Answer Archive #3: A Strange History of the Calendar

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Episode Description

Answer Archive's third episode examines the history of the calendar.  Have you ever wondered how exactly we got our current calendar? Was it always 12 months? How did they end up with 365 as the number of days? And why on earth do we have leap days, much less leap seconds? Writer and producer Daniel Seehausen is here to answer all of these questions and more in the podcast that answers the questions you never thought to ask.

Sources:

In Search of Time: The History, Physics, and Philosophy of Time

It's About Time: From Calendars and Clocks to Moon Cycles and Light Years - A History

Calendar: Humanity's Epic Struggle to Determine a True and Accurate Year

Mapping Time: The Calendar and Its History

New episodes every two weeks on Wednesdays.

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Answer Archive #2: A Strange History of Books

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Episode Description

Answer Archive's second episode examines the history of printing books. Have you ever wondered how much impact Gutenberg's printing press had at the time? Or how Russian grandmothers helped ensure the spread of free thought throughout the Soviet Union? Answer Archive is here to satisfy your curiosity.

This episode features interviews from Dr. David Davis and Dr. Barbara Elliott.  If you are interested in supporting either of them, you can find a link to their books and articles right here:

Dr. David Davis's Publications

Dr. Barbara Ellliott's Publications

New episodes every two weeks on Wednesdays.

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Answer Archive #2 (part 1): Why Gutenberg was a Failure

Episode Description

In this surprise video episode, writer and producer Daniel Seehausen investigates the strange history of the printing press. Featuring an interview with Dr. David Davis, assistant professor of history at Houston Baptist University, we learn about how books were treated in the past, and how Gutenberg’s story did not turn out as successfully as one might have imagined.

Expect part two about the history of illegal printing in the Soviet Union next week, alongside the release of the audio version.

Dr. David Davis (Assistant Professor of History at HBU)

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Answer Archive #1: A Strange History of the Olympics

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Episode Description

Answer Archive’s first episode covers the Strange History of the Olympics, from Alcibiades in Ancient Greece, to Simone Biles and Michael Phelps in Rio. Have you always wanted to know why the ancient Olympics were canceled? Or why Jim Thorpe’s story is so tragic? Answer Archive is here to satisfy your curiosity.

New episodes every two weeks on Wednesdays.

A Passion for Victory by Benson Bobrick

The Games by David Goldblatt

Olympics.org

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