Why Over 1,700 Places Have the Same Name

Great minds think alike is how the saying goes. However, there must have been a lot of great minds when over 1,700 places were given the same name. You can click the title to learn more!

Romania’s Kafkaesque and Orwellian Era

After reading Orwell’s 1984 and Animal Farm, Franz Kafka’s The Trial, and Romania: A Country Study from the Federal Research Division, I noticed some unfortunate similarities. Romania: A Country Study is an insightful look into the life of a seemingly pre-catalyst Romania that features a complete history up until the point it was written. The … Continue reading Romania’s Kafkaesque and Orwellian Era →

Where exactly is Scandinavia?

Red - Definitely Scandinavia, Orange - Maybe | Most likely when you think of Scandinavia, you think of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, maybe Iceland, and Finland. But there are many classic misconceptions of where this term exactly applies, because, while some consider it a geological term, it is actually a cultural, linguistic, and political term. Scandinavia … Continue reading Where exactly is Scandinavia? →

Why do Austria and Australia Have Such Similar Names?

It is mostly because of this guy pictured above - Pedro Fernandes de Queirós Introduction Austria and Australia are very far apart, yet their names are similar enough to cause confusion for even politicians! How have these two very different areas gotten such similar names? The short answer: Aristotle, selfish nationalism, a misspelling, and confusion. … Continue reading Why do Austria and Australia Have Such Similar Names? →

The Two Longest Government Shutdowns in History

Credit: https://howlonghasnorthernirelandnothadagovernment.com/ Think going for 35 days with no government is tough? Try 589, or better yet, 844! Today I'll discuss the two longest ever government shutdowns in history, the latter and longer of which is still going. Belgium Belgium had the second-longest government shutdown ever when their political crisis reached its summit. Now, for … Continue reading The Two Longest Government Shutdowns in History →

German Dreams of an Aryan Utopia Lie Dormant in Paraguay

The story of Germans in Paraguay dates back to World War Two and aligns with nearby tales, though unique to Paraguay for its oddly large impact on national culture, even earning a German flag on a local soccer team and a localized identity. Even then, Paraguayan officials have thought that the people of this obsolete … Continue reading German Dreams of an Aryan Utopia Lie Dormant in Paraguay →

Papua New Guinea’s 850 Histories: How Papua New Guinea Became So Linguistically Diverse

Introduction Papua New Guinea is home to 850-odd languages, and only 3 of those languages are official languages of the country. Papua New Guinea holds the record for the highest language diversity in the world. How Did This Happen? Like the Ladin Valley region in Italy, Papua New Guinea has many natural barriers that prevent … Continue reading Papua New Guinea’s 850 Histories: How Papua New Guinea Became So Linguistically Diverse →

Neutral Moresnet: The Story of a Failed (Linguistic) Utopia

A Map of Neutral Moresnet History In 1816, Neutral Moresnet was founded. A sliver of land where the Netherlands and Prussia (and where Belgium would soon) meet was a zinc powerhouse, and thus heavily contested over. There were only two zinc mines in Europe at the time, so the Congress of Vienna saw this and … Continue reading Neutral Moresnet: The Story of a Failed (Linguistic) Utopia →