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When I was a kid, I was obsessed with the details and histories of the ancient world. I was interested in not only the prospects of the societies that melted into the sands of history, but the artifices they built that no longer exist today. What wonders of today might no longer exist 3000 years from now. What monstrous edifices to ourselves will fade away in time to be dug up and discovered by our descendents in three millennia? But since, I'm such a nerd still want to take a look back at those original seven wonders of ancient times and what they meant for their societies in the time they were built. The original list of seven was crafted out of a very small, specific area born of the guide books...

Arundel castle, like its renowned neighbour Bodiam castle, is yet another charming pearl, having been lost in the abundant expanses of West Sussex, which many of the local and foreign travellers persistently don't notice, chasing the more well known sights of Southern England. The town of Arundel, home of the castle, can be reached in about 90 drive from London. This miniature cosy spot has a wealth of history, delightful sceneries and even its own duke, who is the possessor of Arundel castle and the direct descendant of the ancient clans of d'Albani, Fitzalan and Howard (also known as the duke and duchess of Norfolk), holding the castle since the 12th century. In the distant 1068, when Arundel...

Early societies were not much more than extended families but sometime after man had settled down to become farmers rather than hunter gatherers, something happened and from society sprung civilisation. The first civilisations appeared around 5,500 years ago, around 90,000 years after modern humans are believed to walked out of Africa to begin the colonisation of the world. Focused on the basins of major rivers, civilisations (by which we mean societies with writing) comprising of cities, large public buildings and a recognisable political apparatus of state appeared more or less simultaneously in Eurasia (the Tigris/Euphrates rivers), Africa (the Nile), China (Yellow River) and India (Indus). To...

Time marches on, bringing us closer and closer to the auspicious date that many believe will bring us to time's end: December 21, 2012. Many sources indicate that this date will prove to be a significant one in our earth's history. Of these, the best known is arguably the Mayan Long Count Calendar which ends precisely at 11:11 AM Universal Time on Winter Solstice, 2012. The ancient Mayans were brilliant mathematicians and astronomers who measured the movement of patterns made by the planets and stars with an accuracy that has since been verified by modern computer programs. Scholars believe that Mayan observation of the heavens led the ancient civilization to acknowledge a future astronomical event...

Paint is one of the elements that are as old as humanity itself, and is an important part of every culture. Regardless of the period in history, every age had its time of producing different type of dyes and pigment depending on the available resources. There were a lot of regions who produced all kinds of paint, and each age discovered a new type of paint. In ancient times, people believed that paint had more properties than just decorating interiors or having particular design issues. They were seen as truly magical and they also thought it had healing properties. In the Indian and Chinese civilization there were these color practitioners who could give the diagnoses of a certain disease and cure...

The Vedas are amongst the oldest literature in the world. Their exact date and authorship is unknown. The ancient Seers wrote in anonymity merely writing down their profound spiritual experiences and spiritual realisations. The Vedas are an extensive collection of scriptures and philosophical discourses, relating primarily to matters of spirituality and worship. However, some Vedas also delve deeply into scientific matters. The Vedas also contain many elaborate rituals and sacrifices. These often involve the fire God Agni who acts as an intermediary between humans and God. In our modern age some of these rituals appear outdated and incomprehensible. Many scholars have criticised the Vedas for their...

The Roman republic and the Roman empire – this historical transition is discussed in volumes of textbooks, determines course offerings at universities, and is featured in the majority of time lines of western and world culture. The facts of the transition from one system to another appear simple. At the end of the first century B.C.E. the republic was destroyed in a series of civil wars. Octavian, the adopted successor of Julius Caesar, appeared to be a final victor in 30 B.C.E., changed his name to Augustus, and became the first emperor. Octavian founded the imperial system, which passed successfully to his selected heir after his death in 14 C.E. The time in power of Augustus inaugurated almost...

