This week’s Cabinet of Curiosities is an explosion of oddities small and large…
For those suffering summer colds and allergies, you may be interested in Renaissance Studies‘ recent articles on early modern health. While Jane Stevens Crawshaw considered Venetian women’s contributions to public health (with special attention to the medical secrets passed down in their families), Elaine Leong explored two women’s very different methods of reading and using medical manuals of the period.
Moving out from “under the weather” and over to “under the water,” a team of archaeologists began excavating the remains of The London — a ship sunk in 1665. Their major questions revolve around what, exactly, caused the explosion that sank the ship, and why there were so many female remains left behind.
While the archaeologists seek to answer questions, other historians were interested in debunking “common knowledge” answers to history trivia. Think that Napoleon was short? Or that Vikings wore horned helmets? Yeah…you may need to check this out!
Combining small and large scale historical experience, the New England Historical Society shared Calvin Coolidge’s written recollection of becoming president. The attempt to balance a sense of personal and national loss (among other moments) is a nice reminder of how human our officials truly are.
Finally, in 1744, Dr. Alexander Hamilton reported of his brief sojourn to Boston that he saw many pretty women and no prudes — a position that helped to shape his book Itinerarium (a collection describing the dress and behaviors of the people in the ‘wide range of society and scenery in colonial America’). We wonder what Itinerarium II would contain…
What random findings ticked your fancy this week? Let us know in the Comments, or visit us on Twitter!
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