History

September 30, 2020

Uppercase and Lowercase: An Etymological Tale of Two Scripts

To start a sentence, one uses an uppercase letter to begin the first word. But where do the opaque terms uppercase and lowercase come from? To understand why capital letters are “uppercase”—and their smaller counterparts are “lowercase”—one has to look back in history to early handwriting and follow that tale to the printing press. The existence and etymology (the history of a word) of uppercase and lowercase is a fascinating tale.

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August 25, 2020

10 Fascinating Facts About Cleopatra, the Powerful Queen of the Nile

Cleopatra VII died more than 2,000 years ago, but she remains one of history’s most intriguing women. Famous for her beauty and intellect, the Egyptian queen had a short but scandalous life that has inspired many works of art, literature, and films. Cleopatra is often portrayed as a femme fatale due to her romantic relationships with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. However, she wasn’t just a seductress.

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August 22, 2020

Explore the Fascinating History of Petra, a Once-Lost City That’s Now a Wonder of the World

Also known as the Rose City, the prehistoric city of Petra is an incredible spectacle that one must see to believe. The once-thriving trade center was settled in the 4th century BCE. Its architecture, which is carved into the red sandstone cliffs, has helped make it one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. Located in the desert canyons of southwestern Jordan, Petra was the capital of the ancient Nabataean civilization.

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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.