I’m an overwhelmed parent/educator who should’ve been a historian. 3am is my time to indulge in Judean trivia. Also The Rest is History podcast when ironing. sigh

What are the most significant graves that we have ever discovered well after they died? (besides King Tut)

I guess in terms of the ritual that was performed and it’s reasons.

> Maximizing the magic

So they were magic batteries

Just finished A World Undone: The Story of the Great War 1914-1918 by G.J Meyer (side note - it seems to be difficult to get a cheap copy here in the UK)

>4.75/5 Very good overview of WWI. Long at 700 pages but apart from that accessible. Covers all the important political and military events. No prior knowledge needed. Has brief background chapters for things like biographies or the history of various countries prewar.

Next up and my first non-WWI related book of 2023 The Last Emperor of Mexico: A Disaster in the New World by Edward Shawcross about a Habsburg archduke who was installed as emperor of Mexico by the French in the 1860s.

I went in 2014 and handed off to a Marine detachment. Was AF then

What's your top 3?

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Just seeing if we were there together

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From what I remember they were killed in two different ways (sacrificed) to appease two gods. Then would be sunk in the big as they were dying in an effect to preserve the magic of said sacrifice as the bog would preserve the body for a very long time. Thereby extending the sacrifice over that period. Maximizing the magic. Additionally the victims were high value like chieftain’s kids or something of a enemy tribe/clan.

I'm going to watch some documentaries about these things - it's been a few years since I've seen one, and there must be new stuff out there - some of the most fascinating work ever, the level of detail, and how much they can figure out about their last few hours (normally incredibly violent). Pete Marsh and Otzi are on tonight's list.

On France you have Jonathan Fenbys' book from French Revolution to Terrorism "History of Modern France"

I find the roundabouts during rush hour the worst.

Then again, taxi is cheap, honest and plenty, so there is little need for a car in Amman.

The Katja Hoyer book Blood and Iron has been popular for 19th century Germany. You can hear an interview with her over on the New Books Network. https://newbooksnetwork.com/blood-and-iron

Richard Evans also has a list over on 5 books for 19th century Germany. https://fivebooks.com/best-books/nineteenth-century-germany-richard-evans/

>Multiple times the german economy almost broke down due to the huge reparations Germany had to pay to the allies.

I thought this pov was not considered valid anymore. Wasn't the inflation more a result of the German gov't deliberately devaluing the currency as a way around reparations and didn't the German gov't just outright stop paying what they were supposed to for long periods of time.

edit: For example here's what Margret MacMillan says about it.

https://artsfile.ca/margaret-macmillan-on-the-truths-and-consequences-of-history/

>“There has been a lot more research on the 1920s. For so long the decade was seen as a prelude to the 1930s and we all know what happened then.

>“Historians looking at the 1920s are now concluding that it wasn’t so clear cut as that. There were some hopeful signs and the League of Nations was actually working in a way. Germany, too, was becoming part of the community of nations again.”

>In fact it did in the end join the league.

>Even the crushing burden of reparation payments imposed on Germany was being brought under control, she said.

>“They were negotiated down. It looked as if the world was going to get back on an even keel. I think lot of historians, and I tend to agree with them, now feel there wasn’t enough time for the roots of constitutional and democratic government to be established before the Great Depression came along.”

>That calamity turned the nations of the world inward and it crushed trust in governing elites. Germany had been previously battered by a hyper-inflation that, she said, was basically the fault of the German government which in fact had encouraged inflation because it diminished the reparations bill.

Agree with the tight traffic in Amman but I rented a small Kia Picanto, pretty similar to the size of car I drive in the UK. Hardest thing was learning to drive with a gear stick on the other side, and a clutch that is so low (mine is on its way out)

I was advised to only drive in and out of Amman by other travelers but found it no where near as headache as they made it out to be. Even got caught in rush hour on my back, just reminded me of UK stop start traffic.

Also the full coverage for my car was pretty reasonable so got it, though didn't need it.

Depends where you go yes but I wasn't talking about dress codes. I know one friend who was severely hassled in some places and 2 who were actually assaulted and were lucky to not be injured by a crowd of armed men whilst hiking the Jordan trail. They cancelled the rest of the hike and came home and had to go for therapy.

I actually met my last gf there, who was solo travelling as well but I'm not going to suggest guys have the same experience or safety concerns as women there. I love the place and I've travelled all over the wider area but I'm not blind.

It's not India/Pakistan or Egypt levels but it's still something to be aware of.

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Yep, Jordan is very safe. You can walk around anywhere in Amman, at any time, and the only reason someone would approach you would be to ask if you needed assistance, and they would mean it. I've had a car drive in front of my taxi to guide it, halfway across Amman, when the taxi driver was unclear of where I wanted to go, and the car driver didn't even accept compensation from me...

Shorts are OK, but expect a few odd looks outside Aqaba and the tourist sites. Not because they are immodest, but because they are kind of seen as children's clothes or sports clothes.

Apart from that, T-shirt will work just fun (but watch out for the sun).

If you enter a mosque, you should of course cover up as a sign of respect, just like you would in a cathedral.

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> No photos online to the immense scale of Petra any justice, I walked around the site for 8+ hours and could have done another whole Day

I think I've been to Petra 8 times, several of them two days. Still takes my breath away every time.

> I rented a car and it wasn't to expensive and the roads where better then at home (UK) tho the is a lack of signs for speed bumps, that are just black lumps of tarmac.

Highway traffic is simple, but be prepared for tight traffic in Amman. You need to know where you have the corners of your car at all times...

Traveled there last year and met a few women traveling, either with friends male and female or solo. They had no issues, and most of the time didn't have to cover up. Saw plenty of tourists in shorts and shoulders showing. Depending on where you go maybe be a little more mindful of what your wareing but tourists in Petra, Aquaba, Jerash and wadi rum where dressed just like any tourist spot I've been to in the world.

I was there this time last month! I enjoyed my time in Jordan and would not mind visiting again, but it's very middle-of-the-pack on my list of countries to re-visit