LATIUM Northern Latium was home to the small tribe of Latin people and later it was called Ancient Latium. It was situated between Etruria and Campania. The river Tiber connected Latius with the midland and the Tyrrhenian sea was an area of a brisk trade between Carthage, Etruria and Greek. Everywhere in Latium there were traces of volcanic activity. The volcanic ash-particles were wonderful fertilizer and made the soil very rich and productive. Agriculture and cattle breeding were the main activities of the population in that region. Their domestic animals were bulls, sheep, hogs. Horses were also used but mainly for battles. The climate was very wet and there were a lot of marshes in that area...

istory of microcomputers does not compare with the history of ancient Mesopotamia (Iraq). Microcomputers (now commonly held as PCs) have been around for only 25 – 30 years. It is good to have some knowledge of this history both to give some perspective of where we are today and to know where a number of our basic computer standards that we take for granted – as if they came from heaven, originated. The very first microcomputer machines were as exciting as a do-it yourself set – a thrill if you were the type who forever liked to tinker with things to make them work.. Early personal computers (or micococomputers as they were first called lacked a clear standard. The computer chip...

Hypnosis seems to be an ancient art, there are records of hypnotic techniques used in the Egyptian temples, in the Greeks oracles temples, in the Roman Empire also and further on. Used wisely, Hypnosis offers the fastest and most dependable set of tools to help people making positive changes in their lives, in few words it opens doors inside your unconscious to bring back or to places things that you do not normally have access over. More and more therapists and health care professionals are turning to it to fight with success with all human dependencies or healthy known problems. So as a hypnotic technique - glove anesthesia - can completely numb a part of the body in the case of an accident...

Gymnastics is a graceful and artistic sport that requires a combination of strength, balance, agility, and muscle coordination, usually performed on specialized apparatus. Gymnasts perform sequences of movements requiring flexibility, endurance, and kinesthetic awareness, such as handsprings, handstands, split leaps, aerials and cartwheels. Gymnastics as we know it dates back to ancient Greece. The early Greeks practiced gymnastics to prepare for war. Activities like jumping, running, discus throwing, wrestling, and boxing helped develop the muscles needed for hand-to-hand combat. Additional fitness practices used by the ancient Greeks included methods for mounting and dismounting a horses and a...

During your studies at the undergraduate level there is usually little specialization. A major in anthropology requires courses in all of the subdisciplines. If you are interested in ancient and classical civilizations, the particular undergraduate major is not important. However, it is advantageous to begin learning several ancient and modern languages. As a rule, historical archaeologists major in anthropology or history. You'll need to have an undergraduate degree (B.A./B.S.) to work as a field archaeologist in the U.S. and to perform basic laboratory studies. An M.A./M.S. would be enough to direct field crews and is sufficient for many government positions in archaeology. It is also sufficient...

The Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum is a protected cultural site in China that is steeped deep in history. Larger than the Great Pyramid of Egypt, the Mausoleum is the burial spot of China's first Emperor, Qin Shi Huang from the Qin Dynasty who began to rule the country as a whole in the year 221 BC. The Mausoleum is located in a picturesque spot in the eastern part of the Lintong County approximately 35 kilometers away from the city of Xian. To its south lies the Lishan Mountain, whilst the Mausoleum overlooks the meandering Wei River in the north. Exuding an aura of enchantment and ancient history, the Mausoleum covers an area of approximately 2 kilometres and is reputed to be filled with numerous...

The history of blooming tea is somewhat clouded in mystery, but what we do know is that it comes to us from the mountainous southern region of China in the Yunnan province. Yunnan province is said to be the birthplace of tea, which according to botanical scientists is in its modern form a hybridization of species that were present in the 19th and 20th centuries. Artisans high in the Yunnan Mountains are responsible for producing much of the flowing tea bundles packaged for markets around the world, although others outside the regions have begun replicating the craftsmanship to introduce the delicacy to a wider audience. In China where tea is part of an ancient history of ritual and reverence...

