The hottest History Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top World Politics Topics

What's a prez to do? Polk and Mexico

A User's Guide to History • 275 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics History
  1. James Polk was a president focused on territorial expansion and was successful in acquiring Texas and Oregon from Mexico.
  2. Polk used strategic military maneuvers to provoke Mexico into a war, ultimately leading to the acquisition of California and New Mexico.
  3. The Mexican-American War, despite facing criticism for its motives, resulted in significant territorial gains for the United States.

The Dawn of Play

Secretum Secretorum • 176 implied HN points • 13 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture History
  1. Play is a fundamental part of life, not just for humans but also for animals. It brings joy and helps develop social skills and relationships.
  2. Throughout history, societies have been flexible in their social structures, often experimenting with different forms of governance and community during times of play or celebration.
  3. Our ancestors had a rich capacity for imagination, which allowed them to live in diverse social arrangements. Today, we often struggle to envision alternatives to our current systems.

An Introduction to Spengler’s Decline

The Oswald Spengler Project • 459 implied HN points • 05 Sep 23
📚 Literature History
  1. The Spenglerian Theory views cultures as living organisms with predictable life cycles of growth, decay, and ultimate demise.
  2. Spengler critiques the conventional classification of history and introduces a Copernican system that treats all cultures as equal, focusing on eight distinct high cultures.
  3. In each culture's life cycle, distinct stages emerge such as youth, maturity, decline, and the transition to civilization, marked by shifts in power, philosophy, religion, and societal structures.

2.5 René Descartes

Fields & Energy • 259 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy History
  1. René Descartes believed science is connected and trying to find one truth could help explain other truths. He thought this truth came from the 'infinite perfections of God.'
  2. He had some important ideas in physics, like how light bends and motion is conserved. However, some of his ideas turned out to be wrong, showing that science takes time to improve.
  3. Descartes thought that studying nature could help humans control it, but his methods sometimes lacked support from experiments. He lived a relaxed life, which changed when he had to teach in Sweden and sadly got pneumonia.
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You live in a world that philosophy built

Trevor Klee’s Newsletter • 3283 implied HN points • 18 Mar 23
📖 Philosophy History
  1. The Catholic Church venerated Aristotle and opposed Galileo because they trusted ancient philosophy over new scientific ideas.
  2. Living in a world where science evolves, we give more weight to current evidence than ancient texts or philosophers.
  3. Lessons from history remind us of the importance of valuing empirical evidence over established theories.

3 MEMORIES OF MELVIN VAN PEEBLES

The Nelson George Mixtape • 452 implied HN points • 22 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture History
  1. Melvin Van Peebles was a unique and iconic figure in the world of black cinema and music.
  2. Nelson George had meaningful interactions with Melvin Van Peebles that influenced his career and artistic endeavors.
  3. Melvin Van Peebles had a bold personality, unconventional lifestyle, and a lasting impact on those around him.

How do we know what 21 degrees C means?

The Newsletter of (Not Quite) Everything • 452 implied HN points • 27 May 23
🔬 Science History
  1. Temperature measurement has a long history and was viewed differently in ancient times.
  2. Gradual advancements in creating reliable thermometers involved changing materials and introducing numerical scales.
  3. The meticulous work of individuals like Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit and Jean-Andr de Luc contributed to establishing standardized temperature scales.

MY CATALOGUE OF MUSIC BOOKS

The Nelson George Mixtape • 452 implied HN points • 01 Sep 23
🎶 Music History
  1. The author is promoting their catalog of music books on their birthday.
  2. The latest project is The Nelson George Mixtape Volume 2, a 40 page zine of hip hop articles and memories.
  3. The books are being independently published and are available for $18.

The past can't save you

Men Yell at Me • 282 implied HN points • 18 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture History
  1. Nostalgia can create a false sense of security, making us long for times or ideals that never truly existed. It's important to recognize that the past can’t save us.
  2. Events like the Field of Dreams baseball game highlight how we often romanticize a manufactured version of Americana, which doesn't reflect the real history or struggles people face.
  3. Instead of yearning for a simpler past, we need to focus on the present and address our challenges, as what we really miss is not the past, but a sense of ignorance about today's realities.

