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From the powerful civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Indus Valley, to the fearsome yet sophisticated society of the Vikings, the ancient world was a surprising and challenging place. Here we feature some of the most seminal and influential events and people throughout history, that have helped shape the world we know today.

Cursus Publicus, ancient Roman courier and transportation logistics masterpiece, fuelled the Roman Empire's success. Source: Bill Perry/Adobe Stock
10 November, 2023 - 21:59 Aleksa Vučković

Cursus Publicus: The Ingenious Postal System of the Roman Empire

No great empire is truly functional without a proper system of communication and transport. Logistics are what keeps a vast realm ticking like a good mechanism, and what brings it together into one...
Cleopatra giving a speech in Egypt. Source: unai / Adobe Stock.
10 November, 2023 - 19:52 Robbie Mitchell

44 BC was a Terrible Year for Cleopatra and Egypt (Video)

In 44 BC, Cleopatra and Egypt faced a catastrophic event that would shape their destiny. A volcanic eruption , with far-reaching global consequences, struck the world, impacting Egypt severely. The...
Security features in ancient tomb. Source: YouTube Screenshot / Smithsonian Channel.
10 November, 2023 - 15:59 Robbie Mitchell

What Maximum Security Meant for Ancient Tomb Raiders (Video)

The kings of the Han Dynasty went to extraordinary lengths to protect their tombs , and within these fortified resting places, ancient tomb raiders faced an imposing challenge. The tomb in this video...
Mummy of Pharaoh Seqenenre Tao (Public Domain)
10 November, 2023 - 01:00 Robbie Mitchell

Why Was This Pharaoh’s Face Mutilated? (Video)

The mystery surrounding the mutilated face of Pharaoh Seqenenre Tao has puzzled historians and Egyptologists for centuries. Discovered in a hidden network of tunnels, Seqenenre Tao burial alongside...
Traditional cremation ceremony in Bali. Source: Victoria Boroda / Adobe Stock
9 November, 2023 - 17:56 ancient-origins

From India and Taiwan to Tibet, the Living Assist the Dead in their Passage

Many people see death as a rite of a passage : a journey to some new place, or a threshold between two kinds of being. Zoroastrians believe that there is a bridge of judgment that each person who...
Legendary Iranian king Rostam, depicted in this 7th century CE mural at Panjikent, Sogdia, with an elongated skull in the fashion of the Alchon Huns (Public Domain)
8 November, 2023 - 20:00 Robbie Mitchell

The Huns Used a Grotesque Practice to Unify Their People (Video)

The Huns , infamous invaders of the Roman Empire , employed a unique practice to distinguish and unify their people. Recent archaeological investigations and DNA analyses have shed light on their...
Close up of Old Croghan Man’s nails (National Museum of Ireland)
8 November, 2023 - 15:56 Robbie Mitchell

Why Does This Ancient Corpse Have a Manicure? (Video)

In central Ireland, beneath the looming presence of Croghan Hill, lies a mystery shrouded in history. Known simply as the Old Croghan Man , his true name remains a riddle lost to time. Archaeologists...
Remains of a man killed by Vesuvius eruption. Source: YouTube Screenshot / Smithsonian Channel.
8 November, 2023 - 00:51 Robbie Mitchell

How One Man Stood His Ground Against Mt. Vesuvius (Video)

In the shadow of the looming Mt. Vesuvius, amidst the chaos and impending doom, one lone figure defied the overwhelming odds . This individual, clad in a soldier's uniform, displayed remarkable...
Easter Island. Source: Nadge / Adobe Stock.
7 November, 2023 - 15:58 Robbie Mitchell

How the Civilization on Easter Island Collapsed (Video)

The civilization on Easter Island faced a complex and ultimately catastrophic decline. Initially, this tiny island boasted a lush palm forest and abundant bird species, allowing its inhabitants, the...
This ancient Egyptian tomb may have been ransacked by priests. Source: YouTube Screenshot / Smithsonian Channel.
7 November, 2023 - 01:00 Robbie Mitchell

Was This Ancient Egyptian Tomb Ransacked by Priests? (Video)

In the heart of the Valley of the Kings lies a mysterious tomb, designated as KV64. This mysterious burial site unveils a tumultuous chapter in ancient Egypt's history. The tomb , untouched and...
This sacrificed Inca child, known as the Llull Maiden #23, was found on a mountain in Argentina a number of years ago and shares similarities with the sacrificed child Inca mummies found on Ampato volcano, Peru. Source: © Johan Reinhard, Ph.D . (used with permission)
6 November, 2023 - 20:00 Robbie Mitchell

Is the Inca Maiden the World's Best-Preserved Mummy? (Video)

The Inca Ice Maiden , an incredible find from the Andean mountains of South America in 1999 has astonished the world since her discovery. An archaeological excavation led by Dr. Johan Reinhard...
An embracing couple in medieval dress, symbolic of ancient love stories of history. Source: Karrrtinki/Adobe Stock
6 November, 2023 - 17:58 Robbie Mitchell

