Author: megneal

The Gift the Inventor of Mother's Day Wanted You To Give

6 Things Seniors Should Know About Travel Insurance Before Their Next Trip

Why Planting Flowers Can Help More Than Your Garden

8 Paws-itively Fascinating Facts About Man’s Best Friend

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Smith’s Changing Stories

The first written mention of Pocahontas came in a letter from Smith to a friend, which was published in 1608 as “A True relation of such occurrences and accidents of note, as hath hapned at Virginia.” In the text, Smith describes Chief Powhatan’s daughter as being "not only for feature, countenance, and proportion, much exceedeth any of the rest of his people: but for wit and spirit, the only Nonpariel of his Country." Later, he relays a moment in which Pocahontas, serving as her father's emissary, is entrusted with a group of released Powhatan prisoners.

Smith next wrote of his young acquaintance in the 1612 manuscript A Map of Virginia: With a Description of the Countrey, the Commodities, People, Government and Religion. This text included a collection of Indigenous words and phrases, one of which came with the translation: "Bid Pokahontas bring hither two little Baskets, and I wil give her white beads to make her a chaine."

The former captain’s recollection of events became a little more interesting by the time he published The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles in 1624. This multivolume work features the now-familiar storyline, curiously missing from earlier reports, of how Pocahontas thwarted Smith’s execution. Setting the scene, Smith writes (in the third person) of how his head was about to get smashed against two stones until "Pocahontas the Kings dearest daughter, when no intreaty could prevaile, got his head in her armes, and laid her owne upon his to save him from death."

The text also includes a letter, supposedly written to England’s Queen Anne in 1616, which describes another moment of Pocahontas intervening to warn Smith of a pending ambush from her father: "The darke night could not affright her from comming through the irkesome woods, and with watered eies gave me intelligence, with her best advice to escape his furie; which had hee knowne, hee had surely slaine her."

Given the author left these events out of earlier chronicles of his life in Virginia, many historians feel that Smith either exaggerated or outright made up the stories as a means of self-promotion. Still, even with the newer details that add to the drama and the depth of his relationship with Pocahontas, Smith’s descriptions fail to convey a clear romance between the two.

Credit: Niday Picture Library/ Alamy Stock Photo

The Romance Blossoms in Popular Culture

Pocahontas was a well-known historical figure in the American colonies by the mid-18th century, but the narrative around her life, her relationship to Smith, and the state of relations between European settlers and the Indigenous tribes they encountered took a turn after the Revolutionary War.

The first major reimagining of the facts came with Englishman John Davis' 1803 book Travels of four years and a half in the United States of America. Although he was ostensibly rehashing a version of the story heard during his trip, Davis unapologetically crossed into the realm of historical fiction by making the heroine a few years older, concocting flowery dialogue, and highlighting passionate feelings between Smith and Pocahontas.

Five years later, the story of Pocahontas, and her rescue of Smith from the brutality of her father's warriors, earned a dramatic retelling on the stage with The Indian Princess; or, La Belle Sauvage, a musical play by American playwright James Nelson Barker.

With denizens of the young country eager to latch on to origin stories to establish a national identity, the romantic ideals introduced in Davis’ book and The Indian Princess quickly caught on. Other plays about the Powhatan maiden accepting her Christian colonizers were released to the public, as were numerous paintings depicting Pocahontas getting married, being baptized, or, of course, saving Smith from getting pummeled to death.

Although the love story between Smith and Pocahontas didn't feature in every creative work at the time — she was, after all, married to someone else — it became a popular focal point for artists and writers alike. Thanks to plays such as John Brougham's popular 1855 musical Po-ca-hon-tas, or The Gentle Savage, and books such as David Garnett’s 1933 historical novel Pocahontas or The Nonpareil of Virginia, the romantic entanglement was embedded in popular culture by the time Disney delivered its take with the animated feature film Pocahontas in 1995.

The Truth Emerges but the Narrative Remains

While Disney’s Pocahontas drew some criticism for perpetuating stereotypes about Native Americans and European settlers, it also ignited a new round of research into the well-worn story. Among the surprises that emerged was a published version of Pocahontas’ life from the oral tradition of the Mattaponi Tribe, replete with details that both complement and contradict the better-known accounts of Smith and his contemporaries.

Nowadays, historians generally believe that there was a friendship, or at least some form of mutual appreciation, between the English captain and the bright, lively girl who served as an intermediary and translator between two cultures. However, it's highly unlikely there was a romance, considering both the lack of evidence for its existence and the age gap between the two. Nevertheless, the prevailing narrative of their relationship endures to this day, and given the power of a compelling love story — fiction or otherwise — it may continue to do so for another 400 years.

Why Are They Called ‘Soap Operas’?

"Days of Our Lives" cast — Credit: Getty Images/ Hulton Archive via Getty Images

Author Kristina Wright

November 21, 2024

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If you grew up anytime between the 1950s and 1990s, you may have had a family member who tuned in every afternoon to watch their favorite TV soap operas. Or maybe you had your own favorite show that you watched during summer break or sick days from school. These daytime dramas, airing Monday through Friday, were fixtures in many households, providing homemakers, stay-at-home parents, and even kids home from school with a daily escape into the lives of familiar characters. For more than seven decades, soap operas have held a unique place in popular culture, with their tales of romance, betrayal, family feuds, timely topics, and farfetched plot twists. Here’s a look back at the origins of this nostalgic television genre, and the reason these long-running TV serials came to be known as “soap” operas.

Soap Operas Started on the Radio

Soap operas trace their roots to the early days of radio in the 1920s. At the time, they were simply called “serial dramas” or “radio dramas” because of their recurring nature. Originally airing in the evenings, the first radio dramas included a variety of genres to entertain families. Once advertisers recognized the potential of the medium to sell their household products, radio dramas made the switch to daytime and a largely female audience. The storytelling format was structured so that listeners, who were primarily homemakers, could easily follow ongoing storylines while they did their household chores, even if they missed an occasional episode.

One of the earliest soap opera precursors was Clara, Lu ‘n’ Em, which debuted in the evenings on NBC’s Chicago radio affiliate, WGN, in June 1930. The series had begun as a sorority sketch created by three friends at Northwestern University and centered on three Midwestern housewives who shared a duplex. The show was picked up by the NBC Blue radio network and gained a national audience before going on to become the first network daytime serial when it shifted to a matinee time slot in 1932.

