Less than ten years after the beginning of the War of the First Coalition, self-proclaimed Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte led France abroad to the shores of Northern Egypt to kick off the aptly named War … [Read more...] about Words You Don’t Know: Cartouche
History
Words You Don’t Know: Sockdologizing
Have you ever been nagged? Has someone ever gotten your goat? Ever need someone to step off? You know the feeling of being sockdologized. At least, probably. We don’t exactly know for sure the true … [Read more...] about Words You Don’t Know: Sockdologizing
Words You Don’t Know: Prosopography
In every good cop show or conspiracy thriller, there is always some kind of map or chart with pins and string connecting a bunch of profiles of individuals to a central theme. Normally we think of … [Read more...] about Words You Don’t Know: Prosopography
Pounds and Pirates: How British Privateers Got Between the US and the SI
The year is 1794. Joseph Dombey, a prominent French botanist, cowers below deck as his ship is boarded by British privateers. While such a thing is not uncommon at the time for ships brave enough to … [Read more...] about Pounds and Pirates: How British Privateers Got Between the US and the SI
Collegiate Lenses: a “Ken Burns, The Civil War” Drinking Game
The documentary series crafted by Ken Burns following the Civil War is a staple of binge watching, high school classrooms, and PBS reruns. The compilation of the antiquated photos, military marching … [Read more...] about Collegiate Lenses: a “Ken Burns, The Civil War” Drinking Game
Words You Don’t Know: Numismatics
Historical studies compile limitless amounts of written data from various sources to create snapshots of bygone civilizations. Over time, artifacts are destroyed, cities are lost, and whole cultures … [Read more...] about Words You Don’t Know: Numismatics