The Plague Of Justinian

Quintus Curtius History , ,

During the reign of the eastern Roman emperor Justinian, the Mediterranean world was hit by a pandemic whose virulence was exceeded only by the outbreak of the Black Plague in western Europe many centuries later.  The pandemic–commonly known today as the Plague of Justinian–only lasted from A.D. 541 to 542, but there were residual aftershocks of the disease that occurred periodically for two centuries thereafter.  It is important to history not only for its extremely high death toll, but also for the political and economic changes that followed in its wake.

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The Search For The Real Anwar Sadat

Quintus Curtius Biography, History , ,

Immediately after he was assassinated in 1981, Egyptian president Anwar Sadat was canonized by the Western media.  He was portrayed as a brave crusader for peace who had taken bold steps to overcome his people’s alleged resistance to resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict.  By single-handedly flying to the Israeli Knesset and embracing Menachem Begin, he had broken down years of psychological barriers and secured his place in history as a statesman of unblemished stature.  Sadat, we have been told, was a man “ahead of his time” whose bold vision was overcome by the fanaticism of the “extremists” who cut him down in his prime.

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Mentorships And Career Choices (Podcast)

Quintus Curtius Podcast , ,

In this podcast we deal with questions from two reader emails.  The first question asks about mentorships.  The second question deals with the concerns one guy is having about his career path.

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Cover Art For My Books Is Now Available In Special Products

Quintus Curtius Current News , ,

In response to some questions I’ve been getting since the release of Sallust, I’ve decided to offer the cover art for all of my books in a variety of products.  The website can be found by clicking here.  Once there, click on the “Products” tab to see all the different merchandise available.

Imagine having the high-resolution image above (or images from any of my book covers) on your cell phone case, coffee mug, or t-shirt.  The list of available items is impressive:

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On Forming Our Own Judgments

Quintus Curtius Thought , ,

When we need to form our own estimates of others, we should learn to trust our own judgments, and not be swayed by the criticisms or slanders of others.  Behavior is better verified by observation, rather than by the rumors and innuendos of others.

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You Do What You Have To Do To Survive (Podcast)

Quintus Curtius Podcast , ,

A recent news article talks about how young, unemployed urban Greeks are leaving the city to return to agricultural work in the countryside.  They’re producing and marketing their own products directly to consumers.  It’s part of a wider economic trend that has a lot of positive features.

In life, you do what you have to do to survive.

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Limits Must Be Imposed On Our Desires

Quintus Curtius Thought , , ,

Among the many problems that we are faced with today is the lack of restraint, the lack of moderation, that is actively supported and encouraged by our culture.  If you have something, you are told that you deserve more.  If you want something, you are told that you deserve to have it.  If something stands in the way of your getting something you think you deserve, you are told how to obtain that thing you desire.  Few people pause to think that what they crave may carry a heavy burden in the long run.

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