Looking Through the Past

Looking Through the Past is a Substack dedicated to exploring overlooked aspects of history, analyzing historical events, figures, and cultural practices to provide insights into the present. It discusses the evolution of societal norms, art, technology, and geopolitics, often revealing the complexities and diversity of human history.

Art and Cultural History Technological Innovations Historical Narratives and Perspectives Religious and Mythological Analysis Warfare and Strategy Environmental History Societal Norms and Changes Historical Artifacts and Documents Ancient Civilizations Colonialism and Imperialism

The hottest Substack posts of Looking Through the Past

And their main takeaways

“From Today, Painting is Dead” — What the Invention of Photography Tells Us About AI

19 implied HN points • 19 May 23
  1. When photography was invented, it seemed like painting would become obsolete, but painters adapted and thrived.
  2. The introduction of photography forced painters to explore new artistic styles, leading to a period of great creativity.
  3. Just like photography changed painting, artificial intelligence is poised to disrupt traditional human capabilities, but humans will likely adapt and find new opportunities.

The Future of AI Isn’t What You Think

19 implied HN points • 13 Mar 23
  1. AI may not live up to the high expectations set for it
  2. There are concerns about how AI could be misused by bad actors
  3. History shows that major technological advancements often have unexpected consequences

Once Again, America Does Just Enough

19 implied HN points • 14 Nov 22
  1. America often does the minimum to get by with its problems.
  2. Procrastination is a common theme in American politics, leading to last-minute solutions.
  3. Important issues like healthcare and climate change are addressed with minimal effort, just enough to avoid immediate disaster.

Joe Biden Doesn’t Control the Economy

19 implied HN points • 24 Oct 22
  1. Politicians often get credit and blame for things they can't control
  2. Focus on voting for politicians based on what they can influence directly
  3. Issues like abortion rights, gun policy, and democracy are crucial to consider during elections

Rebuild, But With Humility

19 implied HN points • 10 Oct 22
  1. The importance of rebuilding with humility
  2. Recognizing and respecting our limits is a form of resilience
  3. Strive to approach rebuilding endeavors with a sense of humility
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Eleven Facts That Will Make You Rethink Your Relationship With History

39 implied HN points • 23 Feb 21
  1. Human beings have existed for 200,000 years, but only lived in cities for 6,000 years.
  2. The time between the Great Pyramid's construction and Cleopatra's life is longer than from Cleopatra to now.
  3. The atomic bomb was dropped 76 years ago, which is closer to the invention of the periodic table in 1869 than to now.

Are You Rich Enough to Be a Good Person?

19 implied HN points • 19 Nov 21
  1. To truly be virtuous, you may have to opt out of certain aspects of a system that exploits people and nature.
  2. Being a good person has become a luxury commodity that requires money to afford.
  3. The current system incentivizes antisocial behavior and punishes altruism, so working to change the system is necessary to create a more morally equitable world.

I Can't Kill You, It's Thursday

19 implied HN points • 15 Apr 21
  1. Medieval Europe had strict rules for warfare to manage chaos and constant conflict.
  2. The church played a significant role in regulating warfare by imposing restrictions on when and with whom knights could fight.
  3. The concept of the Peace and Truce of God aimed to protect non-combatants and limit violence, contributing to a more stable Europe.

Why are Some of the Most Important Prices Secret?

0 implied HN points • 07 Oct 22
  1. Some important prices are kept secret for unclear reasons.
  2. Price transparency is a crucial aspect that needs attention.
  3. Questioning and shedding light on price opacity is necessary.

Soccer Time-Wasting Techniques, Ranked

0 implied HN points • 13 Nov 22
  1. Soccer time-wasting is an art with creative techniques to kill the clock.
  2. There are various inventive time-wasting methods ranked, like faking injuries and passing the ball around the back.
  3. Enjoy the entertainment value of time-wasting in soccer, like player gestures and ball selection during throw-ins.

Did George Washington’s Doctors Kill Him?

