The baguette is a French bread defined by law and listed by UNESCO

world cultures & travelWikipedia

The baguette is a French bread defined by law and listed by UNESCO

the gist

A baguette is a long, thin bread made from lean dough, usually about 65 centimetres long with a diameter of 5 to 6 centimetres and a crisp crust. French law defines what dough a traditional baguette may use, which makes it a protected product rather than just a shape. Its simplicity is the point: few ingredients, with the quality of the bread depending on the skill of the baker. In 2018 the craftsmanship and culture of making it was added to France's national inventory of intangible heritage. In 2022 UNESCO inscribed the artisanal know-how behind the baguette on its Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

how it works

A lean dough of flour, water, salt and yeast relies on long fermentation and high oven heat for its crisp crust. Steam in the oven keeps the surface soft for longer so the loaf can expand before it sets.

so what

The baguette shows that a daily food can be treated as cultural heritage, with its making protected by both law and international recognition. Its listing focuses on the baker's craft rather than a recipe alone, which says a lot about how France values everyday skills.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · text CC BY-SA 4.0

Image: Wikimedia Commons

source: Wikipedia ↗

historyWikipediaclassic1336–1565 · Karnataka, India

Hampi was once one of the world's largest cities, until its Vijayanagara capital was destroyed in 1565

the gist

Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India, with more than 1,600 surviving remains spread over 4,100 hectares. It was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1336 to 1565. Travellers from Persia and Portugal described it as a prosperous, wealthy and grand city with temples, markets and farms along the Tungabhadra River. By 1500 it was estimated to be the world's second-largest city after Beijing, and probably India's richest at the time. In 1565 a coalition of Muslim sultanates defeated the Vijayanagara Empire, its capital was conquered and destroyed, and the city was left in ruins. Hampi remains a religious centre, with the active Virupaksha Temple at its heart.

how it works

The city was built around a fortified core with temples, markets and water structures along the river, supplied by an extensive network of roads and waterworks. When the empire fell, the city was not rebuilt, so its stone monuments were left standing.

so what

Hampi shows how quickly a great city can vanish after a military defeat, and how a ruined capital can remain sacred. Its ruins give historians a view of medieval South Asia that few other sites can match.

fun fact

The name Hampi comes from Pampa, an old name for the Tungabhadra River.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · text CC BY-SA 4.0

Image: Wikimedia Commons

source: Wikipedia ↗

2 min

politicsshortCNA2:01

False allegations about Singapore’s hand in Indonesia’s markets and a made-up meeting

from CNA

CNA Verify has found close to 400 posts pushing falsehoods tying Singapore to Indonesia’s stock market rout and to a secret meeting that never took place. Together, they drew nearly 12 million views, and some were circulated by accounts that appeared to be working in concert, across multiple social media platforms.

Here’s how the disinformation campaign targeting Singapore was uncovered.

on YouTube: CNA ↗