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    Category: Essays

    Devil’s Advocate: Was Blowing Up Alderaan Justified?

    In Star Wars Episode Four, the evil Empire commits perhaps the most infamous war crime in the history of film: the destruction of Alderaan. Using the Death… Read more “Devil’s Advocate: Was Blowing Up Alderaan Justified?”

    September 30, 2021October 1, 2021 by Thomas Brodey

    Remembering the Alamo(s)

    As dawn broke on March 6th, 1836, a Mexican army led by President Antonio Lòpez de Santa Anna stormed the Alamo, a small compound defended by several… Read more “Remembering the Alamo(s)”

    September 8, 2021September 28, 2021 by Thomas Brodey

    Quintus Sertorius: The Patriot Who Defied Rome

    This week, I’d like to write about one of my favorite figures from Roman history: Quintus Sertorius (126 BCE to 73 BCE). Sertorius’ life reads like a… Read more “Quintus Sertorius: The Patriot Who Defied Rome”

    August 31, 2021August 31, 2021 by Thomas Brodey

    How Historical Films Misuse Color

    In the 1930s, film developed color, and would never be the same again. Now, I wonder if some film genres are unconsciously reverting back to black and… Read more “How Historical Films Misuse Color”

    August 21, 2021August 22, 2021 by Thomas Brodey

    Fake History: A Practical Guide to Inventing the Past

    Over the past week, I’ve amused myself with George R. R. Martin’s newest book, Fire and Blood. For those of you without the inclination to read a… Read more “Fake History: A Practical Guide to Inventing the Past”

    August 5, 2021August 6, 2021 by Thomas Brodey

    How Not To Measure a Country’s Power

    How can we quantify the power of a country? Putting so many demographic, economic and military factors into a single number may seem like a daunting task,… Read more “How Not To Measure a Country’s Power”

    July 30, 2021 by Thomas Brodey

    The Great Myth of the Wehrmacht

    In 1985, English historian Max Hastings published a provocative Washington Post article, titled simply: Their Wehrmacht was Better Than Our Army. The title refers to the German… Read more “The Great Myth of the Wehrmacht”

    July 30, 2021July 31, 2021 by Thomas Brodey

    The History of Happiness: Are People Getting Happier?

    Over the last few centuries, the lives of people have improved in almost every quantifiable way. Education, lifespan, living standards, hygiene, and countless other factors have steadily… Read more “The History of Happiness: Are People Getting Happier?”

    July 26, 2021July 26, 2021 by Thomas Brodey

    More than Mordor: Tolkien and the First World War

    It’s no secret that J. R. R. Tolkien borrowed from his experience in the trenches of World War One when creating Middle Earth. A month ago, I… Read more “More than Mordor: Tolkien and the First World War”

    July 24, 2021 by Thomas Brodey

    The Forgotten History of Disabled Veterans

    When a war ends, the people are always quick to celebrate the returning soldiers and to mourn the dead. Yet few ever devote much thought to disabled… Read more “The Forgotten History of Disabled Veterans”

    July 19, 2021August 2, 2021 by Thomas Brodey

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