Posted in Uncategorized on Jul 1st, 2014 Comments Off on Punishment in 19th Century China
Thomas Allom (1804–1872) was an English architect, artist, and illustrator, who published books on his travels from Europe to the Middle East and throughout Asia. In 1842, the treaty of Nanking was signed after the British were victorious over the Chinese in what is usually refered to as the “First Opium War”. The treaty gave […]
Posted in Uncategorized on May 30th, 2014 Comments Off on Earliest English-Thai Dictionary
Eliza Grew Jones, a member of a Baptist missionary to Burma, compiled one of the first known Thai-English dictionaries, completing it in December of 1833. She was incredibly talented with languages, having even taught herself Greek. She desperately wanted to preach the Gospels, but being a woman, was prohibited. She married missionary Rev. Dr. John […]
Posted in Uncategorized on May 8th, 2014 1 Comment »
It is a common misconception that the automobile was the initial catalyst for the expansion and improvement of the American roadways. In reality, the true impetus for the growth and development of a comprehensive road system was the cycling craze of the late 19th century. The spike in interest and enthusiasm for cycling was due […]
Posted in Uncategorized on Apr 21st, 2014 Comments Off on Buttons: Boston’s Patriotic Dog
This short pamphlet, issued after the Americans had entered WWI, was offered as both a humorous and inspirational message to those back on the homefront. The ideals of sacrifice and support for the troops abroad was not limited to the people of the U.S., as Buttons, a poodle from Boston, provided his own small contribution […]
Posted in Uncategorized on Apr 13th, 2014 Comments Off on Delegorgue’s Journey Through the Zulu Kingdom
Louis Adulphe Delegorgue, born in 1814, embarked on lifelong travels at the young age of 16. His greatest passion was for Africa, which supplied him with endless naturalist interests and satiated his tremendous appetite for big game hunting. Delegorgue’s travels in Southern Africa began with his arrival in Cape Town in 1838, and lead to […]
Posted in Uncategorized on Mar 14th, 2014 Comments Off on Ethiopia at the end of the 19th century
Lazzaro Pasini (1861-1949), an Italian painter mostly know for his landscapes, traveled to the Eritrean port of Massawa where he deviated from his typical landscape imagery to focus on the life and culture of the native people. Eritrea was the only remaining Italian controlled territory after the epic Battle of Adwa and the subsequent treaty […]
Posted in Uncategorized on Feb 25th, 2014 Comments Off on A Frenchman in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars
Following the initial French military success in Egypt under Napoleon, the British government ordered the Bengal army to be placed under the command of General Abercromby in attempt to expel the remaining French stronghold in Egypt. Louis Pantaléon Jude Amédée, the “Count of Noé”, was amongst the troops sent from Bengal to Egypt. During the French […]
Posted in Uncategorized on Jan 28th, 2014 Comments Off on Jean Joseph Marie Amiot Introduces “The Art of War” to the West
Sun Tzu’s Art of War has become an iconic work, a commonly cited treatise with cross-over interest and application in academia, military, business management, and even popular culture. Sun Tzu (544-496 BC), a Chinese military strategist, revered and influential throughout Asia, was virtually unknown in Western culture for centuries until the French Jesuit missionary, Jean […]
Posted in Uncategorized on Jan 13th, 2014 Comments Off on Dr. Bly’s Artificial Leg
In 1858, Douglas Bly, a physician from Rochester, New York, invented and patented an artificial leg that incorporated new technology, materials, and design to better mimic the movements of the human leg. His knowledge of anatomy informed his approach, which was focused on providing a more natural gait to the disabled. The most important improvements […]
Posted in Uncategorized on Dec 19th, 2013 Comments Off on The Solstice and Stonehenge
Dating back to the Neolithic Age, the winter soltice has been observed, revered, and worshiped as an iconic moment in the earth’s annual cycle. Ancient physical remains around the globe attest to the allure of the winter solstice for both religious celebration and practical planning for the growing season. In Britain, the primary axes […]