Should the US have assisted France during the French Revolution? Why?

 

Only fair, right?

After all, the French helped the US gain independence from those bloody Brits.

But, it's not that simple.

See, the French Revolution wasn't exactly a walk in the park. It was a bloodbath, a mess of shifting alliances, radical ideologies, and heads rolling quite literally.

The Reign of Terror wasn't just a catchy name; it was a period of state-sanctioned paranoia and violence.

You have the US, a fledgling nation still finding its feet, they could ill afford to get entangled in such a volatile situation.

Remember, this was a time when the US was still establishing its own government and dealing with domestic issues like westward expansion and Native American relations.

Secondly, the French Revolution was a complex beast with conflicting factions vying for power.

The Girondins, Jacobins, Montagnards – it was a dizzying array of political groups with differing visions for France's future.

The US, with its own delicate balance of federalists and anti-federalists, could easily have been drawn into these internal struggles, potentially destabilizing its own fragile political system.

Imagine the US throwing its weight behind one faction, only to see it fall from power and be replaced by a hostile regime.

Not a pretty picture, is it?

The US had its own fish to fry back home.

While the French were busy chopping off heads and singing revolutionary songs, the US was focused on building its own nation.

The Louisiana Purchase, the War of 1812, the Monroe Doctrine – these were all critical events that shaped the future of the US.

Getting involved in the French Revolution would have been a costly distraction, both in terms of resources and political capital.

The US simply couldn't afford to squander its energy on a foreign conflict when it had so much to accomplish at home. 

The US was still a young nation with a small military and limited resources. Sending troops across the Atlantic to fight in a bloody European conflict would have been a logistical nightmare.

And even if the US had somehow managed to win, what then?

Occupying and governing a country as large and complex as France would have been an insurmountable challenge.

The US simply wasn't equipped to deal with the aftermath of a successful intervention.

So, while it might seem "only fair" to repay the French for their assistance during the American Revolution, the reality is that the US made the right call by staying out of the French Revolution.

“Helen Mirren Recalls ‘Caligula’ Set As A Nudist Camp”

 Gaius Caesar Agustus Germanicus, famously known as Caligula, was a controversial figure in history.

He initially implemented aristocracy, granted amnesty, and reduced taxes but later displayed signs of madness, demanding worship as a god, marrying his sister, and engaging in extravagant and bizarre activities.

His reign included lavish mock sea battles, construction of oversized ships, and the establishment of a brothel when funds depleted.

Known for torturing individuals and even appointing a horse to the senate, Caligula met his demise through assassination at the young age of 29, succeeded by Claudius.

The story of Caligula is vividly portrayed in the renowned 1976 British miniseries “I, Claudius.”

The 1979 film “Caligula,” directed by Bob Guccione and Giancarlo Lui but heavily influenced by Tinto Brass, offered a more explicit depiction of Caligula’s life.

The original script by Gore Vidal underwent significant alterations, much to Vidal’s displeasure, resulting in a production filled with orgies, nudity, and phallic symbolism.

Despite its high-profile cast, including Malcolm McDowell and Peter O’Toole, “Caligula” stands out as one of the most decadent films in history, blending historical drama with explicit content.

Mirren, who portrayed Caesonia in “Caligula,” shared her experience working on the provocative film in a 2015 interview.

She expressed discomfort with n^dty on set but found solace in the communal atmosphere, likening it to a nudist camp where being clothed felt out of place.

Describing “Caligula” as a blend of art and nudity, Mirren acknowledged the uniqueness of the project and refrained from criticizing it, emphasizing the valuable experience it provided her as a young actress.

Despite her initial reservations about on-screen nudity, Mirren embraced its prevalence during the early stages of her career.

Reflecting on her exposure in films, she recognized the era’s acceptance of such scenes, indicating a shift in societal norms over time.

While “Caligula” faced severe criticism upon release, labeled as distasteful and devoid of artistic merit by critics like Roger Ebert, Mirren maintained a positive outlook on the film.

