The Most Prosperous Ancient Nation You’ve probably Never Heard Of by Lawrence Reed

Recommendable! Or why the Ukraine is a special and distinct country!

"... Take Khazaria, for example. It lasted over 300 years (650 to 965 AD) and covered more territory than the combined Scandinavian nations of our time. It spanned the eastern half of modern-day Ukraine, the steppes of the Volga-Don region of present Russia, the entire Crimean Peninsula, and the northern Caucasus. Its southern portion took in most of the shorelines of three seas: the Black, the Caspian and the Aral. ...
A Turkic people, the Khazars asserted their independence from a weakened Western Turkish Empire in the middle of the 7th Century. The overland routes they built connected to the famous “Silk Road,” which in turn linked Europe with Asia. Khazaria’s geographical position provided unique economic advantages its people eagerly embraced, much as a small town grows when a new interstate highway opens a few miles away. Khazaria became a bridge between East and West
Khazaria provided safe passage and imposed minimal taxation on traders, making the country one of the medieval world’s thriving commercial crossroads. The Arabs to the southwest highly prized Khazarian furs and clothing. The Khazars traded their own silver coins for mirrors from China. The game of chess likely originated in Khazaria, which exported it to Europe. Archeologists have found evidence that Khazarian traders journeyed as far as Sweden. ..."

The Most Prosperous Ancient Nation You’ve Never Heard Of - Foundation for Economic Education This country lasted over 300 years and covered more territory than all of Scandinavia.

Why Did the Fiercest Tribe in Scotland Vanish?

Way too short this video! But these painted people (Picts) beat the heck out of the Romans! Spoiler, this extremely short video does not answer the question!

This is a rather disappointing and short video produced by the Smithsonian Channel!

Understanding The Global Unease After WW1

Recommendable! Unfortunately, this documentary changes to often and too quickly between countries/topics/events etc. Therefore, it is sometimes hard to follow

Europe Dominated By Queens

Posted: 1/31/2019

Feminism is a horrible and deeply flawed ideology. Unfortunately, too many gullible men have succumbed to feminism. Feminism is the battle of the sexes and women are winning and gaining in power at the expense of men, because men have always been weak chivalrous.

For some reason, I never realized to this day how many female monarchs dominated Europe during long periods of time.

Take Catherine de Medici and Queen Elizabeth I, who reigned almost simultaneously over France and United Kingdom.

Take Catherine the Great and Maria Theresa, who also reigned almost simultaneously over Russia and the Habsburg empire.

Then there was the long reign of Queen Victoria over the British Empire

I am sure, there are more influential queens in European history. I know there were other notable Queens in earlier history e.g. Queen Boudica. Is it possible that our perception of male dominated history is overly influenced by Roman and Greek history?

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_de'_Medici

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_I_of_England

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_the_Great

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Theresa

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Victoria

On The Catalan Secession

Posted: 10/28/2017  Updated/Revised: 11/5/2017

Updated Of 11/5/2017

Today, I read a very good commentary here about the Catalan secession. Here is the essence of this commentary as I understand it:

1. Abuse of solidarity. If it is true that the economically successful and fiscally responsible province of Catalonia has been paying tons of money to support the other, profligate and fiscally irresponsible provinces of Spain, then this could constitute abuse of solidarity
2. Spain had a very tumultuous history between 1808 and 1873 if not beyond. I do not know enough to go into that, but the very short lived First Republic of 1873 should be a reminder that the early intentions of the citizens of Spain was to found a federal republic. Here is an excerpt from Wikipedia: “On 1 June 1873 the first session of the Constituent Cortes was opened and the presentation of resolutions began. The first [resolution] ...: "First Article. The form of government of the Spanish Nation is the Democratic Federal Republic". The president, having carried out the Cortes' regulations for the definite approval of proposal of law, arranged to hold a nominal vote the next day. The resolution was passed 8 June by a favorable vote of 219 representatives and only 2 against, and the Federal Republic was thus declared. Most of the federalists in parliament supported a Swiss-like confederative model, with regions directly forming independent cantons.” (emphasis added)

Trigger

In recent weeks, the situation about the attempts by Catalan secessionists and Spain has tremendously escalated. In particular, the government in Madrid is playing unnecessary rough hard ball with Catalonia.

Food For Thought

Since I am not deeply familiar with the history of Catalonia nor Spain, I will present here only a few bullet points:

1. In history, the proverbial pendulum swings back and forth. In the 19th century and into the 20th, we observed extreme nationalism and forming of unitary states in Europe (e.g. Italy, Germany, Belgium) resulting in ever bigger countries composed of various, but centrifugal entities. Will we see more federalism and more independent smaller states in the 21st century?
2. Catalonia appears to have a long, distinct history of its own and the incorporation into Spain is perhaps a rather artificial result of history
3. The increasing centralisation of 28 European countries into the hegemon EU promoted by a power hungry euro-nationalist elite is a failure. More federalism and more individual freedom are long overdue. Historically, Europe was best and most successful when variety and many small, competing, diverse sovereign powers prevailed
4. If the Czechs and Slovaks were able to separate peacefully in 1993, why can't the Catalans and Spaniards do the same?

Johann Nepomuk Hummel - A European Story And Tragedy

Posted:

Introduction

In my adventure to discover Classical Music, I have been immediately very impressed by this virtuoso pianist and composer. I believe, his biography is exemplary for Europe in his time.

I have previously blogged about Pastiche in Classical Music.

A European Story And Tragedy

Hundred years after World War I (also euphemistically called the Great War), which, in my opinion, nearly destroyed Western civilization, we still wonder how could this monstrous war have happened.

Briefly, a European biography:

1. Born in Hungary
2. Lived and worked in Vienna, Stuttgart, and Weimar
3. He was a freemason like Mozart. Bequeathed part of his property to a masonic lodge.
4. Toured several times European countries and Russia
5. Taught by Mozart, Haydn, Muzio Clementi
6. Friends with Beethoven, Goethe
7. Influenced several famous musicians like Chopin
8. Created one of the first musician’s pension benefit schemes and giving benefit concerts for it