Some videos of the earthquake that shook the Celebes Islands on September 28, 2018, followed by a tsunami, are still trending topic. This disaster claimed two thousand lives, with an additional five thousand people missing. The destructive power of nature is undeniable, especially considering that the event “only” reached 5.1 on the moment magnitude scale […]
Jorge Álvarez
Degree in History and Diploma in Archival and Library Science. Founder and director of Apuntes magazine (2002-2005). Creator of the blog El Viajero Incidental. Travel and tourism blogger since 2009 in Viajeros. Editor of LBV Magazine.
Posted inModern Era
Ranavalona I’s Bloody Crusade Against Christianity and Foreign Influence: The Ruthless Queen Who Defended Madagascar’s Traditions
Some 19th-century historians described her as the modern Messalina; others as a female Caligula. Meanwhile, Ida Laura Pfeiffer, an explorer and travel writer who traveled around the world twice in the mid-19th century, said of her that she was one of the proudest and cruelest women on the face of the Earth, and her entire […]
Posted inModern Era
The Story of Bíawacheeitchish, the Female Chief of the Crow People
Although the native cultures of North America were non-literate, oral tradition and contact with the white people have allowed us to know the names and stories of many of their chiefs and warriors. However, the situation changes when we talk about women, and at least in general terms, we barely know a few names, with […]
Posted inCulture, Middle Ages
Siglas Poveiras: The Unusual Proto-Writing Left by Vikings to Portuguese Fishermen
Porto is one of the typical destinations for a vacation or tourist visit in Portugal. However, for those who are already familiar with the city or seek something beyond the usual, a trip to Póvoa de Varzim is highly recommended. This town, located about 30 kilometers away, boasts two particularly special spots not to be […]
Posted inAncient Rome
Stoic Opposition: The Philosophers Who Defied Roman Emperors
Opposing an established government is part of the political game, and democratic systems consider it normal. However, where power is absolute, things become much more difficult, and the problem is that, throughout history, this has been the general trend. That is why it is surprising to discover that in a regime as autocratic as the […]
Posted inModern Era
German Empire: The Unprecedented Federal State Formed by Kingdoms, Principalities, Duchies, and Republics, Where the Ruler Was Both Monarch and President
It is not the parliament that must grant it. With this terse statement, Frederick William IV of Prussia rejected the title of Kaiser der Deutschen (Emperor of the Germans) offered to him by the Frankfurt parliamentarians after the 1848 Revolution, as he believed it should be an initiative of the German princes. It was not […]
Posted inModern Era
Shiroyama, the Epic Battle That Marked the End of the Samurai
Some time ago, we published an article titled Saigō Takamori, the True Story of the Last Samurai, recounting the story of this singular figure, ending with a brief narration of his death. He perished in the Battle of Shiroyama, a fight that marked the end of the so-called Satsuma Rebellion. This occurred amidst the turbulent, […]
Posted inSecond World War
How the Germans Developed and Used the First Operational Jet Bomber in History During World War II
The first operational jet bomber in history was called the Arado Ar 234 Blitz and entered service with the Luftwaffe in 1943 during World War II. It participated in several operations, demonstrating a speed that made it impossible for enemy fighters to intercept. However, it did not have the impact it could have had because […]
Posted inMiddle Ages
Tamerlane, the Turco-Mongol Leader Who Formed an Alliance with the Kingdom of Castile in the 15th Century
The National Library of Spain preserves one of the most fascinating travel books from the Late Middle Ages, following the tradition of other illustrious literary travelers such as Marco Polo, John Mandeville, Ibn Battuta, and others. It is impossible to determine who authored it, with speculation suggesting that it might have been King Henry III […]
Posted inAncient Greece
Agathocleia, the Greek Queen Who Ruled Northern India
Women were relegated to secondary roles in Ancient Greece, which is why most queenly names belong to mythology: Jocasta, Leda, Pelops, Gorgophone, Aglaea… A few historical ones could be added, but they ruled only as consorts, such as Stratonice of Cappadocia, Philistis, Nereis of Epirus, or Stratonice of Pergamum. However, during the Hellenistic Period, things […]
