A Brief History of the Hope Diamond: The World’s Most Famous Gem
In 2005, a research team led by Smithsonian Institute gem curator Jeffrey Post determined in a year-long study that the world famous Hope Diamond was … Read more
Louis Xiv
Absolute Monarchy in France
Absolutism was the belief that the monarch of a country possessed unlimited authority that was granted him based on a theory known as the divine … Read more
King Louis XIV
The Age of Absolutism is one of the most well known periods in Europe’s history. One of the most interesting, and well known examples of … Read more
An Overview of King Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV of France, also known as the Sun King, is one of history’s most interesting figures. When he was born, it was considered a … Read more
Curse of the Hope Diamond: Fact or Legend?
The most difficult item to see at Washington’s Smithsonian’s Museum of National History is the Hope Diamond. It’s not that it is physically guarded, although … Read more
The History of the Louvre in Paris, France
The Louvre in Paris, France has a long, rich history. Throughout its existence, the Louvre has been transformed into one of the most beautiful and … Read more
The Church of St-Germain L’Auxerrois, Paris
St-Germain l’Auxerrois is a gothic jewel in the heart of Paris that seems practically forgotten by tourists. Its dark and solemn interior make it a … Read more
Louis XIV: Leader of France – One King, One Law, One Faith
One of the autocrats of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries was Louis XIV. He ruled over France from 1643 to 1715 and was … Read more
Tartuffe and the Duss Ex Machina Mechanism
It is clear to anyone that reads Tartuffe, that the speech given by the Officer in Act 5, Scene 7 toward the end of the … Read more
Louis XIV: The Power Behind an Absolutist Regime
Absolutism “means that the king derived his power from God and could exercise it without other constitutional bodies having the right to challenge him.”[1] However, … Read more