For students of the humanities…
Archeologists are dedicated to digging out details about the past, and what they find can often be surprising. Occasionally, archeology can even tell us what historical people or historical places smelled like. In this article from Smithsonian Magazine, the author discusses the implications of finding an ancient bottle of Roman perfume. link to What Did the Ancient… Continue reading Article: What Did the Ancient Romans Smell Like?
The Sumerians may well have been the first civilization based around cities in Mesopotamia, which makes it likely that they were the first such civilization anywhere. In fact, the Sumerians are credited with many "firsts": the wheel, cities, writing.... This article from the History Channel details 9 things about the Sumerians that you may not know.… Continue reading Article: 9 Things You May Not Know About the Ancient Sumerians
The Middle Ages may be long over, but that doesn't mean we aren't still discovering new things about that period. In this article from Smithsonian Magazine, the author explains new discoveries about both the Middle Ages and Ancien Rome that have been made during excavations at Exeter Cathedral in England. link to Archaeologists Discover 900-Year-Old English… Continue reading Article: Archaeologists Discover 900-Year-Old English Cathedral’s Hidden Medieval Crypt
Are you interested in the Middle Ages? If so, check out this artcle from English Heritage on some of their more ingenious (and a sometimes weird inventions). Some are a bit obvious (castles for defense), and some are a bit more obscure (the Medieval equivalent of toilets); but they all give you a look at how the… Continue reading Article: 7 INGENIOUS INVENTIONS OF THE MIDDLE AGES
Art theft is a serious problem, and many stolen treasures are lost forever (either sold to disreputable private collectors or destroyed). However, this article details an exception--a museum that was able to recover a stolen altarpiece. link to U.K. Museum Recovers 15th-Century Altar Panel Almost 50 Years After It Was Stolen
Concepts of celebrity and fame have been around for a long time. One of the early film stars, Sarah Bernhardt, embraced and celebrated her fame. She was an active participant in the creation of her reputation; and, as detailed in this article from Smithsonian Magazine, in doing so she became one of the first modern… Continue reading Article: Why Actress Sarah Bernhardt Was the First Modern Celebrity
Home decorating can be dangerous--at least if you are a Victorian that likes green. Apparently, green wallpaper was popular in the 19th Century, and it was made with arsenic. This toxic combination may have been deadly, as this article from Smithsonian Magazine details; and it may also have inspired the creation of the disturbing classic… Continue reading Article: Arsenic and Old Tastes Made Victorian Wallpaper Deadly
It can be very interesting when you find out that someone familar has more talents than you knew. This article from My Modern Met highlights one such case: actor Pierce Brosnan's painting hobby and the exhibition of his work. link to Actor Pierce Brosnan Debuts His First Solo Exhibition of His Deeply Personal Paintings
Hayao Miyazaki is the cofounder of Japan's Studio Ghibli and the creator of some amazing animated films (Howl's Moving Castle is a favorite of mine). In 2010, he gave an interview during which he discussed his 50 favorite children's books. This short article from Open Culture provides the list. Even though a few of them… Continue reading Article: Hayao Miyazaki Selects His 50 Favorite Children’s Books
Have you ever heard of a pie bird? If you like to bake, you may want to consider getting one. Basically, pie birds allow your pie to vent and help to keep the bottom from getting soggy. This Taste of Home article explains how pie birds work and how you can use them to get… Continue reading Article: How to Use a Pie Bird (and Why You Should)
Seeds are potential. Environmental changes and disasters can endanger that potential, so many countries and regions have come together to try to protect that part of their heritage by creating seed banks. This article from Smithsonian Magazine showcases the greatest of these seed banks and the precious resources it protects. link to Take a Virtual… Continue reading Article: Take a Virtual Tour of the ‘Doomsday’ Seed Vault
The sea is still filled with things that are strange, mysterious, dangerous, or just annoying. In this article, CNN explains the potential problems that a giant blob of sargassum seaweed may pose to shipping and tourism in the summer of 2023. link to A 5,000-mile-wide blob of seaweed is headed for Florida, threatening tourism across… Continue reading Article: A 5,000-mile-wide blob of seaweed is headed for Florida, threatening tourism across the Caribbean
Food is an important (and often overlooked) part of culture of any people or region. This article from Smithsonian Magazine details one woman’s quest to sample Britain’s scones. link to One Woman’s Quest to Eat 244 Scones Across U.K. Is Now Complete
Can you embrace a new trend while respecting tradition? This article from My Modern Met showcases women in Japan who may have found a way to honor the old and the new. Some brides in Japan have begun to temporarily alter kimonos into beautiful wedding dresses. The best part is that the kimonos they use… Continue reading Article: Brides in Japan are Turning Their Long-Sleeve Kimonos Into Stunning Wedding Dresses
Even when we have documentation of the past, it can still be hard to figure out what actually happened. In this article from the BBC, the author discusses the particular issues that surround attempts to understand how European Medieval and Renaissance knights fought. In this case, there is a lot of documentation--more than 80 surviving… Continue reading Article: The Lost Medieval Sword Fighting Techiniqes No One Can Decode
Humanities Scholars 