April 23rd is World Book Day, so let’s celebrate by discussing what history books were most important to shaping you or your interests? Or documentaries, if you want. Continue reading The History Thread Celebrates World Book Day

Terrified of being buried alive? Fortunately, thanks to the 19th Century’s bizarre obsession with premature burial, you can purchase any number of patented safety coffins! You might try Christian Henry Eisenbrandt’s 1841 coffin, with a spring-loaded door that would instantly … Continue reading The History Thread Promises a Safe Burial!

2026 has given us many opportunities to ponder the downfall of empires. What causes a major state to collapse? Internal divisions, poor leadership, military or territorial overreach, economic stagnation, simple stupidity? Lots of case studies to consider here. I’d type … Continue reading Implied, History Thread, or Implode?

Reading Josh Ireland’s new book about the assassination of Leon Trotsky (depicted with documentary realism in this 1961 American propaganda comic) suggested this week’s discussion topic: Historic assassinations. Particularly considering ones that were particularly bizarre or impactful; it doesn’t get … Continue reading The Assassination of the History Thread

This week’s optional discussion topic: historical blunders. Can include military blunders, like the idiotic Gallipoli campaign depicted in the header image, or political, economic or even personal decisions that were disastrous. Not that we’re living through any such moments at … Continue reading Wonders, History Thread? Or Blunders?

Trigger warning for discussion of sexual assault. Yesterday, New York Times published a devastating expose of labor icon Cesar Chavez’s misdeeds, including sexual assault and inappropriate relations with minors. The backlash has already been swift and harsh, with states and … Continue reading The History Thread Reckons With Legacy

In 1856, the British Raj launched one of the Victorian era’s least-remembered conflicts. The Qajar Kingdom of Persia conquered the city of Herat, whose claims of independence had been backed by the British, who viewed it as a valuable ally … Continue reading The History Thread Blunders

This week’s optional discussion topic: Spies and undercover operatives. Inspired by this wonderful painting of Grace and Rachel Martin, two sisters-in-law who ran a small spy network in South Carolina during the Revolutionary War which assisted the Continental Army in … Continue reading The Undercover History Thread

Phyllis Wheatley was born in western Africa (probably Gambia) in 1753. As a young girl, she was kidnapped and sold into slavery, eventually becoming the property of Boston trader John Wheatley. At any early age, Phyllis showed signs of intellectual … Continue reading The Phyllis Wheatley History Thread

Valentine’s Day is this weekend, so an obvious discussion topic comes to mind: Historical romances. Which historical relationships, romantic, sexual or otherwise do you find most interesting? It can be a great tale of timeless love, or a powerful couple … Continue reading The History Thread is Cold Around the Heart

Every once in a while, the History Thread invites you to ask for recommendations. And there’s usually some anime girl in the header. Any historical subjects that you want to learn more about? Use this thread to ask for recommendations … Continue reading The History Thread Recommends

This week’s weather put me in mind of the Year Without a Summer. In 1816, the entire world experienced a massive, year-long cold snap. Europe, the United States and much of Asia experienced year-long frosts, snowfalls and frigid weather, making … Continue reading The History Thread Without a Summer

On June 22, 1893 the HMS Victoria, the flagship of Britain’s Mediterranean fleet, sunk off the coast of Lebanon in a collision with the HMS Camperdown. The sinking occurred because Admiral George Tryon, commanding the fleet, misjudged the degree of … Continue reading The History Thread Collides!

Early Civil Rights pioneer Claudette Colvin passed away on Tuesday at age 85. Just 15 years old, she helped kick off the Montgomery Bus Boycott by refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus. For a variety of … Continue reading The History Thread Remembers Claudette Colvin

The History Thread makes its triumphant return for 2026! No topic this week, just discuss anything that you’ve read, watched or otherwise learned since we last met, or what you hope to learn more about in 2026. Continue reading New Year, New History Thread!

Agnew here, welcome back to the History Thread. I’ll be around off and on since I have a presentation for work today. Enjoy George Hetzel’s painting Fishing at Shade Run Furnace (1869), a wonderfully expressive example of the Scalp Level … Continue reading The Artistic History Thread

Agnew here. Unfortunately I overslept this morning and didn’t have time to prepare a proper header (as if such a thing exists anymore). So I’m going to declare this week’s thread a free discussion. Discuss anything you’ve read, watched or … Continue reading The History Thread Overslept!

Agnew here, in honor of my latest anime fixation this week’s discussion topic: Favorite historical crime or criminals? I’m thinking specifically of the “fun” kind of crime (daring heists, robberies, cons, whatever) more than say the dreary stuff like serial … Continue reading The Criminal History Thread

This week’s History Thread remembers John Vliet Lindsay, who was elected Mayor of New York City in 1965. A handsome Ivy League WASP and former Congressman, Lindsay was the last of a dying breed – a genuinely liberal Republican who … Continue reading The History Thread is Fresh and Everyone Else Is Tired