In October 1930, WGN debuted the radio serial Painted Dreams, which is credited as being the first daytime soap opera for radio. Created by radio actress Irna Phillips, whose considerable contributions to the medium earned her the nickname “the mother of the soap opera,” Painted Dreams featured a character named Mother Moynihan, who doled out old-fashioned advice to the two young women who lived with her. Phillips not only wrote the scripts for the series, but also played the part of Sue Morton, an orphaned young woman who lived with the widowed matriarch along with Moynihan’s daughter Irene.

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Daytime Soap Operas Moved to Television

By the 1940s, there were more than 70 serialized dramas on daytime radio, and it was only a matter of time before they were reinterpreted for a popular new medium, television. Phillips was involved in the creation of at least 18 radio dramas, including Guiding Light, which centered on the struggles of Reverend Dr. John Rutledge and the community he served. The 15-minute drama, which debuted on NBC Radio on January 25, 1937, was the first radio serial to make the jump to television in 1952 and went on to become the longest-running soap opera in history, airing for 72 years on radio and TV. Phillips was also responsible for the first soap opera created specifically for television, the short-lived These Are My Children, which aired in 1949 on NBC.

Television breathed new life into the popular radio genre, and from the 1950s through the 1980s, soap operas reached the height of their popularity. In addition to Guiding Light, shows such as Search for Tomorrow, As the World Turns, Days of Our Lives, and The Edge of Night were household names by the mid-1960s. These programs drew in millions of viewers who became deeply invested in the lives of their favorite characters. Airing on weekdays, television soap opera episodes expanded from the 15-minute segments of radio and early TV to 30-minute or hour-long episodes.

The appeal of soap operas was not only in their characters and plots, but also in their ability to create a strong sense of continuity. Fans could follow a character’s entire journey over years, and this slow-burn storytelling gave viewers a deeply immersive experience, drawing them in with familiar settings and faces and making the characters feel like extended family. And, it turns out, the daytime format offered advertisers dozens of time slots per week to promote their products to their target audience, women.

How They Got the Name ‘Soap Operas’

The term “soap opera” evolved out of the genre’s primary sponsors in its early days on radio. Because the shows catered to a predominantly female audience at a time when many women were homemakers rather than working full-time, sponsors were typically companies that marketed household products, such as soap. Companies saw these dramas as ideal advertising platforms to reach their target audience: homemakers who spent their time listening to, and later watching, their favorite serialized dramas while going about their household chores.

Early on, Colgate-Palmolive-Peet, known for their Super Suds laundry detergent, became the first sponsor of Clara, Lu ‘n’ Em. As part of their sponsorship contract, the radio actresses who portrayed the three women in the show were featured in print ads and made public appearances in costume on behalf of their sponsor. Other household product manufacturers who targeted the primarily female daytime audience included Lever Brothers, Procter & Gamble, B.T. Babbitt, and Manhattan Soap.

As their popularity grew, daytime radio dramas came to be described in a variety of dramatic (and some would say derogatory) terms, including “washboard weeper,” “strip shows” (after comic strips), “love dramas,” and finally “soap operas.” The term “soap opera” was likely coined by the entertainment trade presses in the 1930s and the name soon caught on with general publications. The term “opera” was a way of highlighting the over-the-top emotions and cliffhangers that characterized these serials, which were known for their melodramatic themes and formulaic storylines.

Unlike highbrow operatic productions, however, soap operas were designed to be relatable and engaging, often portraying working-class and middle-class families facing challenging life events. By the time these dramas transitioned to television, the “soap opera” nickname had stuck and the genre became an established and beloved staple of daytime television.

In recent years, traditional soap operas have seen a decline in viewership as the media landscape has evolved. While a handful of classic shows are still in production, both on network and streaming platforms, the days when soap operas ruled daytime television have passed. The term “soap opera” may not hold the same relevance as it once did, but the storytelling format it introduced left its own legacy.

The Best Gifts for the History Buff in Your Life

Author Bennett Kleinman

November 19, 2024

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Holiday shopping isn’t easy, but if you know any history buffs, we’re here to help. Whether your loved one is passionate about American history, ancient civilizations, global exploration, or historic architecture, we’ve compiled a list of gifts that we hope will be the highlight of their holiday season.

Got a friend who can’t stop thinking about the Roman Empire? Consider a rare relic for them to display on their desk. Looking for a pastime with a focus on past events? Try these games and puzzles that are both fun and educational. Here’s a look at the 10 best gifts for the history buff in your life.

Genuine Roman Coin

It’s not every day you can acquire a museum-worthy piece at an affordable price, but that’s exactly the case with these genuine Roman coins available on Etsy. Dating back to the fourth century CE, these coins were minted during the tail end of the ancient empire. This was a time when the Roman government shifted from minting silver currency to bronze, as the latter material was far more plentiful. Each piece has been inspected by professionals to ensure authenticity, and is presented in a stylish glass-and-leather display case with a placard denoting pertinent information. You can also choose coins depicting the likenesses of specific Roman emperors, including Constantine the Great (306 to 337 CE), Constantine II (337 to 340 CE), Constans (337 to 350 CE), or Constantius II (337 to 361 CE).

Etsy, $49.99

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Historic Recipes by Mail

Culinary innovation is an essential aspect of human history, and it can be fascinating to replicate those old recipes and see how they hold up to modern-day dishes. If you know a history buff who also loves to cook, we recommend this Recipes by Mail subscription. Select either a six-month or 12-month subscription, and your giftee will receive a new package each month containing a historical recipe replicated on high-quality paper, plus a pamphlet with important biographical and contextual information about the dish and its creator. Some of the more popular recipes include Rosa Parks’ pancakes and George Washington’s ice cream.

Uncommon Goods, $42-$78

The Smithsonian’s New Map Book

A new book from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, History of North America Map by Map offers a fascinating look at how North American geography has shifted over time. The work contains maps that depict a variety of events and changes, such as the boundaries of ancient civilizations, how the U.S. evolved during its westward expansion, and how the Civil War reshaped the nation. It also includes written blurbs to provide context for all of these historical events. The Smithsonian offers map books on the history of the world and World War II, as well.