0 implied HN points • 08 Nov 21
  1. George Washington's doctors used outdated and harmful medical treatments like bleeding and toxic substances.
  2. Washington's wealth made him a target for aggressive and unnecessary medical interventions.
  3. The story of George Washington's final hours highlights the inaccuracies and dangers of medical practices in the past.

We Have a Talent Problem in American Politics

0 implied HN points • 03 Dec 21
  1. American politics faces a talent problem with mediocre politicians holding important positions
  2. Media coverage and societal expectations contribute to deterring intelligent, good people from entering politics
  3. A perception of corruption and negativity surrounds politicians, discouraging talented individuals from pursuing political careers

Enervation Nation

0 implied HN points • 24 Sep 22
  1. The cascading crises we face are soul-sapping.
  2. Enervation Nation highlights the worst part of current crises.
  3. The impact of these crises is deeply draining on our souls.

This Election Should Break the Fever, But It Won’t

0 implied HN points • 12 Nov 22
  1. Americans tend to vote against the president's party in midterms.
  2. Trumpism is likely to continue influencing the Republican Party.
  3. Ron DeSantis may pose as a more 'normal' alternative to Trump but could still undermine democracy.

Life on the Ledge is Over

0 implied HN points • 17 Nov 22
  1. The last 12,000 years saw a stable climate on Earth, forming a stable foundation for human civilization.
  2. Even small climate fluctuations can disrupt societies significantly, as seen in events like the 'Little Ice Age.'
  3. Human activities, especially from the past century, have caused a rapid increase in global temperatures, challenging the stability of the ledge civilization was built upon.

The Sports World Chooses Money Over Integrity

0 implied HN points • 10 Jun 23
  1. Professional sports prioritize money over integrity, abandoning values for quick profits.
  2. Major sports leagues have shifted from opposing to promoting sports gambling to increase revenue.
  3. Sports industry scandals involve big money deals compromising the integrity of leagues, influencing fans' moral compromises.

How Exotic Animals Became Political Pawns

0 implied HN points • 03 May 23
  1. Exotic animals were historically used as political gifts to impress distant rulers
  2. Animals like rhinos, giraffes, and elephants were exchanged in ancient times for favor and curiosity
  3. The practice of exchanging exotic animals as gifts led to curiosity about the natural world and inspired artistic representations

Which Extreme Laws Will Red States Pass Next?

0 implied HN points • 16 Dec 21
  1. Republican Party passing extreme laws to engage and enrage their base.
  2. Potential extreme future GOP policies on guns, race, climate change, voting rights, public health, and protests.
  3. Red states may take increasingly radical measures on various issues to appeal to their base.

Why Doesn’t America Care About Latin America?

0 implied HN points • 21 Sep 22
  1. We tend to care more about countries that are either scary or white.
  2. Addressing bias in how we view and prioritize global issues is crucial.
  3. Raising awareness and advocating for Latin America's significance is important.

Taxing the Rich Won’t Slow Innovation

0 implied HN points • 22 Oct 22
  1. Taxing the rich won't slow innovation, but it would slow exploitation.
  2. High tax rates in the past did not stop investment and innovation.
  3. High taxes on the rich can curb predatory behavior without stifling genuine innovation.

Books That Stuck With Me in 2022

0 implied HN points • 23 Dec 22
  1. Books can offer new perspectives and insights, even on familiar topics.
  2. Attention is a valuable resource that can be manipulated by external forces.
  3. Historical books can shed light on forgotten events and perspectives.

Algorithms and the Flattening of Desire

0 implied HN points • 21 Jan 23
  1. Our choices are influenced by various factors and circumstances, not just our desires.
  2. Tech algorithms often simplify what we want based on our past actions, not our true desires.
  3. Curation by humans and embracing friction in technology can help make choices align more with what we truly want.

How We Serve Our Creations

0 implied HN points • 02 Feb 23
  1. Writing fundamentally transformed human life.
  2. Technologies like cars and smartphones have changed our world and how we live.
  3. Our interaction with technology is a two-way street; it affects us as much as we use it.

