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Topic:
History

By Mike Prestwood
From hominin to sapien to cities.
New looks at history with a focus on science, philosophy, and tolerance.

~ 8 minute audio walk.
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It’s time to explore key ideas and takeaways.

First, a reminder about the philosophy of journalism. 

Good journalism is not the rapid delivery of conclusions, but the careful presentation of what is known, how it is known, and what remains uncertain.

With that, two “tales.”

Our first story.

From History: Patterns might mislead.
Subject: Causation versus Correlation.

Seen another way.

Just because two things happen together doesn’t mean one caused the other. Critical thinking demands we question whether we’re seeing real causation—or just a misleading correlation. Always ask: What’s the evidence?


That History Story, 

was first published on TST 2 years ago.

Now for our second story.

From History: 76,000 BCE
Subject: Ancient Humans.
By 76,000 BCE our cognitive ability meets emotional intelligence. Is this when we started believing in one story?

That takeaway is this.

The burial of Mtoto suggests more than care for the dead—it hints at shared meaning. Preparing a child for burial implies intention, ritual, and perhaps a growing sense of “us.” This may mark an early moment when humans began aligning around a common story about life, death, and belonging.


That History Story, 

was first published on TST 5 years ago.

Next up. Two “quotes.” 

Tidbit number three, the first of two quotes.

From History:
Subject: Copernicus.
Nicolaus Copernicus judged ideas not by tradition or authority, but by how well they fit the evidence.

To clarify.

Copernicus didn’t argue that heliocentrism felt right or sounded better. He argued that it worked. When competing explanations grew increasingly complex, he chose the one that aligned most cleanly with observation. Truth, in this view, isn’t about persuasion—it’s about coherence. The simplest explanation that fits reality deserves serious attention.


That History Quote, 

was first published on TST 1 month ago.

Tidbit number four, another quote.

Subject: Roger Williams.
We don’t know exactly when Roger Williams was born, nor died. For his birth, we don’t even know the year. He was born circa 1602. For his death, we know for sure it was 1683 and around March.

Looked at differently.

The exact birth and death dates of Roger Williams has been lost to history…so far at least. We think he was born around 1602, give or take a few years. We know he passed in 1683, and by April 1st. We also know he was alive on January 15th. We also believe he was about 80 or 81 when he passed. It’s interesting how much is lost to time for even the famous just a few hundred years ago.


That History Quote, 

was first published on TST 3 months ago.

 

Finally, 4 frequently asked “questions.” 

Now it is time for tidbit number five. The first of four questions.

Subject: The Academy.
Plato’s Academy shaped higher learning, but it was not a university in the modern sense.

Looked at differently.

Plato’s Academy was not the first university. While it’s often called one, it didn’t offer formal degrees or structured courses like modern institutions. The first true universities didn’t emerge until the 12th century, but Plato’s Academy was important to philosophy and an important school of philosophy.


That History FAQ, 

was first published on TST 1 year ago.

Tidbit FAQ number six.

Subject: Copernicus.
Nicolaus Copernicus became world-changingly famous after his death—but lived most of his life in relative obscurity.

At its core.

The story of modern cosmology can be told through the story of Copernicus and Galileo. Copernicus worked cautiously and in relative isolation, developing his heliocentric model over many years. Galileo confirmed his speculative model using the newly invented telescope.


That History FAQ, 

was first published on TST 1 month ago.

“Done.” 
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Writing and coding by Michael Alan Prestwood.
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