Hidden Open Thread 360.5

Astral Codex Ten • 688 implied HN points • 19 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture History
  1. This post is for paid subscribers only, meaning you need a subscription to access the content.
  2. There’s an open thread format where subscribers can engage with the content and share their thoughts.
  3. It encourages community interaction and discussion among its members.

2.6.2 Newton's Legacy

Fields & Energy • 219 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🔬 Science History
  1. Newton's laws of motion were groundbreaking but took time to be fully understood and accepted. People did not immediately grasp his ideas about forces and motion.
  2. Many later scientists built on Newton's work, refining and developing his theories. Newton laid the groundwork, but others were key in shaping what we now know as classical physics.
  3. Newton's scientific approach set a high standard for future research. His methods are still considered a model for how scientific investigations should be conducted.

The Politics of Names

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 379 implied HN points • 09 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture History
  1. Place and species names often reflect who named them, usually white men, which can ignore the stories of local people and cultures. It’s important to understand the history behind these names.
  2. The American Ornithological Society wants to change bird names that honor problematic people to make them more inclusive and focus on the birds themselves. This change means letting go of some historical stories that are tied to those names.
  3. Exploring new names can help build connections to nature and understand different perspectives. Learning from the local knowledge of traditional communities can enrich our appreciation of the natural world.

“Smoking Gun” Documents Point to CIA Machinations in JFK Assassination

Public • 236 implied HN points • 09 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics History
  1. The newly released documents about George Joannides show that the CIA had more knowledge about Lee Harvey Oswald than previously admitted. This changes the narrative about the JFK assassination and the 'lone gunman' theory.
  2. The evidence suggests that the CIA monitored Oswald closely, contradicting earlier claims that they had minimal information about him before the assassination. This calls into question the integrity of past investigations.
  3. Investigative journalist Gerald Posner, who argued for the lone gunman theory, now faces challenges to his claims as new information emerges that complicates the official story of JFK's assassination.

The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show

Rock 'n' Roll with Me • 119 implied HN points • 16 Apr 24
🎶 Music History
  1. The Beatles made their famous debut on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, capturing the attention of millions of viewers. People were excited about their music and unique style, which changed pop culture forever.
  2. Before their big show in America, the Beatles played long hours in clubs in the UK and Germany. This experience helped them become amazing performers with a wide range of songs.
  3. Paul McCartney mentioned that many of his love songs had themes of attraction and desire, even if he didn't realize it at the time. Songs like 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' became classics that people still love today.

Author's Introduction

Fields & Energy • 439 implied HN points • 30 Sep 23
🔬 Science History
  1. Physicists and engineers often focus on different aspects of understanding reality. Physicists typically ask 'why' things happen, while engineers ask 'how' to make things work.
  2. Electromagnetism is a key part of our everyday experience, but training in this field has become disconnected between physics theory and practical applications. There's a need for better communication and education between physicists and engineers.
  3. New ideas in science can often be met with skepticism or rejection. It's important to question established norms and be open to fresh perspectives, even if they challenge widely accepted beliefs.

Vote for the June 2025 + Post Topic

Computer Ads from the Past • 256 implied HN points • 23 Jun 25
🕹 Technology History
  1. The past ads are getting a second chance to be voted on. This allows subscribers to revisit old favorites and choose which should be featured.
  2. A voting poll will run for just three days. It's a quick opportunity for fans to share their opinions on the topics.
  3. There's a trial offer for new subscribers to access posts for free for a week. This can help more people discover and enjoy the content.

Hume in Hell (UNLOCKED)

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis • 758 implied HN points • 01 Jan 23
📖 Philosophy History
  1. David Hume's essays on suicide and the afterlife delve into questioning common beliefs even when granting believers' core premises.
  2. Hume challenges the concept of suicide as a sin against God, arguing that humans cannot disrupt God's plan or transgress against it through suicide.
  3. The essays lead to a broader reflection that morality should be grounded in human considerations, not divine commands, opening up a secular perspective in philosophy.

