This post is about, of all things, the Byzantine Empire. Unlike its western counterpart, what is usually called the Roman Empire, it has received little respect over the years. Even the name is a calumny (drawn from the name of the original Greek city of Byzantium that later became the empire's capital, Constantinople), which was … Continue reading The Triumph and Tragedy of the Byzantine Empire — How It Preserved the West and Devastated the East
Here's a challenge to any writer. How do you write a book about someone famous who never did anything? Craig Brown found an answer with his book, Nine-Nine Glimpses of Princess Margaret. In this book, he provides not a biography but a set of impressions of Queen Elizabeth's younger sister as they were recounted by … Continue reading Craig Brown – Ninety-Nine Glimpses of Princess Margaret
In episode 5 of The Crown's season 4, a desperate out-of-work painter named Michael Fagan breaks into Buckingham Palace, enters the queen's bedroom, sits on the foot of her bed, and asks her for a cigarette. "Filthy habit," she replies. "Yes, I know, I'm trying to quit," he says. Then he gets down to business, … Continue reading “The Crown” and the Long Tradition of Petitioning the Monarch for Redress of Grievances
Today I want to explore an interesting case of counterfactual history. What would have happened if Napoleon Bonaparte had won in 1815 at the Battle of Waterloo? What consequences might have followed for Europe in the next two centuries? That he might have succeeded is not mere fantasy. According to the victor, Lord Wellington, the … Continue reading What If Napoleon Had Won at Waterloo?
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 