This post is a reflection on the peculiar history and social structure of imperial Venice, drawing on a 2013 book by Garry Wills, Venice: Lion City -- The Religion of Empire. On the surface of it, Venice was the unlikely hub of an empire. It was a city-state with a small population and no sizeable … Continue reading Garry Wills on the History of the Venetian Empire
This post is an essay about the formation of the US common school system, which was responsible for forming the American republic during a period in the early 19th century when its survival was in doubt. The essay is an extended excerpt from the second chapter of my book, Someone Has to Fail. I'm posting … Continue reading Formation of the US Common School System
This post is an essay by Francis Fukuyama that recently appeared in Persuasion. Here's a link to the original. Societies are built on trust, and the most successful ones have the broadest foundation of trust. The US has long been seen as a high-trust society, from the time that Tocqueville toured the country. But, as … Continue reading Francis Fukuyama — The Crisis of Trust
Tell me if you think this sounds familiar: in its latter years (500-700 ace), the roman empire faced a formidable challenge from two devastating environmental forces — dramatic climate change and massive epidemic. As mark twain is supposed to have said, “history doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” During our own bout of climate … Continue reading Resilience in the Face of Climate Change and Epidemic: Ancient Rome and Today’s America
David Labaree on Schooling, History, and Writing 