Amazon, $32.50

Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage Book

In the early 1900s, Anglo Irish explorer Ernest Shackleton led several expeditions to the South Pole, where few had ever ventured before. His most notable and perilous journey occurred from 1914 to 1916 aboard the ship Endurance, which became stuck in an ice floe and sank to the ocean floor. Shackleton and his crew were forced to traverse the dangerous Antarctic tundra in search of safety, resulting in one of history’s most improbable and fascinating adventures. These events are chronicled in Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage, a book reviewers and critics consider to be among the most well-written historical pieces in recent history. This nonfiction book reads like a fictitious novel with thrilling developments at every turn — so you can rest assured the history buff in your life won’t be able to put it down.

Amazon, $13.59-$52.64

Chronology Card Game

Chronology is a family-friendly card game that allows players to show off their history knowledge. Each player is dealt cards depicting a historic event and the year in which it occurred. They are then asked to put those events in chronological order — the winner being whoever puts 10 events in the correct order first. Some of the cards feature better-known milestones such as the moon landing, but there are more challenging cards mixed in where history buffs will truly shine.

Amazon, $19.99

Credit: Image Courtesy of Any Date Gifts

Any Date Newspapers

Unless you were a baby genius, chances are you weren’t reading the newspaper on the day you were born. But as adults, it’s fun to look back at what the world was like when we came into it, and one of the best ways to do so is by gifting someone a newspaper from their exact birthdate. These authentic replica newspapers look just as they did on the day they were first printed, and are the perfect gift to commemorate a birthday or an event of similar magnitude. You can choose from publications such as The New York Times, The Baltimore Sun, and The Dallas Morning News, just to name a few, to localize the experience for your loved ones.

Any Date, $69.99

Historical Apparel

For the history buff in your life who also loves to dress up, nothing will beat this line of historical-themed apparel from Gearhumans. Featuring hoodies, shorts, sweaters, and even baby onesies, these fun gifts are designed to resemble attire worn by the Vikings, military garb worn by Napoleon, outfits worn by George Washington, and much more. Each piece is carefully crafted with colorful and intricate patterns, with dozens of options available.

Gearhumans, $29.95-$48.99

The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity Book

Back in high school history class, we were taught that our prehistoric ancestors were very primitive and warlike. Well, The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity is a book that challenges those preconceptions and encourages the reader to reimagine their views on early human history. Using recent archaeological and anthropological findings, authors David Graeber and David Wengrow offer up a dramatic alternative viewpoint about social evolution, touching on important topics such as early agriculture and politics. The perfect gift for any stickler for accuracy, it will help readers see early history in a completely different way.

Amazon, $15.09-$22.29

Credit: Image Courtesy of Wentworth Puzzles

Fine Art Jigsaw Puzzles

Indelible artistic works such as Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” or Vincent van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” can provide a glimpse into the cultural psyche of their time. And while original works can cost hundreds of millions of dollars to hang in your living room, there’s a much cheaper, and much more fun alternative. These fine art jigsaw puzzles are perfect for any history-loving family, and come in a wide array of designs ranging from Renaissance classics to more contemporary pieces.

Wentworth Puzzles, $52.50-$185

Credit: Image Courtesy of National Trust for Historic Preservation

National Trust for Historic Preservation Membership

Founded in 1949, the National Trust for Historic Preservation oversees the upkeep of many historic buildings and neighborhoods throughout the U.S. So for the history buff who has everything, try gifting an annual subscription to help support these preservation efforts. Members receive a magazine filled with photos and articles, as well as discounted admission to dozens of historic sites around the country. Some of the sites include James Madison’s Montpelier estate in Virginia, the historic Touro Synagogue in Rhode Island, and the ancient Acoma Sky City of New Mexico.

Savingplaces.org, $50-$250

Watch These Thanksgiving Specials of Your Favorite Old Shows

“A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,” 1973 — Credit: Allstar Picture Library Limited/ Alamy Stock Photo

Author Kristina Wright

November 14, 2024

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Want to add a little nostalgia to your Thanksgiving celebration? Try revisiting these beloved Thanksgiving specials that perfectly capture the joy and chaos of the holiday. These Thanksgiving-themed episodes celebrate family and friendship, bringing a mix of laughs, heartwarming moments, and plenty of hilariously relatable family drama. From awkward dinners and family squabbles to unexpected guests — and, of course, the occasional kitchen disaster — these episodes remain timeless no matter how many years go by.

Credit: Silver Screen Collection/ Moviepix via Getty Images

That Girl

“Thanksgiving Comes But Once a Year, Hopefully,” Season 2, Episode 11 (1967)

In this Thanksgiving episode from the feminist TV classic That Girl, Ann (Marlo Thomas) and her boyfriend Donald (Ted Bessell) want to spend Thanksgiving together, but their respective parents have other ideas. Ann ends up hosting dinner at her apartment and trying to honor each family’s traditions — with comically frustrating results.

Watch on Peacock

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“A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving”

(1973)

No matter how old we get, it wouldn’t feel like Thanksgiving without Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the gang. This animated classic reminds us of the importance of friendship and gratitude when poor Charlie Brown is tasked with putting together an unconventional Thanksgiving dinner for his friends.

Watch on Apple TV+

The Bob Newhart Show

“Over the River and Through the Woods,” Season 4, Episode 11 (1975)

Thanksgiving takes an unexpected turn for Bob (Bob Newhart) when his wife, Emily (Suzanne Pleshette), goes out of town, leaving him without plans for the holiday. Bob’s friends drop by and soon decide to have their own casual celebration. It’s a Thanksgiving to remember that involves a lot of random food and a series of drunken, comedic antics. And it’s a memorable and hilarious look at a nontraditional Thanksgiving that still manages to bring people together.

Watch on AppleTV+

Good Times

“Grandpa’s Visit,” Season 4, Episode 9 (1976)

As Florida Evans (Esther Rolle) and her children prepare for Thanksgiving, James Sr.’s estranged father, Henry Evans (Richard Ward), arrives with an unexpected guest — his loud-talking, live-in girlfriend, Lena (Pauline Myers). Grandpa Evans hasn’t been in touch with the family for years, bringing tension and mixed emotions for everyone, especially Florida, who is scandalized by the unmarried couple living together.

Watch on Peacock

WKRP in Cincinnati

“Turkeys Away,” Episode 1, Season 7 (1978)

Feeling left out after recent changes around the station, WKRP station manager Mr. Carlson (Gordon Jump) comes up with a unique promotional event and arranges a Thanksgiving turkey drop. In one of the most iconic Thanksgiving TV moments, the publicity stunt — dropping live turkeys from a helicopter over a crowded shopping area — goes horribly, hysterically wrong as Les Nessman (Richard Sanders) reports from the ground.