Toasting is the strongest and most formal in Germany, Scandinavia and Eastern European countries. In France, Italy and Spain the toast is even given German names. In Spain and Italy, to toast is called brindar and came from the German phrase "Ich bring dir" which means "I bring it to you". In France you will hear them say "trinquer" which comes from the German word "trinken" and means "to drink". And just incase you are wondering where the english phrase "toast" comes from, it comes from the practice of floating a piece of burnt toast on top of the wine of the loving cup. The reason for this was that the toast took away some of the acidity of the wine. Back years ago wine wasn't as good as it is...

Throughout history, the sun has been a subject of worship and speculation. Most ancient cultures have in fact deified the sun, due to its life-giving and energy-giving qualities. Thus, the subject of solar energy is one of the oldest subjects on Earth. It has gone through many evolutions and has been the subject of many schools of thought - starting with religion, and ending up in the field of science. In fact, though not many people know this, a large portion of the western civilization celebrates the returning of the sun each year, just as the ancients did thousands of years ago. I am referring, of course, to Christmas - which dates back to the celebrating of the winter solstice, the point in time...

Before there were swords, before even spears, there was the dagger. In fact, the dagger was quite possibly the first real weapon ever created by man. Oh sure, it may not have been called a dagger back then, more of a knife really, made from stone then chipped and scraped into a sharp point. It is believed that Thag the Smart Guy, a popular caveman from prehistoric times, first invented the dagger to kill a rival caveman named Grung. He is quoted as saying "Me tired of Grung hitting me with rocks. Me gonna fix him." However, since this whole incident took place before recorded history, it's all pretty much hearsay. The true dagger is a weapon that has both edges sharpened. The length and width of...

Ice cream is today enjoyed by almost every country on earth, but it wasn't always so. Obviously you need frozen water to make it, and this wasn't easily available for most people until fairly regularly. There are many examples through ancient history of snow and ice being flavored and served as a treat. If you didn't live very close to a mountain, or in very cold climates then this was the preserve of the rich as they were the only people who could afford to develop storage for the quickly melting ice. Many legends have developed to explain the invention. Some say the Chinese developed the technique of mixing ice and water and churning milk to below the freezing point of water. Something fairly...

Heroditus, the father of ancient history, recorded in the mid-400's B.C., that oak trees were reputed to have within their boughs, the gift of prophecy. The presence of oak tree galls in oak trees is caused by insect larvae that tunnel inside the twigs. The oak tree branches can become infested with numerous little galls that look like brown or tan balls, as the cells of the oak tree grow to surround the insects inside. Some cultures call these creations, 'Oak Apples,' and they are used commercially to produce tannins, ink and a wide assortment of medicinal remedies. The use of oak wood is well known as a hard wood with many uses reported in ancient times. It is not an easy task to write about the...

We all know how nice it can be to have our bodies touched and rubbed. A massage therapist is a person who has been trained to provide this type of pleasure in a concentrated and therapeutic way. Massage therapy can loosen up tight muscles in order to alleviate pain, to stimulate the immune system, and to reduce the effects of chronic stress. It is interesting to understand the origins of this practice so that we can see the theoretical foundations of the experiences that we enjoy in the modern day. Nearly every ancient culture had a term for "massage" and a tradition of rubbing and kneading the flesh for therapeutic benefit. Throughout recorded history, people have experimented with and found...

Throughout history, diamonds have captured the interest of mankind with its brilliant sparkle and its durability and hardness. There are ancient myths and beliefs about diamonds, from it being the tears of gods to pieces of stars fallen from the sky. One legend even tells of a valley of diamonds in Central Asia protected by murderous snakes and birds of prey. The earliest accounting of diamonds date back some 3000 years ago in India, where it was first mined. In the ancient language of Sanskrit, the word diamond is taken from vajra, meaning thunderbolt, and indrayudha, meaning the weapon of Indra, who is warrior god from Vedic scriptures. No diamonds have actually been found in ancient Indian sites...

