Perpetual Learning
It’s fascinating to consider how much travel has changed. My work often takes me to archives and historical sites, and a recent thought experiment about packing for an 18th-century journey got me thinking about the essentials. Specifically, what did people carry for their personal care and well-being? Imagine embarking on a journey across Europe in … Read more
It might seem odd to connect the Neolithic period with the Galloroman era, but for a historian like me, especially one who spends a good deal of time digging through archives, the continuity and change found in skeletal remains across these vast periods are incredibly revealing. My recent research has taken me deep into the … Read more
As an archivist, I’ve spent countless hours sifting through dusty documents, often feeling like I’m stepping back in time. Today, I want to take you on a journey through a particularly fascinating period: the very beginnings of electronic computing. It’s a story of ingenious minds and remarkable leaps in technology. Long before the sleek devices … Read more
Hello fellow history enthusiasts! Rowan here. While my usual focus is the 18th century, I recently stumbled upon a fascinating archaeological discovery that offered a unique window into much older times: a Gallo-Roman cremation cemetery in Pommerœul, Belgium. It got me thinking about how we, as humans, have approached death and remembrance across vast stretches … Read more
As a historian specializing in the 18th century, I often find myself drawn to the everyday challenges people faced and the ingenious solutions they devised. While we might associate the Enlightenment with grand philosophical debates and scientific discoveries, it was also a period of significant, often unheralded, technological advancement in areas that directly impacted daily … Read more
Ancient Shark Surfaces at Mammoth Cave: A Glimpse into Earth’s Deep Past Hello fellow history enthusiasts and intrepid travelers! Rowan here. Today, I’m thrilled to share a discovery that bridges my passions for history, research, and the wonders of our planet. It seems even the deepest caves can hold echoes of life from epochs long … Read more
Summer is here, and with it, the urge to explore. For many of us, that exploration includes our four-legged companions. But what if you also have a deep appreciation for history, particularly the stories held within abandoned places? My own passion for uncovering the past, often in less-traveled corners of the world, naturally led me … Read more
It’s July 29th, 2025, and I’m currently nestled in a small café in Vienna, poring over some rather fascinating 18th-century travel diaries. As anyone who’s ever joined a group tour knows, the company you keep can make or break the experience. It got me thinking – was this a concern for travelers centuries ago? In … Read more
It’s easy to take the internet for granted today. With a few taps, we can connect with anyone, anywhere. But this seamless global communication didn’t just appear out of nowhere. Long before the first email was sent or a website was loaded, a different kind of network was already shrinking the world: the telegraph. My … Read more
It’s easy to take the smart controls in our factories for granted today. Flick a switch, and a complex assembly line hums to life, orchestrated by unseen digital brains. But these systems, the Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) we rely on, have a fascinating history. My years spent sifting through dusty archives revealed the ingenious steps … Read more