The Bretton Woods system established fixed exchange rates by pegging currencies to the US dollar, which was convertible to gold at $35 per ounce.
The study finds that present-day German regions formerly under Roman rule exhibit more adaptive personality traits (higher extraversion, lower neuroticism) and better health and well-being outcomes than regions not occupied by the Romans.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Japan rapidly industrialised and built a strong military, relying heavily on imported raw materials due to scarce natural resources.
Samuel B. Griffith II (1906–1983) was a brigadier general in the US Marine Corps who served in the Pacific during World War II, earning the Navy Cross and Distinguished Service Cross for heroism at Guadalcanal and New Georgia.
Reading about Franco and Salazar revealed that right-wing authoritarian rule in 1930s Iberia, with conservative dictators suppressing liberals, eventually led to national stagnation.
In the early to mid-1970s, David Bowie made controversial statements expressing apparent support for fascism, including referring to Adolf Hitler as “one of the first rock stars” in interviews.
After a long journey, the author meets the Mali people in Papua New Guinea, who live in small villages using traditional building methods and sell crops like coffee and copra for money to buy tools and donate in temple rituals.
Realpolitik is resurging globally, with countries like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea practising it, and Trump’s approach focusing on deals that benefit the US narrowly, marking a shift from ideological engagement to national interests.
In 2023, the author interviewed historian Richard Rhodes about the unexpected success of nuclear non-proliferation, noting that predictions in the 1960s foresaw many more nuclear-armed states.
Chairman Mao promoted Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for political reasons, despite not believing in its effectiveness or using it personally.
Protestant evangelicals—particularly Pentecostals and neo-Pentecostals—are rapidly growing in Brazil and are expected to outnumber Catholics by 2036.
Harry Haft (1925–2007) was a Jewish survivor of Auschwitz concentration camp, where he was forced to box fellow inmates to survive.
America embraced Art Deco, a style combining classical elements, Modernism, and diverse cultural influences, leading to architectural masterpieces in the 20th century.
Modern houses differ significantly from historical ones due to increased wealth and investment in housing.
Estimates of the total agricultural land area – which is the combination of cropland and grazing land – per person.
The Black Death in the mid-14th century devastated Europe, the Near East, and North Africa, causing unprecedented mortality; one quarter to one third of Europe’s population perished, with similar losses elsewhere.
Critical Theory is distinct from Communism, Fascism, and National Socialism, despite some superficial similarities.
Gerald Vincent Bull (1928–1990) was a Canadian engineer known for developing long-range artillery.
René Girard viewed Christianity as revealing and condemning the mechanisms of scapegoating and mimetic desire, central to human conflict.
In 1913, Vienna was home to influential figures such as Adolf Hitler, Leon Trotsky, Joseph Tito, Sigmund Freud, and Joseph Stalin, whose actions shaped the 20th century.
Debate persists over humanity’s growth likened to cancer and warnings of possible water shortages, despite evidence that humans generate more than they consume and resources are not depleting.
The Uros Islands were created by the indigenous Uros people in Lake Titicaca as a defensive measure against Inca incursions.
Christian atheism is an atheistic belief system that engages with Christian teachings and culture while rejecting the literal existence of God.
The rice theory suggests that cultures in areas where paddy rice farming is prevalent tend to be more collectivist due to the high labor demands and need for cooperation that rice cultivation requires.
Thomas Edward Lawrence (1888-1935), also known as Lawrence of Arabia, was a British archaeologist, army officer, diplomat, and writer.