The tradition of the New Year's Resolutions goes all the way back to 153 B.C. Janus, a mythical king of early Rome was placed at the head of the calendar. With two faces, Janus could look back on past events and forward to the future. Janus became the ancient symbol for resolutions and many Romans looked for forgiveness from their enemies and also exchanged gifts before the beginning of each year. The New Year has not always begun on January 1, and it doesn't begin on that date everywhere today. It begins on that date only for cultures that use a 365-day solar calendar. January 1 became the beginning of the New Year in 46 B.C., when Julius Caesar developed a calendar that would more accurately...

Mexico is renowned for its many famous and mysterious ancient archeological sites. There are some 20+ Mesoamerican sites complete with intact ancient buildings still standing in Mexico. The most mysterious and ancient of these is probably Palenque as it has a history dating as far back as 967 B. C. - perhaps even earlier. The most recent of these five is El Tepozteco (in Tepoztlan) - having been taken by Spanish conquerors as recently as 1502. The mystical visitor and backpacker to Mexico might find any and all of these sites of great natural and archeological interest. Chichen Itza The world famous Pre-Hispanic site of Chichen Itza probably started going extinct after 1000 A. D. (lasting until...

Bruges (in French or Brugge in Dutch), is the capital of the province of West Flanders in present-day Flanders, the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is one of Europe's most important landmarks as the city has hardly changed since the Middle Ages. Julius Caesar's built the first fortifications in the 1st century BC to protect the coast against pirates. Next came the Franks around the 4th century and Viking raids in the 9th century prompted Baldwin I, Count of Flanders to reinforce the Roman fortifications. It is at around this time that coins appeared bearing for the first time the name Bryggia. Bruges got its city charter on July 27, 1128 and built itself new walls and canals. After decades of silt had...

Gift baskets have become a popular gift-giving idea for all occasions from celebrating various holidays to giving good wishes upon the birth of a new baby. What you may not have known is that the idea of giving gifts in baskets goes back to ancient times. In olden times, people used baskets to carry seeds as they were planting them. During the harvest, they placed the produce that they had reaped into the same baskets. Due to this fact, baskets have often been associated with planting which usually took place in the spring and harvesting that occurred in the fall. As a result many of the ancient gods associated with agriculture are pictured with a basket. The Germanic people worshipped a goddess...

A boat is a kind of water motor of reticent size intended to float to give channel through huge water bodies. Frequently this water bodies will appear in various forms such as an inland water bodies or lakes or in sheltered coastal areas. Though, boats like the whaleboat were planned to be function in the form of a ship in an oceanic place. According to the navy terminology, a boat is a little yet enough to carry on board another water motors such as a ship. Some boats are too big for the marine definition and are comprised of riverboat, the Great Lakes freighter, narrow boat and ferryboat. Boats have a long history and has been sailing on are earth from ancient times. From time to time it has seen...

As the legend goes, Romulus and Remus, Roman twins, were separated from their mother and left by the river Tiber to starve. However, a mother wolf found them and took care of them. Years later the boys were instructed by Mars, the Roman God of war, to build a city in the place where they had been found. They built the city but declared war against each other. Romulus won and thus the city came to be known as Rome. Life in ancient Rome is said to have started in the 8th or 9th century BC. This happened when northern warriors shifted to the Italian peninsula and rehabilated around the river Tiber. For centuries, Rome was considered to be the most significant city in the ever expanding Roman Empire...

Historians from the time of the Roman Empire up to modern times have held strong opinions on the life and character of Gaius Marius. Best known for being the uncle of the famed Julius Caesar, he has also been regarded as barbaric, displaying unbridled ambition and by some accounts as having an evil influence on the Roman Empire. At the same time however, he also achieved high ranks in both politics and the military in ancient Rome, despite being an outsider and hailing from a family with no political ties. He is also credited with revolutionizing Rome's army, with the changes he instituted being widely regarded as the greatest contribution to the organisation of Roman legions. Born to an...

