What the Barista is Brewing Today
Grab some espresso and dive in for some brewmination
Vital Hasson: The Jew Who Worked for the Nazis Hunting Down Refugees
Vital Hasson was born into the Jewish community of Salonica, Greece. After World War II, he was executed for helping the Nazis destroy that community. By Dr. Sarah Abrevaya SteinProfessor of HistoryMaurice Amado Chair in Sephardic StudiesSady and Ludwig Kahn Director, Alan D. Leve Center for Jewish StudiesUniversity of California, Los Angeles I learned a[…]
Hatred and a Burning Cross: A History of the Ku Klux Klan since 1865
A history of wild, irrational, killing hate and violence against others simply because of their race, nationality, religion, or lifestyle. Originally published by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), March 2011, republished for educational, non-commercial purposes.
Universitas Magistrorum et Scholarium: Higher Education in the Middle Ages
This Western-style organizational form gradually spread from the medieval Latin west across the globe. Introduction A medieval university was a corporation organized during the Middle Ages for the purposes of higher education. The first Western European institutions generally considered universities were established in the Kingdom of Italy (then part of the Holy Roman Empire), the[…]
Libraries in the Medieval and Renaissance Periods
The library-era, as we may call it, began with the publication of the Rule of S. Benedict in the early in the sixth century. Lecture by Dr. John Willis Clark, 06.13.1894English Academic and Antiquarian A library may be considered from two very different points of view: as a workshop, or as a Museum. The former[…]
The Medieval Cathari: Religious Sect Wiped Out in the Albigensian Crusade
The Roman Catholic Church regarded the sect as heretical, and the Vatican launched the Albigensian Crusade to crush the movement. Introduction The Cathari (also known as Cathars,Albigensians, or Catharism) were followers of a controversial religious sect that flourished in the Languedoc region of France between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries before they were eradicated by[…]
Hildegard of Bingen: Early Medieval Christian Mystic
Hildegard of Bingen was called the “Sibyl of the Rhine” because of her apocalyptic visions. Introduction Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179), also known as Blessed Hildegard and Saint Hildegard, was a German religious teacher, prophetess, and abbess. At a time when women were often not recognized in the public and religious sphere she was also an[…]
The New London Docks, 1800-1830
William Daniell’s prints of the new docks represented London’s modernization in particularly exultant terms. Introduction From 1800, London’s dock system was revolutionised, and many commemorative prints were published to celebrate the transformation. William Daniell’s prints of the new docks represented London’s modernisation in particularly exultant terms. Alice Rylance-Watson explores. In the 1790s a formidable and[…]
The Peasants’ Revolt in Medieval England, 1381
The consequences of the revolt were limited. By Mark CartwrightHistorian Introduction The Peasants’ Revolt, also known as the Great Revolt, was a popular uprising in England in June 1381 CE. Beginning in the south-east and spreading to London and elsewhere, the rebellion’s leaders, who included Wat Tyler, did not want to remove King Richard II of[…]
Ancient Chinese Philosophy
Chinese culture as a whole has been shaped by the influence of ancient intellectual leaders. Introduction Chinese philosophy is the intellectual tradition of the Chinese culture from their early recorded history to the present day. The main topics of Chinese philosophy were heavily influenced by the ideas of important figures like Lao-Tzu, Confucius, Mencius, and[…]
Ancient Chinese Art
Ancient Chinese artists were not professionals but gentlemen amateurs (and a few ladies) who were also scholars. By Mark CartwrightHistorian Introduction Ancient China covered a vast and ever-changing geopolitical landscape, and the art it produced over three millennia is, unsurprisingly, just as varied. Still, despite continuous indigenous technical developments, changes in materials and tastes, and[…]
The Long Evolutionary Journey to the Human Brain
We have more neurons in our cortices than any other species, courtesy of an early technology – and along with them came our long, slow lives. Here’s something new to consider being thankful for at the dinner table: the long evolutionary journey that gave you your big brain and your long life. Courtesy of our[…]
Primate Research Pushes Timeline for Speech Evolution Back by 27 Million Years
Researchers say it’s time to finally discard a decades-old theory about the origins of human language. Introduction Sound doesn’t fossilize. Language doesn’t either. Even when writing systems have developed, they’ve represented full-fledged and functional languages. Rather than preserving the first baby steps toward language, they’re fully formed, made up of words, sentences and grammar carried[…]
How to Choose the Right Vape Juice for Your Needs
Whether you are a vaping newbie or have a long history of vaping CBD, you might be wondering if you picked the right juice. The crucial thing to note is that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. That is because choosing a vape juice largely depends on your preferences and expectations. CBDfx has a huge variety[…]
A History of Civilization and Culture in Central America
In pre-Columbian times, most of modern Central America was part of the Mesoamerican civilization. Introduction Central America is the region of North America located between the southern border of Mexico and the northwest border of Colombia, in South America. Some geographers classify Central America as a large isthmus, and in this geographic sense it sometimes[…]
A History of Civilization and Culture in South America
By 2000 BCE, many agrarian village communities had been settled throughout the Andes and the surrounding regions. Introduction South America is a continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the western hemisphere and mostly in the southern hemisphere. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east by[…]