Watch on Apple TV+

Credit: Aaron Rapoport/ Corbis Historical via Getty Images

Cheers

“Thanksgiving Orphans,” Season 5, Episode 9 (1986)

When no one except Diane (Shelley Long) has Thanksgiving plans, Carla (Rhea Perlman) agrees to host a Thanksgiving potluck at her house, leaving Norm (George Wendt) in charge of the turkey. Predictably, dinner is delayed when the turkey takes forever to cook, leaving everyone hungry and grumpy. As tensions rise among the motley crew, unexpected guests show up, the petty bickering starts, and the result is perhaps the most epic food fight in the history of television.

Watch on Paramount+

Credit: PictureLux / The Hollywood Archive/ Alamy Stock Photo

Seinfeld

“The Mom and Pop Store,” Season 6, Episode 8 (1994)

In typical Seinfeld fashion, the show about nothing takes a comedic look at how Thanksgiving isn’t always what we expect. The episode becomes ridiculously complicated with mishaps and misunderstandings. Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) tries to determine whether he’s actually invited to a pre-Thanksgiving party, George (Jason Alexander) tries to confirm that actor Jon Voight previously owned the convertible he wants to buy, Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) gets her boss a balloon-holding spot in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and Kramer (Michael Richards) tries to save a sketchy mom-and-pop shoe repair business.

Watch on Netflix

Friends

“The One Where Underdog Gets Away,” Season 1, Episode 9 (1994)

“The One With the List,” Season 2, Episode 8 (1995)

“The One With the Football,” Season 3, Episode 9 (1996)

“The One With Chandler in a Box,” Season 4, Episode 8 (1997)

“The One With All the Thanksgivings,” Season 5, Episode 8 (1998)

“The One With Ross’s Sandwich,” Season 5, Episode 9 (1998)

“The One Where Ross Got High,” Season 6, Episode 9 (1999)

“The One Where Chandler Doesn’t Like Dogs.” Season 7, Episode 8 (2000)

“The One With the Rumor,” Season 8, Episode 9 (2001)

“The One With Rachel’s Other Sister,” Season 9, Episode 8 (2002)

“The One With the Late Thanksgiving,” Season 10, Episode 8 (2003)

Over the course of its 10-year run, Friends gave us 10 memorable episodes about Thanksgiving, making it impossible to choose a favorite. There’s the runaway Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon in Season 1, Chandler in a box in Season 4, and the Geller Bowl sibling rivalry between Ross (David Schwimmer) and Monica (Courteney Cox) during a touch football game that derailed Thanksgiving in Season 3. Cameos by Brad Pitt in Season 8 and Christina Applegate in Season 9 were filled with quotable lines and laugh-out-loud moments, while the gang’s last Thanksgiving in Season 10 — reluctantly hosted by Monica and Chandler (Matthew Perry) — remains a poignant reminder of the passage of time. Finally, while it might not have been a Thanksgiving episode, Ross’ Season 5 meltdown over his stolen leftover Thanksgiving turkey sandwich with the gravy-soaked bread, known as the “Moist Maker,” remains the stuff of comedic legend.

Every Thanksgiving Friends episode served up plenty of laughs alongside the unforgettable (and sometimes inedible) Thanksgiving meal, reminding us that old friends are priceless — even when things don’t turn out the way we planned.

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Did Pilgrims Really Wear Buckled Hats?

Pilgrims walking down path — Credit: GL Archive/ Alamy Stock Photo

Author Nicole Villeneuve

November 14, 2024

Love it?55

When the Pilgrims began their 66-day journey aboard the Mayflower in 1620, they weren’t wearing the buckled hats and black suits and dresses they’re known for today. Sailing from Plymouth, England, to their settlement near Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the Saints, as they called themselves (the term “Pilgrim” didn’t originate until the early 1800s), actually wore clothing more tailored to their arduous voyage.

Common men’s garments included wool stockings, billowy knee-length pants known as breeches, and close-fitting jackets known as doublets. Women, meanwhile, wore waistcoats, long skirts known as petticoats, and a linen hair covering called a coif. Clothing was mostly made from durable wool and linen and was often layered to protect against the cold New England winter climate.

Both men and women wore leather latchet shoes, and both, though primarily the men, also wore tall, wide-brimmed hats with a flat top — a particularly identifiable piece of the Pilgrim wardrobe that has become practically synonymous with colonial America. The truth is, however, that neither the shoes nor hats featured the overstated buckles we associate with Pilgrim attire. Shoes were fastened with a leather strap or laces, and hats were generally unadorned.

Credit: DEA / A. DAGLI ORTI/ De Agostini via Getty Images

As for the dark-colored clothing, Pilgrims did wear black occasionally, especially on Sundays, but it was not part of the daily uniform. In fact, black dye was expensive and difficult to obtain and use, so dark clothing was primarily reserved for upper classes or very special occasions, such as portrait sittings. The 1651 painting of Plymouth Colony Governor Edward Winslow is believed to be the only portrait of a Pilgrim made from life; in it, he wears a black doublet and white collar and cuffs, feeding into the misconception that this is how Pilgrims usually dressed. In reality, it was a formal outfit for a rare event. Pilgrims actually wore quite colorful clothing in their daily lives. According to documents such as personal wills and cargo inventories from the Mayflower, everyday clothing was made in colors such as red, blue, purple, and green, all derived from plant-based dyes that were much more attainable to many families.

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Buckles on hats or shoes were also uncommon at the time the Pilgrims migrated from England. The accessories did become a fixture of English style later on, when they were adopted from royal court dress in the late 17th century, but even then, they were a luxury that would not have been afforded by the Pilgrims. Ultimately, the image of the Pilgrim we know so well — adorned in black clothing, stark white collars and cuffs, and buckled hats and shoes — emerged much later, for a couple of different reasons.

During the Victorian era, some visual art, such as the 1847 painting “Departure of the Pilgrims from Delft Haven,” began to introduce some of the now-familiar images, such as monochromatic clothing, that were not actually part of everyday 17th-century Pilgrim attire. (Other works of art, such as the 1857 painting “Embarkation of the Pilgrims,” showed some darker clothing but still depicted settlers more accurately in diverse colorful clothing.)

