“Betty’s Hope,” the latest entry in the video news-magazine series Strata: Portraits of Humanity, produced by AntiquityNOW’s partner, Archaeological Legacy Institute, considers what we learn about past lives when we peel back the layers of history. Sugar plantations were incredibly important to the New World’s trade and expansion, and gave rise to certain political, social and economic institutions that we may find unusual or even repulsive today. The Caribbean island of Antigua sat at the crossroads of the first transatlantic economy. This documentary is about how a sugar plantation, called Betty’s Hope, was started in 1650 during colonial rule and gave many Antiguans economic support. This plantation was owned by Sir Christopher Codrington, the governor of the Leeward Islands, and lasted from 1674 to 1944. Today, the plantation is no longer operational and archaeologists use meticulous methods to uncover stories that would otherwise be silent forever. Strata: Portraits of Humanity is a monthly half-hour video series available online and on select cable channels. Strata is a showcase for unique and diverse stories about the world’s cultural heritage. Stories come from across the globe with segments produced by Archaeological Legacy Institute and dozens of producer and distributor partners around the world. Click on the image below to view the program on The Archaeology Channel and scroll down to see the curriculum developed by AntiquityNOW to accompany this episode’s video. Continue reading
Tag Archives: AntiquityNOW
Strata: Portraits of Humanity, Episode 8, “Betty’s Hope”
Bon Appetit Wednesday! National Dairy Month
It’s National Dairy Month in the United States and since the use of dairy in food has a long and rich history throughout antiquity, we thought we’d bring you a recap of some delicious and nutritious ways that ancient civilizations got things cookin’ with dairy! Continue reading
The Slavery Project Part 1: In the Eye of the Beholder
Roman collared slaves. Marble relief, from Smyrna (Izmir, Turkey), 200 CE.
Collection of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, England.
Slavery has been part of the human condition for centuries. Although largely outlawed in modern times, human bondage still exists today in various forms, including sexual trafficking, domestic servitude and illegal work conditions. Why has slavery been an accepted part of numerous civilizations through time? Why does slavery continue to exist today in various forms around the world? Continue reading
Posted in Blog, Crime, Culture, Education, Human Rights, Law, Public Life
Tagged ancient history, ancient slavery, AntiquityNOW, Bernard Means, Minecraft, minecraft curricula, Peter Albert, slave, slavery, slaves, social studies, The Slavery Project
Bon Appetit Wednesday! The Magic of Ancient Turmeric
If you love curry, you’ve undoubtedly tasted turmeric and loved its unique, taste-infused flavor. However, you may not know much about this amazing spice. Well it’s time to change that and become familiar with an ancient ingredient that possesses incredible healing properties. Today’s recipe is for Turmeric “Golden Milk,” an extremely simple but fantastically powerful drink. Also, it’s National Dairy Month in the United States, so you can celebrate the goodness of dairy while enjoying the health benefits of turmeric. Continue reading
AntiquityNOW Presents: Fact or Fiction? Fish Sauce Doughnuts
We at AntiquityNOW love to be surprised, and what better way to be so than to take a walk through history. History is the ultimate trickster, turning what we think we know around at every opportunity. What really happened eons ago? Finding out can be befuddling, baffling, shocking and soooo amusing. So in that spirit of amusement and befuddlement, we announce our whenever-we-feel-like-posting-it new blog series, AntiquityNOW’s Fact or Fiction. Buckle up. It’s going to be quite a ride.
Last week was National Doughnut Day and we don’t think it’s too late to celebrate. Did you know that doughnuts can be traced back to a Greco-Roman treat of fried dough coated in fish sauce?
Fact or Fiction?
HOVER YOUR CURSOR HERE TO SEE THE ANSWER
*Click here to read even more about the history of doughnuts!
Posted in Blog, Culinary, Culture, Fact or Fiction
Tagged AntiquityNOW, donuts, doughnuts, Fact or Fiction, fish sauce, National Doughnut Day
The Rose in History: Power, Beauty and the Sweet Smell of Success
June is National Rose Month, so we thought we would pay homage to this lovely flower. Roses have a storied and ancient history. Their delicate petals, their splendiferous hues, their enticing fragrances and their visual presence has inspired civilizations from time immemorial. Roses have been around for some 35 million years and evidence of their past glories have been found in the far reaches of the ancient world. Let’s explore their history further as we take a walk through the beauteous Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon, where the ancient and modern find common blooming rights. To make your stroll even more memorable, steep some rose hips tea, sit back and relax to the sumptuous tones of Enya’s China Roses. Continue reading
Posted in Art, Beauty, Blog, Culinary, Culture, Holidays, Public Life, Recreation, Science and Technology
Tagged ancient botany, ancient flowers, ancient rose, AntiquityNOW, flowers, National Rose Month, rose, tea roses
Bon Appetit Wednesday! National Herbs and Spices Day
Today is National Herbs and Spices Day! We thought it would be the perfect time to remind you of some ingenious and delicious ways the ancients made use of herbs and spices. Not only did they season their food, they also used these ingredients medicinally. Explore below the recipes along with their fascinating histories that have tickled the palate and nurtured the species through the millennia: Continue reading
Nature, Ecotherapy and a Peek into the Past Through National Parks
Crater Lake National Park, Oregon.
UPDATE! This post was originally published on September 9, 2014. In several countries around the world,
students are gearing up for summer break, an exciting time of fun, sun and long-awaited vacations. If
you live in the United States, your family may be planning a trip to one of the many national parks. There
are a wide variety of places to visit, packed with rich cultural heritage, fascinating pieces of history, grand
architecture, breathtaking natural vistas and heart-pounding encounters with wildlife. Before you go, take a minute to read our post below to learn about the ancient history of natural settings and how our park system came to be. Also, if you want a truly memorable experience, check out this article in The New York Times on how to get the most out of your national park visit.
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When you first enter Crater Lake National Park, it’s easy to imagine you’ve stepped thousands of years into the past. Crater Lake in Oregon was created when Mount Mazama erupted close to 8,000 years ago, and ignoring the RVs visiting the park today, it’s easy to imagine it has not changed much from what it must have looked like after the ash settled. Continue reading
Bon Appetit Wednesday! Roast Chicken With Ancient Grappa
Here’s a recipe that will whisk you away to Old World Italy. Its star ingredient is an underappreciated spirit that is making a comeback in modern society, grappa. The recipe, Roast Chicken with Grappa, is warm, rich and full of Italian goodness, but first we need to learn a bit about the grappa that makes it unique. Continue reading
Posted in Bon Appetit Wednesday, Culinary, Culture
Tagged ancient food, ancient recipes, ancient spirits, AntiquityNOW, Bon Appetit Wednesday, grappa, pomace
AntiquityNOW Month: Factoid Friday! Ancient Cheese and the Mummy of Invention
Image credit: Wang da Gang
Cheese may not be the first thought that comes to mind when Chinese mummies are mentioned, but some of those very mummies—dating back to 1615 BCE—have been found with curds of cheese on their persons. Have we piqued your curiosity? Click here to learn more about how the Chinese made cheese thousands of years ago, including their innovative technology using the ancient superfood kefir (recipe included).
Posted in Blog
Tagged ancient cheese, ancient history, ancient kefir, AntiquityNOW, AntiquityNOW month, cheese mummies, Chinese mummies
AntiquityNOW 