tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36397877052504085752011-11-27T15:45:36.110-08:00A history blog covering my interests in history, education, and the headlines. Thanks for stopping by!Ericnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3161100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-7375206688417341502009-03-01T18:30:00.001-08:002009-03-01T18:49:07.110-08:00

The stories behind the beginning of a civilization or culture play a big part in shaping the way the culture views itself, whether they are true or not. For example, the George Washington cherry tree story teaches Americans that our first president (and therefore, theoretically all those that followed) was an honest man that could not tell a lie.The same thing is true in the legends surrounding

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-31151116838803505232008-08-03T21:14:00.000-07:002008-08-03T21:33:34.163-07:00

The past two weekends, I managed to catch the first two episodes of the 3-part PBS series CHASING CHURCHILL: IN SEARCH OF MY GRANDFATHER. It is excellent.In the series, Churchill's granddaughter Celia Sandys travels about visiting many of the places that Churchill visited. The series spans from Churchill's formative years to WW2 and beyond. What is really great is that Ms Sandys encounters

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-27641313408120968082008-03-05T19:55:00.000-08:002008-03-05T20:40:11.915-08:00

The consuls were the two highest elected officials in the Roman Republic. They were elected by the comitia centuriata, and almost all other magistrates within the Republic had to follow orders and submit to the will of the consuls.Consuls’ terms of office lasted one year. If one of the consuls died while in office or had to resign, the remaining consul might be allowed to rule alone, depending

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-74678359695401998312008-03-04T05:26:00.000-08:002008-03-04T05:29:11.047-08:00

The comitia tributa was an assembly just for plebeians or the “tribes” of Rome. This plebeian assembly started with minimal power, but its power grew as the republic evolved and the balance of power shifted from one group to another.Like the centuries, the pleb assembly had the power to make laws. At first, the comitia tributa only had the power to pass non-binding resolutions. This is similar

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-3963801805579176152008-03-03T05:32:00.000-08:002008-03-04T05:30:15.610-08:00

In time, the comitia centuriata became the true legislative body of the Roman Republic. When we talk about SPQR (Senatus Populusque Romanus – the Senate and People of Rome), “people” refers to the citizens; the citizens were the comitia centuriata.This body was made up of groups of citizens called centuraie or centuries. Centuries each had one vote to cast, and the vote was cast based on how a

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-61023439601706335562008-02-29T20:31:00.000-08:002008-03-03T05:35:16.409-08:00

The comitia curiata was one of the earliest popular assemblies of Rome. There is some debate as to when it began, but likely the comitia curiata began meeting just prior to the creation of the Republic (prior to 509 BC), when Rome was still ruled by kings.The comitia curiata was possibly the first popular legislative body of Rome. That is, it was the first body with the power to approve or

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-17338908291414341372008-02-28T20:33:00.000-08:002008-02-29T20:39:54.663-08:00

The Roman senate had much of the real power during the time of the republic. The senate was made up of 300 powerful Roman men (although it was increased to as many as 900 in the later years of the republic). Many Roman senators had held another high office before being appointed to the senate. In fact, once a Roman had served in a high office in the republic (consul, praetor, etc…), he was

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-7586708463624180852008-02-18T07:25:00.001-08:002008-03-01T06:06:32.109-08:00

When we think of presidential birthdays, we automatically go to Washington and Lincoln being born in February. I took a list of the presidents and sorted them by month so we can easily put their birthdays on our calendars. Now if we could just get the furniture stores and car dealerships to have big sales on all of these days...By the way, the most common birth month for presidents so far is

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-87317618797421478662007-11-11T06:13:00.000-08:002007-11-11T06:16:38.363-08:00

In Flanders fields the poppies blowBetween the crosses, row on row,That mark our place; and in the skyThe larks, still bravely singing, flyScarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days agoWe lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,Loved, and were loved, and now we lieIn Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe:To you from failing hands we throwThe torch; be yours to

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-66692511089539859532007-11-04T07:04:00.000-08:002007-11-04T07:07:53.632-08:00

King Tut was moved today from his sarcophagus to a glass, climate controlled box. Apparently, the mummy is deteriorating much faster than it should inside the sarcophagus.Here is a video from CNN of King Tut being examined and moved.

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-78072668133873178742007-11-01T18:22:00.000-07:002007-11-01T19:03:52.152-07:00

Brigadier General Paul Tibbets, the pilot of Enola Gay, the B-29 that carried the first atomic weapon to its target in 1945, died today at his Columbus, Ohio home.Here are a few links and obituaries I found particularly interesting.Some republished interviews with Gen. Tibbets from 1999NPR ObituaryAn Editorial/Obit from Editor & PublisherNewspaper requesting comment on TibbetsI think Tibbets

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-79865542766343697072007-10-31T15:11:00.000-07:002007-10-31T15:13:04.874-07:00

Here's my Halloween post from last year....It's a timeless classic...Mummification in Ancient Egypt

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-11617221240039351712007-10-30T05:40:00.000-07:002007-10-30T05:48:31.338-07:00

New discoveries and research by the University of Queensland show that the ancients of Tahiti may have traveled by canoe from their home to the Hawaiian Islands, 2500 miles away.Read more from The Sydney Morning Herald.

