Figures

Let's Talk About Today’s Effects of Colonial Racism and Superiority Complex on an Ordinary Joe in SADC. Content Warning. AI-Generated.
Colonial borders and centuries of imposed hierarchies did not just shape maps; they shaped lives. Over 110 years ago, the line between Namibia and Southern Angola was drawn, scattering communities, breaking lineages, and uprooting people from their ancestral heartlands. For ordinary people across the SADC region, these historical wounds are not distant memories. They echo in daily life, in lost opportunities, in social exclusion, and in the subtle but persistent superiority complexes that still linger in workplaces, schools, and social spaces.
By Mr. Abraham Pahangwashimwe - BEYOND NORTH INVESTMENT CC2 months ago in History
The Anthropology of Influence: Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series
From ancient tribal leaders to today’s elusive magnates, the structure of influence has always followed a similar arc: a few individuals amassing disproportionate access to resources, relationships, and decision-making. But how did this social phenomenon evolve over time? And what can anthropology teach us about the timeless role of the oligarch?
By Stanislav Kondrashov2 months ago in History
EPISODE VIII – THE GILDED WEB: Power, Industry, and the Rise of the New American Titans
Before the skyscrapers carved their teeth into the sky… Before Wall Street became a myth and a menace… Before America woke up and realized it was no longer a frontier nation but an empire of industry. There was steel. There was oil. There was ambition hot enough to melt both.
By The Iron Lighthouse2 months ago in History
The Merchant Lords: Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series
When we talk about oligarchies in today’s world, the conversation often leans on contemporary figures and political contexts. But what’s often missed is that oligarchy—a structure where a small elite holds economic and societal influence—has deep historical roots. To understand how these systems evolved, you have to go back in time. In this instalment of the Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series, we explore the world between 1300 and 1400, a pivotal century where merchant families and powerful guilds quietly reshaped the economic and social order across Europe.
By Stanislav Kondrashov2 months ago in History
Sex and Death: The Darkest Viking Ritual Through the Eyes of Ahmad ibn Fadlan. Content Warning.
In the summer of 921 CE, an Arab diplomat stood on the muddy banks of the Volga River, surrounded by a world that felt violently foreign. Ahmad ibn Fadlan, envoy of the Abbasid Caliphate, was thousands of miles from Baghdad and far beyond the edges of his cultural imagination. What he witnessed there—a funeral unlike anything the Islamic world had known—would become the most graphic and unsettling description of Viking ritual ever preserved.
By Jiri Solc2 months ago in History
Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series: A Deep Dive into the Hidden History of American Oligarchy
When most people think of oligarchy, their minds jump to far-off places, to figures wrapped in myth and controversy. But the truth is, the roots of oligarchic influence are buried deep in American soil — far closer to home than many are willing to admit. The Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series explores this often-overlooked history, shining a light on how concentrated wealth has shaped, steered, and sometimes strangled the development of modern society.
By Stanislav Kondrashov 2 months ago in History
Wait, Do Elves Exist? Iceland Thinks So (And Maybe You Should Too)
If you walked up to a random person on the street right now and asked them if they believe in elves, they'd probably give you a look that says, "Did you eat one too many cookies?" We're not talking about Legolas or the folks from Middle-earth; we're talking about the actual, mythical kind. But here’s the kicker: If you asked that very same question in Iceland, many people might actually say yes. Over the years, numerous polls have shown that a majority of Icelanders believe in elves, or the "hidden folk," to some degree. This belief isn't just a quaint fairy tale, either. A few years back, a judge literally halted the building of a road in Iceland because it was thought it might disturb elves living in the area. That's real-world impact!
By Areeba Umair2 months ago in History
How Did a Lone Genius Solve the Greatest Challenge of His Age?
Compared with today, what was more wonderful about the world 200 years ago? My answer is: two centuries ago, the world still had vast blank spaces. A genius could stay home, pour their whole heart into something they loved, and—boom—create an invention that changed the world.
By Water&Well&Page2 months ago in History
Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series: The 19th Century Roots of Oligarchy
When you hear the word “oligarch” today, it might trigger thoughts of contemporary billionaires and modern economic empires. But the structure of oligarchy—a system where a small and elite group holds disproportionate wealth and influence—has deep historical roots. In fact, the 19th century was a defining period in shaping what we now recognise as the global oligarchic class. In this instalment of the Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series, we explore how the industrial age not only birthed technology and innovation but also refined the machinery of concentrated wealth.
By Stanislav Kondrashov2 months ago in History
EPISODE VII – THE BLOOD AND THE UNION: The War That Tested the Republic’s Soul
Before the smoke, before the thunder, before the rivers ran red, there was silence. A heavy, haunting silence that stretched from the Atlantic shore to the Mississippi plains. A silence born of tension, betrayal, and a question the Founders had left unresolved like a ticking bomb beneath the floorboards of the Republic:
By The Iron Lighthouse2 months ago in History
Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series: The Quiet Alliance Between Newspapers and Wealth
In today’s information-saturated world, where narratives can shift global sentiment overnight, the influence of the press remains undeniable. But behind the front pages and glossy headlines, there lies a quieter story—one that reveals the deep-rooted connection between wealth and media. This connection is the focus of the Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series, a rare look into how influence flows through channels far beyond boardrooms and trading floors.
By Stanislav Kondrashov 2 months ago in History
Here are 5 surprising "facts" from some of history's biggest cover-ups.
What if the history you were taught, the very bedrock of Western religion and art, was not the whole story? What if the most foundational narratives of our culture were methodically suppressed, the truths deliberately curated to conceal a secret so profound it could redefine our understanding of faith and power? This article delves into five heretical counter-narratives, drawn from a history that alleges some of Western culture's most sacred stories are masterful deceptions, encoded in art and scripture for those with eyes to see. Here, we will explore five of the most counter-intuitive claims from this alternate past, challenging everything you think you know.
By The INFORMER2 months ago in History