Book Review: Tamed by Alice Roberts
A deep dive into how humans domesticated nine key species and how that process impacted us, in which I try to ignore the modern politics bit.
Tagged: rome
Literature Reviews: The Value of Gestalt Reflection
It’s worth summarizing an entire work not just “in your own words” but with an emphasis on reframing it and focusing on what matters to you.
Ancient Priests: Practical Impacts of Early Experts
Religious institutions throughout history have served functional purposes. Priests heal, advise, judge, keep records, and perform important functions for the redistribution of wealth. It’s not all myths & silly rituals.
Reading Roundup: Heating Oil Fraud, Ancient Fire & Ice Volcanoes
Micro-reviews from my recently-read pile: ancient marriage politics, Mediterranean dyes, Hittite architecture & whales throughout the ages.
Reading Roundup: Women, War & Weird Beliefs
Micro-reviews of media I consumed recently, articles about powerful women in history, and reflections on travelogues and war.
Ancient Princesses: Diplomatic Agents & Religious Leaders
Ancient Princesses from the Levant region served as advisors, diplomats, and independent religious leaders — unlike their Egyptian counterparts.
Five SFF Stories That Shed Light on Obscure History
Echoes of history reverberate through SFF, parallels that can be hard to pick up on, but which still inform how we think about the world. (published at tor.com)
Reading Roundup: Unconventional Gods & Elitist Fashions
A wide-ranging reflection on what I learned in January, mostly about the history of fashion, ancient infrastructure, economy and war.
Transporting Information: Sending Messages in Low Tech Societies
History contains thousands of years of inspiration for creating systems for sending in fiction, from Persian couriers to African drums.
Analysis: Karen Haegemans on Elissa of Carthage
Elissa of Carthage (commonly known as Dido, the wanderer) is one of the more fascinating examples of history becoming myth. History is rife with examples of strong women dismissed as mythology...