Its unconventional approach and cult following have elevated it to a status of midnight movie oddity, appealing to enthusiasts of avant-garde cinema.

In conclusion, “Caligula” remains a polarizing cinematic work that transcends traditional boundaries, capturing the essence of power dynamics and excess.

Mirren’s candid reflections on her involvement in the film shed light on the evolving attitudes towards n^dty and artistic expression in the film industry.

Despite its controversial nature, “Caligula” stands as a testament to audacious filmmaking and continues to intrigue audiences with its bold storytelling and provocative imagery.

What are habits that can improve your lifestyle?

 

1. Wake up early.
2. Do meditation or exercise.
3. Try to drink more water and must.
4. Maintain hygiene and take care of yourself.
5. Take cold showers.
6. Be smile and the reason for someone's smile.
7. Eat good and less, and be with homemade food.
8. Think positive and negative, but choose positive.
9. Focus on what matters to you, and improve skills that you can sell it to someone.
10. Live in reality not in social media.
11. Try to eat fruits and vegetables.
12. Try to read, read, read…. At least 10 pages every day and write your stuff.
13. Play physical games, but not mind games.
14. Motivate yourself.
15. Try to walk long with good music and people.
16. Learn something new everyday.
17. Drink more water.
18. Be with parents, eat with parents.
19. Be kind, kindness is a ultimate strength.
20. Sleep early.

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Sexual attitudes and behaviors in ancient Rome

 Sexual attitudes and behaviors in ancient Rome are indicated by art, literature, and inscriptions, and to a lesser extent by archaeological remains such as erotic artifacts and architecture. It has sometimes been assumed that "unlimited sexual license" was characteristic of ancient Rome, but sexuality was not excluded as a concern of the mos maiorum, the traditional social norms that affected public, private, and military life. Pudor, "shame, modesty", was a regulating factor in behavior, as were legal strictures on certain sexual transgressions in both the Republican and Imperial periods.

The censors—public officials who determined the social rank of individuals—had the power to remove citizens from the senatorial or equestrian order for sexual misconduct, and on occasion did so. The mid-20th-century sexuality theorist Michel Foucault regarded sex throughout the Greco-Roman world as governed by restraint and the art of managing sexual pleasure.

Roman society was patriarchal (see paterfamilias), and masculinity was premised on a capacity for governing oneself and others of lower status, not only in war and politics, but also in sexual relations.

Virtus, "virtue", was an active masculine ideal of self-discipline, related to the Latin word for "man", vir. The corresponding ideal for a woman was pudicitia, often translated as chastity or modesty, but it was a more positive and even competitive personal quality that displayed both her attractiveness and self-control. Roman women of the upper classes were expected to be well educated, strong of character, and active in maintaining their family's standing in society.

With extremely few exceptions, surviving Latin literature preserves the voices of educated male Romans on sexuality. Visual art was created by those of lower social status and of a greater range of ethnicity, but was tailored to the taste and inclinations of those wealthy enough to afford it, including, in the Imperial era, former slaves.

The Viking Age (793–1066 CE) was the period during the Middle Ages when Norsemen known as Vikings undertook

The Viking Age (793–1066 CE) was the period during the Middle Ages when Norsemen known as Vikings undertook large-scale raiding, colonising, conquest, and trading throughout Europe and reached North America. 

It followed the Migration Period and the Germanic Iron Age. The Viking Age applies not only to their homeland of Scandinavia but also to any place significantly settled by Scandinavians during the period. The Scandinavians of the Viking Age are often referred to as Vikings as well as Norsemen, although few of them were Vikings in the sense of being engaged in piracy. 

Voyaging by sea from their homelands in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, the Norse people settled in the British Isles, Ireland, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Greenland, Normandy, and the Baltic coast and along the Dnieper and Volga trade routes in eastern Europe, where they were also known as Varangians. 

