Over the holiday break I had the opportunity to visit a major museum in Pittsburgh that I had never before visited. I was with a small group of people so the amount of time I could spend in any one wing was limited, but I was still able to whet my intellectual appetite for the […]
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Western Civ Forum
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See discussion posts made on this site. You’ll find something of interest.
Baa! Moving the sheep during World War I
By Hobilar
At the beginning of the Great War, plans were put afoot for the Army to move, by road, all the sheep from the farms of the southern counties of Sussex, Kent and Surrey to Salisbury Plain in order to keep them safe should the Germans invade England. One junior officer, given this task, queried the […]
The Babylonian Bride
By Hobilar
Marriage customs in Ancient Babylon Ancient Babylonia was a society, which, although it did not know coinage, was extremely wealthy due to their outstanding skill in barter and trade. The fertile lands along the Euphrates were ideal for the growing of more than sufficient crops for the population, and soon a profitable trade system sprung […]
Most historically-significant battle
By nemesisenforcer •
What is the single military battle with the most far-reaching effects and consequences? What battle, if it had come out differently, would have had the most profound change on the march of history? No brainer for me: Teutoburg Forest. This ended Roman excursions into Germania. From then on, Europe was divided into to camps: Romantic […]
Thoughts on Sir Christopher Wren
By Phidippides
The name of Christopher Wren came up in some readings and so then I read a bit more specifically about his life from the Wikipedia entry. According to the article, he was a cross-disciplinary expert in areas such as astronomy and architecture during the latter half of seventeenth-century England. His most memorable work may have […]
Wolfe at Culloden
By Hobilar
There was no quarter given to the defeated Jacobites. Except for a few officers reserved for public punishment, the wounded were mercilessly slaughtered on the field of Culloden. As Major James Wolfe, the future conqueror of Quebec, rode with the Duke of Cumberland across that blood stained field, they came across the wounded Fraser of […]
Battle of the Little Bighorn
By Phidippides
The Battle of Little Bighorn took place on this date in 1876. In the Wikipedia article that describes the battle, possible reasons for Custer’s defeat are given (condensed from the original, earlier edition of entry): Unfortunately (for Custer and his troops), this aggressive action was deeply flawed as a military tactic. First, Custer did not […]
Is Robert E. Lee overrated as a military leader?
By Historywonk
No one denies that Lee was courageous, resourceful, and daring, both as a junior officer in Mexico and commander of the Army of Northern Virginia. And no one denies that his string of victories is impressive with the Seven Days, Second Manassas, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. But one must also look at his opponents. Seven Days […]
What is the role of the historical anecdote in writing?
By Phidippides
Have you ever really thought about how the anecdote should be handled when writing papers? These devices are often times found in academic writing and can make for some of the most memorable insights that authors try to convey. On one hand, it can be used to illustrate some larger trend that you are showing. […]