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-76015893061422547702007-10-29T20:05:00.000-07:002007-10-29T20:17:19.685-07:00

One of my personal favorites of the ancient Egyptian pantheon is Nut the sky goddess.There are various versions of Nut myths and manifestations, but my favorite is the one that depicts Nut as a giant blue cow standing over us (i.e. the sky).The image below (public domain) depicts Nut the cow. The gentleman supporting her underbelly is Shu the god of air.Nut was also the mother of Osiris, Seth,

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-26482720762713266772007-10-28T16:05:00.000-07:002007-10-28T16:36:40.532-07:00

Pharaoh Narmer, also referred to as Menes, is often called the first pharaoh of the first dynasty of a unified Egypt. There is debate as to whether or not Narmer actually existed, or if he was simply the pharaoh archetype designed to represent the ideal king.Real or not, Narmer is credited with unifying Upper and Lower Egypt somewhere around 3100BC. His feats are displayed on the palette below.

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-42251592320284256722007-10-25T20:14:00.000-07:002007-10-28T16:05:16.692-07:00

The pharaohs of ancient were kings (and queens), yes, but they were really much more than that. The pharaoh was the symbolic father of all of the citizens of Egypt. It was believed that the pharaoh was a direct relative of the sun god Ra (basically the father of the other gods), so it makes sense that one of the pharaoh's main duties was to care for his people as a father cares for his

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-77318643058971239572007-07-20T09:47:00.000-07:002007-07-20T09:50:53.159-07:00

Archaeologists are busy uncovering what appears to be a an extensive bath complex among the ruins of an ancient Roman estate.Check out the AP story from the San Jose Mercury News.

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-72937192703992938762007-07-19T16:48:00.000-07:002007-07-19T16:00:06.338-07:00

Via press release from the Smithsonian...(photo credit: Linda Perry, Smithsonian Institution)One of the world’s tastiest and most popular cuisines, Mexican food, also may be one of the oldest. Plant remains from two caves in southern Mexico, analyzed by a Smithsonian ethnobotanist / archaeologist and a colleague, indicate that as early as 1,500 years ago, Pre-Columbian inhabitants of the region

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-3905860849682153102007-07-18T06:42:00.000-07:002007-07-18T05:42:20.140-07:00

On July 18, 1945, General Leslie Groves, the military commander in charge of the Manhattan Project, sent a memorandum to Secretary of War Henry Stimson about the test at Trinity Site. Here are some highlights...The test was successful beyond the most optimistic expectations of anyone. Based on the data which it has been possible to work up to date, I estimate the energy generated to be in

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-35663038511347849982007-07-17T07:15:00.000-07:002007-07-17T06:56:59.033-07:00

On July 17, 1945, leaders of the "Big Three" - the United States, the Soviet Union, and Great Britain - met in Potsdam, Germany to confer about and clarify how war-torn Europe would be handled.President Harry S Truman also had an ace-in-the-hole concerning the war still raging in the Pacific versus Imperial Japan. He knew of the successful test of America's new wonder weapon the day before in

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-52028346339355525442007-07-16T13:12:00.000-07:002007-07-18T05:45:18.158-07:00

It was just before 5:30 am in New Mexico on July 16, 1945. Most were still in slumber. Even in New York City, where the sun was already up, the world's financial capital was just starting its day.At 5:29:45, the world was changed forever. The first atomic bomb was detonated atop a tower in the New Mexico desert, sending a mushroom cloud 5 miles into the predawn sky. The scientists that

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-68519537740653955642007-07-15T12:59:00.000-07:002007-07-15T13:19:00.144-07:00

It was during the French occupation (under Napoleon) of Egypt that the key to our current understanding of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics was discovered near the town of Rosetta (el Rashid).The stone was a priestly decree written in three languages. First, it was written in ancient hieroglyphics, the sort of "official" script of religion even at this late date in Egyptian history (around 200 BC

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-89763637411822125782007-06-13T06:50:00.000-07:002007-06-13T06:54:55.536-07:00

Long before Rome was the most powerful city and civilization in the world, the Greeks had colonies in Italy.This AP story talks about the recent looting of a newly discovered Greek temple in southern Italy and the attempt by construction workers to cover their tracks.

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-48807083500114360852007-06-12T05:52:00.000-07:002007-06-12T05:58:57.401-07:00

From a University of Georgia press release...Despite overwhelming military superiority, the world’s most powerful nations failed to achieve their objectives in 39 percent of their military operations since World War II, according to a new University of Georgia study. The study, by assistant professor Patricia L. Sullivan in the UGA School of Public and International Affairs, explains the

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-28625857403349461772007-06-11T07:52:00.000-07:002007-06-11T07:58:59.433-07:00

This is an amazing project from the University of Virginia. See part of the press release below...----June 11, 2007 -- ROME -- Rome's Mayor Walter Veltroni will officiate at the first public viewing of "Rome Reborn 1.0," a 10-year project based at the University of Virginia and begun at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to use advanced technology to digitally rebuild ancient Rome.