The Bow is bent and drawn;make from the shaft" Lear, Act 1, scene 1 Archery is almost as old as man himself. Ever since man began to hunt, he has used bows and arrows in some form. Arrowheads have been discovered in Africa indicating that bows were used there 50000 years before the birth of Christ. Nobody knows what those early bows looked like but it's unlikely that they resembled the sophisticated bows that the English archers used to great effect thousands of years later. They would probably have been like the bows used by Amazonian Indians today. Small so they can be used effectively in wooded areas. Far more versatile than a long spear and easier to shoot birds from the tree. In Europe, bows...

White-gold is these days used in modern jewellery, often wedding rings, as a symbol of everlasting love and beauty. Yet, white-gold has a lengthy history, reaching back as far as the Egyptians. Colour was believed, by the ancient Egyptians to express something at the heart of a person or object. They also alleged that the god's colour were unknown, as they were in a way unknown to them. In art they used colours to symbolize aspects of their Kings, Queens and gods; however, sometimes the connotations of these colours could be ambivalent. White-gold was valued in highly Egyptian times. It was used as a symbol, close to the symbolic nature of yellow or white. White was symbolic of omnipotence and...

Around a 40 minute drive from the Club la Costa resort of Apollonium in Didim, Turkey you will find the ancient city of Miletus. This was a very important city to the Ionians for 1400 years until around 700 AD. It was considered to be one of the Seven Sages of Greece and is to believed to be where the "founder of science" Thales of Miletus lived. It is this gentleman that in the 5th Century BC contributed much to the fields of both astronomy and geometry. But as well as being home to such an important man it was also famous for they way in which the city was designed. This was the first of cities constructed by the Greeks that was laid out in the street grid plan that we see in villages, towns and...

The Koreans have used potteries from 7000 to 8000 years ago. Since ancient times they used to make pottery by firing clay at a heat of 1300 degree Celsius. They produced unique, original and beautiful pottery. They traded extensively with China and adopted manufacturing skills of Celadon. Korean pottery is healthy and alive due to its good natural disposition. The Korean potters believed in nature and sought to be a part of it. So they lived in deep recesses of mountains to give a natural touch to their wares and used simple colors with liberal techniques for molding the clay prior to making the pottery. Korean pottery can be studied in terms of three empires. These three empires which present the...

This year the Italian capital has been awarded with the Bit tourism award 2009 in the category “Italian city”. This certainly confirms the fact that the city during the years has been established as the most loved by tourists for its beautiful architectonic heritage, but also thanks to the richness of exhibitions and events proposed, able to surprise and involve both Italian and foreign tourists. Rome is the heir of a glorious past; one of the most interesting moments in its history was the period of the roman Republic. The roman Republic (Res publica Populi Romani) was the govern system of the city of Rome in the period between the 509 BCE and 27 BCE, when Rome was administered by an oligarchic...

Historians from the time of the Roman Empire up to modern times have held strong opinions on the life and character of Gaius Marius. Best known for being the uncle of the famed Julius Caesar, he has also been regarded as barbaric, displaying unbridled ambition and by some accounts as having an evil influence on the Roman Empire. At the same time however, he also achieved high ranks in both politics and the military in ancient Rome, despite being an outsider and hailing from a family with no political ties. He is also credited with revolutionizing Rome's army, with the changes he instituted being widely regarded as the greatest contribution to the organisation of Roman legions. Born to an...

In Ancient Israel, every 7th year (Sabbatical year) the debtors were forgiven some of their debt and every 50 years (the Jubilee year) all debts were to be discharged, some mortgages released and all indentured servants and slaves were to be released. In the meantime, the family members had the right to make payments on any property or persons that had been seized to satisfy the debt. In Ancient Greece and Republican Rome, debtors suffered death, slavery, mutilation, imprisonment or exile. Roman Republic Law allowed multiple creditors to exhibit a debtor in the forum for three days and divide the debtor up into pieces to satisfy the debt. Evidence exists suggesting multiple creditors could...

