Last September I visited Munich’s Deutsches Jagd- und Fischereimuseum (German Museum for Hunting and Fishing) and took pictures of some unusual exhibits. When I went to the Museum Starnberger See this January, I realized that its excellent model of the huge Bucentaur lake galley was likely the same one depicted in a Jagdmuseum painting, so … Continue reading “Munich Jagdmuseum”
Tag: History
Historical topics
Religion & Life Strategy
The nature and dynamics of world religions by Nicolas Baumard & Coralie Chevallier (2015, also as PDF) examines archaic religions, current world religions, and the ongoing decline of religiosity in rich countries by the light of life history theory, here applied to the varying circumstances of human societies rather than the evolution of different species. … Continue reading “Religion & Life Strategy”
Munich Villa Stuck
Nearly forgotten today, Franz von Stuck (1863–1928) was a popular and highly acclaimed artist in his time. Stuck designed his Munich villa (built 1897–98) as a rich homage to European art, from antiquity to contemporary styles. Like most late 19th century attempts to revive historical aesthetics in the industrial era its splendor borders on kitsch, … Continue reading “Munich Villa Stuck”
Tainter’s Collapse of Complex Societies
The Collapse of Complex Societies (Cambridge University Press 1988; paperback 1990, 250 pages, ISBN 978-0-521-38673-9) is Joseph A. Tainter’s magnum opus and deservedly considered a classic. Tainter packs an overview of explanations of collapse, analyses of historical cases, and his own overarching theory into one slim book, soberly argued from quantifiable data yet quite readable. … Continue reading “Tainter’s Collapse of Complex Societies”
Etruscans & Greeks
Munich’s museums lower their ticket prices to €1 on Sundays, a great opportunity to check out interesting special exhibitions. Last Sunday the Staatliche Antikensammlungen opposite the Glyptothek featured a large number of remarkable Etruscan pieces. I took a couple of pictures with the iPhone 5s, and also some from the regular Greek exhibition in the … Continue reading “Etruscans & Greeks”
King Ludwig’s Walhalla
King Ludwig I of Bavaria (1786–1868) was the grandfather of Ludwig II (1845–1886) who eclipsed him in popular memory as the “Märchenkönig:” patron of Richard Wagner, Neuschwanstein castle, mysterious early death. Ludwig I was rather more mundane but left a much greater cultural legacy, simultaneously industrializing Bavaria – site of the first German railway in … Continue reading “King Ludwig’s Walhalla”
Passau Veste Oberhaus
The 34 photos from this tour are divided into two galleries, the first on the very long ascent to the castle and the second on the castle itself. Most pictures were taken with a Sony Alpha 7R and SEL-2470Z lens, except for four iPhone 5s photos from on an earlier walk. Click on any picture … Continue reading “Passau Veste Oberhaus”
Tales from the Roman Republic
Rome’s messy transition from republic to principate has been well-documented by ancient authors and often revisited by modern ones. Since 1990 there has been a veritable explosion of historical fiction set in this era. I’ve devoured a good part of it, so here are some recommendations for your reading pleasure. The authors generally keep to … Continue reading “Tales from the Roman Republic”
How Great Was Alexander?
Following his observations on Napoleon, sociologist Randall Collins has posted another insightful article on one of history’s greatest warlords: What Made Alexander Great? Once again, I recommend you take an hour or two to read the whole thing. Below follows a summary with noteworthy excerpts. Philip’s Groundwork Alexander’s father Philip laid the groundwork to his … Continue reading “How Great Was Alexander?”
Napoleon’s Unlikely Career
Sociologist Randall Collins has published another fascinating essay-length post, this time on the illustrious career of Napoleon Bonaparte and the old question of talent versus luck. The single worst thing about the article is the title, Napoleon as CEO: A Career of Emotional Energy, which sounds like something written by robots to fill the space … Continue reading “Napoleon’s Unlikely Career”