The familiar Pilgrim image was also likely a result of conflating the Pilgrims and the Puritans. Both were English religious groups that sought a new life in America in the 1600s, but their motivations and identities were distinct. The Pilgrims, or Separatists, sought complete independence from the Church of England; the Puritans, on the other hand, did wish for church reform, but sailed to America looking for land investment opportunities as opposed to the religious freedom sought by the Pilgrims. Puritans arrived in Massachusetts a decade after the Pilgrims and were wealthier; as a result, they indeed often wore black clothing and hats. Over time, the early colonies merged, and the groups melded together in the American imagination.

The 20th century saw Americans forming a romanticized view of their colonial history; stories and depictions of this era were often shaped by nostalgic reinterpretations rather than historical accuracy. By the mid-20th century, the default Pilgrim characterization included dark-colored clothing and a tall, buckled hat; even Norman Rockwell, one of the most well-known American artists of the 20th century, depicted the colonial figure as such in his 1921 painting “A Pilgrim’s Progress.” Not much has changed since: Despite evolved historical insights, this iconic image of the American Pilgrim remains etched in the country’s memory.

Was Paul Bunyan Real?

Paul Bunyan illustration — Credit: CSA-Printstock/ iStock

Author Timothy Ott

November 14, 2024

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Even in this age of internet-inspired distractions, Paul Bunyan remains a well-known figure in the pantheon of American icons. It’s easy to see why when considering his portfolio. A hardworking lumberjack, Bunyan cleared entire forests with a single stroke of his ax; created natural formations such as the Grand Canyon with his sheer size and strength; and was even kind to animals, as illustrated by his longtime companionship with Babe the Blue Ox. No fewer than six towns lay claim to being his birthplace, while others boast a variety of Bunyan statues, restaurants, and events.

Of course, part of the attraction to this legendary figure stems from the exaggerations inherent to the tall-tale tradition. We know there wasn’t really a human so massive he needed to be carried by five storks as a baby and created entire lakes when his footsteps filled with water. On the other hand, it’s often pointed out that truth is stranger than fiction, so perhaps there was a real-life lumberjack so unusually strong and brave that he inspired the character who grew to such outlandish proportions in the stories that followed. Peering back through the legend’s many branches, here’s a look at where and when this larger-than-life woodsman first marked his presence.

Credit: CSA-Printstock/ DigitalVision Vectors via Getty Images

The Possible Real-Life Inspiration for Bunyan

One candidate for the real-life Bunyan was a French Canadian logger by the name of Fabian “Saginaw Joe” Fournier. A large man who supposedly sported two full sets of adult teeth, Fournier was known for his shows of strength and hard-drinking ways, until he was killed in the rough-and-tumble logging town of Bay City, Michigan, in 1875.

The other main hypothesized model for the tall-tale icon was a French Canadian lumberman named Bon Jean, an alleged participant in Lower Canada’s Papineau Rebellion of 1837. Bon Jean’s formidable reputation spread across the border by way of his countrymen who sought work in the Great Lakes region, and, the theory goes, his Québécois moniker was eventually Americanized to “Bunyan.”

However, according to Michael Edmonds, author of Out of the Northwoods: The Many Lives of Paul Bunyan, there are problems with both of these origin stories. The source of the Fournier theory was a logger-turned-writer named James MacGillivray, who published some of the earliest newspaper stories about Bunyan in the early 20th century. But his own source proved to be dubious. Decades later, MacGillivray wrote in a letter how he’d learned of the Fournier connection from a timber cruiser (land appraiser) named Jimmy Conn. However, that contradicted an earlier account of MacGillivray’s in which he claimed to have heard of Fournier back in 1887, a time when Conn was just a teenager and too young to hold such an advanced position.

Edmonds traces the Papineau Rebellion theory, meanwhile, to author James Stevens, who relayed the anecdotes of a French Canadian old-timer for his popular 1925 book about Bunyan. Over the years, the identity of this participant in the uprising was fused with that of a French Canadian folk character named Bon Jean. However, researchers who combed the archives of information related to the rebellion found no mention of a Bunyan or anyone with a similar name.

It’s quite possible that a logger with bulging muscles and nerves of steel made his way into the first Bunyan tales by hauling a massive white pine trunk or overpowering a vicious beast of the north woods. However, the identity of such an individual — or individuals — was unknown when researchers first began digging for him more than a century ago, and it remains unknown today with the original sources long gone.

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The Story’s Logging Camp Origins

Per Edmonds, the first Bunyan stories originated in Wisconsin in the mid-1880s. The state's logging industry had been up and running for a few decades, and grizzled veterans began dropping references to a powerful and cunning camp foreman named Paul Bunyan as a means of testing the gullibility of newer workers.

Many of the earliest references were mentioned in passing, and would often be followed by quips from other loggers in the field in an improvised game of one-upmanship. However, other Bunyan stories were told in more of the traditional across-the-bunker or around-the-campfire format.

Such was the case with the first verified Bunyan tales, which date to a logging camp north of Tomahawk, Wisconsin, during the winter of 1885 to 1886. According to the separate recollections of veteran lumbermen, a timber cruiser named Bill Mulhollen was responsible for spreading the word about Bunyan that season, until workers finally realized that his wild and crazy stories were entirely fiction.

But while the first accounts point back to Mulhollen, it's unknown where (or whether) he heard them from someone else. Edmonds floats the theory that the original storyteller may have been another veteran logger named Eugene Shepard, who long claimed to have invented the Bunyan myth. While Shepard wasn't exactly a trustworthy source, he was clever enough to fool a section of the population into thinking he'd captured a mythical creature known as the hodag, so he was clearly adept at spinning outlandish but convincing stories.

Credit: Harvey Meston/ Archive Photos via Getty Images

The Legend Spreads and Expands

From their beginning in the Wisconsin woods, the stories of Bunyan passed among roving workers from the Great Lakes to Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Minnesota, and eventually further west to Washington, Oregon, and California with the rest of the logging industry.

As they were devised by lumber workers, the original anecdotes often reflected the day-to-day realities of chopping and moving trees, unusual encounters with native flora and fauna, and after-work shenanigans of drinking and fighting. While the exploits of their hero were exaggerated, these anecdotes lacked the tall-tale elements of Bunyan creating natural geographic formations due to his gargantuan size and strength.

That began to change after the Red River Lumber Company launched an advertising campaign in 1914 based on Bunyan's image. Featuring the drawings of former logger William B. Laughead, the campaign included several Bunyan stories with embellishments such as Laughead's invention of Babe the Blue Ox.