What the world knows as Hindu Astrology or Vedic Astrology, Indians simply call it Jyotisha. The word Jyotisha means "the science of light" in Sanskrit. It is in essence a time-tested, ancient art of accurately predicting the future. The guidelines of predicting future this way hails from the Holy Indian texts i.e. the Vedas. There are primarily three branches of this art, namely- • The traditional Indian astronomy that predicts the movements of stars and planets. • The art of predicting major events that will befall a country such as war or earthquakes. • The art of predicting a person's future course of life, through a thorough study of his natal horoscopes. Making Predictions The Hindu Vedic...

I was elated to discover this detached house with a big garden that was available for rental in a quiet suburb when I was first transferred to another town to work as an engineer. It was located at a cul de sac, the house being the last house in the row. I thought it was perfect..quiet, newly constructed and with a good neighbor who was a banker. Without reservation, I rented the house and my family shifted in a week later. 3 months later, I almost lost my life. I was travelling as a passenger in a friend's car when someone lost control of his car, and crashed into the Honda car I was travelling in, killing the front seating passenger. I was at the back and had a smashed face, and was warded in the...

Like many of today's action sports, track and field has its origins in the first Olympics in Greece. When you begin to investigate who invented track and field, you find that, again, like soccer, track and field disappeared during the "dark" ages, and reappeared with modern organization during the 1800's. Since they did not have jeeps and tanks and trucks in the ancient world, soldiers took pride in their athleticism. Running was one of the very first competitive sports, and it is a favorite of today's games as well. There is some dispute as to exactly when the Olympic Games began, with a gap in guesses from 776 BC to as early as the ninth or tenth century BC. There was a gap in the games as well...

Did you know that four of the world's most important inventions were discovered in China? The Chinese celebrate the "four great inventions" that demonstrate the advanced science and technology that China had in ancient times: paper, the compass, printing, and gunpowder. Modern Chinese scholars believe that in addition to the four great inventions, there are others that were even more sophisticated and that made a greater impact on the world we live in today. Some of these include the blast furnace and the cupola furnace which were invented from 403 to 221 B.C. Stern mounted rudders were invented in China in the 1st century A.D. Later in Chinese history came the use of paper money (Song Dynasty 960...

Ancient Egyptians are very well known all over the world for their remarkable jewelry, especially the ones discovered from the period of the Middle kingdom's reign. Egyptians started manufacturing jewelry during the Badari and Naqada eras from natural materials, such as stones, wood, and then becoming more sophisticated, made of pealed bones or braches, and starting to paint them with various substances. Their purpose was primarily religious and symbolic, often being a bit extravagant and were being worn by women and men alike. The most common symbol that was found from the ancients is the "Ankh" which was meant to represent eternal life. Some of the other symbols include the lotus flower, the...

The Trojan horse is something out of ancient history that we still use in conversation today. For example, when we call something a Trojan horse we really mean that it is something that is good looking but has an evil intent. A Trojan horse virus is also something that looks good on the outside but has a very evil intent on the inside. Although they have only been around for a short period of time, they have earned a more prominent place in our lives than the wooden Trojan horse from the distant past. Here are some of the first Trojan horse viruses that were encountered. The first Trojan horse virus that we will discuss is known as the pest trap. It is also more commonly known as Spy Sheriff...

Japanese persimmons, ‘Diospyros kaki L.,' were introduced into the United States from Japan by Admiral Perry who discovered the fruit growing on the coast of Southern Japan in 1851. Most of the early Japanese persimmon introductions in 1828 were sprouted from seed in Washington, DC, but were unsuccessful, because of the unusually cold winters experienced during that period. The USDA introduced grafted cultivars of Japanese persimmon into California and Georgia beginning in 1870, and many of these experimental persimmon tree trials were begun in Central Florida in the early 1900's at the University located in Gainesville, Florida. One thousand cultivars of Japanese persimmon are available from...

