Medieval
The Other Side of Ottoman Empire
The imperial palace of the Ottoman Empire housed a secluded and mysterious world known as the harem. Within its walls, hundreds of women from both within and beyond the empire served as personal slaves to the sultan. These women, who were primarily non-Turkish and often captured by slave hunters, were predominantly of Christian faith. In a peculiar incident, a mechanic from London, dispatched by Queen Elizabeth, was tasked with installing an organ within the imperial harem. To his surprise, he witnessed the sultan's concubines engaging in a game of ball, initially mistaking them for young men. Despite the potential for loneliness, the harem, also referred to as the abode of felicity, provided its inhabitants with all the means of happiness. This was the reality of the imperial harem in 16th-century Istanbul.
By Isaac Ekow Anyidoho6 days ago in History
Samurai Warriors in the Sengoku Period
At the end of the 16th century, Japan was on the brink of an imminent civil war. At that time, the Ashikaga shogunate ruled, the second feudal military regime established by the shoguns of the Ashikaga clan around the year 1336. However, after the collapse of this central power in 1573 following a series of civil wars and military conflicts, the central authority fragmented, dividing into numerous feudal states governed by warlords. For all these reasons, the Sengoku period literally means “Warring States.” Without a central power to govern everything, the feudal lords and the military or warrior caste sought absolute control of the territory. This very circumstance fueled the wars between different clans and factions from all regions of the Japanese nation. Some of the most prominent and influential clans of that period include the Takeda clan, the Uesugi clan, the Oda clan, the Tokugawa clan, the Hojo clan, the Mori clan, among others. These clans had powerful leaders and significant territories, making them key players in the struggles for power and control in Japan.
By Agustín Badariotto8 days ago in History
Three Times When Humanity Could Disappear
Ancient civilizations and prophets from around the world have consistently predicted the demise of humanity and the Earth. The calendar of the Maya, the ancient civilization of America, ended on December 21, 2012. At that time, the whole world awaited the end of the world, but it did not happen. However, the prophecies of the famous French soothsayer Michel Nostradamus are detailed until the year 3797. Does this mean that life on Earth will end then, and should we believe such predictions at all? Incidentally, the death of our planet will occur when the Sun goes out, plunging the world into darkness, but this will not happen for at least another billion years. Some even believe in the possibility of black holes forming in the Large Hadron Collider, but that is beyond the realm of fantasy. What catastrophes have threatened and could threaten humanity in the future?
By Vitalii Petrov9 days ago in History
Ancient Hindu text describe Flying Vimanas
The Hindu Vedas are packed with fantastic stories about the gods, their powers, and epic battles that supposedly took place long ago. Their sagas are widely perceived to be mythological stories that were created to be taken as allegory, much like we tell our children fables, so they might glean useful life lessons to apply down the road. These Hindu myths talk of noble Gods who fight off wicked forces, flying craft called Vimanas, and … nuclear war? Are we sure these were just allegories?
By Haratima Foundation9 days ago in History
India, Bangladesh ink pact to boost ties in maritime sphere, blue economy
Minister Narendra Modi on June 22 held extensive talks with his visiting Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina to shore up cooperation in diverse areas including trade and connectivity. The two leaders decided to expand cooperation in several new areas and inked a raft of agreements, including to boost ties in the maritime sphere and blue economy.The key pacts signed by the two sides included one on forging strong ties in the digital domain and another on having a “green partnership”. The two sides also inked an agreement on railway connectivity.Today we have prepared a futuristic vision for cooperation in new areas. The youth of both the countries will benefit from the consensus reached on cooperation in areas such as green partnership, digital partnership, blue economy and space,” Mr. Modi said in his statement to the media.In her remarks, Ms. Hasina described India as Bangladesh’s major neighbour and a trusted friend. “India is our major neighbour, trusted friend and regional partner. Bangladesh greatly values our relations with India, which were born out of the War of Liberation in 1971,” she said.
By pankaj USA10 days ago in History
The Tragic Tapestry of Oedipus: A Tale of Fate and Destiny
The Prophecy Foretold In the ancient city of Thebes, a prophecy from the oracle of Apollo cast a long shadow over King Laius and Queen Jocasta. It foretold that their own son would be their undoing. Fearful of this grim fate, Laius ordered his newborn son's ankles pierced and abandoned on Mount Cithaeron. Yet, the shepherd who was tasked with this grim duty took pity on the child and instead passed him to another shepherd, who in turn delivered him to the childless King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth. They named him Oedipus, meaning "swollen-foot," and raised him as their own.
By Mojalefa Mokoena11 days ago in History
The Real North Pole: 5 Mythical Ancient Islands That Might Actually Exist
There are many stories of places that have been deemed mythological only for it later to be discovered that there is much more to these myths than was first thought. Vitra Manand, also variously known as Great Ireland or White Man's Land, is one such place. Amongst the most significant and influential of ancient Norse texts are The Saga of Eric the Red and The Saga of the Greenlanders. These sagas allude to the island of Vitra Manand, described as being six days sailing west of Ireland or alternatively somewhere near Vinland, the name once given to the coastal area of eastern North America. In The Saga of Eric the Red, the native people of Vitra Manand were described as always being dressed in white and that they, quote, "uttered loud cries, bore long poles, and wore fringes." Another source mentions albinism in the population with, quote, "hair and skin as white as snow." Jedis Mercader, the flist geographer and cartographer who created one of the first world maps, also mentioned a similar land in a 1577 letter to John Dee, the English academic and occultist. In the letter to Dee, Mercader mentions that in the 14th century a group of eight men had come to Norway from a distant land, claiming to have been part of an expedition sent by the legendary King Arthur of Britain and that they were, in fact, his fifth-generation descendants. The true location of the legendary Vitra Manand is a subject of scholarly debate, with several theories proposing locations along the Eastern Seaboard of North America. Carl Christian Raen suggests the Chesapeake Bay area, referencing legends of white men with iron instruments. However, historian Farley Moat offers a more detailed theory, placing the land on Newfoundland's western shore. According to Moat, European settlers from the Northern British Isles, referred to as Alans, reached Iceland, Greenland, and North America before the Vikings. These Albans, thought to be the original Neolithic inhabitants of Britain, were displaced by the Celts and pushed to Europe's northwestern fringes. Moat asserts they were skilled walrus ivory hunters, which led them to discover and settle in Newfoundland due to its suitable land for farming and rich walrus population. Moat argues that the Albans' presence in Newfoundland predates the Vikings by centuries and that their settlements along the southwest coast influenced Viking exploration. The Vikings knew this area as Vitra Manand, and Moat speculates that voyages by figures like Leif Ericson were attempts to raid this land, which either failed or resulted in hostile encounters with the natives. The Albans are believed to have maintained connections to Europe into the early Middle Ages, but these links were severed by the 14th century as European pirates forced their migration inland, where they assimilated with other populations. Moat's theory is a fascinating possibility, placing the Albans and Vitra Manand at the heart of an untold chapter of pre-Columbian transatlantic contact and settlement in the New World.
By Vitalii Petrov11 days ago in History
Nagaland Hornbill Festival
The Nagaland Hornbill Festival is a celebration of the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the Naga tribes in northeastern India. Held annually in the first week of December in Kisama village near Kohima, the capital of Nagaland, this festival has gained international recognition for its vibrant display of Naga ethnic diversity, traditional arts, music, dance, and cuisine. Here’s an exploration of what makes the Nagaland Hornbill Festival a unique and significant event, spanning its origins, cultural significance, attractions, and impact.
By Ekombe hau13 days ago in History