Aran MacKinnon’s Post

Montesquieu was a French political philosopher, historian, and intellectual, whose writings have influenced constitutions and political philosophies across the world, including the U.K. and the American colonies. Check out this article to learn about the life, legacy, and philosophy of Montesquieu. #Montesquieu #politicalphilosophy #philosopher #historian #substacknewsletter #substackwriter #arthinkalmagazine #arthinkal

I recently had the opportunity to discuss with *Yale Today* why the stories, philosophies, and actions of the Haitian revolutionaries and writers I talk about in "Awakening the Ashes" are not better known. It is always relevant and timely (not just for Black History Month or Haitian Heritage Month) to teach about Haiti's pivotal role in taking the world from slavery to freedom: https://lnkd.in/erzfqqip

Denison University history students and History Department Denison University followers--food for thought. Everything in your day is just a little more interesting when you are thinking as a historian. And every decision you make is a little more well-informed if you stop to ask some historical questions. How might understanding the history of the 16th-century Reformation help us #ThinkBetter about the complexities of the Catholic Church excommunicating an archbishop in 2024? What does it mean to challenge the authority of the pope? When has this happened before, and in what contexts? How might seeing this play out in 2024 help us ask new questions about Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation? History does not repeat itself. But the kinds of questions that historians ask to help us understand the world around us are timeless. #DUhistory #liberalartsforall #ThinkBetter https://wapo.st/4ckliRX

Join this powerful and and dynamic webinar. Hard histories provides the soil from whence the seeds of our lives can grow. Our stories, our past, our histories - are hard. #hardhistories #themoreyouknow

June is National Indigenous History Month. Learn more about the month: https://ow.ly/SHQh50S77we

Project 2025 is more than a playbook for Trumpism, it’s the Christian Nationalist manifesto https://lnkd.in/gFshPSpH The right intends to force every American to live their definition of a good life through government edict

-- Voltaire Voltaire, born François-Marie Arouet on November 21, 1694, was a French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher known for his wit, his attacks on the established Catholic Church, and his advocacy for freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and separation of church and state. Here are some key points about Voltaire: - Literary Contributions: Voltaire was a prolific writer, producing works in almost every literary form including plays, poems, novels, essays, and scientific expositions. He wrote more than 20,000 letters and 2,000 books and pamphlets. - Philosophical Views: As a philosopher, he was a leading figure of the Enlightenment, a cultural movement that emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional doctrines. - Advocacy for Civil Liberties: Voltaire was an outspoken advocate of civil liberties and often found himself at odds with the French monarchy due to his views. His writings were a form of activism for social reform. - Candide: His most famous work is "Candide", a satirical novella that critiques the optimism and philosophies of his time, particularly those of Gottfried Leibniz. - Influence: Voltaire's ideas on religious tolerance and intellectual freedom have had a lasting impact on the development of liberal thought and the fight for human rights and constitutional government. Voltaire's legacy as a crusader for justice and the pursuit of truth continues to inspire many around the world. #inspirationalquote #motivationalquote #wisdomquotes #lifelesson #voltaire

Presentation I have made about the mysterious collapse of the Late Bronze Age era in human history, for my history lesson.

The Invention of the Jewish People A historical tour de force that demolishes the myths and taboos that have surrounded Jewish and Israeli history, The Invention of the Jewish People offers a new account of both that demands to be read and reckoned with. Was there really a forced exile in the first century, at the hands of the Romans? Should we regard the Jewish people, throughout two millennia, as both a distinct ethnic group and a putative nation—returned at last to its Biblical homeland? Shlomo Sand argues that most Jews actually descend from converts, whose native lands were scattered far across the Middle East and Eastern Europe. The formation of a Jewish people and then a Jewish nation out of these disparate groups could only take place under the sway of a new historiography, developing in response to the rise of nationalism throughout Europe. Beneath the biblical back fill of the nineteenth-century historians, and the twentieth-century intellectuals who replaced rabbis as the architects of Jewish identity, The Invention of the Jewish People uncovers a new narrative of Israel’s formation, and proposes a bold analysis of nationalism that accounts for the old myths. After a long stay on Israel’s bestseller list, and winning the coveted Aujourd’hui Award in France, The Invention of the Jewish People is finally available in English. The central importance of the conflict in the Middle East ensures that Sand’s arguments will reverberate well beyond the historians and politicians that he takes to task. Without an adequate understanding of Israel’s past, capable of superseding today’s opposing views, diplomatic solutions are likely to remain elusive. In this iconoclastic work of history, Shlomo Sand provides the intellectual foundations for a new vision of Israel’s future. https://lnkd.in/gmMupXhM

6 books that explain the history and meaning of Juneteenth: Via The Conversation US