Although the initial campaign flopped — most non-lumberjack customers had never heard of Bunyan — a second campaign enjoyed a stronger reception in 1922. Folklorist Esther Shephard then published a widely read book of Bunyan stories in 1924, followed by Stevens' compilation the following year. In 1927, the first collection of Bunyan children's tales appeared in print.

By this point, the white pines that once dominated the north Midwestern landscape were largely gone. However, the legend of the indomitable woodsman born in that harsh environment loomed larger than ever, his presence eclipsing those of the loggers who told of his deeds and any real-life figure who might have ignited the narrative flame.

These Retro Toys Are the Perfect Unique Gifts for All Ages

Boy with Lincoln Logs — Credit: H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock/ Archive Photos via Getty Images

Author Kristina Wright

November 13, 2024

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Ready to take a trip down memory lane? Before tablets, touchscreens, and Wi-Fi, toys were all about tactile fun, imagination, and the joy of hands-on play. Today, retro toys carry a special charm, reminding us of simpler times when even a bouncy spring or simple building blocks could offer hours of entertainment. In a world where tech toys are constantly evolving, these classics have stayed true to their roots — some have barely changed from their original designs, while others have adapted for new audiences in surprising ways.

Whether you’re looking to reconnect with your childhood favorites or introduce a new generation to the magic of these timeless playthings, these retro toys will bring a touch of nostalgia.

Rock ’Em Sock ’Em Robots (1965)

With the tagline “Knock his block off!” and a comic book-worthy illustration on the box, Rock ’Em Sock ’Em Robots quickly captivated audiences when they were introduced in 1965 by toy designer Marvin Glass. This two-person game featuring boxing robots Red Rocker and Blue Bomber inspired many a playful boxing match in the decades that followed, and is still capturing imaginations today. A live-action movie starring Vin Diesel is rumored to be in the works, but until these toy robots hit the big screen, you can find them at Walmart for $21.92.

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View-Master (1939)

Long before virtual reality headsets, the View-Master offered a window to the world, displaying stereoscopic 3D images of popular travel destinations. The original version, known as Sawyer’s View-Master, was introduced at the 1939 New York World’s Fair and was intended to replace the traditional postcard. The stereoscope quickly became popular with adults and children alike. You can find a contemporary version of this classic toy at Target for $9.99. For a more personalized experience, you can customize your own reel viewer disk at Uncommon Goods — it’s $34.95 for one reel viewer and a reel redemption code, and $16.95 for each additional reel.

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Slinky (1945)

Invented by mechanical engineer Richard James at a Philadelphia shipyard in 1943, the Slinky was an accidental discovery that came out of the development of a line of sensitive springs designed to stabilize fragile equipment on ships. Two years later, James demonstrated the toy — named by his wife, Betty James — at Gimbels department store in Philadelphia and sold his entire stock of 400 toys within 90 minutes. Today, the Slinky comes in a variety of colorful, plastic styles, but the original Slinky is still the most popular version. You can buy it on Amazon for $3.59.

Mouse Trap (1963)

Created by two employees at Marvin Glass and Associates and sold by Ideal in 1963, Mouse Trap was one of the first mass-produced 3D board games. The game’s engaging Rube Goldberg-style design involves collaborative and competitive gameplay. Unlike other board games where players race or strategize to a simple endpoint, Mouse Trap’s interactive design is all about players collaborating to build an intricate mechanism where each piece sets off a chain reaction, ultimately resulting in a tiny plastic cage dropping down to “trap” an opponent’s mouse-shaped game piece. Originally designed as a fun way to teach engineering concepts, Mouse Trap combines the thrill of strategy with the satisfaction of building. This family favorite has been updated and is available from major retailers and on Amazon for $21.28.

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Mr. Potato Head (1952)

Invented by George Lerner and launched by Hasbro in 1952, Mr. Potato Head was originally sold as a kit of 30 plastic parts meant to be inserted into real potatoes. It became the first toy ever advertised on television, earning the company more than $4 million in its first few months and spurring other toy companies to start their own television marketing campaigns. In 1953, Mrs. Potato Head was introduced, and by 1964 the toy had evolved to include a plastic potato body with holes for facial features and limbs. Available at most toy retailers, Mr. Potato Head and Mrs. Potato Head, along with a Potato Head family-of-three kit, are also available on Amazon for $5.00 to $19.99.

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Etch A Sketch (1960)

Invented in Paris by electrician André Cassagnes in the late 1950s, the Etch A Sketch used a unique internal system of a stylus and pulleys to create an electrostatic charge that would hold aluminum powder to the glass screen. Discovered by the Ohio Art Company at the 1959 Nuremberg Toy Fair, the mechanical drawing toy was launched during the 1960 holiday season and quickly became a symbol of mess-free creative play. Two large knobs control the vertical and horizontal movements of the internal stylus, allowing users to draw images as simple or as elaborate as they like. This red-framed classic continues to offer a screen-free way to entertain and challenge the imagination. Available at most toy retailers, including Amazon for $23.99, the Etch A Sketch also comes in a mini version.

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Lincoln Logs (1916)

The building kits known as Lincoln Logs were first conceived in 1916 by John Lloyd Wright, the son of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Inspired by his father’s earthquake-proof design for the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, John began marketing his toy cabin construction kit in 1918 and received a patent two years later. He named the product Lincoln Logs for Abraham Lincoln’s boyhood log cabin in Kentucky. This classic American toy is still widely available from toy retailers such as Fat Brain Toys, which offers the 268-piece Lincoln Logs Classic Farmhouse for $129.95. A smaller 111-piece set is also available on Amazon for $45.07.

The Game of Life (1960)

One of America’s oldest board games, The Game of Life — or Life, as it’s typically known — started its own life in 1860 as The Checkered Game of Life. The first board game invented by Milton Bradley, it originally included squares for disgrace, intemperance, poverty, and ruin as it guided players on a morality journey where success or failure was based on decisions made along the way. To celebrate its centennial in 1960, the Milton Bradley Company released an updated version of the game, changing the name to The Game of Life and shifting the focus from moral lessons to a modern life journey through experiences such as college, marriage, career choices, and family. The most recent updates to The Game of Life include the ability to adopt pets and an impressive 31 career options, and the game rules encourage players to “choose a path for a life of action, adventure, and unexpected surprises.” You can spin the wheel on the contemporary version of The Game of Life for $21.99 at Amazon.

