
Collections: Life, Work, Death and the Peasant, Part II: Starting at the End This is the second part of our series (I) discussing the basic contours of life – birth, marriage,...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
This is the second part of our series (I) discussing the basic contours of life – birth, marriage, labor, subsistence, death – of pre-modern peasants and their families. As we’ve discussed, pre-modern peasant farmers make up the vast majority of human beings in in the past. Last...
TheCollector
When Was Homer’s Iliad Written? Unraveling the Controversy Homer’s Iliad tells the story of the Trojan War. Traditionally, that war has been dated to the late...
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Homer’s Iliad tells the story of the Trojan War. Traditionally, that war has been dated to the late Bronze Age, approximately c. 1200 BCE. However, the Iliad itself was not written that early in history. There is wide agreement that Homer—or whoever the true author of the Iliad...
Flashbak
Photographing The Black Panthers: All Power To The People (1967 – 1973) “I wanted to show the whole picture of the Black Panther Party. Most of the media focused on the...
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“I wanted to show the whole picture of the Black Panther Party. Most of the media focused on the rallies and looked for controversy. I wanted to show what it was like behind the scenes and portray a more complete, complicated portrait of the Panthers.” – Stephen Shames...
TheCollector
How Gustave Moreau’s Mystical Paintings Defined the Symbolist Movement The late 19th century was a time of political and social upheaval in France. In response to the...
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The late 19th century was a time of political and social upheaval in France. In response to the changing cultural landscape, a small group of writers and artists struck out in defiance of the literal, natural art popular at the time. They turned their focus inward, using their...
Flashbak
London’s World West: Harlesden in 1997 Harlesden was once a Saxon settlement. The Domesday Book calls it “Hervlvestvne”. In 1997, Harlesden...
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3 weeks ago
Harlesden was once a Saxon settlement. The Domesday Book calls it “Hervlvestvne”. In 1997, Harlesden was in the London borough of Brent, as it remains today. It’s when Peter Marshall was walking around the place taking pictures. Bordered by the north-west London -dens of Neasden...
TheCollector
What Did an Ottoman Sultan Eat In a Day? In the 15th and 16th centuries, the Ottoman palace kitchens were places where delicious and...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
In the 15th and 16th centuries, the Ottoman palace kitchens were places where delicious and innovative foods emerged. A sultan’s personal tastes, whether leaning towards savory or sweet, influenced the culinary culture of the court. Some of the sultan’s favorite foods, like...
Trying to Understand...
A Little Intelligence ... ... about Intelligence.
3 weeks ago
TheCollector
The Unique History of Wales (From the Stone Age) Many people are confused and think that Wales, in the United Kingdom, is a part of England,...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
Many people are confused and think that Wales, in the United Kingdom, is a part of England, something that angers most Welsh people due to the turbulent history between the two countries. Wales has a long and fascinating history, all of its own, characterized by consistent...
Classical Wisdom
How to Have Willpower Ancient Meditations and Modern Psychology on Self-Control
3 weeks ago
TheCollector
What Were the Founding Principles of Monophysitism? Monophysitism is a belief that Jesus Christ had only one divine nature, rather than a nature that...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
Monophysitism is a belief that Jesus Christ had only one divine nature, rather than a nature that was both fully divine and fully human within one person. The Monophysite theology took various forms with various people over the early centuries of Christianity.   The Emergence of...
History Today Feed
How Hertha Ayrton Made Waves How Hertha Ayrton Made Waves JamesHoare Wed, 07/16/2025 - 09:05
3 weeks ago
TheCollector
Hygiene and Bathing in the Middle Ages The Middle Ages has a reputation for being a time when the average person lived in filth and...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
The Middle Ages has a reputation for being a time when the average person lived in filth and squalor, bathing was unheard of, and personal hygiene was a foreign concept. But is this true? There is no simple answer to this question since the Middle Ages lasted almost a thousand...
Flashbak
Ulissi Aldrovandi’s Monstrorum Historia: Dragons And Other Real Monsters “I have never described any thing without first having seen it with my eyes” – Ulissi Aldrovandi,...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
“I have never described any thing without first having seen it with my eyes” – Ulissi Aldrovandi, who shows us dragons and other monsters in his Monstrorum Historia     Ulissi Aldrovandi’s Monstrorum Historia is a huge 13-volume encyclopaedia of life on Earth. The books cover...
TheCollector
Get to Know Venerable Bede, the Father of English History Bede is remembered today chiefly as a historian. Yet he was a dynamic intellectual giant in the...
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
Bede is remembered today chiefly as a historian. Yet he was a dynamic intellectual giant in the Early Middle Ages and his most famous historical work is far more than a dry recounting of events. Let us explore Bede, his History, and the influence that it has had.   Northumbria in...
History Today Feed
On the Spot: Kathleen DuVal On the Spot: Kathleen DuVal JamesHoare Tue, 07/15/2025 - 08:09
4 weeks ago
TheCollector
What Did the Emancipation Proclamation Do? Issued by President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War, this executive order declared freedom for...
