December 2011

Finding History With Modern Technology

Searching for the past has always been a difficult task, one that only those with brilliant minds and extreme patience were able to do with any measure of success.  Many sites may jut from the countryside and make themselves known, just waiting to be explored, but most are not as helpful.  They lay in the depths of the earth, worn down by erosion, covered in earth that has shifted over time and overgrown with thousands of years of thriving plant life.  Advances in technology are beginning to overcome these obstacles, however, making accessible many locations which would have otherwise remained hidden from us.

Origin of Stonehenge "Bluestones" Discovered

Spoiler Alert: It isn't anywhere NEAR Stonehenge.

One of the more mystifying and intriguing monuments in western history is that of Stonehenge. Built 5,000 years ago in the modern-day region of Wiltshire, England, it is made up of two concentric rings of “henge” stones. The monument was built and altered over the course of 1,500 years, with massive stones being moved across great distances by a Neolithic people that had very little technology for such work. The most recent discovery, of the birthplace of the inner “blue stones”, has only added to that mystery.

The Peasant's War

In The Holy Roman Empire

People usually think of the medieval peasant as miserable and downtrodden, but the peasants of sixteenth century Germany had managed to become fairly prosperous and no longer expected to be treated like serfs. When a series of complex economic and political changes began to erode their hard-won position, they didn't take it lying down. Instead they went to war, staging a series of massive rebellions against the feudal order between 1524 and 1526.

The Legend of 2012 - The World Ends Yet Again

People are obsessed with their own mortality, and as a consequence, people become obsessed with trying to predict the end of the world.  In the last 20 years, a half-dozen such predictions have been made and, without fail, each has turned out to be false.  The latest in this Armageddon-welcoming behavior is based on the Mayan calendar.

The Pennamite-Yankee Wars

A Lost Chapter of American History

Did you know that the states of Pennsylvania and Connecticut have fought three wars with each other, one of which was after American independence? Not many people know this, but the Pennamite-Yankee Wars really happened.

 

The reason for these forgotten conflicts was that different British monarchs granted the same areas of what is now northern Pennsylvania to both Pennsylvania and Connecticut, resulting in conflicting land claims. “Yankees” from Connecticut moved in to settle the area, but so did “Pennamites” from Pennsylvania. It didn't take long before the two sides were shooting at each other, and then the militias of the rival colonies got in on the act.

"The Iron Lady"

Learn a few facts about Margaret Thatcher before Meryll's movie.

Meryll Streep's new movie, The Iron Lady will be released on December 30 in limited release here in the States. Streep plays Margaret Thatcher, the first British female Prime Minster. What better to time to get to know Britain's "Lady" a bit better? Here are a few facts about the woman who earned Meryll another ticket to the Oscars:

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The Mayan Calendar

Not Necessarily The End

It has long been rumored that the world would end in the year 2012 courtesy of theories based on the Mayan calendar. Scientists, however; believe that the Mayan prophecy simple predict the end of one cycle and the beginning of a new creation cycle. Meanwhile, rumors continue to fill online forums and other venues regarding our cataclysmic end.

The Single-Minded League

Peasant Rebels of Feudal Japan

When we think of medieval Japan, we usually think about the samurai. Most of us don't think about the “ikki” or peasant leagues, because most of us have never heard of them, but the historical truth is that the peasant armies of the “ikki” thrashed samurai forces on many occasions, and even drove them completely out of one province before their eventual defeat.

Restoring Pompeii

The city of Pompeii, buried beneath the ashes of Mount Vesuvius for nearly 1700 years, is one of the most well-preserved examples of a Roman-era city in the world.  In 79 CE the fateful event occurred that would bury Pompeii and it was not until the 18th century that it would be rediscovered, excavated and restored.  But the condition of this archaeological marvel is becoming the cause of much concern from historians and conservationists everywhere.

Ancient Egyptians

The Basics

The world consists of many cultures, societies, religions and eras gone by, but none has fascinated the people like the mysteries of ancient Egypt. Among the pyramids and sands remain countless stories to be discovered and told. The sands hold information and secrets that have yet to be revealed, leaving humanity to continuously search for answers.

The Origin of Gods and Goddesses

Early Egyptians believed that gods and goddesses controlled every aspect of their lives from the birth of children to the growing seasons for crops. Each deity had its place in the circle of life and how it was to unfold.  Egyptians believed that making them angry brought about plagues, drought, and famine and when the gods were pleased, the earth was fertile, alive, and without strife.

Egyptians further believed that the world was created from the dark waters of chaos.  Mythology states that one day from the dark waters issued forth a mound that formed a hill and on this hill stood Atum; the first god. Atum then created the god of air, Shu, and the goddess of moisture, Tefnut, who in turn birthed offspring that ruled the earth, Geb, and the sky, Nut. Geb and Nut gave birth to the king, Osiris, and queen, Isis, of the world. The good king's brother, Seth, was jealous and desired to rule the world himself and killed the good king. Osiris went to the underworld but before his death the good king fathered a son, Horus. Horus then battled to regain the throne successfully, making himself king of the world and his father king of the underworld.