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-87896293159335236102007-06-09T11:39:00.000-07:002007-06-09T11:46:25.092-07:00

To my knowledge, the idea was first tested and publicized by Norwegian scientist and adventurer Thor Heyerdahl (see his book, Kon-Tiki). The theory - that ancient peoples could have traveled by boat back-and-forth from Africa to South America for trade and possibly migration.A German scientist is about to make the latest attempt at such a crossing. Read about it from The Jersey Journal.

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-81760148045035933382007-06-08T06:53:00.000-07:002007-06-08T07:01:03.719-07:00

During the first years of the Civil War, Lincoln and the Union were plagued with generals that were either too timid or incompetent. When someone complained to Lincoln about General U.S. Grant's drinking, he told them, and I'm paraphrasing, "Ah yes, but he fights".Following the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863, Lincoln sent a telegram to General Meade, urging the commander to press the fight and wipe

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-40851123280749391962007-06-07T09:15:00.000-07:002007-06-07T09:28:48.399-07:00

It has been determined that Otzi, the Neolithic mummy discovered in the Alps in 1991, died from a lesion to an artery near the shoulder caused by an arrowhead. Essentially, he bled to death.The determination was made by use of a CT scan, and the work was detailed in the Journal of Archaeological Science. More information will also appear in the July issue of National Geographic Magazine.For

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-26232126791095570902007-06-06T07:00:00.000-07:002007-06-06T07:05:56.842-07:00

Cool stuff. The city is believed to be from about 400 AD. That is an interesting period of Egyptian history and not one I'm all that familiar with. It would have been during the late Roman period, during the time when Egypt was largely Christianized before the coming of Islam about 150 years later.Read more about the story here.

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-60048689514614221062007-06-05T05:48:00.000-07:002007-06-05T05:59:51.228-07:00

From a press release...New charcoal and plant microfossil evidence from Mexico’s Central Balsas valley links a pivotal cultural shift, crop domestication in the New World, to local and regional environmental history. Agriculture in the Balsas valley originated and diversified during the warm, wet, postglacial period following the much cooler and drier climate in the final phases of the last ice

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-71951210802756435392007-06-04T18:07:00.000-07:002007-06-04T18:13:05.187-07:00

Being a scribe was more than just writing stuff down.Today you have to be a computer technician to write -- at least it seems that way sometimes.This article from the Lebanon Daily News gives a good idea of what all was involved in scribing a scroll in ancient times.

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-72350306752133456392007-06-01T09:58:00.000-07:002007-06-01T10:07:07.194-07:00

See press release below...The world's oldest wooden anchor was discovered during excavations in the Turkish port city of Urla, the ancient site of Liman Tepe -- the Greek 1st Millennium BCE colony of Klazomenai, by researchers from the Leon Recanati Institute for Maritime Studies of the University of Haifa. The anchor, from the end of the 7th century BC, was found near a submerged construction,

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-87707485403123104382007-05-31T06:50:00.000-07:002007-05-31T06:56:49.892-07:00

The ancient Nubians may very well have been as wealthy or wealthier (and almost as powerful) as their Nile neighbors to the north. However, the civilization of the Nubians is still somewhat of a mystery. We have not deciphered their script yet, and until that happens the mystery will grow as archaeologists continue to uncover the remnants of this "other" great Nile civilization.Check out this

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-41163727820457288952007-05-30T15:24:00.000-07:002007-05-30T14:26:24.042-07:00

Nothing makes teaching history to adolescents easier than the concept of human sacrifice. The Mayans and Aztecs practically teach themselves, their art showing pulsating hearts being ripped from chests, etc.Below is a press release about some ongoing research relating to the subject...A paper from the June issue of Current Anthropology explores ancient multiple graves and raises the possibility

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-30162697624952129682007-05-30T14:00:00.000-07:002007-05-30T14:22:34.325-07:00

Here is an interesting article about the feasibility of long-distance visual signaling between Anasazi communities in the Four Corners region of the southwest.I have been to this part of the country, and visibility is incredible on a clear day.

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-41730904699452372702007-05-29T12:28:00.000-07:002007-05-29T12:56:20.996-07:00

I finally got around to seeing the IMAX film Mystery of the Nile yesterday. I really enjoyed it.The film provided insight as to the the different personalities of the Nile (lazy, violent, deadly), the watershed that forms the Nile, and the importance of the river to the regions inhabitants today as well as the great civilizations of history.I believe it is out on DVD if you can't get to an IMAX

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-34895717534519655392007-05-28T07:20:00.000-07:002007-05-28T06:24:55.790-07:00

Last Veteran's Day, I posted about Edward Bayon's experience as an escort for some of the American WW I war dead. At the time, I thought it was quite appropriate for Memorial Day. Please visit the link above. It's quite a moving story.Also, a big thank you to all those in service, past service, and to the families of those that lost their lives in service.

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-46461167048944472102007-04-09T20:38:00.000-07:002007-05-30T14:27:45.168-07:00

Here is an interesting story about a study to confirm the site of the 1066 Battle of Fulford between the Anglo-Saxons and the Norwegian Vikings. The article also discusses other lesser known battlefields in Britain.

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-18387922717221765842007-03-26T09:14:00.000-07:002007-03-26T09:22:10.502-07:00

Recreations of four ancient Roman perfumes are on olfactory display in Rome.The perfumes were developed based on archaeological evidence found at a "perfume lab" site located on Cyprus.Check out this news story for more...

