Jessica Rotondi

Jessica Pearce Rotondi

Latest from this author

How Coffee Fueled Revolutions—And Revolutionary Ideas

From the Ottoman Empire to the American and French Revolutions, coffeehouses have offered a place for (sober) people to discuss new waves of thought.

Detail of the 'bikini girls' mosaic showing girls playing sports, 315-350 A.D.

While bras shape women’s bodies, the development of bras has been shaped by world events.

Women have been held to ever-shifting, often extreme standards of beauty for centuries. But some have taken matters into their own (well-groomed) hands.

American bombers dropped more than 2 million tons of bombs over the country as part of a covert attempt to wrest power from communist forces.

The Imperial State Crown in the Jewel House, Tower of London.

The centuries-old ceremony is a mixture of political and religious rites replete in symbolism, tradition and pomp.

Why the Candy Bar Market Exploded After World War I

By the end of the 1920s, more than 40,000 different candy bars were being made in the U.S.

How World War I Helped Women Shed the Corset

A combination of cultural shifts and metal rationing spelled the demise of the stiff undergarment.

How do populations survive a pandemic? History offers some strategies.

Secret Societies

Discover the intriguing history, enigmatic rituals and hidden knowledge of renowned secret societies such as the Knights Templar, Freemasons, Skull and Bones and, of course, the Illuminati.

Vietnam War

The conflict in Vietnam took root during an independence movement against French colonial rule and evolved into a Cold War confrontation.

A plate brimming with homemade chocolate chip cookies

Born at New England's Toll House Restaurant, chocolate chip cookies quickly rivaled apple pie as America's favorite sweet treat.

Coffee rationing poster from World War II.

Coffee increased energy and alertness on the battlefield, improved morale and was even used by medics to help prevent shock.

More women entered the workforce during the economically tough era, but the jobs they took were relegated to "women's work" and poorly paid.

How Famous Amos Built—And Lost—His Cookie Empire

Wally Amos parlayed his aunt's chocolate chip cookie recipe into a gourmet snack food juggernaut.

Dith Pran circa 1985 in New York City.

The Cambodian photojournalist survived and then exposed atrocities under the Khmer Rouge.

Flames lick the roof of the Queen's private and state apartments in Windsor Castle as smoke darkens further the night sky on November 20, 1992.

Marriage troubles for three out of her four children, humiliating press, a racy book and a fire at Windsor Castle all added to the year's misery.

Berlin Zoo, June 1955.

A proxy culture war was fought between East and West Germany. The unlikely weapon? Animals.

SABLE ISLAND IN NOVA SCOTIA

Deadly mistakes doomed these early European settlements.

Le Chevalier d'Éon

The Chevalier d’Éon (1728-1810) served as a French soldier, diplomat and spy—while living both as 'Charles' and 'Charlotte.'

8 Steps That Paved the Way to the Civil Rights Act of 1964

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was landmark legislation that required decades of actions—and setbacks—to achieve.

Maria Callas, 1969

Callas became the most celebrated operatic soprano of the 20th century, but then her career—and life—were cut short.

Queen Elizabeth II

The queen and the royal family faced significant milestones and challenges during the two decades.

John and Jacqueline Kennedy ride through Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963.

Explore facts about the 1963 JFK assassination, the perpetrator, investigations...and conspiracy theories surrounding the event.

Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio in the judge's chambers where they were married in January 1954.

While Monroe and DiMaggio's marriage was brief and tumultuous, the world became captivated with the ultimate pairing of sports and cinema royalty.

US Presidents Who Became Ill or Incapacitated While in Office

Presidents dating back to George Washington have faced serious health issues while in office. Since 1967, the 25th Amendment has provided clear protocol.

A rear view of the Breakers mansion in Rhode Island, one of the most luxurious homes of the Gilded Age, circa 1900.

Robber barons amassed vast fortunes during the age that began at the start of the Civil War—and ended with a crash.

Queen Elizabeth II coronation

On June 2, 1953, viewers around the globe watched a BBC broadcast of the coronation of 27-year-old Queen Elizabeth II. See highlights.

7 Key Facts About British Royal History

Over its thousand-year reign, the British monarchy has operated within a large set of rules—some of which have changed with the times.

The Korean War

The Cold War conflict was a civil war that became a proxy battle between the superpowers as they clashed over communism and democracy.

US soldiers and sailors in New York City cast their votes in the 1918 General Election

U.S. armed forces have long used the mail to cast their ballots from the front lines.

Swing States

The claim that “every vote counts” is especially true in swing states. And such states have been in play since the election of the nation's second president.

An ancient fresco of the Danza Macabra (Dance of the Death) and Trionfo della Morte (Triumph of the Death)

From a dancing plague to a laughing epidemic, the symptoms were clear—but the culprit was not.

In the wake of the Vietnam War, families of military members who never returned from service banded together to demand an accounting.

History is full of forgotten conflicts that are commonly overlooked in U.S. history.

4 Myths About When Montezuma Met Cortés

The encounter between the Spanish explorer and Aztec king changed the course of history. But the story has long been told from one side.

1885 Tacoma, Washington broadside rallying citizens to an anti-Chinese rally.

In the 1880s, mobs in Tacoma and Seattle forcibly expelled Chinese residents. In Tacoma, town officials organized the action months in advance.

Before The Chinese Exclusion Act, There Was the Page Act

The 1875 Page Act was one of the earliest pieces of federal legislation to restrict immigration to the United States.

9 Unexpected Things Discovered in Osama bin Laden’s Hideout

From al Qaeda emails to Disney films to pornography, the terrorist leader had a wide array of diversions in his Pakistan hideout.

7 Fires That Changed History

Massive fires have wrought devastation—but they've also led to significant reform and rebuilding.

7 Things You May Not Know About Freemasons

What is the secret handshake, and what are those symbols all about, anyway?

Queen Elizabeth II seated on a throne in Westminster Abbey during her coronation on June 2, 1953.

Royal objects appearing in King Charles III's coronation are imbued with history.

Amy Robsart and the Earl of Leicester, circa 1827.

These scandals drew public fascination and scrutiny, compromising the mystique of monarchies across Europe.

An Enigma cipher machine model.

These secret codes enabled secure communication—at least until others found ways to crack them.

Martin Bashir interviews Princess Diana in Kensington Palace in November 1995 for the television program Panorama.

The interview, in which Princess Diana talked about her struggles with mental health and her marriage, rocked the royal family and generated empathy among the public.

Princess Diana and Prince Charles on their wedding day.

The marriage of Prince Charles and Lady Diana unfolded like a fairytale—and the world was riveted.

When Nixon Invaded Cambodia

Following months of secret U.S. bombings on Communist bases, American ground troops were deployed to northern Cambodia on April 28, 1970.

Henry Kissinger’s Mixed Role in the Vietnam War

As Nixon's Secretary of State, Kissinger both escalated the war—and tried to end it.

Freemasons, Masonic square and compasses symbol

Explore the myth that Freemason symbols are secretly embedded in objects and places around the world.

Chicken Nuggets Were Invented in a Laboratory

Before McDonald's pioneered McNuggets for fast food consumption, a Cornell University researcher developed bite-size breaded chicken sticks that could be easily fried and frozen.

The Paris Catacombs

Learn how sinkholes and poor sanitation led to the creation of the Paris Catacombs in the late 18th century.