Labor-saving Draft Animals and the Salzburg Scythe
Considerable debate arises today regarding the pros and cons of technological developments in the wake of climate change, employment rates, and related issues. One thing I find for sure upon recalling my grandfather’s stories of year-round farm labor here in the Northwest is that life was hard back in the day. I have done some […]
North African Threshers and Gallic-Roman Reapers
“Wonders never cease,” as is often said and I’m always amazed how archaeological discoveries in the past century have revealed more about life in ancient times than the past thousand years of evidence. I hope this is encouraging to young people contemplating careers in history and related fields. A team of Italian archaeologists excavating near […]
Eat Your Barley! Whole Grains and Gladiators
Humble barley and oats generally give way to wheat berries, lentils, and chickpeas as principal ingredients in modern recipes calling for grains and legumes. But the Italian “farro” grains emmer and spelt were staples of Roman legionnaires who made nutritious soups from the cracked kernels and likely spread it and other Roman varieties throughout the […]
The Georgic World and Roman Expansion
Word games are fun, and recent research on educational success has revealed some very practical applications for them. Studies indicate that in spite of all the money spent on manuals and workshops for students to score high on college entrance exams, the best marks go to those who have a solid understanding of Greek and […]