What the Barista is Brewing Today
Grab some espresso and dive in for some brewmination
A Century of Protest in D.C.
From veterans to civil rights, a history of marching in Washington. By Dr. Alexander SternWriter/EditorThe Learning Agency Marching on Washington may seem an obvious recourse for a national protest movement today, but it wasn’t until more than a century after the District of Columbia’s founding in 1791 that protesters first marched on the Capitol. The[…]
The History and Mythology of the Mayflower Arrival in 1620
Today that potent myth is enshrined (literally) on the sea shore under its classically-inspired canopy. By Martyn Whittock The Mayflower and its ‘Pilgrims’ reminds us of an event which has entered into the cultural DNA of the United States. This is so, despite the fact that those who sailed and settled did so as English[…]
The Umayyad Dynasty of the Middle East, 661-749 CE
The glory of the Umayyads was not to last. Introduction The Dome of the Rock. The Great Mosque in Damascus. The Great Mosque in Córdoba. These remarkable architectural and artistic achievements are associated with the Umayyads, “first” dynasty of the Islamic World. After the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632 C.E., there was a[…]
The Ancient Mediterranean Bronze Age Collapse
When the collapse had run its course, the Mediterranean region entered a “dark age”. Introduction The Bronze Age Collapse (also known as Late Bronze Age Collapse) is a modern-day term referring to the decline and fall of major Mediterranean civilizations during the 13th-12th centuries BCE. The precise cause of the Bronze Age Collapse has been[…]
A Short History of the Buddhist Schools
Today, the four major Buddhist branches are Mahayana, Theravada, Vajrayana and Zen Buddhism. Introduction Like any other religious tradition, Buddhism has undergone a number of different transformations that have led to the emergence of many different Buddhist schools. Analyzing the major Buddhist traditions, we find a great number of topics ranging from moral concerns (which[…]
The Ancient Indian Kingdom of Magadha: Wars and Warfare
Most of the royal actors in this story of expansion were contemporaries of the Buddha and had interacted with him. Introduction In ancient India from the 6th century BCE onwards, the kingdom of Magadha (6th century BCE to 4th century BCE) made a mark for itself. Located in the eastern part of India in what[…]
How Google, Apple and Microsoft Will Change Education in the Future
Technology is the driving factor that will change the face of education in the years to come. This is evident over the last few years with devices and online tutorials edging their way into the school curriculum. The giant companies such as Google, Apple and Microsoft are the main players who strive for improving the[…]
Gothic Motifs in Literature in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Discussing some of the best-known Gothic novels of the late 18th and 19th centuries and exploring the features they have in common. Introduction Gothic is a literary genre, and a characteristically modern one. The word ‘genre’ comes from the Latin ‘genus’ which means ‘kind’. So to ask what genre a text belongs to is to[…]
Beowulf: History, Legend, and Mythology
Analyzing how historical, legendary, and mythological elements are woven through the text of Beowulf? Introduction Although acknowledged as a foundational work of English literature, the complicated and allusive style of the longest epic poem in Old English often intimidates teachers and students alike. This digital collection will help educators to read and teach the work[…]
The Impact of the Norman Conquest of England
The conquest saw the Norman elite replace that of the Anglo-Saxons. By Mark CartwrightHistorian Introduction The Norman conquest of England, led by William the Conqueror (r. 1066-1087 CE) was achieved over a five-year period from 1066 CE to 1071 CE. Hard-fought battles, castle building, land redistribution, and scorched earth tactics ensured that the Normans were[…]
A Brief Biography of William the Conqueror
An accomplished diplomat, gifted military commander, and ruthless overlord. By Mark CartwrightHistorian Introduction William the Conqueror (c. 1027-1087 CE), also known as William, Duke of Normandy and William the Bastard, led the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 CE when he defeated and killed his rival Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings. Crowned King[…]
The Roman Toga
The toga has become the quintessential male garment of antiquity. By Mark CartwrightHistorian Introduction The toga was a garment worn by men who were citizens of Rome and which consisted of a single length of wool cloth cut in a semicircle and wrapped around the body of the wearer without any fastenings. The toga was[…]
The Heroic Cult of Agamemnon in Ancient Greece
Agamemnon received heroic worship from the establishment of the sanctuary at Amyklai along with his consort Kassandra, known locally as Alexandra. The Atrid Agamemnon received cult in two Peloponnesian towns, Mycenae and Amyklai, both of which claimed to have his grave. The conflicting reports about the location of his grave correspond to early variations in the literary[…]
Historical Hacks to Become a Leader: Take an Example from Global Leaders
Not everyone is born a leader, but it is possible to get better at it. This entails having a vision, knowing goals, and the ways to inspire people to follow. Being a leader doesn’t mean that one can do everything; it also means the ability to communicate and delegate tasks when it is reasonable. Here[…]
Top 5 Oldest Universities Worldwide
Educational institutions that have a long history have always fascinated young aspiring learners. They have a great heritage, and many remain relevant and active until today. Such entities offer classical courses as well as many modern specialties. Studying in these universities might be challenging as is it requires great effort and dedication. However, it is[…]
Why Medieval Weapons Are Popular Among American Collectors
The medieval period is often described as the “time of ignorance and superstition”. The king, his knights, and people were very superstitious. Anything out of the ordinary would draw superstition. While superstition played a major role in the people’s lives of the medieval period, safety was always a concern. Only the soldiers, archers, and knights[…]
The Aviator’s Heart: A Brazilian Pilot in the Early 20th Century
It was the turn of the twentieth century, a golden age for inventors and tinkerers. Introduction Amidst hangars full of airplanes and aviation memorabilia, visitors to Brazil’s National Air and Space Museum encounter a much stranger object. It is a gold plated celestial globe, supported by a marble statue of an Icarus-like figure with its[…]
CSI Buenos Aires: The Crime on Prudan Street, 1910
Headlines from that era that reveal a deeper history of popular interest in crime dramas, one that feels very familiar today. Ester Naddeo was dead. She had been living at 127 Calle Prudan in Buenos Aires for about four months. But on Sunday, the ninth of January, 1910, her corpse was removed from the apartment[…]
Restoring Old Havana
Preserving place and building community in Cuba’s capital. Originally published by ESRI, republished with permission for ecuational, non-commercial purposes.