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-53971988853330095092007-02-10T21:08:00.000-08:002007-02-10T21:14:38.748-08:00

If you're suffering from a stomach ulcer, you can take comfort in the fact that humans have suffered for thousands of years from the affliction...:)An international team of scientists has discovered that the ubiquitous bacteria that cause most painful stomach ulcers have been present in the human digestive system since modern man migrated from Africa over 60,000 years ago. The research, published

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-78008204002869263482007-01-28T17:59:00.000-08:002007-01-28T18:09:20.690-08:00

Talk about hands-on learning!Construction on the grounds of a private school in Albuquerque, New Mexico turned up Native American pottery shards and Pueblo ruins last week.The ruins are believed to be around 700-years-old. That corresponds roughly to the time period when it is believed by many that the Pueblo Indians began settling in the Rio Grande Valley, possibly after leaving sites such as

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-853277791784812112007-01-08T05:23:00.000-08:002007-01-08T05:32:59.452-08:00

Research by a Mexican physician suggests an alternate theory about which diseases killed of the natives of Mexico in the early colonial period (1519-1600) and how the diseases were spread.Read about it from the San Jose Mercury News...

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-84284079410427567542007-01-06T08:04:00.000-08:002007-01-06T08:21:25.324-08:00

An ancient Roman road, believed to have connected two forts, was uncovered by a railroad company and is under excavation by archaeologists.For more details related to the find, check out this story...

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-79005960461251192622007-01-05T21:16:00.000-08:002007-01-05T21:26:13.780-08:00

For the past week, I watched the images and heard the brass, drums, organ, and voices say goodbye to President Gerald R. Ford.Below is a short excerpt from his January 19, 1976 State of the Union Address. Many of the words of that address are still quite applicable today...We have not remade paradise on Earth. We know perfection will not be found here. But think for a minute how far we have come

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-6466892843551698062007-01-04T16:39:00.000-08:002007-01-04T16:59:45.723-08:00

Happy New Year!Here is a cool news story from the University of Colorado about using computers and video game technology to better understand the lives of the ancients....Satellite imagery meshed with video-game technology is allowing University of Colorado at Boulder and NASA researchers to virtually "fly" along footpaths used by Central Americans 2,000 years ago on spiritual pilgrimages to

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-43155770107769046662006-12-21T23:41:00.000-08:002006-12-21T23:50:58.363-08:00

Blogger's new tools and interface are great. As a result, I decided to get rid of my hosting plan and migrate the blog here. If you surfed in from a search engine, try using the search box at the bottom of the page or the one at the top left to find what it was your looking for. I'm sorry for the inconvenience.Meanwhile, I'm taking a nice break during the holidays...Actually, I'll be updating

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-30513817803688449322006-12-07T00:54:00.000-08:002006-12-20T02:13:40.019-08:00

America's forces at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii were attacked by a swarm of Japanese aircraft on the morning of December 7, 1941. The next day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke to Congress and requested a declaration of war. Below is the text of that speech:Mr. Vice President, and Mr. Speaker, and Members of the Senate and House of Representatives:Yesterday, December 7, 1941 -- a date which will

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-55184675197678356102006-12-06T02:35:00.000-08:002006-12-20T02:38:36.725-08:00

Two interesting pieces of news today in the world of archaeology…The mummified remains of a 6th Dynasty Egyptian doctor were discovered in a tomb at Saqqara. — Yahoo! NewsThe excavation of remains believed to be those of the Apostle Paul will be reported on by the Vatican at a press conference on Monday. — Yahoo! News

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-78996466331349066902006-12-04T02:39:00.000-08:002006-12-20T02:43:28.796-08:00

Here’s an interesting tidbit from the December 2006 issue of Current Anthropology about how male/female labor roles gave humans a competitive edge over the Neanderthals…“The competitive advantage enjoyed by modern humans came not just from new weapons and devices but from the ways in which their economic lives were organized around the advantages of cooperation and complementary subsistence roles

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-43632013274815970112006-12-03T02:43:00.000-08:002006-12-20T02:46:00.322-08:00

A professor from Drexel University claims that the Egyptians used a concrete-like material made from limestone to make some of the blocks forming Great Pyramids of Giza.Barsoum argues that although the majority of the stones were carved and hoisted into place, crucial parts were not. The ancient builders cast the blocks of the outer and inner casings and, likely, the upper parts of the pyramids

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-44874876453724254362006-11-29T02:46:00.000-08:002006-12-20T02:49:03.297-08:00

From a press release…Please see link at the bottom of the article…An international team has unravelled the secrets of a 2,000-year-old computer which could transform the way we think about the ancient world.Professor Mike Edmunds and Dr Tony Freeth, of Cardiff University led the team who believe they have finally cracked the workings of the Antikythera Mechanism, a clock-like astronomical

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-16048198911891466492006-11-28T02:49:00.000-08:002006-12-20T02:56:25.141-08:00

From a press release on 11/27/06:CHICAGO — Egyptian radiologists who performed the first-ever computed tomography (CT) evaluation of King Tutankhamun’s mummy believe they have solved the mystery of how the ancient pharaoh died. The CT images and results of their study were presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).Ashraf Selim, M.D., radiologist at