They also briefly settled in Newfoundland, becoming the first Europeans to reach North America. The Norse-Gaels, Normans, Rus' people, Faroese, and Icelanders emerged from these Norse colonies. The Vikings founded several kingdoms and earldoms in Europe: the Kingdom of the Isles (Suðreyjar), Orkney (Norðreyjar), York (Jórvík) and the Danelaw (Danalǫg), Dublin (Dyflin), Normandy, and Kievan Rus' (Garðaríki). The Norse homelands were also unified into larger kingdoms during the Viking Age, and the short-lived North Sea Empire included large swathes of Scandinavia and Britain.

 In 1021, the Vikings achieved the feat of reaching North America—the date of which was not specified until a millennium later. Several things drove this expansion. The Vikings were drawn by the growth of wealthy towns and monasteries overseas and weak kingdoms. They may also have been pushed to leave their homeland by overpopulation, lack of good farmland, and political strife arising from the unification of Norway.

 The aggressive expansion of the Carolingian Empire and forced conversion of the neighbouring Saxons to Christianity may also have been a factor. Sailing innovations had allowed the Vikings to sail further and longer to begin with.Information about the Viking Age is drawn largely from primary sources written by those the Vikings encountered, as well as archaeology, supplemented with secondary sources such as the Icelandic Sagas.

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How often did the Romans have sex?

 

Tuesday, May 28, 2024

Romans were pretty open about sex. Their society wasn't as prudish as later Western societies became.

They had a relaxed attitude toward sex, seeing it as a natural part of life.

For instance, it was common for Roman homes to have erotic art, and even the city of Pompeii, frozen in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, reveals walls adorned with some pretty explicit murals.

But how often? Well, it varied. Elite Romans, who had more leisure time, probably engaged in sexual activities more frequently.

They often had banquets and gatherings that sometimes turned into wild parties known as convivia.

These weren't just your average get-togethers; they could involve a lot of drinking, feasting, and yes, sometimes sexual escapades.

Interestingly, there's a lesser-known story about a Roman named Gaius Petronius, who was a member of Emperor Nero's court.

Petronius wrote the Satyricon, a satirical novel that gives us a peek into the indulgent lifestyles of the Roman elite.

One of the tales involves a lavish dinner party where guests ended up engaging in some rather risqué activities after too much wine.

This gives us a hint that, at east among the upper classes, sexual encounters could be quite frequent, especially during these social events.

Now, for the common folk, life was tougher and more labor-intensive, so their sexual frequency probably wasn't as high as that of the aristocracy.

But they still had their fair share of fun.

Public baths, for example, were social hubs where people might engage in flirtations and occasionally more.

These baths were a mix of leisure and socializing, and sometimes, the lines between socializing and intimate encounters blurred.

And let's not forget the Vestal Virgins, priestesses of Vesta, the goddess of the hearth. These women took a vow of chastity for 30 years. If they broke this vow, the punishment was severe – being buried alive.

This strict approach to their chastity shows that while Rome was sexually liberal in many ways, it also had strict boundaries in certain areas.

So, to sum it up, the frequency of sex in Roman times depended on one's social status and lifestyle.

The elite probably enjoyed it more often due to their leisurely lives, while the working class had to fit it in around their demanding daily routines.

And with public baths, parties, and an overall relaxed attitude towards sex, the Romans certainly didn't shy away from it.

Cheers to the Romans, who knew how to mix business with pleasure in ways that continue to fascinate us today!

"Unveiling the 'Shocking' Truth about Romantic World of Genghis Khan

 "Unveiling the 'Shocking' Truth about Romantic World of Genghis Khan

The military conquests of Genghis Khan are well known. His Mongol cavalry swept across the open steppe taking vast swathes of territory. His armies plowed through China, conquering the central plains and Tibet. From humble beginnings in Mongolia, he created an empire that stretched from the Chinese coast in the east all the way to the Caspian Sea. Fifty years after his death, the Mongol Empire would reach its extent and is recognized today as the largest contiguous empire in history.