Art and Architecture of Japan, Medieval to Renaissance Periods
There was new development toward life-likeness and a form of idealized realism. Kamakura Period (1185-1333): New Aesthetic Directions The Insei rule gave way to an extra-imperial, although imperially sanctioned, military government, known in Japanese as bakufu. Military leaders—called shōguns—first came from the Minamoto family (whose headquarters in Kamakura gave the name to the period), then power[…]
Art and Architecture of Japan, Ancient Jomon to Medieval Heian Periods
The arts of Japan are profoundly intertwined with the country’s long and complex history. Introduction Japan’s arts are often in dialogue with artistic and cultural developments in other parts of the world. From the earliest aesthetic expressions of the Neolithic period to today’s contemporary art—here is a brief survey to get you started. Please note[…]
Bharatavarsha: A History of Ancient India
India has often been overlooked, especially in the West, about the contributions of its rich history and culture to civilization. Introduction India is a country in South Asia whose name comes from the Indus River. The name ‘Bharata’ is used as a designation for the country in their constitution referencing the ancient mythological emperor, Bharata,[…]
Art and Architecture of South Asia, Prehistory to 500 CE
Art is a wonderfully tangible pathway to past cultures. By Dr. Arathi Menon Introduction Art is a wonderfully tangible pathway to past cultures. In the large collar of a tiny terracotta dog from Harappa, in present-day Pakistan, we learn about people and their dogs four thousand years ago. In beds made of stone inside rock-cut[…]
The 1900 Total Eclipse That Helped Prove Einstein’s Theory of Relativity
It was a matter of the right eclipse, the right place, and the right time. By Charles EmmersonHistorian and Author When Albert Einstein published the first draft of his general relativity theory in 1911, it predicted that light would bend when passing the gravitational pull of a large object. To verify his calculations, he needed[…]
The Real Alexander von Humboldt: A Scientist of the Romantic Age
Humboldt almost invented the electric battery– in fact, he came very close. Alexander von Humboldt was born 250 years ago this fall. As his legacy is celebrated across the globe, I continue to be struck by the grandiose claims that are made about him in the existing literature. The narrative that emerges is of an intrepid explorer, striding out to[…]
Charles VI: ‘Mad King Charles’ in Medieval France
During one attack in 1393, Charles could not remember his name, did not know he was king, and fled in terror from his wife. Introduction Charles VI the Well-Beloved, later known as Charles VI the Mad (French: Charles VI le Bien-Aimé, later known as Charles VI le Fol) (December 3, 1368 – October 21, 1422)[…]
Nero: Unstable ‘Mad Emperor’ of Ancient Rome
He is traditionally viewed as the second of the so-called “Mad Emperors,” the first being Caligula. Introduction Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (December 15, 37 C.E. – June 9, 68 C.E.), born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, also called Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus, was the fifth and last Roman Emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty (54 C.E. –[…]
Ferdowsi and the ‘Epic of Kings’ in Medieval Persia
He was the author of the Shāhnāmeh (Epic of Kings), the national epic of the Persian-speaking world. Introduction Hakīm Abū l-Qāsim Firdawsī Tūsī, more commonly transliterated as Ferdowsi (also Firdowsi), (935–1020) was a highly revered Persian poet. He was the author of the Shāhnāmeh (Epic of Kings), the national epic of the Persian-speaking world. He[…]
Cyrus the Great and Religious Tolerance in Achaemenid Persia
Cyrus was far different from other kings of his time in the ways he chose to rule. “Whenever you can, act as a liberator. Freedom, dignity, wealth–these three together constitute the greatest happiness of humanity. If you bequeath all three to your people, their love for you will never die.”[1] Vision and Motivation In 550[…]
The Roots of Presidential Polling in 1935
The very first scientific horse race poll, which took place 85 years ago, was shrouded in secrecy and may have changed history. Introduction In the run-up to its January 14 debate in Des Moines, Iowa, the Democratic National Committee called on private polling firms to conduct more polls. To make it to the debate stage[…]
Roosevelt’s Smashing of Landon in the 1936 Presidential Election
Roosevelt won the greatest electoral landslide since the beginning of the two-party system in the 1850s. Introduction The 1936 United States presidential election was the 38th quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 3, 1936. In the midst of the Great Depression, incumbent Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt defeated Republican Governor Alf Landon of Kansas.[…]
Consequences of Magna Carta
Considering the Civil War, the re-issue of the charter and the formation of early forms of parliament. Introduction The agreement at Runnymede in 1215 had broad consequences for medieval England. The charter agreed at Runnymede was intended merely as the beginning of a process of reform, not an end in itself. Magna Carta’s first purpose[…]
Revival and Survival: Reissuing Magna Carta
Exploring the events that led to the reissue and revival of Magna Carta by Henry III and Edward I. As a 13th-century peace treaty, Magna Carta was a failure. Just 10 weeks after its creation, it was annulled by the Pope and the country was plunged into civil war. Yet this was by no means[…]
Tyranny, Democracy, and the Polity: Aristotle’s Politics
Aristotle argued that there were six general ways in which societies could be organized under political rule. The Greek philosopher Aristotle believed that questions of the state, how it should be organized, and how it should pursue its ends, were fundamental to the achievement of happiness. His text Politics is an exploration of different types of state[…]
