History

November 7, 2017

What Mozart’s Music Actually Sounds Like When Played on His Original Pianoforte

The premier composer of the classical era, Mozart has inspired artists for centuries. From inspiring films to literature, the public has always been fascinated by the composer's life and times. So, there's nothing more appealing than the thought of hearing Mozart's music played on the original instrument where they were composed. And that's where Robert Levin comes in. The acclaimed classical performer and composer is an expert in Mozart.

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October 24, 2017

Medieval Illuminated Manuscript Exploring the Majesty of Animals Digitized and Placed Online

No, an illuminated manuscript is not a book that lights up, but rather a visual way of articulating letters and inserting imagery into text. Especially popular during the medieval period, religious texts were the primary recipients of decorative borders and letters tinged with gold and silver. However, increasingly over time, secular texts were also illuminated and now one of the most intriguing illuminated manuscripts, The Aberdeen Bestiary, has been digitized for close examination.

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August 31, 2017

World’s Oldest Written Language Has Its Own Dictionary Available Online for Free

Looking to pick up a second language? If you really want to impress your friends, consider Akkadian, the now extinct language of Mesopotamia. And to help you, the University of Chicago has recently made its 21-volume Akkadian dictionary available with a free download online. All jokes aside, Akkadian is a fascinating language—the earliest Semitic one—that has remained unspoken for 2,000 years.

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July 31, 2017

Elaborate Birdhouses Resembling Miniature Palaces Built in Ottoman-Era Turkey

Historic Ottoman architecture was designed to accommodate more than its human inhabitants. Birds, in their own unique way, were welcomed to the ornate structures with their own avian-sized palaces that look just like miniature versions of the larger thing. Projecting from the façade of concrete buildings, the feathered friends would enter multi-story mansions complete with balconies on which to survey their world at large.

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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.