Most people have never heard of Wemding. It is a small municipality in the Swabia region, located on the banks of the Danube River in the German state of Bavaria. Its beautiful medieval old town is its main tourist attraction, along with the Altmühltal Nature Park and the neighboring astrobleme (a crater caused by a […]
History
The line of demarcation between prehistoric and historical times is crossed when people cease to live only in the present, and become consciously interested both in their past and in their future. History begins with the handing down of tradition; and tradition means the carrying of the habits and lessons of the past into the future. Records of the past begin to be kept for the benefit of future generations. (E.H. Carr)
How the Referee of the Battle of Santiago Invented Red and Yellow Cards in Soccer
That a soccer match is referred to as a battle is already an indication that unusual things happened during it. But beyond that, that encounter had a decisive influence on soccer as we know it today because it led to the invention of the yellow and red cards for warnings and expulsions. The main protagonist […]
The “Instructions of Amenemhat”, the First and Only Pharaoh Assassinated by a Conspiracy in the Royal Harem
The Instructions of Amenemhat, also known as The Teaching of King Amenemhat I to His Son Senusret, is a literary work from ancient Egypt that belongs to the sebayt genre, characterized by the transmission of teachings and moral advice. This poem, written during the Middle Kingdom, takes the form of a dramatic monologue in which […]
Quality of Life During the Roman Empire Was Higher in the Countryside Than in the Cities, According to a Bioarchaeological Analysis
A recent bioarchaeological study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports investigates the differences in lifestyle between urban and rural inhabitants of Roman Italy during the imperial period. The study, based on the analysis of skeletal remains from two distinct necropolises—one in the rural area of Contrada Nevola (Corinaldo) and the other in the […]
Cincinnatus, the Dictator Who Voluntarily Renounced His Power Twice After Saving Rome
In Italy, it is not uncommon to find streets and neighborhoods named Cincinnatus, but even more familiar is the name of a city in the American state of Ohio. Although similar, these names have different origins: the U.S. city is named after The Society of Cincinnati (a society of veterans of the Revolution), while the […]
Three Brothers-in-Law Dominated the Near East in the 6th Century BC, Until Cyrus the Great Changed History
In the 6th century BC, the Near East was dominated by three powerful kingdoms: the Median Empire of Astyages, the Neo-Babylonian Empire of Nebuchadnezzar II, and the Lydian Kingdom of Croesus. These three great kings were related by marriage: Astyages had married Arienis, sister of Croesus, while Nebuchadnezzar II had married Amytis, daughter of Astyages, […]
Louis-Sébastien Lenormand, the Man Who Made the First Documented Parachute Jump in 1783—Which He Himself Invented
The list of inventors is constantly being revised: Marconi and the radio, Bell and the telephone, Edison and the light bulb, Benz and the automobile… All are debatable and debated because, often, what they did was simply register the patent before others or develop a commercially viable model. The parachute is another example of multiple […]
Surprising Geometric Patterns on Middle Paleolithic Stone Artifacts Found in Levant Caves Were Deliberately Engraved
A recent study has shed new light on the cognitive and cultural complexity of human societies during the Middle Paleolithic in the Levant. The research, led by Dr. Mae Goder-Goldberger (Hebrew University and Ben-Gurion University) and Dr. João Marreiros (Monrepos Archaeological Research Center and University of the Algarve), in collaboration with Prof. Erella Hovers (Hebrew […]
The Revolutionary Aristocrat Who Voted for the Execution of Louis XVI, Changed His Name to “Philippe Equality” and Was the Father of the Last King of France
“Let’s not waste time. You’ll do it more easily when I’m dead. Let’s get it over with as soon as possible!” These were the last words spoken by Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, addressed to his executioner on the scaffold as the latter tried to remove his boots before guillotining him. The condemned man […]
When Rasputin’s Killer Sued MGM: The Origin of the Phrase “Any Resemblance to Reality Is Purely Coincidental”
Hardly anyone recognizes the name Felix Yusupov. He was a Russian aristocrat and a member of the imperial family, whose place in history was secured by his involvement in the assassination of Rasputin—a fascinating and unique figure well known to history enthusiasts. However, that episode had a curious epilogue years later when Felix, already in […]