In one of my previous posts I discussed the history of the Reconquest of Spain which began with Don Pelayo holding his ground against the Moors in the mountains of Covadonga Spain, an area which still holds much historical and cultural significance to Spaniards particularly from the region of Asturias. When I last visited Covadonga,…
If you love Spain history facts, you’re in the right place. While the name Don Pelayo, or King Pelagius in English, does not have much significance in America, it marked a man of exceptional importance in Spain, especially northern Spain. Much of his life has strayed away from historical accuracy and has been transformed to…
Did you know that the Teatro San Carlo is the oldest opera house and theater in the world that has been in continuous use since its construction? While opera, ballet, and theater, in general, are not as popular as they once were, this theater in the beautiful city of Naples, Italy, is a perfect example…
The history of apple pie is more complex than you might expect. While many people seem to think that apple pie is an emblem of America, it actually has some surprisingly non-American origins. This is despite the fact that Americans love to eat this particular pie for all sorts of patriotic holidays such as Thanksgiving…
While many might think that the makeup industry is a relatively modern invention, the history of makeup is actually very deep. In fact, there is evidence that people started to wear makeup as long as 6,000 years ago, if not more. Without our ancestors who lived many thousands of years ago, we might never have…
Skincare routines are all the rage these days, but they have also been popular thousands of years ago in the form of ancient skincare. After all, who doesn’t want to have smooth and radiant skin, no matter what epoch you’re from? Of course, back in the day, scientifically-researched anti-aging creams and products didn’t exist yet….
Modern medicine is much more modern than you might expect. After all, antibiotics were only invented around 100 years ago. Before that, many people succumbed to simple wounds due to infection. More than that, many of the medicinal “treatments” used back then really weren’t as salutary as doctors thought. In fact, some treatments back in…
Celebrating New Year’s traditions is always a fun and exciting way to end the current year and welcome the new one. It is a special time to be around family and friends and share in the joy of old traditions. If you’re from the United States, you’re most likely familiar with the tradition of singing…
I have recently become slightly obsessed with the history of pottery, particularly a type known as maiolica, ever since I started reading the book, World Ceramics by Robert J. Charleston. I started reading this book because of a general interest I had in pottery, but as I explored the long history of ceramics, I realized…
The history of gold is deeper than you might expect. Today, it is popular for investors and for those who love jewelry, but people for thousands have years have always loved this shiny metal. The Discovery of Gold It is believed that humans in Europe discovered gold as long as 4,000 years ago and used…