The celibate, dancing Shakers were once seen as a threat to society – 250 years later, they’re part of the sound of America

pop & funanalysisThe Conversation: Movies1747 · Manchester, England

The celibate, dancing Shakers were once seen as a threat to society – 250 years later, they’re part of the sound of America

the gist

The Shakers began as a Manchester group in 1747 and took their nickname from the ecstatic shaking of their worship, though they called themselves Believers. Under Ann Lee, who reached North America in 1774, they held property in common, practised celibacy and believed God was both male and female. Because families were dissolved on joining, the movement relied on converts and their children. At its height it had 19 major communities, and only a few members remain today in Maine.

so what

The Shakers show how a radical religious experiment could look dangerous in its day and become admired heritage later. Their music and simple furniture are now part of what Americans recognise as their own tradition.

fun fact

Shaker furniture is prized today as a classic of American craft for its simple, functional design.

The Conversation

Illustrative photo · Irving, James E., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

source: The Conversation: Movies ↗

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 ↗