We Cooked the World’s Oldest Written Recipes

Two bowls of food — Credit: Original photography by Bennett Kleinman

Author Bennett Kleinman

November 7, 2024

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The ancient Babylonians, who lived in modern-day Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and Syria as far back as the early second millennium BCE, were among the earliest human civilizations. They pioneered such concepts as written language, legal justice, and mathematics, and the culinary arts are no exception: The world’s earliest written recipes survive today in the form of ancient Babylonian tablets dating to around 1730 BCE. The tablets were unearthed in the 1920s, but were initially thought to be medical texts. It wasn’t until the 1980s that researchers finally deduced that the artifacts actually comprised an early cookbook — in fact, it’s considered to be the oldest surviving cookbook in the world.

I was curious to see how these early recipes tasted — especially compared to contemporary dishes — so I set out to recreate a couple of them and try them myself. One of the three tablets contains a summary of 25 recipes for various stews and broths, while the other two describe those recipes in more detail. But the tablets still lack critical specifics, such as exact ingredient amounts and cooking times. The translation for one recipe, for instance, simply says, “Meat is not used. You prepare water. You add fat…” and so on, which would have been hard to replicate. Luckily, a team at Yale University used the information on the tablets, along with their scholarly knowledge of ancient Babylon, to compile several modern recipes that are considered accurate interpretations of those ancient meals.

Using their findings, I prepared two of the recipes at home: a lamb and beet stew, and a vegetarian broth whose name has been translated as “unwinding.” (Though it’s unclear why it’s called “unwinding,” experts suggest it could have been a dish people ate to relax.) Despite the ancient nature of these recipes, it wasn’t difficult to compile the ingredients, or at the very least suitable substitutes.

Lamb and Beet Stew

The primary dish I made was a lamb stew. Lambs were among several animals that were domesticated in ancient Mesopotamia, and were a key component of cuisine in the region. Mesopotamia was also an agricultural hot spot that came to be known as the Fertile Crescent — referring to the area’s rich, fertile soil — so it comes as little surprise that the lamb stew contained plenty of fresh veggies as well.

Credit: Original photography by Bennett Kleinman

Ingredients
1 pound diced lamb leg
½ cup rendered fat (we used cow fat instead of sheep fat)
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup beer
½ cup water
1 small chopped onion
1 cup chopped arugula
1 cup spring onions
½ cup cilantro
1 teaspoon cumin
1 pound diced red beets
½ cup chopped leek
2 cloves garlic
Coriander seed, cilantro, and kurrat (we used spring onion) for garnish

For this dish, I had to make a few minor adjustments given the ingredients I had available. The recipe as written called for an Egyptian leek called kurrat, which is known for having a mild onion and garlicky flavor. Given the similar flavor profile, spring onions are a suitable alternative, so I used those instead.

The dish also calls for beer, which was a major component of Babylonian culture. It was difficult, of course, to find a beer that would have been exactly like the ones drunk by the ancient Babylonians, but I looked for an option that was as close as possible. Most of the beer recipes archaeologists have uncovered from ancient Babylon are made with barley. Tate Paulette, the author of In the Land of Ninkasi: A History of Beer in Ancient Mesopotamia, writes that “there’s no evidence for the use of hops” in Babylonian beer, unlike in modern beers. He also notes that early beers often included “date syrup, and additional flavorings,” giving them a sweetness. Brew Your Own magazine, meanwhile, points out that many ancient beers were sour in nature. Taking all this into account, I selected a fruity and sour ale to roughly replicate the taste profile of Babylonian beer.

The cooking process for this dish was rather simple, and not unlike how you’d prepare any modern stew. The major difference was how heat was applied — while cooks in ancient Babylon would’ve used an open flame, I used an electric stovetop.

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“Unwinding” (Barley Broth)

The “unwinding” recipe is a broth thickened by barley-based bread. The broth contains many similar ingredients to the lamb stew, including salt, scallions, cilantro, garlic, and leeks. In addition, toasted and crushed barley seeds are formed into a dough, baked, and added to the broth. This bread, mind you, isn’t like the loaves we enjoy today. It had a hard, crunchy shell, akin to bread that’s partially gone stale. Also, the inside was crumbly as opposed to the soft and pillowy texture of modern baked breads.

Ingredients
14 ounces barley seeds
¾ cup warm water
½ teaspoon salt
½ ounce spring onion
¼ ounce cilantro
2 cloves garlic
3 ½ ounces leek
2 tablespoons untoasted sesame oil
6 ¼ cups water

Creating the broth was a bit more complicated than the stew, as it required making a sourdough bread, which took multiple days. First, I soaked the barley seeds overnight, then crushed them into dust, mixed them with warm water to form dough, and let the mixture sit for 12 hours. The next day, I baked the dough for 20 minutes before removing and letting it sit on the counter to cool. Then I got to work preparing the broth, which proved to be extremely simple. After letting the mixture simmer for an hour, I crumbled the bread into the broth, resulting in a thicker texture.

The Result

After a simple yet lengthy cooking process, it was time to enjoy these classic Babylonian dishes. Both dishes were reminiscent of some stews and soups that you’d eat today, but the spices and seasoning were less complex, which created a less interesting flavor profile overall. Still, they were pretty tasty and filling.

I can say with confidence that the lamb and beet stew is something I’d gladly cook and eat again, though it wasn’t without its flaws. The lamb, beets, and herbs complemented each other quite nicely in terms of flavor, with the beets providing a natural sweetness that counteracted the earthiness of the meat. The textures were also on point, as the mix of chewy lamb and crunchy root vegetables worked out well.

However, some of the bites I took were too sweet, as there was a lack of earthy spices to even things out. Some simple seasoning would have done wonders in balancing out the recipe, including a bit more salt or some black pepper. However, black pepper is native to Southeast Asia, and it didn’t make its way to Mesopotamia until Asian traders brought it to the region. (It’s unclear exactly when this occurred, but records show that black pepper made its way from India to Egypt around 1500 BCE via trade routes that would have passed through Mesopotamia.) Still, the stew was a warm and delicious dish that would be perfect for a camping trip or cold day.

The broth, on the other hand, was passable albeit rather uninteresting. It contained hints of onion and garlic, and the crumbled barley bread helped to thicken the otherwise thin consistency. There was nothing unpleasant about eating this dish, but little to excite the palate either. It was simply a vegetable stock with a bit of semistale bread mixed in. So while “unwinding” may be a good choice if you’re looking for something light and easily digestible, it isn’t a complex culinary delight like the lamb and beet stew.