4 weeks ago
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4 weeks ago
Issued by President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War, this executive order declared freedom for enslaved people in Confederate territories. Although its immediate impact was limited by enforcement challenges, its symbolic power redefined the nation’s purpose and the very...
History Today Feed
‘I Humbly Beg Your Speedy Answer’ by Mary Beth North review ‘I Humbly Beg Your Speedy Answer’ by Mary Beth North review JamesHoare Mon, 07/14/2025 - 08:42
4 weeks ago
Flashbak
An Anciente Mappe of Fairyland by Bernard Sleigh, 1920 “I believe in Faeries. It is very natural and not a bit foolish; for in these days we are quickly...
4 weeks ago
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4 weeks ago
“I believe in Faeries. It is very natural and not a bit foolish; for in these days we are quickly learning how little we know of any other world than our own.” – Bernard Sleigh, An Anciente Mappe of Fairyland Bernard Sleigh   After doctors drilled a hole in his skull to alleviate...
TheCollector
How Solomon’s Wisdom Shaped a Kingdom Solomon is synonymous with the honor, prosperity, and riches of Israel. These material things were...
4 weeks ago
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4 weeks ago
Solomon is synonymous with the honor, prosperity, and riches of Israel. These material things were never his goal but were the result of his desire to serve God as a trustworthy steward of his people. Solomon’s wish was to have the insight to distinguish between good and evil and...
Flashbak
Stephen Salmieri: First Photos of Coney Island, 1967 – 1972 “I used to be a fireball of energy – if I had two or three days a week to spare where I wasn’t on an...
a month ago
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a month ago
“I used to be a fireball of energy – if I had two or three days a week to spare where I wasn’t on an assignment I was out with my camera in the city. I covered this city like an archeologist.” – Stephen Salmieri, Coney Island Trips, 1967 – 1972     Between 1967 … Continue reading...
TheCollector
What Is Structuralism? (Definition & Facts) Structuralists say structures can be uncovered anywhere—from human behavior to star clusters and...
a month ago
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a month ago
Structuralists say structures can be uncovered anywhere—from human behavior to star clusters and snowflakes to mathematics. In fact, structuralism offers a kind of mathematization of the entirety of nature, even systems that were once considered too complicated to model, such as...
Flashbak
The Fireworks King: Brock’s Pyrotechnics: The History and Art of Firework Making, 1922 “My object has not been to write a text-book on firework-making, but rather to trace the art from...
a month ago
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a month ago
“My object has not been to write a text-book on firework-making, but rather to trace the art from earliest times, and to give a description of the development and process of manufacture… My excuse for adding another volume to the literature of the art is that I am of the eighth...
TheCollector
How the Roman Aeminium Became Coimbra, One of Portugal’s Oldest Cities Present-day Coimbra hides an extraordinary past. Here, you can find the most well-preserved...
a month ago
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a month ago
Present-day Coimbra hides an extraordinary past. Here, you can find the most well-preserved cryptoporticus from the Roman Empire and the richest Baroque library in Europe. At Coimbra, you will also discover remnants of the Moorish occupation.   Coimbra also played a vital role in...
A Collection of...
Collections: Life, Work, Death and the Peasant, Part I: Households This is the first post in a series discussing the basic contours of life – birth, marriage, labor,...
a month ago
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a month ago
This is the first post in a series discussing the basic contours of life – birth, marriage, labor, subsistence, death – of pre-modern peasants and their families. Prior to the industrial revolution, peasant farmers of varying types made up the overwhelming majority of people in...
TheCollector
What Are the 5 Biggest Islands in the World? Less than 30 percent of the world’s surface is covered in land, yet this is still a massive amount...
a month ago
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a month ago
Less than 30 percent of the world’s surface is covered in land, yet this is still a massive amount of space that humans have sought to explore and exploit. Included in all this land are around 200,000 islands.   From the icy Arctic to the tropics, here are the five biggest...
Flashbak
1960s London Through A Russian Horizont Panoramic Camera We’ve been to East London in the 1960s with Tony Hall before, heading down the pub and to the shops....
a month ago
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a month ago
We’ve been to East London in the 1960s with Tony Hall before, heading down the pub and to the shops. Now we get to see the streets in panoramic pictures taken by his Horizont (Горизонт) camera. Made between 1967 and 1973 by Russia’s Krasnogorsky Mekhanichesky Zavod (KMZ), the...
TheCollector
Medieval Battles Marked by Stunning Underdog Victories Medieval battles were brutal, blood-soaked grind. Clever tactics and strong leadership often...
a month ago
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a month ago
Medieval battles were brutal, blood-soaked grind. Clever tactics and strong leadership often mattered, yet true upsets happened only when the weaker side found an edge. Whether better weapons, better tactics, knowledge of the terrain, or an unbreakable esprit de corps. The...