Category: History Insights
-
Forty Days: How Venice and Ragusa Invented Quarantine
In 1377 Ragusa made ships wait a month offshore. Venice turned the idea into forty days, island hospitals and health passports. Here is how two medieval ports invented quarantine, and why every lockdown since is their descendant.
-
Al-Khwarizmi and the House of Wisdom: The Man Who Gave Us the Algorithm
In 820s Baghdad an outsider from the Silk Road wrote a book with no symbols that named algebra and, through a Latin misspelling of his name, the algorithm. Meet al-Khwarizmi, the House of Wisdom, and the recipe still running inside your phone.
-
Black Sails and the Real Republic of Pirates: How Nassau Actually Worked
Black Sails got the Golden Age of piracy right: the real Republic of Pirates at Nassau, 1715 to 1718, ran on elected captains, equal shares, written articles and the next prize. Here is how Hornigold, Vane, Blackbeard and Woodes Rogers actually played it.
-
Shōgun: What the Hit Series and James Clavell Got Right About Japan in 1600
FX’s Shōgun and James Clavell’s novel are built on real people: Tokugawa Ieyasu, the English pilot William Adams and Hosokawa Gracia in the year of Sekigahara. Here is what the series gets right, what Clavell bent, and why Toranaga never believed in bushido.
-
The Perils of Time Travel to Ancient Rome
Forget Hollywood glamor or whimsical time-travel adventures. Journeying to Ancient Rome as a modern person would be jarring, disorienting, and quite dangerous. Let’s ditch the rose-tinted glasses and take a hard look at the logistical nightmare you’d face: The Disease Dilemma Before setting foot outside your time machine, you’d better be immune to everything and…
-
4 Relatively Unknown But Long-Lived Empires In History
Throughout human history, the world has seen an infinite number of empires known to mankind. While some of these kingdoms have enjoyed great success spanning centuries of continuous rule, others have perished as quickly as they have risen to power. However, no empire is indestructible, with politics, leadership, and disunity all factors affecting a ruler’s…
-
5 Bloodiest Battles That Changed the Course of our History
Throughout history, an uncountable number of soldiers have staked their lives on the battlefield hoping to be part of a more significant cause. Standing strong at the front of the line, one can only imagine the anxiety, fear, and adrenaline that the warriors must be experiencing, not knowing how destiny will run its course. Bloodshed…
-
From Archers to Architects: 5 Brilliant Mongol Empire Innovations
The pages of history testify that the Mongol Empire, an extensive empire stretching across Asia and Europe during the 13th and 14th centuries, was more than a conqueror’s realm. The Mongols promoted new ideas, technologies, and cultural exchanges. Here, we will discuss how the five innovations Mongol Empire promoted and how their legacy still affects…
-
CIA’s Dark Tactics: Assassination Attempts on Foreign Leaders Decoded
The world of intelligence agencies, particularly the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), is mysterious and intriguing. Over the years, numerous conspiracy theories have emerged, suggesting that the CIA may have been involved in assassination attempts on foreign leaders to further American interests. In this article, we will delve into five notable incidents that have fueled speculation…
-
The Islamic Golden Age: An Inspiring Tale of Science, Art, and Philosophy
From the 8th to the 14th century, the Islamic Golden Age of Science was a time of outstanding academic, cultural, and scientific advancements. Islamic scholars made significant contributions to many areas of knowledge during this time. It covered astronomy, chemistry, physics, philosophy, medicine, and arithmetic. In the period of scientific advancement, the House of Wisdom,…