Christmas was one of the most important festivals, both religiously and socially, in Tudor England. This period, spanning from 1485 to 1603, saw Christmas meld into a unique blend of religious practices, political reflections, social divisions, and more. The increased pressure from the English Reformation further shaped the season, and the celebration was more than […]
Celebrating Christmas in Tudor England Read More »
Rats can be a real nuisance. They get into our food, our trash, and even our homes. But when applied in the right (or rather, wrong) ways, they can turn into something far more sinister: a form of torture so cruel that the very mention of it can be enough to compel someone to spill
Rat Torture: One Of History’s Most Barbaric Torture Methods? Read More »
While the American Civil War brewed, boiled over, and was resolved, another rebellion was taking place halfway across the world that was far more deadly. As China opened its borders to the rest of the world, the Chinese government lost the faith of its people. Political, social, and economic turbulence arose and sent the country
The Failure and Legacy of the Bloody Taiping Rebellion Read More »
The past is full of events that gained their notoriety from the death and destruction they wrought, but few of those events took place over a single night. In the city of Kolkata, then called Calcutta, one night was all it took to make a grisly mark in history, all thanks to their dungeon–the Black
The Horror of the Black Hole of Calcutta Incident Read More »
What makes someone beautiful? Some attributes, like bright eyes and a winning smile, will always be considered beautiful in a person, but there are dark marks in history where beauty was intimately linked to pain. One such practice, maybe the most painful of them all, was foot binding. Foot binding was a centuries-old Chinese tradition
The Painful Legacy of the Tradition of Foot Binding Read More »
Every conquered nation will eventually grow tired and dissatisfied with its conqueror. In 1857, India reached its boiling point. It decided to wage a mutiny against the Crown, specifically the British East India Company (EIC). The rebellion ended in a little over a year. Let’s take a look at that important time in Indian and
Sepoy Mutiny: Big Trouble for the British East India Company Read More »
What we know (or think we know) about history is only a minute sliver of what humans have accomplished and experienced over the millennia. Each year, the tireless work of archeologists adds a few more pieces to the puzzle and increases our understanding of human history. Here are some of the most important archaeological discoveries
The Most Important Archaeological Discoveries of 2023 Read More »
The history of England is filled with many military geniuses, influential politicians, and devout men of God. However, no one else may have fulfilled all three roles at once like Oliver Cromwell did. The United Kingdom as we know it today wouldn’t exist if not for Cromwell’s role in the English Civil Wars. Cromwell’s Complicated
Oliver Cromwell: The Man Who Killed a King and Changed the Course of English History Read More »
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 »
