David Tollen, Author at Pints of History

The Chief Justice Can Call Witnesses

by David Tollen | Jan 30, 2020 | The Recent Modern Age, Legal History

Under the Constitution, the Vice President presides over the Senate — except during presidential impeachment trials. The Vice President would inherit the President’s position if the trial led to conviction, so the Founders feared the VP’s bias. Who...

As Benedict Arnold means treason, Donald Trump will mean corruption

by David Tollen | Jan 28, 2020 | The Recent Modern Age, Current Politics

Here’s a prediction. As Benedict Arnold means treason to Americans, Donald Trump will someday mean corruption. And politicians who support him will be painted by the same brush. Tale of a War Hero Benedict Arnold was a successful merchant and an accomplished...

This week in history: Caligula

by David Tollen | Jan 25, 2020 | Ancient History, Roman Empire, Classical Civilization

This week in 41 CE, a faction Roman leaders assassinated their emperor, Caligula. The emperor had oppressed the nobles and the Senate (though not necessarily the common people), so this was not the first plot against his rule. The trigger for this final and successful...

This week in history: Captain Cook

by David Tollen | Jan 16, 2020 | The Early Modern Age, Geography

This week in history, the United Kingdom’s Captain James Cook celebrated two accomplishments. In 1773, he led the first known expedition to sail south of the Antarctic Circle. Cook and his crew were trying to find an imagined continent called Terra Australis – or to...

Who Thought Up Dog Domestication, People or Dogs?

by David Tollen | Jan 11, 2020 | Human Origins & the Paleolithic

This post has been updated by a new version: “Did breeding or natural selection create the dog?” Scientists used to think Stone Age people domesticated the dog by adopting wolf pups and breeding the friendliest of them, or the most obedient. But more...