In 18th century Britain, deep bowing as a greeting slowly evolved into a touch of the cap for men, or quick bob for women. Simultaneously, a new form of greeting emerged: the handshake. How and why did the handshake gain popularity, becoming a standard greeting? This phenomenon is explored in a new essay published in the journal Urban History and authored by Professor Penelope Corfield of London University.

‘Communities and Mobilities’ is a research group led by Dr. Aviad Moreno at the Azrieli Center for Israel Studies, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. This interdisciplinary team delves into the intricate tapestry of migrations, with a focal point on Jewish migration from Arab countries.

The term ‘scientist’ was invented just under 200 years ago. What we now call ‘science’ was then known as ‘natural philosophy’. Since then, we’ve made a clear distinction between philosophy and the empirical sciences, to the extent that they are often perceived to be unrelated. However, it may be a mistake to divide human quest for knowledge in this way. Professor Ronald De Sousa at the University of Toronto argues that philosophy and science are inextricably linked. For him, you cannot escape philosophy when you are thinking about anything systematically and scientifically.

By the second half of the 16th Century, the British Isles had experienced more than two centuries of periodic plague outbreaks. As a result, town councils were well equipped to rapidly implement a range of policies to protect public health. In response to the threat of plague, officials quickly enacted controls on the importation of goods and limits on the number of people traveling between municipalities. Locals or out-of-town workers were hired to care for the ill, bury the dead, clean the streets, and fumigate houses.