Category: Article of the Day

Nestor Makhno was an anarcho-communist Ukrainian revolutionary who refused to align with the Bolsheviks after the October Revolution in 1917. The enormous social experiment in anarchism that he helped create in Ukraine, first by driving out opposing armies and then by organizing the new anarchist system, was cut short by the Bolsheviks in 1921, when he was finally forced into exile. What anarchist work co-written by Makhno remains both influential and controversial today? Discuss

The Incense Route was a series of important ancient trade routes linking Egypt to India by way of Arabia. The incense trade flourished between the 3rd century BCE and the 2nd century CE, during which time these routes played a vital role in the transport of frankincense and myrrh from Arabia; spices, ebony, and textiles from India; and wood, feathers, hides, and gold from East Africa. Spectacular evidence of the ancient trade can be seen in 16th-century BCE Egyptian frescos that depict what? Discuss

Calligraphy, a term derived from the Greek word for “beautiful writing,” is a form of artistic writing practiced by cultures throughout the world for millennia. Calligraphic works can range from functional, hand-lettered inscriptions to abstract fine art pieces. Regarded in China and Japan as the greatest of the visual arts, calligraphy also figures prominently in Islamic art, which forbids the depiction of human and animal forms. What kind of glyphs are found carved into structures in Mexico? Discuss

The historical referents of the term “assassin,” the Hashshashin were a secret society of Ismaili Shia Muslims who specialized in politically motivated killings of Crusaders and Muslim rulers. Much of the lore surrounding the feared sect, which originated in Persia and was active from 1090 to 1272, stems from Marco Polo’s likely fictional account of his visit to the city of Alamut in 1273. What drug is believed to be the root of the term “Hashshashin,” and what was its connection to the sect? Discuss

These popular tiles are used to play many games of Chinese origin, most notably Mahjong. Traditionally, the pieces were made of bone and backed with bamboo, but most modern sets are constructed from various plastics and contain between 136 and 144 tiles. The symbols on the tiles—the majority of which have a rank and suit like playing cards—are almost always engraved or pressed into the material. How do some expert players determine the face value of their tiles without actually looking at them? Discuss

Likely the largest chariot battle in history, the Battle of Kadesh was fought between the Egyptians and the Hittites in 1274 BCE at the city of Kadesh in what is now Syria. Pharaoh Ramses II mounted the attack to regain lost territory, but he was eventually forced to retreat to Egypt. Hostilities between the two peoples were finally ended with a peace agreement in 1258 BCE—one of the earliest international peace treaties. A replica of the agreement is held at what organization’s headquarters? Discuss

A local currency is a currency that is not backed by a national government and is intended for trade only in a small area. Today, more than 2,500 local currency systems operate throughout the world. Though advocates say local currencies enable people in economically depressed regions to improve their situation, opponents argue that such systems can interfere with economies of scale and lead to tax evasion. What are some examples of local currencies? Discuss

Punt was a fabled land in eastern Africa sought by ancient Egyptians as a source of gold, frankincense, myrrh, and other exotic and precious goods. It is known only from Egyptian records of expeditions to East Africa, which date back to the 25th century BCE. Punt was also called “God’s Land” because its position in relation to the rising sun placed it under the sun god’s domain. Though most scholars link Punt with the Red Sea, its exact location remains a mystery. What are some of the theories? Discuss

The lexical compilations known as dictionaries have taken many forms throughout the ages. The earliest dictionaries were created by the Greeks in the first century CE, while multilingual dictionaries emerged during the Middle Ages. Though today’s lexica contain alphabetized word lists, until the 18th century, English dictionaries were predominantly organized by topic. What were some of the distinctly American words that Noah Webster first documented in his 1828 dictionary? Discuss

Shah Abbas I ascended the Persian throne in the late 16th century, after participating in the coup that deposed his father. Persian artistic achievement flourished during Abbas’s reign. The empire’s new capital, Isfahan, was transformed into one of the world’s most beautiful cities and quickly became one of the most important cultural centers in the Islamic world. Abbas’s rule was tarnished, however, by his cruelty to his family. What did he do to three of his sons? Discuss