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-6529770385531962142006-11-27T02:56:00.000-08:002006-12-20T02:59:43.201-08:00

I happened across this article at the New York Times yesterday about “unschooling.”Unschooling? This was my first exposure to the term and concept. Basically it’s a form of homeschooling where kids are allowed to determine their own curriculum. It’s controversial because it rejects traditional methods of teaching and learning such as textbooks and structured lessons, and it doesn’t necessarily

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-5613167979812579412006-11-25T02:59:00.000-08:002006-12-20T03:05:14.730-08:00

On November 25, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was buried at Arlingon National Cemetary.Here is some info on the funeral and burial site from the Arlington National Cemetary website (see link below).On Nov. 25, 1963, at 3 p.m., the state funeral of President Kennedy began. Earlier that day cemetery employees at Arlington, along with personnel from the Military District of Washington, conducted

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-19467694245226536712006-11-22T03:06:00.000-08:002006-12-20T03:08:35.624-08:00

On November 22, 1956, the Games of the XVI Olympiad opened in Melbourne, Australia.This reminds me of something very important in education — the role of connections between content and the real lives of our students.No, I’m not off my rocker, at least not completely. A reminder of the Olympics brings me back to when I was a child, when the games came to Los Angeles, California in 1984. I was

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-66290169205195392942006-11-21T03:09:00.000-08:002006-12-20T03:11:32.603-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving in advance.If you eat turkey on Thanksgiving Day, keep in mind that your bird is only one of an estimated 265 million raised in the United States this year. If your turkey wasn’t hatched in the United States, chances are good that it came from Canada.I’m getting sleepy already.Check out other Thanksgiving related facts from the United States Census Bureau.

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-62693917903873889232006-11-20T03:11:00.000-08:002006-12-20T03:14:07.760-08:00

Last Wednesday, a new digititization center opened at the National Library in Cairo. The equipment, provided by the Library of Congress, will be used to make some of the Egyptian archives available on the internet.The LOC is also working with the National Library to create a English and Arabic website “documenting the history of science in the Islamic world from A.D. 800 to 1600, as portrayed in

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-17090548384458217502006-11-17T03:11:00.000-08:002006-12-20T03:18:40.239-08:00

On November 17, 1869, the Suez Canal, providing a water route from the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, opened for navigation.Such a route was sought after by governments, monarchs, and businessmen since ancient times. In fact, according to the Greek historian Herodotus, the ancient Egyptians attempted to dig a canal to connect the Nile River to the Red Sea thousands of years ago.This from

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-16632920375571749192006-11-16T03:19:00.000-08:002006-12-20T03:20:00.126-08:00

A big thank you to Axis of Evel Knievel for including my Veteran’s Day post in the most recent edition of the History Carnival.

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-48044680289144396992006-11-15T03:24:00.000-08:002006-12-20T03:27:37.671-08:00

A new children’s book by Jacob Berkowitz examines the use of the not-so-tidy side of human and animal existence as historical and archaeological evidence.The book, Jurassic Poop, is the “first comprehensive book on coprolites.” Coprolites are fossilized feces that provide better ancient DNA than bones or teeth, the author said in a press release (see link below).Among other things, the book looks

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-3066606088259170492006-11-15T03:20:00.000-08:002006-12-20T03:24:23.222-08:00

A post by Kathryn at Suitable for Mixed Company on Tuesday brought up an issue that drives me crazy at school every day. It was about the adverse effects of parents babying their children too much.Many parents do tend to shield or protect their kids too much. That’s not what bugs me though. Well it does, but what bugs me even more are teachers that coddle their students.Since I was in school, it

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-50371477869953082662006-11-14T03:33:00.000-08:002006-12-20T03:37:17.940-08:00

Oh the debt we owe to animals for their aid (albeit unwilling or unwitting, I’m sure) in medical experimentation.On November 14, 1666, Samuel Pepys reported in his diary about a medical experiment related to him by Dr. Croone, a professor and member of the Royal Society of London. The experiment involved the transfusion of blood from one dog to another. The donor didn’t make it.To top it off, the

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-31373296818533950262006-11-14T03:28:00.000-08:002006-12-20T03:31:38.178-08:00

Mysteries of Mohenjo-DaroActually, Mohenjo-Daro is one big mystery. Much of what we know (or think we know) about them is speculative, based solely on the artifacts and ruins of Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa, and dozens of other sites found in the Indus River Valley.One mystery will possibly never be explained - the fate of the people of Mohenjo-Daro. The ruins of the city were discovered under layers of

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-20104968280334080962006-11-13T03:48:00.000-08:002006-12-20T03:50:01.011-08:00

On November 13, 1979, Ronald Reagan announced his candidacy for president in a speech at the New York Hilton. Below is an excerpt…I’ve seen America from the stadium press box as a sportscaster, as an actor, officer of my labor union, soldier, officeholder and as both a Democrat and Republican. I’ve lived in America where those who often had too little to eat outnumbered those who had enough.