Wallerstein Constant

kamilkazani • 334 implied HN points • 29 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics History
  1. The siege of Mariupol was a significant tragedy in 2022, shedding light on the city's complex history and industrial importance.
  2. Crimean Khanate had a unique political structure, different from the Ottoman Empire, with elements of a military democracy.
  3. Crimean Khanate was ethnically diverse, hosting various groups and languages, and eventually succumbed to Russian influence in the 18th century.

NCR PC4i

Computer Ads from the Past • 640 implied HN points • 23 Dec 24
🕹 Technology History
  1. NCR started as a cash register company and later moved into computing technology after World War II. They became known for their robust computers like the PT4 and PC4i, which were designed to compete with IBM.
  2. The NCR PC4i was praised for its durability and good build quality, making it suitable for heavy computer use. It was not portable, weighing 50 pounds, but offered performance and exceptional compatibility with existing software.
  3. NCR provided excellent customer support for their computers and included user-friendly software with detailed documentation, making their machines accessible for users.

The Saturday Selection, Vol. 65

Why is this interesting? • 180 implied HN points • 02 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture History
  1. The new digital Library of Alexandria aims to preserve knowledge for future generations. It's a fascinating effort to rebuild what was lost in history.
  2. Helsinki has achieved something impressive by going a whole year without a single traffic death. Smarter city design and lower speed limits played a big role.
  3. The search for the real author of 'The Dice Man' reveals unexpected twists in the story of this influential cult novel. It's a journey into unexpected authorship.

Indigenous People's Day 2023

Rebekah’s Newsletter • 432 implied HN points • 06 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture History
  1. Indigenous People's Day is recognized on the second Monday in October.
  2. It was federally recognized during President Obama's tenure to replace Columbus Day.
  3. The change is significant because Christopher Columbus never set foot in North America.

American Tradition

Wild Holy & Free • 719 implied HN points • 04 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture History
  1. Traditions can be positive, but we must be honest about the negative aspects of American tradition.
  2. We need to commit to telling the truth and pursuing justice despite the challenges.
  3. Acknowledging the flaws in the system doesn't diminish our commitment to waiting for progress and celebrating when it comes.

Who Do You Trust?

backstory • 533 implied HN points • 25 Jan 25
🏝 Travel History
  1. Trust can be complicated, especially when you feel uncertain about the people around you. It’s interesting to see how perceptions of trust can shift based on personal experiences.
  2. Cultural differences play a big role in how people express themselves and interact. The traditional clothing in Bolivia shows a strong connection to heritage and identity.
  3. Life experiences can shape our beliefs and trust in institutions. Felipe's journey from having a heroic figure in his grandfather to feeling let down by the police reflects how personal history can change one’s worldview.

Two visions of ultrafinitism intricately intertwined

Infinitely More • 25 implied HN points • 29 Dec 25
📖 Philosophy History
  1. There are two ultrafinitist views: one posits a largest natural number, and the other accepts successor, addition, and multiplication as total but not exponentiation.
  2. Model theory tightly connects them: truncations of bounded-induction models produce finite-arithmetic models, and every finite-arithmetic model can be seen as a truncation of some bounded-induction model.
  3. Each finite-arithmetic model has a unique smallest extension to a bounded-induction model that makes addition and multiplication fully determined, so the two approaches end up sharing the same semantic landscape.

Looking Back

Justin E. H. Smith's Hinternet • 656 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture History
  1. Reading is a personal experience that often happens privately, yet how we represent it through visual art can tell deeper stories about attention and focus.
  2. The way we read has changed over time, from quiet bookish moments to distractions from our phones, altering how we connect with text.
  3. Photographs of readers can show the tension between our personal, private experiences and the external pressures of a surveillance-driven world, reminding us of our inner lives.

