Questions and Answers: Volume 44
The number 44 has great significance. It is the atomic number of ruthenium; the 44th Roman emperor was Claudius Gothicus, and the 44th pope was Sixtus III. Perhaps most importantly, 44 was the number...
1 Aug 16min
The History of Glass
It began as a rare luxury, valued alongside precious stones and guarded by skilled craftsmen. Over thousands of years, it transformed architecture, science, art, and medicine. It allowed people to...
31 Jul 17min
The Colonial History of South Africa
For centuries, the southern tip of Africa was a crossroads where oceans, empires, and peoples collided. European settlers arrived seeking supplies and profit, but their foothold eventually expanded ...
30 Jul 14min
The History of Shipping and How It Created the Modern World
Ever since the dawn of human civilization, it has been shaped by the movement of people, goods, and ideas. Yet, for almost the entirety of that time, transportation was very difficult. In some place...
29 Jul 16min
The Toledo War: Michigan vs Ohio (Encore)
Michigan and Ohio are two states renowned for their intense rivalry. When you think of the rivalry between the two states, you probably think of the rivalry between the University of Michigan and Oh...
28 Jul 15min
Timur and the Timurid Empire
In the late 14th century, a warrior emerged from Central Asia and built an empire through relentless campaigning, political calculation, and extraordinary brutality. His armies swept across Persia, ...
27 Jul 15min
The Mormon Migration and the Creation of Utah
In the middle of the 19th century, thousands of adherents to a new religion abandoned their homes, crossed rivers, endured brutal winters, and traveled more than a thousand miles into an uncertain wil...
26 Jul 14min
The Age of Enlightenment
For centuries, political authority, religious doctrine, and inherited tradition shaped how most Europeans understood the world. Then a generation of writers, scientists, and philosophers began insis...
25 Jul 15min
