Water is expensive. Especially when you are poor. “Apart from land – which was actually not a major limiting factor in the village – the main forms of agricultural capital were ox plow-teams (something I’d expect) and wells (something I… Read More »Collections: Bread, How Did They Make It? Part II: Big Farms
This still applies today. “I led in with all of that risk and vulnerability because without it just about nothing these farmers do makes a lot of sense; once you understand that they are managing risk, everything falls into place.… Read More »Collections: Bread, How Did They Make It? Part I: Farmers!
War horses did not work like you think. “if for some baffling reason you are going to charge enemy infantry in good order over an open field, you really want a weapon which can reach past the head of your… Read More »That Dothraki Charge
War works differently then you think. “That focus on morale gets to a truth about warfare: the winner of a battle is not the one that kills the most, but the one who makes the enemy run away. And the… Read More »Collections: The Siege of Gondor: Part VI: Black Sails and Gleaming Banners
This is why math and physics is important kids. “So what is our conclusion? Mainly that it seems very unlikely that – as real, non-magical but monstrous creatures – trolls could actually function as they are shown. The weapons they… Read More »Collections: The Siege of Gondor, Part V: Just Flailing About Flails
I justove how complicated logistic gets even with the simplest stuff. “One thing is missing for this army, however: spare horses. A knight does not ride to battle with a single horse, but rather with several. The war-horse is a… Read More »Collections: The Siege of Gondor, Part IV: The Cavalry Arrives
So much to learn from this books, movies and an historian. “In the film, the defense of Minas Tirith collapses because Grond breaches the gate and then mountain trolls push through the defenders. Mordor triumphs by raw physical might smashing… Read More »Collections: The Siege of Gondor, Part III: Having Fun Storming the City
Let’s learn about medieval warfare via Lord of the Rings. “Let’s be clear on this point: ancient and medieval warfare was mostly about sieges. Particularly during the Middle Ages (in Europe) sieges (and raiding) were common, but large pitched battles… Read More »Collections: The Siege of Gondor, Part I: Professionals Talk Logistics
Interesting https://flowingdata.com/2025/11/04/spend-days-men-women-2024/
States are not permanent. “Of the 207 states that existed in 1816, sixty-six had died by 2000, most of them violently, from external conquest, revolution, civil war, or coup. “ https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2025/11/20/falling-off-the-map-how-states-die/