The insights of history
"History never repeats itself, but it does often rhyme." -Mark Twain
There is no better way to understand the present than to learn about the past. The course of human events yields patterns over time. Although the same events may never recur (most humans do learn, after all), there are common features with repeating logics and behaviors that endure across time periods.
Connecting geographical places with a study of events is critical to a full understanding of history. So many times we have visited the site of an historical event and walked away with a new or different interpretation of what happened than what we pulled out of the reading material. This helps put the events into fuller perspective and enables a more critical read of the historiography on the subject.
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Our posts on this blog aim to enhance the analytical logs and things we've learned with visual images of the subject matter. We are particularly interested in geography and understanding the different ways that civilizations have leveraged the opportunities and constraints created by available resources. We are also keenly interested in why different societies have chosen to organize and govern themselves in differing ways under similar circumstances. The material culture these societies have left behind (monuments, temples, infrastructure, day-to-day implements) tells us a lot about how and why humanity has organized itself in different settings, as well as about the artistic expressions they've chosen to value. We include visits to major sites that many people would be familiar with, as well as some of the hidden or ignored sites that we think merit more attention or that we simply found quite interesting.
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We also have a deep interest in natural history and wildlife conservation. Some of our posts feature content in these areas as well.
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Like others who travel we have met so many kind and interesting people along the way. One of them is Mr. Bulent, shown in the photo above, a Turkish gentleman who kindly spent a day guiding us through the landing and battle sites at Gallipoli. To many visitors he may seem like an average guide. It turned out he was also the local historian who guided Peter Jackson through the area during the director's filming of his Gallipoli documentary. Part of the joy of discovery - you never know what surprises are in store.
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Photo: Visit to ANZAC Cove on the Gallipoli Peninsula, April 2018