Leisure is the time we spend for our own sake. For example, lying on the beach to relax is a leisure activity, but lying on the beach as a model for a photo shoot is work. What one person sees as work...
Read moreFrench writer Paul Lafargue wrote a powerful and controversial essay called The Right to Be Lazy to argue that work is not always good for us. He believed that too much work harms both the wo...
Read moreRobert Nozick was an American philosopher known for his unique ideas about happiness, freedom, and the meaning of life. One of his most famous contributions is a thought experiment that challenges how...
Read moreAristotle, a Greek philosopher, talked about the purpose of human life and how leisure fits into it. He believed that the way people spend their free time tells us a lot about what kind of life they’r...
Read moreEpicurus was a Greek philosopher who focused on the purpose of human life and how to live well. He believed that the goal of life is to be happy, and that happiness comes from experiencing pleasure an...
Read moreThe Kingdom of Benin was a powerful West African state located near the Niger River, in what is now Nigeria. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to learn about Benin through their trade networks, ...
Read moreLiberalism is a historical tradition built on the values of freedom and equality for every human being, no matter their identity, religion, culture, or beliefs. One version of liberalism is called dif...
Read moreThe Burial at Thebes is a modern version of the Greek tragedy Antigone, originally written by the ancient Athenian playwright Sophocles. Seamus Heaney, an Irish Nobel Prize winning author, cr...
Read moreWhen we think about free time, we often imagine relaxing, watching movies, or going out with friends. But ancient philosophers had much deeper ideas about what leisure really means. Aristotle and Epic...
Read moreA sacred place can be almost anywhere. It could be a natural feature like a mountain or river, or something built by people, like a temple or shrine. But what exactly makes a place sacred? Is it somet...
Read moreStonehenge and Avebury are two of the most famous prehistoric monuments in England. They are often seen as sacred places, not only for specific groups like modern Pagans and Druids, but also for indiv...
Read moreGlastonbury is a small town in England that attracts many kinds of visitors. Some come for the famous music and performing arts festivals, while others visit because they see it as a spiritual or reli...
Read moreMilton Keynes is rarely included in lists of sacred places. In fact, the UK no longer classifies it as a city. However, the people of Milton Keynes know that the town is special, even if it is not tra...
Read moreLeisure was an important part of life for the ancient Romans. They spent their free time in a variety of ways, both in public and in private settings. Public leisure was open to everyone regardless of...
Read moreHorace was a Roman poet who lived during a very interesting period in history. He witnessed the famous Battle of Actium and, like many others at the time, had to work hard just to survive. But his str...
Read morePliny the Younger was the nephew of Pliny the Elder. He worked as a lawyer and literary writer in ancient Rome. Known for his education and elegant writing, he served under several successful emperors...
Read moreEvidence from Roman villa art shows how much the Romans appreciated natural scenery, mythical figures, and heroic stories. Their homes reflected these interests through detailed wall paintings, mosaic...
Read moreHorace and Pliny offered two very different approaches to leisure, work, and country life in the Roman Empire. Although both were educated and well known in their time, their lifestyles and values ref...
Read moreMost Roman villas that we know about today were seaside villas. Wealthy Romans built them along the coast to enjoy beautiful views and fresh air. These homes were often designed to blend in with natur...
Read moreThroughout history, people have looked back at the classical world for inspiration, especially when building their own homes. In the later centuries, many villa owners in Europe tried to reflect the s...
Read more