It’s immediately clear from even a brief reading of history that humans have long had a knack for devising methods of torture and execution. Imagine a world where the fate of criminals extended far beyond the gallows. Where the condemned found themselves trapped in a metal cage, hanging in chains for all to see. This […]
Gibbeting: A History of a Gruesome Form of Public Execution Read More »
In the long and storied history of France, the year 1789 is a demarcation line between the Old Order and what we now know as the modern country. It was a year marked by widespread hunger, protests, violence, and change. It was a year in which centuries-old concepts of social and political institutions were destroyed
The Painful Birth and Revolution of Modern France Read More »
When people talk about war, they immediately relate it to the use of guns and other available weapons at the time. While this is not necessarily incorrect, war is not limited to one type of physical violence. Guns and ammunition are just one element of war. It also involves complex political strategies and intricate tactical
11 Cases of Psychological Warfare Throughout History Read More »
People have always gone to great lengths to look attractive through the centuries. All different cultures and eras have seen their fair share of truly bizarre, not to mention dangerous, beauty trends. Some are weirder than others. For example, the Renaissance era saw women using leeches to achieve a pale, “ghostly” appearance. Women in 19th-century
Six of the Most Peculiar Beauty Trends Throughout History Read More »
In 1863, the young archduke Maximilian was approached with an intriguing offer from Emperor Napoleon III of France. He wanted to know if Maximilian had any interest in becoming the emperor of Mexico, a country that he had never set foot in. At this time, Maximilian was 30 years old. He had been a naval
How Maximilian I of France Became Emperor of Mexico Read More »
Dogs are known to be man’s best friend. But in the case of Spanish war dogs, they became vicious enemies of the people they hunted. They were bred for size, strength, and even for the taste of human flesh. They were true beasts that the Spanish employed with appalling success against the native peoples of
Unveiling the Violent History of Spanish War Dogs Read More »
In Stockholm, Sweden, there is a museum dedicated to a single ship. Spectacular and awe-inspiring, the Vasa looms over museum crowds, giving them a surreal view of the only fully preserved 17th-century ship. The effect of looking at the Vasa and wondering what adventures the warship must have undertaken is unmatched. Except…for the Vasa, its
The weird story of the Vasa, the ship that sunk on its maiden voyage Read More »
Do these ten historical figures really deserve to be as celebrated as they are? You be the judge. 1. Spartacus A gladiator who rose up against the mighty Roman Empire. An inspiration to oppressed peoples everywhere. This is how Spartacus is often remembered. Beginning in the summer of 73 BC, a Thracian slave named Spartacus
The 9 Most Overrated Historical Figures of All Time Read More »
Rats can be a real nuisance. They get into our food, our trash, and even our homes. But when applied in the right (or rather, wrong) ways, they can turn into something far more sinister: a form of torture so cruel that the very mention of it can be enough to compel someone to spill
Rat Torture: One Of History’s Most Barbaric Torture Methods? Read More »
In the dimly lit corners of French history, there lurks a chilling tale that has captivated imaginations for centuries. It is a saga of fear, superstition, and group hysteria. Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, the French Werewolf Panic swept across the land like a howling storm. It left terror, fear, and death in its
The French Werewolf Panic: A Lesson in Mass Hysteria Read More »