Ever wondered why storks are so synonymous with childbirth? Why is it that people have been using them for their signage while announcing the birth of a child? There is an ancient history to this phenomenon, which has made this bird an integral part of pregnancy. This is why they are commonly used in every stork sign. When it was taboo In the earlier days subjects like reproduction were considered taboo to speak about, especially to kids. Hence kids used to be told that they got delivered by a white stork. Therefore the notion grew that it was indeed these white birds that delivered babies to peoples' doorsteps. In fact the white version of this bird is often perceived as a symbol of prosperity as...

Once upon a time the Lap Gochi would patrol the streets of the Welsh highlands like gayly-dressed Samurai - their colourful costumes belieing the terrible carnage that could be unleashed with a simple flick of their brochfael (the preferred weapon of the Lap Goch masters that resembles an innocuous oversized handkerchief). Even then, practitioners who shared the deadly techniques with outsiders were forced to pull their own heads off in front of the entire village as a form of punishment. Nowadays the secrets of Rhyddfedd and Freckleddll are passed on only to those select few who are invited into the remote villages where the remaining Lap Goch masters meet to mentor a new generation of Welsh...

I have to admit that in the many years that I have been into soap making, I was never interested to learn about its history. I guess because there is not much that I can get from it that will help me to improve my craft. But little did I know that the secret of colonial soap making is so interesting, such that it will give me insight on how important homemade soaps are, especially during those times. According to my research, Encarta encyclopedia recorded that soaps are essential to the daily lives of Roman scribes and Greeks. As early as the 1st century, colonial soap making is already popular. Soaps were mainly used for cleaning the body and dyeing the hair. But not everyone, meaning the commoners...

Japanese history includes alternating periods of isolation and revolutionary influences from the rest of the world. As early as the Jomon period from about 14000BC to 300 BC, Japan had a hunter-gatherer lifestyle; wooden stilt houses, pit dwelling, and agriculture. Weaving was still unknown and the ancient Japanese clothing consisted of fur. However, some of the world's oldest pottery is found in Japan, along with daggers, jade, combs made form shell and clay figures. The period thereafter to 250 BC saw the influx of new practices like weaving, rice sowing, iron and bronze making influenced by china and Korea. Chinese travelers describe the men 'with braided hair, tattooing and women with large...

The ancient art of quilling has seen the rise and fall of its' popularity over hundreds of years and throughout the world, proving its' durability as an art form. In this section, we'll have a healthy discussion the fascinating techniques under the concept of quilling. Fundamental Quilling Essentially, quilling is the act of rolling a strip of paper around a quilling tool to create a tight coil.  Always work with strips of the correct length and width for your pattern requirements and for the shape you wish to produce. If you use a slotted tool, but sure to insert your strip correctly and then hold the tool firmly while turning it to roll the paper strip into a coil.  Use your other hand to guide...

All mankind is seeking truth, justice and beauty. We are on a continual question for truth because we only believe the lies that are etched on our mind. We search for justice because it does not exist in our belief system. We never cease searching, but all is already within us! We do not find the truth ultimately because we cannot see the truth! It is obscured by the agreements that we have given to ourselves and the false beliefs that clutter our minds. Human beings have a need to be right and consider others wrong. They have confidence in their beliefs and it is these beliefs that condemn them to their suffering. In fact, life goes on as if we were moving through a sort of fog, a fog that is not...

Maps have been around for dozens of centuries.  It’s rather mind-boggling to think about how our ancestors were so accurate in their depictions.  It is only proof that humans have always been intelligent and resourceful.  The earliest drawn map ever discovered dates back to the ancient Babylonians.  It’s sometimes referred to as “the world’s first map”, and it was discovered in modern Iraq in 1930.  It’s estimated to be nearly 3,000 years old! Since then, cultures from around the world began drawing maps.  As the centuries passed, maps became larger and more detailed.  Sometimes historic maps had strange things drawn on them, such as unidentified objects in the sky, “creatures...