Topic

History

A collection of 433 issues

Proud to be an American... and a Canadian? The Secret History of Lee Greenwood's Other Anthem

Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" is a beloved American anthem, but few know he also wrote and recorded "God Bless Canada" for a 1989 tourism campaign. With swapped lyrics praising Manitoba and Calgary, the song reveals a surprising chapter in the history of a patriotic classic.

Music History Entertainment & Media

From Savannah to Sand: Unearthing the Lost Green World of Ancient Arabia

Stunning evidence reveals the Arabian desert was a lush, green savannah. Fueled by ancient monsoons, it hosted vast lakes, river networks, and wildlife like hippos, creating a vital corridor for early human migration out of Africa before its dramatic desertification.

Science & Nature History Geography & Places

The Dictator on the CIA's Payroll: Manuel Noriega's Betrayal and the US Invasion of Panama

Manuel Noriega, the Panamanian dictator captured in a US invasion, was a long-time CIA asset. For years, he received up to $200,000 annually from the US for intelligence while simultaneously collaborating with drug cartels. This tangled web of convenience and crime ultimately led to his downfall.

History Wars, Conflict & Heroes Biography & Personal Stories

The Great Manhattan Giveaway: Why the Dutch Traded New York for a Sugar Colony

In 1674, the Dutch formally traded New Amsterdam (Manhattan) to England for Suriname. While this seems like a colossal blunder today, the immensely profitable sugar plantations of Suriname made it the far more valuable asset in the 17th century—a calculated economic power move.

History Business & Economics Geography & Places

The Unspeakable Tragedy: How the 2004 Tsunami Shattered Richard Attenborough's Family

The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami brought unimaginable grief to beloved actor Richard Attenborough. While on holiday in Thailand, the disaster tragically claimed the lives of his eldest daughter, Jane Holland, her daughter Lucy, and her mother-in-law, a personal story within a global catastrophe.

Biography & Personal Stories Science & Nature History

The Last Great Scoop: How a Runner Delivered News of the Everest Conquest

The 1953 Everest conquest was a global sensation delivered not by wire, but by foot. A journalist's coded message was carried by a runner through the Himalayas to the nearest telegraph, reaching London just in time for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in a final hurrah for old-world reporting.

Adventure & Exploration History Entertainment & Media

Beyond Conquest: The Surprising Bilingual First Book Printed in the New World

The first book printed in the Americas (1539) wasn't just in Spanish. "Breve y...doctrina Christiana" was a bilingual catechism in Spanish and Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, revealing a complex story of cultural interaction, not just simple conquest, at the dawn of New World printing.

History Literature & Books Technology & Innovation

From a Breakup to a Breakthrough: The Wild Transformation of The Doors' 'The End'

The Doors' 12-minute epic 'The End' is famed for its dark, Oedipal themes. But it began as a simple, sad song Jim Morrison wrote about a breakup with his girlfriend, Mary Werbelow, before live improvisation on the Sunset Strip transformed it into a mythological masterpiece.

Music History Art, Culture & Design

How a 260-Ton Turkey Mistake Led to the Iconic TV Dinner

In 1953, a massive overestimation left Swanson with 260 tons of leftover Thanksgiving turkey. Salesman Gerry Thomas's innovative idea to package a full meal in an aluminum tray, marketed as the 'TV Dinner,' not only solved the problem but created an American cultural icon.

Business & Economics Food & Lifestyle History

The Friendly Wolf That Swam to its Doom: A Tragic Tale of Trust and Extinction

The Falkland Islands wolf, or warrah, was the islands' only native land mammal. Its remarkable tameness towards humans, often swimming out to greet ships, made it an easy target for settlers who hunted it to extinction in 1876, a tragic end for a unique creature.

Science & Nature History Animals in Culture

Loading more posts...