Forming General Grant

Ulysses S. Grant was the most celebrated general in the wake of the Civil War (though revered in the south, the north didn’t have much time for Robert E. Lee). It resulted in Grant eventually becoming President of the United States, where his unassuming persona became world famous. However, his unassuming character was nothing new … Continue reading Forming General Grant →

Julius Caesar: One Man Propaganda Machine

Julius Caesar’s writings on his involvement in the Gallic War are one of the most valuable primary sources in all of history. Recently, when reading what we now know as Caesar’s Commentaries, I was thinking about lessons to take from his writings. It must be understood that Caesar was writing for public consumption. It could … Continue reading Julius Caesar: One Man Propaganda Machine →

The Remarkable Speed and Endurance of Julius Caesar

There were many characteristics that made Julius Caesar one of the most dynamic, fascinating people in history. However, what may have set him apart from many other movers of history might be the speed at which he lived his life. His ability to complete the tasks at hand created an almost unstoppable force for those … Continue reading The Remarkable Speed and Endurance of Julius Caesar →

The Berlin Conference – An Unjust Meeting

A meeting that has been all but forgotten in Western modernity, but is still responsible for dramatic ripple effects to this day on the African continent, the Berlin Conference was attended by all of Western culture except for the United States and Switzerland. The meeting convened in 1884, and by the time it ended in … Continue reading The Berlin Conference – An Unjust Meeting →

Gas: So terrible Hitler wouldn’t use it?

When I was learning history in school, a common platitude was that, having experienced being gassed in World War I, even Adolf Hitler refused to use gas in World War II. This always left a powerful mark on me. How bad could a gas attack possibly be if Hitler refused to use it? Then I … Continue reading Gas: So terrible Hitler wouldn’t use it? →

A Just War

In the 13th Century writings of Saint Thomas Aquinas, he opined on the parameters needed for a just war. A simplified version of these parameters are as follows: the cause was just, it was begun on proper authority, and it was used for the advancement of good or the avoidance of evil. I think his … Continue reading A Just War →

Ancient Roman Doctor: Studying A Claim by Celsus

Aulus Cornelius, better known to modernity as Celsus, was an ancient Roman medical writer. He was influenced by the Greek medical writer, Hippocrates, and was considered the "Cicero of physicians." That is to say, he was considered the best at his trade. His impact lasted well into the Renaissance where his books, known to us … Continue reading Ancient Roman Doctor: Studying A Claim by Celsus →