His conquests, however, were not confined to the battlefields watched over by the open sky. Those conquests are history. The Mongol empire is no more. It collapsed and disappeared many hundreds of years ago. His greatest conquests were, in fact, in the bedroom, so to speak.

With a huge harem of women, Genghis Khan left a genetic legacy that would outlive all of his military ambition. The result of his intimate relations is an even more staggering achievement than his hordes of soldiers could ever achieve.

Genghis Khan harem

Officially, Genghis Khan had 44 wives and concubines, but unofficially, historians believe the total number of women in his harem numbered around 500, although it is very difficult to be sure. Most of these women were from populations of people captured during Genghis Khan's lifetime of conquest. Some were even gifted to him as tribute.

His harem was so large, in fact, that it had to be split into four camps called ordos, each one being administered by one of his four principal wives: Börte, Khulan, Yesu, and Yesugen. Börte was recognized as the great empress and outranked the other three principal wives, who were titled empresses (khatun). Each of the concubines had their own yurt for their own household, and as in the military, they had their

own ranks.

Protecting his harem was the Imperial Guard known as the Kheshig, whose duty also included keeping an eye on which tent their Khan was in, as he would visit various tents every night. Naturally, this resulted in Genghis Khan having an incredible number of children.

How Many Children Did Genghis Khan Actually Have?

With a harem that numbered hundreds of women and with the Khan visiting several women every night, it is not a big leap of logic to assume that Genghis Khan had hundreds of children. In fact, it's possible that he had well over a thousand. Records were not kept, so it's impossible to discover the exact number. Despite the logic, tradition claims that he had 120 children in total, which is certainly less than what is probable, especially when one factors in the genetic evidence



How Many Children Did Genghis Khan Actually Have?

With a harem that numbered hundreds of women and with the Khan visiting several women every night, it is not a big leap of logic to assume that Genghis Khan had hundreds of children. In fact, it's possible that he had well over a thousand. Records were not kept, so it's impossible to discover the exact number. Despite the logic, tradition claims that he had 120 children in total, which is certainly less than what is probable, especially when one factors in the genetic evidence gained from testing the DNA of people living today in the areas that were covered by the great Khan's empire.

What was recorded were the names of the children he had with his first wife, Börte. With her, Genghis fathered nine children - four sons and five daughters

Genetics and Doing the Math

Just as the history books and historical evidence paint a glorious picture of the life of Genghis Khan and his military and intimate conquests, science has given us an even greater image with statistical data that reveals the massive size of this picture.

In 2003, a study was conducted in which the Y-chromosome of Asian populations was examined. The study showed that 8% of all the men living today in the areas previously under the control of Genghis Khan carry a Y-chromosome that marks them as direct descendants of a patrilineal ancestor who lived 1,000 years ago in Mongolia. This figure is almost certainly Genghis Khan.

This 8% represents about 0.5% of the world's total men, which is roughly 20 million. If this is doubled to also represent the female descendants of Ghengis Khan, then 40 million people today are direct descendants of Genghis Khan (out of a world population of 8 billion). That's 1 in every 200 people on the planet!

There are, however, other "super-y" lineages as the result of other powerful men, likely with extensive harems and/or a very active sex life. Of note is the Manchu Lineage, which can be traced back to northeastern China, and the Ui Neill Lineage, which can be traced back to Ireland.

In Central and Eastern Asia, being able to trace one's lineage back to Genghis Khan is a particular mark of prestige, although, for genetic purposes, it means very little. It is of social importance rather than of biological importance. Having a copy of Genghis Khan's Y-chromosome does not grant any special powers. Only bragging rights!

Throughout Asia, the descendants of Genghis Khan are found far and wide, and with the advent of the modern age with all its immigration and emigration, there is no part of human civilization that remains out of reach of the Great Khan's children.

In Mongolia, Genghis Khan is considered a father to the nation, but he was a literal father more than could ever have been expected. He is an ancestor to so many Mongolians that his characterization as a father is certainly well-deserved.