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-37889170707940328822006-11-13T03:44:00.000-08:002006-12-20T03:47:39.081-08:00

In teacher’s training, I often had the impression that testing was bad. My personal philosophy is that students are going to be tested at every level, and I had better give them experience in taking tests and help them develop testing strategies. I typically use traditional testing methods as well as alternate assessments, performance assessments, etc. to determine whether or not my students are

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-49138053974392453042006-11-13T03:38:00.000-08:002006-12-20T03:43:52.784-08:00

Trade and Links to MesopotamiaThe people of Mohenjo-Daro were actively engaged in trade with other people of the Indus River Valley and with Mesopotamian civilization. Standardized weights, measures, and scales found in Mohenjo-Daro are evidence that the citizens had an organized system of trade. It is reasonable to assume also that services – construction, artisan, etc – were traded as well as

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-81982399940849127572006-11-12T04:03:00.000-08:002006-12-20T04:06:33.557-08:00

On November 12, 1944, the German Bismarck-class battleship Tirpitz was sunk by a Royal Air Force bombing raid while anchored off the Norwegian coast.Allied forces attempted several times to sink the Tirpitz prior to the raid that did her in, but the armor plating on the battleship was too thick. The battleship was repaired each time and continued to be at least a perceived threat to allied

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-37903930129573419702006-11-12T04:00:00.000-08:002006-12-20T04:02:34.200-08:00

I’ll be making several posts in the next few days on the Indus Valley Civilization and the city of Mohenjo-Daro. Below are some of the resources I used to compile the information and that I use when I teach about ancient India. I’ll update the list as my posts evolve…Mohenjo-Daro in Photographs - a great site with lots of good information and photographs about the ancient city. There is also an

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-56524680872827331502006-11-12T03:50:00.000-08:002006-12-20T04:00:04.855-08:00

Image of the Great Bath with a Buddhist Stupa in the background(Image license: Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 1.0) Mohenjo-Daro Sewer Line(photo by Mamoon Mengal)(Image license: Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 1.0)In modern-day Pakistan is a site that was once home to as many as 30,000 people of the Indus Valley civilization. We know it as Mohenjo-Daro – mound of the dead. The

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-13188420707669207242006-11-11T04:07:00.000-08:002006-12-20T04:11:05.512-08:00

On November 11, 1918, the guns of World War I fell silent, but the work for some was just beginning – the work of bringing home the bodies of America’s fallen.Edward J. Bayon was one man doing that work. Bayon reported in a short memoir that in April of 1921, he was assigned by the Graves Registration Service to escort a convoy of three barges from Porte Moselle, France to Antwerp, Belgium. The

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-3364847101283348622006-11-10T04:26:00.000-08:002006-12-20T04:29:07.689-08:00

On Friday, November 10, 1775, the Continental Congress passed a resolution creating the United States Marine Corps. This from the Journals of the Continental Congress…Resolved, That two Battalions of marines be raised, consisting of one Colonel, two Lieutenant Colonels, two Majors, and other officers as usual in other regiments; and that they consist of an equal number of privates with other

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-55606044728643546492006-11-10T04:22:00.000-08:002006-12-20T04:25:26.272-08:00

Research appearing in the December issue of Current Anthropology documented the remains of women in grave sites indicating possible raiding and abduction of women in the American Southwest prior to the arrival of the Spanish.Analysis of 1,353 human remains from sites at Aztec and Chaco Canyon, New Mexico showed unusually high ratios of female-to-male remains, researchers said. The study claimed

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-66661767576998792812006-11-10T04:11:00.000-08:002006-12-20T04:14:20.805-08:00

As well as being Veteran’s Day, tomorrow (November 11) is also the birthday of George S. Patton, Jr. – “Old Blood and Guts.”I happened to teach a lesson on Hinduism at school today, and it reminded me of Patton, even before I realized it was the eve of his birthday.A core belief of Hinduism is, of course, reincarnation. Patton was also a big believer in reincarnation. He thought he had fought

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-32950330799240919082006-11-09T04:29:00.000-08:002006-12-20T04:34:08.857-08:00

On November 9, 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt left the United States on a trip to Panama to inspect construction of the Panama Canal. The trip made Roosevelt the first president to make an official visit to a foreign country while in office.Roosevelt traveled by sea aboard the USS Louisiana and then by train to the Canal Zone, arriving on November 14, 1906. Roosevelt spent three days in

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-34848566017963988432006-11-08T04:34:00.000-08:002006-12-20T04:36:44.202-08:00

On November 8, 1519, Aztec Emperor Moctezuma and Spanish Conquistador Hernan Cortes met for the first time outside the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlan.Aztec accounts of the event, compiled by Miguel Leon-Portillo shortly after and published as The Broken Spears, claim that Moctezuma (also Montezuma) believed Cortes was a god.“Our Lord, you are weary. The journey has tired you, but now you have

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-20295236386064076702006-11-07T04:37:00.000-08:002006-12-20T04:38:24.696-08:00

Great joy in camp we are in view of the Ocean this great Pacific Ocean which we been so long anxious to see. and the roaring or noise made by the waves breaking on the rocky shores (as I suppose) may be heard distantly.That was William Clark on November 7, 1805 as the Corps of Discovery approached the Pacific. The footnote in the edited journal states that Lewis and Clark could not have been

