Thomas Willis (1621-1675) : Neurologist, Chemist, Physician
“Willis is not only credited to be the founder of neurology, but he is also seen as the father of comparative neuroanatomy, as his work, in particular Cerebri anatome and De anima brutorum, compare the human brain with that of other species in ‘search for specific human abilities in cognitive functions’ (Molnár, p. 334).”
@bibliolater@science@earlymodern@histodon@histodons
But in all seriousness, did he, or others, consider Corvids when comparing "the human brain with that of other species in ‘search for specific human abilities in cognitive functions’"?
@Tinido Wundert mich nicht, kenne genug zeitgenössische protestantische "interessante" Figuren ... glaube, das zeigt eigentlich nur, dass Kirche eben auch ne Parallelgesellschaft ist, die ganz eigene Existenzformen ermöglicht ... @eulemagazin@histodons
Serious #Downfall vibes in the series finale of #Rome. I’m not an educated classicist and I know they had to change things for the show and its collapsing budget by this point, but I’m a bit skeptical that the real story was like this.
No wonder people see this show as a precursor to Game of Thrones - I may get round to watching that. I’ll have to rewatch season 1 later.
I also just bought Ten Caesars and will read it soon.
@GrittyLipids@bookstodon Tom Holland’s Rubicon, an excellent short history of the last century of the Roman republic, was the first book I read after watching Rome, and it really made me want to read some fiction set in the period (and that’s when I found McCullough’s at-the-time ongoing series).
Celts: The History and Legacy of One of the Oldest Cultures in Europe by Martin J. Dougherty, 2024
Before the Vikings, before the Anglo-Saxons, before the Roman Empire, the Celts dominated central and western Europe. Today we might think of the Celts only inhabiting parts of the far west of Europe – Ireland, Great Britain, France and Spain – but these were the extremities in which their culture lasted longest.
@appassionato@bookstodon In fact, the object on the front page of the book was found in Denmark, and probably made somewhere in Ukraine, two millennia ago.
It is the Gundestrup kettle, in the National Museum in Copenhagen.
This podcast is good at making #history easier to digest, if you're interested--
Up this week is Zionism, Zionist #propaganda, Balfour, the guy chosen to mess up Palestine, who had previously wreaked havoc in Ireland and denied entry to Jews fleeing the holocaust who were hoping to find refuge in the UK. And Herzl &more stuff.
If you get intimidated by the dirty pigeons in your local park or town center, you may only have yourself — or at least, your ancestors — to blame. Snopes looks at the urban legend that humans originally domesticated pigeons to be companions and no pigeons cannot survive without humans, and finds it mostly true.
The most important group of #ambassadors to Madrid were the French ambassador, the Imperial ambassador to the Empire, the nuncio, and the Venetian ambassador.
Madrid did not have a diplomatic district. Diplomatic #envoys did enjoy immunity in the #embassy, with the king himself offering them lodgings for rent upon their arrival. Nevertheless, the ambassadors complained of the difficulties in gaining an audience with the ruler.
Following the union of the Portuguese and Spanish crowns in 1580, a global dimension of Spanish #diplomacy was developed which enhanced the reputation of the Spanish kings. (5/n)
According to Cario-Ivernizzi Spanish historiography continues to suffer from a lack of discourse surrounding its cultural history in general and with literary studies in particular, this is also reflected in new diplomatic #history.
However, historians specialised in Spanish #diplomacy continue to take steps forward in the field, not only with regard to the exchange of gifts but also gradually incorporating the analytical category of gender.
The career paths of Spanish & Portguese #emdiplomats have gained more attention in research only recently.
By placing more of a focus on integrating the activities of both official ambassadors and informal agents into diplomatic studies in the future, we will be able to obtain a more complete understanding of Spanish and European diplomacy in the #earlymodern era. (6/6)
TUP RUNNING. A rural sport practised at wakes and fairs in Derbyshire; a ram, whose tail is well soaped and greased, is turned out to the multitude; any one that can take him by the tail, and hold him fast, is to have him for his own.
A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)
@paninid@histodons “Did you know that Romans used a sponge on a stick after pooping?”
“…and what will the lady be having this evening?”
“The check.”
“You haven’t ordered anything…?”