For the historian concerned with the ancient world, the availability of sources is far from self-evident. Some questions remain unanswered because no documents are available, others are unexpectedly solved after the discovery of a new source or through the application of new research techniques. Our
Christmas break. Decorating the Christmas tree, snowball fight, winter sports, fireworks, champagne and reading by the fireplace. But… which historically oriented book was the most loved this winter? The History &Archeology editors of Kennislink listed a number of historically oriented books. We in
The voices of Archangel Michael, God, and Saints Margaret and Catherine have commanded Joan of Arc to accomplish. Would the reality be so beautiful that the Hundred Years War (1337 – 1453) was won by the French thanks to these votes? This is one of historys greatest mysteries:why did Joan of Arc sta
Finds in Happisburgh, UK, show that northern Europe was inhabited earlier than thought. The flint artifacts are older than 780,000 years, possibly up to 970,000 years. Prehistoric man lived in a relatively warm phase between the glacials, although it was colder than today. The Pleistocene is a peri
Indiana Jones look-a-likes spend months painstakingly slogging on a skeleton armed with toothbrushes. Admittedly, in the past, archeology was indeed somewhat artisanal. But times have changed. Archeology is catching up with high-tech. Innovative research methods arise from various disciplines that e
A few years ago, archaeologists discovered an encampment of Neanderthals from the last ice age near Assen. This may be called quite special, now that the camp is revealing more and more of its secrets, it becomes even more interesting. Why are there many more hand axes here than at most other known
Thousands of farms in the Netherlands were destroyed during the Second World War. Farmers lost their living space as a result, but also their livelihood. Sophie Elpers is doing PhD research at the Meertens Institute into the reconstruction of these farms. At the beginning of this month, a database w
A lot has changed in a hundred years of household. But do all those household appliances actually save us time? Science Center NEMO shows in its new exhibition that this conclusion is a bit premature. “I have time, because I have electricity”. That was the slogan of many a company that sold househo
The Wadden area is unique in several respects. In June 2009 a large part of the Wadden was added to UNESCOs World Heritage List because of the dynamic, varied landscape and the associated richness of species. In the last 500 years, man has had an increasing influence on the area. The origin of the W
The winners of the Spinoza Prizes for 2010 have been announced. The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) awards the Dutch Nobel Prizes annually for top Dutch research. The winners are psychologist Naomi Ellemers, astronomer Marijn Franx, chemist Piet Gros and classicist Ineke Slui
Personally, I never got skinny jeans. Even the most graceful bum looks huge in those pants. Perhaps this is exactly the intention and I am just lagging behind:his slim buttocks are now so 2009. Because if anything is changeable, it is beauty ideals. Beauty has been associated with good throughout h
Contemporary discussions about what is offensive or pornographic are almost always about images. Similar discussions were held in the 17th century, but about songs. In the Golden Age there was a lot of singing, especially about love. The dos and donts shifted over time. At the beginning of the 17th
After Henry Hudsons explorations in 1609, it was not immediately clear what kind of colony should come here:an overseas trading post or a settlement area for farmers and workmen? The trade-off between the two options was a constant factor in New Netherlands forty-year history. In the early years of
After the American (1776) and French revolution (1789), a Dutch revolution also arose in 1795. The Batavian republic that emerged from this strived for a more democratic and central government. Contrary to popular belief, it was not a copy of the great French or American example. What is striking is
Until well into the 19th century, clergy disapproved of reading by the common people. Reading would make lazy, a waste of time or mislead simple people. Novels were especially bad:they had a dulling effect on the conscience and weakened the will. “No one needs prior leave to express thoughts and fe
Barack Obamas victory had so much emotional significance for black Americans that even Bush-loyal Condoleezza Rice stated in a press conference that he was personally extremely proud of this election result. Inscribed in the black collective consciousness is a long history of legal and social inequa
How did Hitler get his ideas? What did he read? And what did he understand? These questions underlie many recent studies on Hitler. Do they also provide new insights? Or should we accept a conclusion that Harry Mulish already drew in 1962:Hitler didnt have to read or think. He knew. Every year so m
Today it is exactly 150 years ago that Multatuli completed his great work Max Havelaar, or the coffee auctions of the Dutch Trading Companies. Multatuli – pseudonym for Eduard Douwes Dekker – was one of the first whistleblowers in the Netherlands. Multatuli (Latin for I have worn a lot) was a civil
About a mile from the famous Stonehenge monument, a similar but slightly smaller stone circle has been discovered. This was announced by researchers from the University of Sheffield last weekend. The circle has a diameter of 10 meters and is surrounded by an earthen wall. Archaeologists are still i
Linguist Marjo van Koppen conducts research into language dynamics in the Golden Age, a period in which the language standard was not yet established. “The great thing about the seventeenth century is that you can study language change in action,” says Van Koppen. They have or have theirs. It was b
This musical genius left behind not only a fascinating work, but also an extraordinary story of life and premature death, which is still intriguing today. Although it is assumed that he died of tuberculosis, there are many alternative hypotheses. What really killed one of the most famous Poles?
Twenty courses (including gold-battered peas and venison stuffed with live birds), a sea of wine, and the whole seasoned with a sauce of fermented fish guts. It is not surprising that the Romans had to go to the site from time to time during their famous feasts. But was it really so? “In the d
Its a story so old, it makes even Christianity seem like a religion born yesterday. Demonism and therefore exorcism goes hand in hand with mans fear of the unknown, it survives to this day and because we do not know this unknown and if we will ever get rid of it, it seems that it has a long future a
The churches were closed, the dying could not count on the last rites, and the country was henceforth considered to be forgotten by God. Archbishop Radzim Gaudenty almost destroyed Poland, all because of a certain Russian princess ... The cathedral basilica was bursting at the seams. The Archbis