In summary, I was surprised by how familiar the cooking process was to the low-and-slow dishes that I frequently make in my kitchen. It’s also fascinating to think just how similar these flavors from 4,000 years ago are to our recipes today. Despite the simple flavor profile, both of these dishes were warm and filling, making them especially good for cooler days.

6 Photos That Define the 1950s

Marilyn Monroe with billowing skirt — Credit: photo-fox/ Alamy Stock Photo

Author Tony Dunnell

November 7, 2024

Love it?179

The 1950s were a decade of profound change and contrast, both in American society and globally. For the U.S. in particular, it was an era marked by postwar optimism, economic prosperity, and technological advancements. But it was also a decade of social tensions, Cold War fears, and the ever-increasing stirrings of cultural revolution. These complexities were captured in the period’s photography, from celebrity snaps by the burgeoning paparazzi to powerful images of the Civil Rights Movement taken by experienced photojournalists.

Here are six photos that encapsulate the spirit and struggles of the decade, and have become iconic images of the 1950s.

Einstein Sticking Out His Tongue (1951)

This playful photograph of Albert Einstein sticking out his tongue was taken on the renowned scientist’s 72nd birthday on March 14, 1951. Einstein was seated between Frank Aydelotte, head of the Institute of Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, and his wife at a birthday celebration. The paparazzi were lurking outside, hoping to hear from — or at least take a photo of — the world-famous professor. According to some accounts, Einstein was irritated by the photographers and so he stuck his tongue out at them. Whatever his motives, the resulting photo — captured by United Press International photographer Arthur Sasse — was one of levity. It helped establish Einstein’s public image as the “nutty professor,” humanizing one of the greatest scientific minds of the 20th century. Einstein himself loved the photo and had it put on greetings cards that he sent out to friends.

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Moviegoers in 3D Glasses (1952)

Photographer J.R. Eyerman’s famous shot, taken in 1952 at the Paramount Theater in Hollywood, California, captures a pivotal moment in cinema history. The image shows a sea of moviegoers, all wearing 3D glasses, transfixed by the screen while watching Bwana Devil, the first full-length color movie in 3D. (The movie’s tagline boldly promised “A lion in your lap! A lover in your arms!”) Eyerman’s photo encapsulated the excitement and novelty of 3D technology in the 1950s, while also presenting a visually impactful image in its own right, with the striking uniformity of the smartly dressed, 3D-glasses-wearing audience. It has since become one of the most recognizable images of 1950s popular culture.

Credit: Hy Peskin Archive/ Archive Photos via Getty Images

“Camelot” (1953)

In 1953, Hy Peskin, an American photographer known for several famous photographs published by Sports Illustrated and LIFE, was invited to take photographs at the home of the Kennedys. Specifically, he was to capture the then-rookie Senator John F. Kennedy and his fiancee, Jacqueline Lee Bouvier. The resulting images offered a casual yet vibrant portrayal of the young couple, in stark contrast to the typically stuffy and polished political photos of the time. One photo, which shows Kennedy and Bouvier on their boat, the Victura, became the first of 20 images of JFK to feature on the cover of LIFE. Now known as “Camelot,” the image fostered public fascination with the young couple, helping pave the way for Kennedy’s presidential victory.

Credit: Keystone Press/ Alamy Stock Photo

Tenzing Norgay on the Summit of Mount Everest (1953)

On May 29, 1953, mountaineers Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary gazed out over Tibet from the highest point on the planet. They had just become the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest, and soon the whole world would hear of their achievement. Many photos were taken during the expedition, but arguably the most famous is that of Norgay, a Nepalese Indian Sherpa, standing atop the highest peak in the world, his ice ax raised triumphantly in the freezing air. Hillary, an explorer from New Zealand, took the photo with a fairly basic Kodak Retina compact camera. There is, however, no comparative image of Hillary standing at the summit — the New Zealander apparently refused a photograph when Norgay offered to return the favor.

Marilyn Monroe in a White Dress (1954)

Marilyn Monroe was a defining figure of the 1950s, representing both the ideal of feminine beauty and changing attitudes toward sexuality. Countless photos were taken of the archetypal “blonde bombshell,” but none is more iconic than Sam Shaw’s photo of Monroe standing over a subway grate as her white dress billows up around her. Shaw, who was a close friend of Monroe’s, took the photo during the filming of The Seven Year Itch. Despite pushing the boundaries of what was acceptable in the conservative 1950s, the image became a near-instant classic in a decade when celebrity worship was reaching new heights.

Elizabeth Eckford and “The Scream” (1957)

In 1957, photojournalist Will Counts captured one of the most recognizable images of America’s Civil Rights Movement. The photo shows 15-year-old African American student Elizabeth Eckford walking alone as she is harassed by angry white protesters during the height of the Central High School desegregation crisis in Little Rock, Arkansas. Eckford appears calm and dignified despite the hostility surrounding her. The image captured one woman in particular in midshout, her face contorted with rage — hence the photo sometimes being known as “The Scream.”

7 Common Items That Used To Be Extremely Valuable

Pineapples awaiting shipment — Credit: Bettmann via Getty Images

Author Tony Dunnell

November 7, 2024

Love it?104

When we take a look back through history, we find that many items we now consider commonplace were once rare, exotic, and incredibly valuable. These precious commodities were often out of reach for the majority of people, reserved for royalty and wealthy citizens.

The journey of these items from scarcity to ubiquity tells a fascinating story of human progress, a tale of technological advancements and shifting global economics. Centuries of exploration, agricultural developments, industrial innovations, and the opening of new trade routes transformed our material world. What was once worth its weight in gold may now be found in every household, often used — or even discarded — without a second thought.

Here are some now-common items that have undergone this remarkable transition, from spices that once financed entire cities to beverages that sparked riots and wars.

Credit: Sepia Times/ Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Salt and Pepper

Salt and pepper were often known as “white gold” and “black gold,” respectively, by merchants of the ancient world. Salt was once essential not just for flavoring food but also for preserving it, making it crucial for survival and expansion. It was transported along the ancient salt routes to markets across Europe, making some citizens, cities, and regions extremely wealthy. The city of Salzburg in Austria, for example, whose name literally means “Salt Castle,” amassed great wealth by trading salt. Pepper, meanwhile, was once so rare and desirable that it was literally worth its weight in gold and was sometimes used as currency. The desire for salt and pepper, along with other spices, was so high that it helped drive European global exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries.

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