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-51947275219206694312006-11-06T04:45:00.000-08:002006-12-20T04:47:43.056-08:00

Near land a great wave took us and cast the boat out of the water as far as a horseshoe can be tossed. The boat ran aground with such force that it revived the men on it who were almost dead. When they saw they were near land they pushed themselves overboard and crawled on their hands and knees. When they got to the beach, we lit a fire by some rocks and toasted some of the corn we had and found

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-65244335968417082102006-11-06T04:39:00.000-08:002006-12-20T04:42:22.672-08:00

The culture that developed in the Indus River Valley around 3500-2500 BC, referred to by some as the Harappan Culture (named for Harappa, one of the ruined cities of the ancient civilization), was cut off from others on all sides by its geography. The Chinese cultures were to the north and northeast, past the giant Himalayas. Crossing the Thar Desert and thick jungles to the east, one would have

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-90140473599790028502006-11-05T10:58:00.000-08:002006-12-20T11:04:44.473-08:00

On November 5, 1838, Nicaragua seceded from the United States of Central America (also known as the Federal Republic or United Provinces of Central America).While Nicaragua’s secession was the official beginning of the end for the attempt at a united Central American state, the union was doomed from the beginning because of the region’s legacy of colonial rule under Spain and strong religious,

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-90793172034945071802006-11-05T04:48:00.000-08:002006-12-20T04:50:57.197-08:00

Greek historian Herodotus said that ancient Egypt was “an acquired country, the gift of the river.” The river he wrote of was the Nile.The Nile has its origins as the Blue and White Niles in Ethiopia and Rwanda. The two rivers combine near the modern city of Khartoum, Sudan. Each year, the Nile, swollen from rains in equatorial Africa, carries life sustaining black soil that is then deposited

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-73688556397655821102006-11-04T11:06:00.000-08:002006-12-20T11:10:56.224-08:00

Will Rogers was born in Oologan, Oklahoma on November 4, 1879. After extensive travel during his childhood, Will Rogers became a Wild West show performer as a lariat artist. Eventually, he added a monologue to his act and was able to get a part in the Ziegfield Follies. Subsequently, Rogers enjoyed stardom in Broadway shows, movies, and as an author and newspaper columnist. Rogers was also an

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-6830286884223328202006-11-03T11:12:00.000-08:002006-12-20T11:14:19.020-08:00

Jubal Anderson Early was born in Virginia on November 3, 1816. Early attended West Point, fought the Seminoles, practiced law, and fought in the Mexican-American War before accepting a command for the South in the American Civil War. The University of North Carolina has a digitized version of Early’s Autobiographical Sketch and Narrative of the War Between the States. Interestingly, the book was

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-38878521780427976782006-11-02T11:14:00.000-08:002006-12-20T11:16:18.426-08:00

On November 2, 1947, the H-4 Hercules - the “Spruce Goose”, made its only flight.The flying boat, built by aviation mogul and aircraft designer Howard Hughes, was a mammoth by any measure. It was 79 feet high, 218 feet long, and had a wingspan of just under 320 feet. And, the exterior was made almost entirely of wood, earning the name “Spruce Goose” from the press.The aircraft was intended to be

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-24319412397990112392006-11-01T11:27:00.000-08:002006-12-20T11:34:03.732-08:00

The US Department of Energy has a library of atomic and nuclear test videos online.The video clips are short, and some have narration and/or interviews. It appears to me that these were probably clips that were made available to news reels as the narration of the clips I watched were “propagandaish” and included dramatic music.Here is the text provided for one of the clips, a test that Wikipedia

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-22023077556204203582006-11-01T11:24:00.000-08:002006-12-20T11:26:53.130-08:00

Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried the Roman city of Pompeii on August 24, AD 79.Wall paintings in Pompeii often contained a bright crimson pigment called cinnabar (mercury sulfide). Since the wall paintings were removed from their volcanic ash sealed tomb, the cinnabar has begun to turn black.Research is ongoing to determine the causes for the degradation of cinnabar, and the results will help in

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-24516214860831300752006-11-01T11:16:00.000-08:002006-12-20T11:24:24.623-08:00

Different Names and Forms of RaWho – or what – was the mighty Ra of ancient Egypt? The sun god, right? Well, yes and no, sort of.When one first begins to really study the pantheon of the ancient Egyptians, it must be understood that the gods and goddesses of this complicated religion have many names and often many forms. Ra was no exception. Below are three of the forms of Ra and at least a

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-31898859116748760002006-10-31T11:41:00.000-08:002006-12-20T11:44:07.589-08:00

On October 31, 1941, drilling on the monument at Mount Rushmore was completed.The monument, located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, was commissioned by Congress in 1925 to sculptor Gutzon Borglum. Borglum’s original plan included carvings of the four presidents depicted on the monument (Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt) from the waist up and a tablet describing the

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-58926360688389722742006-10-31T11:38:00.000-08:002006-12-20T11:40:26.277-08:00

In honor of Halloween, here are a couple of stories I found this morning on Vampires and Zombies.The Courier Post ran down vampire history in their online edition.A Chicago area newspaper took a look at Zombies in popular culture.Personally, I prefer vampires. They are much more animated and scary to me than zombies. One of my best Halloween costumes as a kid was Dracula. My mom made a cape, I

