Locations of events.

In the 16th century, discussions on how to secure one’s life beyond death were waged just as fiercely as the discussions about secure pensions would be waged today. Jakob Heerbrand’s “New Papal Indulgence” shows how Protestant theologians prepared themselves for these discussions.

In 1670, Charles II granted the East India Company all the rights it needed to become a ‘state within a state’ in the Far East. In 1673, John Ogilby published a book for the benefit of investors wondering whether they should buy shares in the East India Company, describing the kind of profit there was to be made there.

In 1518, Spanish pirates captured a ship carrying a diplomat of the Sultan of Fez. The pirates enslaved him and presented him as a gift to the Pope, in whose service he wrote an account of the countries of Africa. For centuries, this book was the only source of information the Christian world had on inland Africa.

Boccaccio dedicated the 99th chapter of his book about the famous women to “Popess” Joan. But did she really exist? And if not, why has this figure survived to this day?

Imagine spending your childhood in the countryside. You can run around barefoot and play as much as you want, without any grown-ups telling you what to do. Sounds like a dream, right? Rousseau thought so too. Some of his contemporaries weren’t convinced and burned his books.