Philosophic Premises of Quantum Mechanics – Part I

Fields & Energy • 359 implied HN points • 12 Nov 23
🔬 Science History
  1. Quantum mechanics is often misunderstood, with some believing it challenges objective reality. However, the issues stem from outdated philosophies rather than quantum theory itself.
  2. During the Weimar period in Germany, there was a strong cultural push against reason and causality. This opposition influenced the development of quantum mechanics during that time.
  3. Many scientists who shaped quantum mechanics were caught between supporting the new ideas and adhering to older principles of causality, leading to mixed interpretations of their findings.

Myth & Math

Seven Senses • 519 implied HN points • 01 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture History
  1. Astrology mixes art and science, with a long history that goes back thousands of years. It's been used for everything from planting crops to influencing our personalities.
  2. Many people today enjoy astrology for self-discovery, but its teachings can get simplified and lose depth. It's important to remember that each person's experience with astrology is unique.
  3. Astrology encourages us to think about free will and destiny. We can choose our paths while also being influenced by the cosmos around us.

Odds and Ends #50: The weird thing about London's New Year's Fireworks

Odds and Ends of History • 603 implied HN points • 04 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture History
  1. London's New Year's fireworks have some unexpected political twists that make them more than just a fun spectacle.
  2. The British government needs a solid plan for dealing with Elon Musk's comments and actions that could affect public discourse.
  3. Generative AI is changing the way we think about video production, and its latest developments are surprisingly impressive.

The Ten Ages of London in One Short Walk

Londonist: Time Machine • 419 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
🏝 Travel History
  1. The post discusses a time-travelling walking tour in London that covers ten different historical ages in a short distance.
  2. It mentions starting in prehistoric days and moving through Roman, Anglo-Saxon, Viking, Norman, Tudor, Stuart, Georgian, Victorian, and modern London.
  3. The post invites readers to subscribe to Londonist: Time Machine for full access to the archives and enjoy 7-day free trial.

The Ollie Edition

Why is this interesting? • 1689 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🎾 Sports History
  1. Skateboarding history traces back to Florida and the invention of the ollie trick.
  2. The impact of Florida skaters like Alan 'Ollie' Gelfand changed the direction of skateboarding.
  3. The evolution of skateboarding from vert to street style and the influence of skaters like Tony Hawk.

Genius in turbulent times

Logging the World • 418 implied HN points • 05 Jul 23
🔬 Science History
  1. Genius can be found in lesser-known figures like Kolmogorov, who made significant contributions to mathematics and other fields.
  2. Kolmogorov's work on probability theory and the Kolmogorov-Arnold theorem had a lasting impact on mathematics and even underpins modern AI algorithms.
  3. Kolmogorov's life was not only marked by academic achievements but also by navigating personal challenges, such as opposing Lysenkoism and living as an openly gay man in Stalinist Russia.

Giger's Gargoyle

Marlene’s Newsletter • 4 implied HN points • 14 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture History
  1. During restoration the abbey replaced most of its gargoyles, and one new carving clearly resembles the xenomorph from Alien — a choice that church leaders apparently approved, possibly as the mason having a bit of fun.
  2. H.R. Giger’s dark, biomechanical art mixes occult and erotic themes and has strongly influenced films, album art, and horror aesthetics, with a museum that explicitly displays satanic motifs.
  3. Paisley Abbey has a grim history — from the 1697 witch trials to a later conviction of a former organist for child abuse — which gives the site a troubling, shadowy context.

Top Links 633 Van Gogh and the end of nature. How the UK kicked coal & China's approach to modernization

Chartbook • 515 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture History
  1. Van Gogh's artwork reflects a connection to nature and highlights the changes happening in the world around us. His pieces can show the beauty of nature, but also hint at its decline.
  2. The UK's transition away from coal energy showcases a significant shift towards more sustainable practices. This change is a crucial step in fighting climate change and preserving the environment.
  3. China's modernization is an interesting blend of tradition and innovation. It highlights how countries can evolve while balancing their historical roots with modern advancements.