Few images in medical history are as striking (or as creepy) as those of plague doctors with their long, beaked masks. This peculiar costume, worn by physicians during outbreaks of bubonic plague in Europe, has become an enduring symbol of the disease. But why did doctors wear these strange masks, which surely must only have added to the fear felt by people in times of suffering? What purpose did the design serve? Here’s the reasoning behind the mask, which came about in an age when the true nature of disease transmission was still shrouded in mystery. The Origins of the Plague Doctor Costume Contrary to common belief, the plague doctor costume was not a medieval-era invention. Despite its common association with the Black Death — the name given to the bubonic plague pandemic that devastated Europe in the mid-1300s — there is no evidence …Read More

War is full of logistical challenges, one of the major concerns — in conflicts both ancient and modern — being how to feed the armies doing the fighting. Whether it’s Roman legionaries, British Redcoats, or modern infantry, soldiers have always needed a reliable supply of food to maintain both their energy levels and morale. As the old saying goes, “An army marches on its stomach.”  Military rations have existed since at least the time of ancient Rome, when soldiers received 2 pounds of bread a day, sometimes with meat, olive oil, and wine. Today, U.S. troops are provided with MREs — “Meals, Ready-to-Eat” — which are carefully tested, formulated, and packaged rations designed to sustain soldiers during training and military operations. These MREs have a shelf life of three years and can survive being dropped from an aircraft. But not every soldier is …Read More

During Europe’s golden age of exploration — from roughly the 1400s through the 1700s — long voyages over land and sea were fraught with danger. Potential threats lay around every corner and across every sea — harsh landscapes, raging oceans, and clashes with Indigenous inhabitants were just some of the problems faced. And then there were the fundamentals of survival, none more important than what to eat.  For sailors at sea and overland expeditions pushing through unmapped wilderness, the question of food was one not of comfort but of staying alive. A lack of food meant starvation and sickness, and often a catastrophic end to even the most meticulously planned expedition. But what exactly did explorers eat on these long journeys? Here we look at some of the common food supplies carried — or harvested — during this era.  Hardtack If there was …Read More