Chocolate in Mesoamerica
Beans were a commonly traded item, very often demanded as tribute from subject tribes and even used as a form of currency by the Aztecs. By Mark CartwrightHistorian Chocolate was one of the most desired foods of Mesoamerica and was consumed by the Olmec, Maya, and Aztec civilizations, amongst others. Its consumption even spread via[…]
Inca Mummies
Incan mummies (mallki) which escaped looters have, in most cases, been excellently preserved. By Mark CartwrightHistorian Introduction The Inca civilization of Peru, as with many other ancient Andean cultures, mummified many of their dead and buried them with valuable materials such as precious metal jewellery, fine pottery, and sumptuous textiles. Important mummies could also be[…]
Comparing Egyptian and Incan Mummification Processes
Both the Egyptian and Inca cultures treated their deceased differently based on social hierarchy within the culture. By Emma J. Williams Abstract This two-year research project was carried out as part of SUNY Potsdam’s Presidential Scholars program which allows undergraduates to conduct independent research. The project employs controlled laboratory experiments to compare desiccation rates in[…]
The Medieval Garden of the Humble Administrator in Suzhou, China
Designed at human scale, Chinese gardens are meant to be comfortable, intriguing, and pleasing at every turn. Introduction Extensive gardens are recorded in China from the third century B.C.E. onward. The scholar’s garden is often considered the most complete expression of the Chinese garden, especially in the late Ming (1573-1644) and Qing dynasties (1616-1911). These[…]
Temujin: The Reign of Genghis Khan, 1206-1227
Genghis Khan built the foundations of an empire which would ultimately control one-fifth of the globe. By Mark CartwrightHistorian Introduction Genghis Khan (aka Chinggis Khan, c. 1162/67-1227 CE) was the founder of the Mongol Empire (1206-1368 CE) which he would rule from 1206 until his death in 1227 CE. Born Temujin, he acquired the title[…]
The Rashtrakuta Dynasty of Medieval South India
By Saurav Ranjan Datta Introduction The Rashtrakuta Dynasty ruled parts of South India from the 8th to the 10th century CE. At its zenith, their kingdom included the modern state of Karnataka in its entirety along with parts of the current Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Their importance can be gauged from the[…]
Ancient Geography of India
Looking at the sum of knowledge when Alexander began his conquests from Macedon, the tiny kingdom in distant Greece. By Sanujit The first text in Greek devoted entirely to India was written by Ctesias in the fourth century BCE. Only fragments of it survive. Yet he was probably the most widely quoted author on India,[…]
Ten Hidden Ancient Treasures in Caria, Turkey
Caria was ruled by satraps who were subject to Cyrus the Great. Introduction Located at the crossroads of many ancient civilizations, Turkey is a haven for archaeology lovers. Over the centuries, a succession of empires and kingdoms – Hittite, Lydian, Persian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine and, finally, Ottoman – ruled over Anatolia. The country’s unique cultural[…]
Pirates in the Ancient Mediterranean
Piracy was engaged in by governments and was often considered a legitimate act of war. Introduction Piracy, defined as the act of attacking and robbing a ship or port by sea, had a long history in the ancient Mediterranean stretching from the time of the Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten (r. 1353-1336 BCE) and throughout the Middle Ages (c. 476-1500 CE). Piracy in[…]
Grand Illusion: The Art of Theatrical Design in the 20th Century
Exploring visual elements that deepens our comprehension of another world across the footlights and under the proscenium. Introduction Transporting an audience from their time and place to an entirely different world—tucked under and behind the proscenium arch—is the task of the theatrical designer. The designer must invoke the magnificent and the intimate with scenery, costumes,[…]
Stagestruck!: Performing Arts Caricatures in the Early 20th Century
Celebrities of song, stage, and screen were transformed into popular icons of American culture. Introduction During the early twentieth century, performing arts caricature came of age as an art form in the United States as celebrities of song, stage, and screen were transformed into popular icons of American culture. Caricatures played a prominent role in[…]
