I took an excellent course on “Reading the Landscape” this past weekend through the North Branch Nature Center, Biodiversity University. Led by Alicia Daniel, it was designed to teach us to tune into the different layers of the land, rather than to simply skim the surface. As anyone who reads my blog knows, I’m a … Continue reading Reading the Landscape
In the early 1800’s Charles Dickens was born, Jane Austin was in the middle of her career, and a young girl named Mary Anning was about to unearth a fossil. Mary Anning was born in 1799, to a poor family living in the coastal town of Lyme Regis in Dorset, England. Her father, Richard, was … Continue reading Mary Anning: Fossil Hunter of the 1800’s
The idea of race was formally introduced to Europe by an adventurer and traveler named Francois Bernier (1625-1688.) In 1684, after traveling around the world, he published a work called A New Division of the Earth. In it he proposed that humanity could be divided into “four or five species or races of men in … Continue reading What is Race?
Belief in magic and witchcraft was common in Europe during the early Middle Ages. However, despite rumors to the contrary, neither the public nor the Church was (originally) hysterical about it.
People have been fascinated by reproduction since the dawn of time. However, fascination does not equal understanding. As late as the 19th Century many people believed in spontaneous generation. That is, that life arose spontaneously, from non-living materials, in certain circumstances. Aristotle thought that many insects, eels, frogs, and some types of fish all originated … Continue reading geese growing on trees?
The original Hippocratic oath is lost to history. The oldest surviving fragments are from c 275 CE while oldest full text is from the 10-11th Centuries CE. A translation from the Greek reads: I swear by Apollo Physician, by Asclepius, by Hygieia, by Panacea, and by all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, … Continue reading The Hippocratic Oath
In ancient times, for the most part, people were cared for at home. Both men and women were healers and valued for their knowledge. Midwives, know as wise women, played an important role in child birth, but cared for the ill as well. Remedies included prayers, chants and incantations as well as charms and herbs. … Continue reading Healing in the Middle Ages
The Nature of Things 