Road to Liberty: Lexington and Concord

The quiet dawn in Lexington was shattered by the arrival of 700 British regulars. They marched with the goal of seizing rebel weapons and suppressing the uprising, but they were met by local Minutemen—a ragtag collection of farmers, shopkeepers, and neighbors who had answered the call to defend their homes at a moment’s notice. The […]
The West Is An Idea

Georgios Varouxakis’ immensely erudite The West: The History of an Idea is not a history of the West but a history of how and why the term came to be used. And it is a history full of surprises. To begin with, the concept of the West is relatively new. Prior to the early 19th century, reference […]
The Mother of Genghis Khan, the Great Khan

Genghis Khan, whose personal name was Temujin, was the leader of the ancient Mongol tribes. With his unparalleled talent and strategic brilliance, he unified the various Mongol tribes, established the Mongol Empire, and was elected Great Khan. He established military, political, and legal systems, and led the Mongol cavalry on conquests across Eurasia, laying the […]
Marco Polo, The First Western Traveler Recorded Ancient China?

By Cédric Rischitelli “I have not told half of what I saw and did,” were Marco Polo’s final words on his deathbed, according to the Dominican monk, Jacopo d’Acqui. In human history, few travellers are as renowned and venerated as the Venetian merchant, Marco Polo. Born in 1254, he reputedly spent a great part of […]
Solar Eclipses of History (II)

By Norma Reis Part 2: Solar Eclipses of the Middle Ages Muhammad’s Eclipse (632 CE) The founder of Islam, the prophet Muhammad, was born in Mecca in the Year of the Elephant, CE 569-570. His birth year got its name from an invasion by the Abyssinians, who used elephants in the assault. The army was […]
Swastikas: The Full Picture

By Casey Van Ommering What are your first thoughts looking at this symbol? What does it represent? If you are at all familiar with history in the 20th century, you recognize the Swastika – the symbol of the Third Reich that Hitler ruled prior to and during World War II. In 1933, the Nazis rose […]
Solar Eclipses of History (I)

By Norma Reis Introduction Since the very beginning of history, people have been amazed by what they see when they look up at the sky. Indeed, looking at the celestial sphere without the unpleasant interference of city lights is magnificent. It can sometimes mesmerise us with a deep desire of traveling out to these celestial […]
Irish Pubs: More than a Drinking Spot️

For many, drinking is more than a desire to quench their thirst. Most times, bars, cafes, and pubs provide an opportunity to enjoy many other activities. The bar and coffee culture is robust in many parts of Europe and the United States. They use these spots to get a cool drink or coffee while taking […]