Magellan: This Week in History

by | Sep 10, 2019 | The Early Modern Age

This week in history, in 1522, the Spanish carrack Victoria returned home with just eighteen crew-members. She had completing the first circumnavigation of the globe. The expedition had begun in 1519 with five fully-crewed ships under the command of Ferdinand...

This Week in 30 BC: Augustus in Egypt

by | Aug 30, 2019 | Classical Civilization

During this week in 30 BC, Roman strongman Octavian completed his invasion of Egypt. He ordered the execution of Marcus Antyllus, eldest son of his defeated rival, Marc Anthony, who’d committed suicide. He also executed Caesarion, teenage son of his great uncle...

My New Novel, Secrets of Hominea!

by | Jul 26, 2019 | Human Origins & the Paleolithic, The Neolithic & Latter-Day Prehistory, Australia, the Islands, & Further Africa before the Modern Age, The Early Modern Age, The Recent Modern Age

My new novel just went on sale! Secrets of Hominea is a magical middle grade fantasy novel: a tale of giants, gnomes, queens, and adventurers — and of science and history. It’s for readers age 9 to 14. My first novel, The Jericho River, won multiple awards, including...

Fat Men’s Clubs

by | Jan 7, 2019 | The Recent Modern Age

Did you know America used to have fat men’s clubs? They proliferated during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. And they played just the role you might guess: venues for very overweight men to socialize and network. One famous club in Vermont had a...