All posts filed under: Philosophy

Philosophy

What’s the History of Gin?

What’s the History of Gin?

  It is well known that the national drink of England is tea. The country, however, also has a national alcoholic drink, and that drink is gin.   Originally conceived as a medicinal drink, gin took hold of England in the 17th century and never really let go. It served as a drink for people across the class spectrum, from those wishing to drown their sorrows to those wishing to relax in a summer garden.   Since then, gin has become a popular alcoholic drink in many countries around the world and has been the inspiration for craft enterprises wishing to bring something different to the shelves of liquor stores.   What Is Gin? Gordon’s London Dry Gin. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Gin is a colorless clear liquor made from grain mash, to which juniper berries are added for flavoring. There are various similar types of gin, with different countries having different laws as to what can be labeled as gin. In the United States, for example, gin is legally classified as an alcoholic beverage …

September 1, 1939: The Invasion of Poland

September 1, 1939: The Invasion of Poland

  September 1, 1939, was the beginning of a new era. For six long years, Europe would be thrown into a maelstrom of chaos and destruction as the Germans and their allies expanded the Third Reich, humbling nations before them and subjecting the continent to the crushing authoritarian jackboot of Nazism.   Tens of millions of people would die, not just on the frontlines, but from mass executions and genocide as the Nazis stamped their rule over Europe.   Poland was the first to feel this onslaught.   The Buildup to the Invasion of Poland Map of Poland on the eve of the Second World War. Source: Saltaire Collection   Hitler came to power in 1933, and for the 12 years of Nazi rule in Germany, the country followed an irredentist policy, reforming the glory of the Second Reich by annexing neighboring territories in its bid to rebuild an empire that was destroyed by the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, which ended the First World War.   Get the latest articles delivered to your …

A Green-Hued Banksy Mural in North London

A Green-Hued Banksy Mural in North London

A new London mural by Banksy. Photo: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images.   A green-hued Banksy mural recently appeared in North London. This self-referential mural, on Hornsey Road in Finsbury Park, includes only green paint depicted on a blank wall. The mural, when observed from the correct angle, offers leaves for a barren cherry tree that stands in a small grassland area. Also, its leaves seem brutally cut, making it appear stunted.   Dozens of People Showed Up at the Location People gather to photograph the new London mural by Banksy. Photo: Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images.   The work of art has a stencilled life-size figure seated on the ground with a spray can. It appears that they have just finished painting the foliage and are staring up at their work. The artist‘s studio typically uses social media to validate new murals by sharing pictures of them. The artist just posted a picture to Instagram of the wall and tree before the greenery got added. The photographer was obviously present before to the mural’s appearance because the …

The Unification of England & the Death of the Kingdom of Mercia

The Unification of England & the Death of the Kingdom of Mercia

  The unification of England is often seen as a solely West Saxon venture, leaving out the role of the Kingdom of Mercia. However, Mercia played a vital role as Wessex’s ally and partner in the fight against Viking invaders and in establishing a unified English kingdom. This article will show how Mercia was irreversibly changed from a mighty kingdom to an Earldom subject to the West Saxon Kings as a result of this process of unification.   The Kingdom of Mercia and the Great Heathen Army Map of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms in England, by Earle Wilbur Dow, 1907, Source: Englishhistory.net   Ninth-century England comprised four kingdoms: East Anglia, Mercia, Northumbria, and Wessex. Despite a history of war, violence, and rivalry, the 840s-850s saw relatively peaceful relations between these kingdoms. This was likely motivated by a collective belief that Viking raiders were the real enemy.   By the mid-ninth century, these Scandinavian pirates had devastated several coastal regions of England. In response, Mercia began to work closely with its southern neighbor, Wessex. In the 850s, …

Who Were the Buffalo Soldiers?

Who Were the Buffalo Soldiers?

  Created in 1866, the Buffalo Soldiers were the first regular African American Army units. A special Congressional act allowed for their formation, lifting a previous ban. Four regiments were created to serve in the West. These men served with distinction, earning respect from their foes and friends, and fighting racism.   The Early Years Buffalo Soldiers 25th Infantry Source: Library of Congress   Many Buffalo Soldiers that joined were ex-slaves, often illiterate and poor. All enlistments lasted five years, with soldiers receiving $13 monthly, food, and some education. Most officers were white. These regiments served in the West, stationed at forts to battle the Native tribes. Lesser-known responsibilities included protecting settlers, cattle drives, and mail routes. All four African American regiments served at forts scattered over the West, from Fort Walla Washington to Fort Apache, Arizona.   First of the Deployments 10th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers Source: National Park Service   By 1867, the first Buffalo regiments traveled quickly, entering the Indian Wars. From then to the early 1890s, the Buffalo Soldiers fought in most …