7 Ancient Love Stories That Shook the World

In the annals of history, there exist tales of love that transcend the boundaries of time and society, romances that have left a permanent mark on the world. From the passionate but doomed romance of...
Various cultures have created jewelry and other talismans to protect themselves from the negative effects of what has come to be known as the evil eye. Source: Dennis Skley / CC BY ND 2.0
5 November, 2023 - 21:53 Joanna Gillan

Warding Off the Evil Eye: Ancient Rings and Phallic Talismans

For thousands of years, people have been plagued by the haunting belief that envious or disdainful gazes could bring them harm, injury, bad luck or even death. In response, various cultures have...
Otzi the Iceman as he was found. (Public Domain)
5 November, 2023 - 20:00 Robbie Mitchell

Was Otzi the Iceman a Victim of Human Sacrifice? (Video)

Otzi , the famous Iceman discovered high in the Ötztal Alps in 1991, presents a perplexing mystery in the realm of archaeology. It was long believed Otzi had been murdered, but recent investigations...
British Monarchy. Source: bennymarty / Adobe Stock.
5 November, 2023 - 15:59 Robbie Mitchell

How the British Monarchy Has Survived for So Long (Video)

The British monarchy's enduring legacy can be attributed to a blend of tradition and adaptability. Its remarkable longevity highlights its ability to evolve with the times, as well as its adept...
At Tlacaxipehualiztli, Aztec priests wore the skin of sacrifice victims. Source: de Art / Adobe Stock.
4 November, 2023 - 21:50 Joanna Gillan

At this Aztec Festival, Priests Wore Capes of Human Skin from Sacrifice Victims

Few festivals of the ancient world are as strikingly eerie and gruesome as the Aztecs' Tlacaxipehualiztli. Held annually during the second month of the Aztec calendar, Tlacaxipehualiztli was a...
King Charles II of Spain. (Public Domain)
4 November, 2023 - 15:53 Robbie Mitchell

How Charles II of Spain’s Inbreeding Plunged Europe Into War (Video)

In the 17th century, Charles II of Spain, the last of the Spanish Habsburgs , ruled one of the world's largest empires. However, behind the façade of royal strength depicted in paintings of the era,...
The ancient mummy of a noblewoman. Source: YouTube Screenshot / Smithsonian Channel.
4 November, 2023 - 00:57 Robbie Mitchell

X-Ray of an Ancient Mummy Reveals Details of Noblewoman's Life (Video)

In the unfolding discovery at Saqqara , an ancient Egyptian mummy , dating back two and a half millennia, was unveiled. Archaeologists, in anticipation, examined the coffin of a noblewoman. What...
Mesopotamian cylinder seal showing Sumerians drinking beer with straws. Source: Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative / CC by SA 4.0.
3 November, 2023 - 21:59 Joanna Gillan

Sumerians Used Straws to Drink Beer from Shared Vessels!

In the quest to uncover the everyday lives of ancient civilizations, archaeologists have stumbled upon some fascinating finds. Among these intriguing artifacts are the beer pots of ancient Sumer ,...
Hermanubis, a syncretism of Hermes from Greek mythology and Anubis from Egyptian mythology. Source: Rafel Miro / Flickr.
3 November, 2023 - 19:58 Robbie Mitchell

The Ancient Greeks Became Fascinated with Ancient Egypt (Video)

Ancient Greece's engagement with Ancient Egypt is a remarkable tale of cultural exchange. Greek influence in Egypt resulted in a captivating fusion of traditions. Along Egypt's Mediterranean coast,...
Kabayan cave mummy of the ancient Ibaloi people, Philippines. Tadolo/ Flickr
2 November, 2023 - 14:18 mrreese

Fire Mummies - The Smoked Human Remains of the Kabayan Caves

Mummification of the deceased is a well-known practice from ancient times. Most notably, the Egyptians utilized a mummification process that led to today’s cliché image of a deceased body covered in...
The undecorated tomb KV64. Source: YouTube Screenshot / Smithsonian Channel.
2 November, 2023 - 00:56 Robbie Mitchell

Why Was This Valley of the Kings Tomb Undecorated? (Video)

In January 2011, Swiss archaeologists stumbled upon an unexpected find in a remote corner of the Valley of the Kings. They were initially focused on excavating the known tomb, KV40, but during their...
This group of figures depict an early Roman victory. Marcus Furius Camillus, sometimes called the second founder of Rome, is shown in his victory over Brennus, King of the Gauls. Source: Slices of Light/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
1 November, 2023 - 21:56 Marc Hyden

More Than a Founder, Marcus Furius Camillus Was an Exemplar of Roman Virtue

While ancient Rome achieved many awe-inspiring feats, it is also remembered for its controversial citizens—especially its leaders—who embraced unrestrained decadence. Their conduct was so outlandish...
Templar tunnel in Acre, Israel. Source: eldadcarin / Adobe Stock.
1 November, 2023 - 20:00 Robbie Mitchell

Was This Hidden Tunnel Used by the Knights Templar? (Video)

In the historical landscape of the Holy Land during the Crusades , the Templars, a formidable and influential order, established their presence across strategic locations. One such place was the city...

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