We all know the Crusaders built castles for defensive purposes… right? Actually, the driving force behind castle construction in the Middle East was lordship. A simple tower, although not a sprawling castle, was a “symbolic seat of power” that satisfied the basic criteria for lordship. It was a defensible area for a ruler, his followers, regional surplus, and wealth. Without these castles, a lord-hopeful could not lay claim to a piece of land as his own, especially since he couldn’t defend himself and his subjects from bandits and small raids. Read full article here
Technology
The First Solar-Powered Car Comes at a Hot Price
The Lightyear O is a revolutionary electric car powered by the sun. Developed by a Dutch startup, the four-door sedan has over 50 square feet of solar panels on its roof and hood, generating up to 43 miles of energy a day. With production now underway in Finland, the car does come with a hefty price tag at $262,000, but the company hopes to introduce a more affordable version, the Lightyear 2, by 2025. Read full article here
Merv
January 27, 2023
