Favorite Historical Periods, Events, Characters

[Socratoad]

Sweetie are you sure you mean Socrates, as included in your list. Its just possible that you mean Socratoad. Socrates picked his name from Socratoad the First, my ancient ancestor. you are aware I'm sure the we toads were around to greet the dinosaurs when they arrived and were present to wave them sad farewell upon their demise. Thus toads had developed a very complete philosophical system before Home Erectus appeared on the scene. We toads were really quite proud how quickly Socrates developed a method of reasoning based upon the ponderings of my ancestor. After all these passing eons we toads are becoming alarmed by the degradation of
philosophy by Homo Consumens.

[Sweetie]

[godfry n. glad]

Originally Posted by Socratoad

Socrates of course. I would love to have hung about with him. Even enduring the many hardships and even the end would be worthwhile only to be able to be among those in discussion with him in the markets squares.

Yeah, I used to think so, too. Then I read I.F. Stone's The Trial of Socrates.

Emma Goldman, simply because of my admiration of this unique fearless incorruptible person. Damn..... I doubt very much if another of her stature will ever grace this planet. I would campaign by her side until I dropped dead of exhaustion ....gladly.

I can't say I'd campaign by her side, but I'd probably have urged her on. I certainly would like to have been able to meet and speak with her. Too bad there isn't an historical "Emma slept here" program. They'd have to install them in jail cells all over the country.

godfry

[Clutch Munny]

Originally Posted by livius drusus

Have you been to Turkey?

I think I recall a chatroom discussion 'tween you and me, on the aesthetic experience of standing in the Agia Sophia. Eh?

Let me also add: The Outremer Kingdom period.

[livius drusus]

Originally Posted by Clutch Munny

I think I recall a chatroom discussion 'tween you and me, on the aesthetic experience of standing in the Agia Sophia. Eh?

Right you are, of course. For some reason, our discussion of Aachen was my foremost recollection of that chat. Naturally now that you've reminded me, I can't imagine how I could have forgotten the Turkish segment.

Let me also add: The Outremer Kingdom period.

Oh that's such a great one. Tyre is one of my favorite historical places, too, pretty much throughout its history.

[Clutch Munny]

Originally Posted by livius drusus

Tyre is one of my favorite historical places, too, pretty much throughout its history.

Wish I could see the excavations! Last week I was re-reading an account of the siege and destruction of the city. For a handful of most old farts, them Hospitallers were serious badasses. In any numbers greater than one, they seem to have pretty much terrorized the Latins' enemies.

[godfry n. glad]

Originally Posted by Clutch Munny

Let me also add: The Outremer Kingdom period.

Okay, guys... You hit one I don't recognize. Please enlighten....It encludes Tyre? One of the crusader kingdoms, perhaps?

Didn't Alexander also invade Tyre?



godfry

[livius drusus]

You got it, godfry. Outremer is the general name covering all the various crusader states. I can't seem to find anything much online, but this rather shabby collection of articles for a class syllabus at least gives some idea.

Outremer (literally "across the sea") theoretically was the Kingdom of Jerusalem. All the other princes were the vassals of the King, but in reality both Antioch and Edessa were too far north. In many ways, the Kingdom was divided into two regions, the northerly of which was dominated by Antioch, the southerly by Jerusalem.

Tyre was one of those vassal states, and yup, Alexander definitely invaded it. He had to build a bridge to break it, but eventually he succeeded where the likes of Nebuchadnezzar had failed.

[-FX-]

1660 to 1710 is one of my favorites.

When Ole Rømer made the first measurement of the speed of light, made a bet with the great Cassini about it, won the bet, went on to invent the modern thermometer, oil street lamps, and a host of other things.

I would have loved to be there in 1676 when the observation of the moons of Jupiter proved his calculations correct, but Cassini refused to concede the matter, and refused to pay up.