What is Substack’s Twitter Competitor For?

0 implied HN points • 13 Apr 23
  1. Substack Notes is a potential Twitter alternative.
  2. Notes may serve as a way to drive more traffic and revenue to Substack's biggest newsletters.
  3. There is uncertainty about the future of Notes and what role it will play within the Substack platform.

How Alexander the Great Influenced Indian Art

0 implied HN points • 19 Jun 23
  1. Alexander the Great's influence on Indian art was not through conquest but through cultural exchange
  2. Indo-Greek art demonstrated a fusion of Greek and Indian artistic elements, seen in coinage and sculptures
  3. Greek and Indian cultures interacted and influenced each other, creating cosmopolitanism in the ancient world

College Admissions Teaches Kids About America’s Shittiness

0 implied HN points • 08 Jan 23
  1. College admissions process teaches about the flaws of American society
  2. Wealthy individuals can manipulate the college admissions system easily
  3. Prestigious colleges limit opportunities despite having resources to help more students

Making a Mockery of Meritocracy

0 implied HN points • 02 Apr 23
  1. Meritocracy can be a hollowness and a dystopia, not a fair system.
  2. Elite college admissions in the US exhibit favoritism based on wealth over merit.
  3. Many prestigious colleges factor in financial status in admissions, affecting the supposed fairness of the system.

When Hypocrisy No Longer Matters

0 implied HN points • 18 Oct 22
  1. Journalists focusing on hypocrisy in politics is becoming less effective.
  2. Politicians are now more blatant in their lies and hypocrisy.
  3. Journalists should move away from just covering politics as a horse race and focus more on the human impact of policies.

Preserved Fish: a Semi-important Historical Figure With a Fun Name

0 implied HN points • 16 Dec 22
  1. Preserved Fish was a member of a prominent family in early American history and made his wealth in the whaling industry
  2. Preserved Fish was involved in New York politics through Tammany Hall and faced opposition from the Locofocos
  3. Preserved Fish's life reflects the transition from old American traditions to the industrial age of opportunity and politics

China’s Psychedelic Lost Caves

0 implied HN points • 13 Jun 23
  1. Dunhuang in China was a key city on the Silk Road for trade and Buddhism
  2. The caves in Dunhuang contain remarkable artwork depicting historical events and religious figures
  3. The art in the caves was designed to overwhelm meditators and inspire towards enlightenment

The Second Age of Smoke

0 implied HN points • 04 Jul 23
  1. Breathing in smoke is really bad for your health, causing issues like asthma, lung disease, heart attacks, and even brain-related problems.
  2. Particulate pollution from sources like wildfires and industrial activities is a major cause of air pollution, impacting public health and causing more deaths than obesity or high blood sugar.
  3. Clean air laws have been effective in reducing particulate pollution from industrial sources in wealthy countries, but the rise in wildfires due to climate change presents a new challenge for air quality.

Can Republicans Govern by Stunt Alone?

0 implied HN points • 18 Sep 22
  1. Today's GOP is good at only one thing - petty cruelty
  2. Can Republicans govern by stunt alone?
  3. Republicans' ability to govern is questioned

Trump, Truman, Testimony, and the Truth

0 implied HN points • 31 Oct 22
  1. Donald Trump is scheduled to testify before Congress about his actions on January 6th, but is unlikely to comply with the subpoena.
  2. There is uncertainty regarding whether Congress can compel ex-presidents to testify, as there are few precedents for this situation.
  3. While there are concerns about setting a new precedent of ex-presidents being subpoenaed, some argue that new norms are needed to prevent individuals like Trump from undermining democracy.

History’s Still Happening on the Acropolis

0 implied HN points • 05 Apr 23
  1. The Acropolis in Athens has a rich history and has undergone various changes over time by different rulers.
  2. The restoration efforts on the Parthenon have been ongoing since the 1970s, aiming to bring it closer to its original condition.
  3. There is ongoing debate in Greece over how much restoration and change should be done on the Acropolis, with differing perspectives on historical accuracy.