One of the most detailed journals of any battle commander in history was written by the Korean admiral Yi Sun-sin. He stands as one of the largest figures in Korean and Japanese history. He was one of the greatest admirals in history who was undefeated, and repelled Japan’s invasion of Korea in the 16th century. …
Who Was the Korean Admiral and Folk Hero, Yi Sun-Sin? Read More »
Malinchista is a Mexican slang term for someone who has betrayed their country or culture in favor of another one. The root of this term has an interesting history that can be traced back to before the founding of the nation. It dates back, in fact, before the people of that land even spoke Spanish. …
La Malinche: A Complicated Legacy and Reputation Read More »
There was a time when only men could receive formal education, even in matters like obstetrics and gynecology. Though women had more firsthand experience in childbirth, the male perspective always prevailed. However, that changed when Justine Siegemund proved herself in the field of midwifery and became an irrefutable authority on the subject. Justine wrote The …
Justine Siegemund: The Mother of Obstetrics and Midwifery Read More »
It’s immediately clear from even a brief reading of history that humans have long had a knack for devising methods of torture and execution. Imagine a world where the fate of criminals extended far beyond the gallows. Where the condemned found themselves trapped in a metal cage, hanging in chains for all to see. This …
Gibbeting: A History of a Gruesome Form of Public Execution Read More »
In the long and storied history of France, the year 1789 is a demarcation line between the Old Order and what we now know as the modern country. It was a year marked by widespread hunger, protests, violence, and change. It was a year in which centuries-old concepts of social and political institutions were destroyed …
The Painful Birth and Revolution of Modern France Read More »
When people talk about war, they immediately relate it to the use of guns and other available weapons at the time. While this is not necessarily incorrect, war is not limited to one type of physical violence. Guns and ammunition are just one element of war. It also involves complex political strategies and intricate tactical …
11 Cases of Psychological Warfare Throughout History Read More »
People have always gone to great lengths to look attractive through the centuries. All different cultures and eras have seen their fair share of truly bizarre, not to mention dangerous, beauty trends. Some are weirder than others. For example, the Renaissance era saw women using leeches to achieve a pale, “ghostly” appearance. Women in 19th-century …
Six of the Most Peculiar Beauty Trends Throughout History Read More »
In 1863, the young archduke Maximilian was approached with an intriguing offer from Emperor Napoleon III of France. He wanted to know if Maximilian had any interest in becoming the emperor of Mexico, a country that he had never set foot in. At this time, Maximilian was 30 years old. He had been a naval …
How Maximilian I of France Became Emperor of Mexico Read More »
Dogs are known to be man’s best friend. But in the case of Spanish war dogs, they became vicious enemies of the people they hunted. They were bred for size, strength, and even for the taste of human flesh. They were true beasts that the Spanish employed with appalling success against the native peoples of …
Unveiling the Violent History of Spanish War Dogs Read More »
In Stockholm, Sweden, there is a museum dedicated to a single ship. Spectacular and awe-inspiring, the Vasa looms over museum crowds, giving them a surreal view of the only fully preserved 17th-century ship. The effect of looking at the Vasa and wondering what adventures the warship must have undertaken is unmatched. Except…for the Vasa, its …
The weird story of the Vasa, the ship that sunk on its maiden voyage Read More »