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-65824795391426269152006-10-31T11:34:00.000-08:002006-12-20T11:37:32.358-08:00

According to ancient Egyptian mythology, or at least some versions, Osiris was the first pharaoh. He was given the throne by his father Ra.To make a long story short, Osiris was killed by his brother Set (also known as Seth) and was cut up into pieces and thrown in the Nile River. Osiris’s wife Isis and fellow god Anubis put him back together again but could not bring him back to life in this

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-22863235123058020702006-10-30T11:49:00.000-08:002006-12-20T11:51:25.259-08:00

Helena, Montana was founded on October 30, 1864 when gold was discovered near Last Chance Creek.Originally dubbed Crabtown after John Crab, one of the men that discovered gold near the eventual townsite, the town was renamed Saint Helena and then simply Helena. The equivalent of 3.6-billion modern dollars in gold was taken from the area near Helena, and gold was still being located there as late

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-85193930316802607082006-10-30T11:48:00.000-08:002006-12-20T11:48:58.415-08:00

I’m skeptical, but check out the story from ABC news. It will interesting to see what develops…

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-77327585353343434882006-10-30T11:46:00.000-08:002006-12-20T11:47:42.636-08:00

The Yemen Times examined a textile maker’s traditional method of making goatskin leather clothing.I enjoyed this story. I guess like a lot of people, I’m a sucker for the good old nostalgic human interest story.It’s awesome too that Mr. Al-Thawr, the traditional tailor in the story, is apparently able to make a living practicing his ancient trade. I wonder how much it would cost to get him here

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-87832540572514916522006-10-30T11:45:00.000-08:002006-12-20T11:45:58.225-08:00

200 costume-clad professors are going to convene in Glasgow this Halloween to discuss the evolution of the holiday from pagan festival to candy/costume/commercial bonanza, the Associated Press reports.I couldn’t help but think about what some of my former professors and teachers might wear to such a conference.My Western Civ prof would wear a toga - he already had a Caesar haircut. My favorite

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-79691037304450332752006-10-29T11:54:00.000-08:002006-12-20T11:56:08.897-08:00

On October 29, 1792, the mountain - known as Wy’East by the Native Americans - was dubbed Mount Hood (Oregon) by British Lt. William Broughton.Broughton, a member of Captain Vancouver’s expedition, named the mountain after Admiral Samuel Hood.Reference: Wikipedia - Mount HoodThere’s also a great website on Mount Hood and the surrounding area called Mt. Hood History. It has info on the natural and

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-17396223549167674062006-10-29T11:52:00.000-08:002006-12-20T11:53:25.354-08:00

According to the Washington Post, the Smithsonian will not be displaying Lucy, the partial 3.2-million-year-old hominid skeleton from Ethiopia.The museum’s refusal to display the fossil is, at least in part, in response to a 1998 resolution by the International Association for the Study of Human Paleontology resolution to keep fossils such as Lucy in their country of origin.I think this is wise.

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-90249922688590805262006-10-28T11:57:00.000-07:002006-12-20T11:58:59.756-08:00

On October 28, AD 312, Roman Emperor Constantine I defeated a rival to the throne of the Western Roman Empire at the Battle of Milvian Bridge.According to legend, Constantine had a vision the night before the battle telling him to paint the “cipher of Christ” on his men’s shields. After a victory, Constantine entered Rome and emerged as the supreme ruler. The next year, Constantine, along with

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-32439027541433844042006-10-27T12:21:00.000-07:002006-12-20T12:24:52.423-08:00

Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States, was born today in 1858 in New York City.Known as TR or Teddy, Roosevelt prided himself in living what he called “a strenuous life.” And it was strenuous by any measure. When he was young, he boxed, ranched, played ball, and engaged in other methods of physical exercise, despite battling asthma since he was a boy.Before becoming president

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-33767503468309949052006-10-27T12:19:00.000-07:002006-12-20T12:21:10.129-08:00

But we already knew that didn’t we. I think this would be good information to share with students next week to emphasize the consequences of dropping out of school…According to the US Census Bureau, in 2004, high school grads earned almost 50% more than those without a high school diploma. College grads (bachelor’s degree) earned almost 80% more than those with a high school diploma, and those

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-370525602972912502006-10-27T11:59:00.000-07:002006-12-20T12:14:12.593-08:00

As I stated in a previous post about Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence Theory, I recently finished my unit at school on ancient Mesopotamia. As part of my “post mortem” on the unit, I made a list of project ideas for possible implementation in the future. I classified the ideas based on MI and subject matter, and perhaps next year I’ll do a differentiated, more immersive unit allowing students to

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639787705250408575.post-27269963097620406582006-10-26T12:28:00.000-07:002006-12-20T12:32:28.331-08:00

On October 26, 1825, the Erie Canal opened. The canal connected Lake Erie with the Hudson River, opening up a new major trade route. The construction of the canal was a major undertaking and quite an engineering feat for the day.The New York State Canals site (source for photo to the right) has a great resource for those interested in the history of the canal including some cool classroom stats

Ericnoreply@blogger.com