7 of the Most Popular Hats in History

7 of the Most Popular Hats in History

  Since the very beginning of civilization, and probably even before, hats have formed an important function in human society. Designed not just for protective reasons but for aesthetics, hats became associated with popular fashion, becoming associated with groups of people and national identities, as well as the wearer’s standing in society.   They have been made from all sorts of materials, from leather and fur to cotton, felt, wool, and even plastic.   Like the cherry on top of a cake, hats became the finishing touch of outfits throughout the millennia. Different styles became predominant in different places and at different times.   Here are 7 of the most popular hats in history.   1. The Medieval Hood & its Evolution into the Chaperon A woman wearing a chaperon as a hood. Source: Celtic Webmerchant   Get the latest articles delivered to your inbox Sign up to our Free Weekly Newsletter Please check your inbox to activate your subscription Thank you! Living a life out in the fields in Europe was a common practice …

6 Unsolved Murder Mysteries Involving Historical Figures

6 Unsolved Murder Mysteries Involving Historical Figures

  The world has an ongoing fascination with murder; the popularity of true crime in television, novels, and media is a testament to this. This obsession is nothing new, but unfortunately, it’s based on reality. Murders have haunted humankind from the beginning, illustrating that evil does truly exist within some individuals. Murder is not simply reserved for the lower echelons of society but has the ability to affect anyone regardless of status. Despite their places in the annals of history, these celebrities, nobles, and other dignitaries were drawn into murder cases, whether intentionally or otherwise.    1. The Lindbergh Baby Lindbergh and his plane, the Spirit of St. Louis. Source: Zazoo Fine Art Gallery   Riding high from the success of his solo transatlantic airplane flight in 1927 (he was the first to do so), Charles “Lindy” Lindbergh was an international celebrity by 1932. He had written a Pulitzer Prize-winning book, toured the globe, and became a colonel in the Air Corps Reserve. He had married Anne Morrow in 1929, and the pair were enjoying …

Hungary in WWII: A Lesser Axis Power

Hungary in WWII: A Lesser Axis Power

  One year after the Second World War began in Europe, the Tripartite Pact was signed, establishing Germany, Italy, and Japan as the core Axis powers. However, numerous other countries have flown under the radar of common knowledge in terms of their efforts in the war. One of those countries was Hungary, which signed the Tripartite Pact and joined the Axis on November 20, 1940, making it the fourth country to join this alliance.   Hungary’s contribution to the Axis war effort would not be a token force either. Geographically and strategically, Hungary sat in a precarious position, directly between Germany and the Soviet Union.   It wasn’t just the war effort in which Hungary contributed. The 1930s saw a massive rise in nationalism in the country, and many leads were taken from Germany. Germany also pressured Hungary to commit atrocities against Jews and other ethnic minorities. As a result, Hungary’s experience during the war was one of misery and death.   Background to Hungary in World War II Admiral Miklós Horthy, the head of …

The Jōmon Period: Japan’s Mysterious Origin Story

The Jōmon Period: Japan’s Mysterious Origin Story

  Long before the age of shoguns and samurai, before the Japanese people even arrived in what is now considered their homeland, the islands were already inhabited by people who left a legacy known as Japan’s Jōmon period.   Much of the Jōmon Period remains a mystery to archeologists. The people of this time did not have a written language, and much of what is known is due to speculation. Nevertheless, there is also a substantial amount of things we do know. The Jōmon period is a fascinating part of Japan’s history.   The First People to Arrive in Japan Miso soup with Japanese littleneck clams. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Around 39,000 years ago, before human beings had settled down and started the first cities, hunter-gatherers lived following the herds of animals upon which they relied.  As a result of the Last Ice Age, lower sea levels meant that Japan’s islands were connected to each other and, importantly, to the mainland of Asia.   Japan is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire. It is …

What Are Paul Cezanne’s Most Famous Paintings?

What Are Paul Cezanne’s Most Famous Paintings?

  Widely recognized today as the ‘Father of Modern Art,’ French post-impressionist painter Paul Cezanne made some of the most monumental artworks of the late 19th and early 20th century. He took the fresh, en plein air vibrancy of Impressionism in a bold new direction, exploring how real-life objects and places could be deconstructed into faceted, structural planes. But perhaps most radical was his exploration into multiple perspective within a single image, opening up questions about the nature of perception, which went on to shape the Cubist art of Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso. Below, we take a look through Cezanne’s most ground-breaking paintings, many of which were made towards the latter part of his career.   1. The Gulf of Marseille Seen from L’Estaque, 1885 The Bay of Marseille, Seen from L’Estaque by Paul Cézanne, 1885. Source: Art Institute of Chicago   From the 1870s onwards, Cezanne made at least 20 paintings in the French fishing village of L’Estaque. They mark a pivotal moment in his life, when he moved away from the somber …