History

November 30, 2024

The Oldest Written Text in the World Is 5,500 Years Old

Nestled in the historical region of southern Mesopotamia, Sumer stands as the earliest known civilization. It’s no surprise, then, that the oldest written text can be traced back to Kish, an ancient Sumerian city in modern Tell al-Uhaymir, Iraq. Named after the location of its discovery, the Kish Tablet dates back to the Uruk period (c. 3500–3200 BCE), and features proto-cuneiform signs. Proto-cuneiform emerged in Mesopotamia and was largely rooted within a pictographic system.

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November 17, 2024

British Library Exhibit Reveals Lives of Medieval Women

Medieval European life was very different than life today. Thanks to the plague, there was significantly more death, monarchs held absolute sway, and everyone thought the world was flat. However, many things were much the same as today. People loved their pets, wore sentimental jewelry, and roamed many city streets that still exist. Another similarity between modern and medieval times was the critical contribution to the economy and rich social lives of women.

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November 8, 2024

Archaeologists Unearth 3,500-Year-Old Wooden Spade Preserved in British Wetlands

During recent excavations for The Moors at Arne project, Wessex Archaeology uncovered one of Britain’s oldest and most complete wooden tools—a rare discovery that sheds light on how Bronze Age communities interacted with the wetlands along England's southern coast. Pottery and stone artifacts are relatively common finds during excavations, but intact wooden artifacts are much rarer since wood usually disintegrates over time.

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October 14, 2024

Día de los Muertos: How Mexico Celebrates Its Annual “Day of the Dead”

Throughout history, cultures across the globe have adopted creative ways to deal with death. In ancient China, they crafted funerary sculptures to fill complex mausoleums. During the Dutch Golden Age, artists touched on mortality in their memento mori still life paintings. And, in modern Mexico, people celebrate Día de los Muertos, a colorful holiday dedicated to the dearly departed. Though this festival has evolved over centuries, it remains one of Mexico's most historically and culturally important events.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.