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History

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.

Battle of Heliopolis during Napoleon's invasion of Egypt in 1800 by Léon Cogniet. Collections du château de Versailles. (Public Domain)
12 June, 2020 - 21:52 Calumy

IWNW The Egyptian Atlantis, City of Yah Weh and Ra

The name given by Egyptologists for the sacred City of the Sun God, Ra, in ancient Egypt was IWNW or IUNU. It is also affirmed not only by those who have studied the country of the Nile for many...
Ivan the Great tearing the khan's letter to pieces. Source: Aleksey D. Kivshenko / Public domain
12 June, 2020 - 13:58 Aleksa Vučković

The Rise of Ivan the Great and the Birth of The Russian Empire

During the medieval period, ruling over a nation as vast and powerful as Russia was never an easy task. The numerous rulers that came to its helm always experienced their ups and downs, and so this...
Romeo and Juliet
11 June, 2020 - 23:43 Riley Winters

Romeo and Juliet: Not a Shakespearean Tale After All

William Shakespeare's world renowned Romeo and Juliet (written sometime between 1591 and 1595) stands in the historical record as one of the greatest love stories ever written. It has been retold...
Vikings are most often remembered as warriors. Source: Nejron Photo /Adobe Stock
11 June, 2020 - 14:00 ancient-origins

History of the Vikings: All You Need to Know

Vikings are more popular than ever. With dramas such as Vikings and The Last Kingdom the ancient Norsemen have reached new generations. Of course, there is dramatic license taken to particular...
Modern day uprising. Credit: Ciudalia / Adobe Stock
11 June, 2020 - 01:14 ancient-origins

Uprisings After Pandemics: It Happened Before and May Happen Again

As a professor of medieval Europe, I’ve taught the bubonic plague, and how it contributed to the English Peasant Revolt of 1381. Now that America is experiencing widespread unrest in the midst of its...
Harran Ruins. ( Gerry Lynch/ CC BY-SA 3.0)
10 June, 2020 - 19:50 jim willis

Harran Sanliurfa, City Of Prophets And Jerusalem Of Ancient Anatolia

The Lord said to Abram: “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name...
Viking in action. Credit: Nomad_Soul / Adobe Stock
8 June, 2020 - 13:58 dhwty

The Life and Death of Sweyn Forkbeard and His Viking Empire

Sweyn I, known also as Sweyn Tiugeskaeg (which means ‘Forkbeard’), was a Viking chief who became the ruler of Denmark, Norway, and England. His byname, ‘Forkbeard’, is a reference to his long, cleft...
Folding Screen with Design of the Scenes from The Tales of Genji by anonymous painter. Tokyo Fuji Art Museum (Public Domain)
8 June, 2020 - 11:09 MartiniF

The Poetry Behind the Tale of Genji, A Heian Prince of Japan

Written in the early 11th century Japan, Genji Monogatari (源氏物語, T he Tale of Genji ) vividly describes the complex life and relationships of Genji, a handsome courtier, an excellent lover and a...
The glass delusion - a belief in human frailty or a desire to transcend human existence? Source: Creative Commons
7 June, 2020 - 22:46 Caleb Strom

Glass Delusion: Bizarre Medieval Affliction Left People Shattered

There is a story dating back to the 1960s about a man who overdosed on LSD and became permanently insane. In his insanity, he believed himself to be a glass of orange juice. He was afraid to lie down...
Tarot card reading. Credit: Benjavisa Ruangvaree / Adobe Stock
6 June, 2020 - 22:51 ancient-origins

Tarot Resurgence: People Turn to Occult in Uncertain Times

Faced with the uncertainties of life under lockdown, is it any surprise that many people are turning to methods of fortune telling such as tarot cards ? Journalists are often tempted to ask whether...
Deciphering the Deities of Hinduism
6 June, 2020 - 01:48 manharsharma

Deciphering the Deities of Hinduism

There are no ancient civilizations that have not practiced some kind of religion. When we study the history of the oldest and the earliest civilizations, we do not find exact dates or traces of...
The epic force that was Genghis Khan.
5 June, 2020 - 21:18 dhwty

Genghis Khan: What Transformed Temujin Borjigin into an Unstoppable Force Bent on World Domination?

Genghis Khan was one of the most famous conquerors in the world history. He was the founder and first Great Khan of the Mongol Empire. Although his beginnings were obscure and seemingly insignificant...
Daniel in the Lions’ Den by Thomas Agnew and Sons, (1892) (Public Domain)
5 June, 2020 - 19:17 jim willis

Anticipating Armageddon: The Interpretation of Daniel’s Dream

“But Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal it up so that it will not be understood until the end times, when travel and education shall be vastly increased! ( Daniel 12:4). The traditional date...
Trade in Ancient Egypt portrayed in ‘Israel in Egypt’ by Edward Poynter Source: Edward Poynter / Public Domain
5 June, 2020 - 14:10 dhwty

The Vagaries of Trade in Ancient Egypt

Along with a lust for building enigmatic and long lasting structures, trade was an important feature of Ancient Egypt . The ancient Egyptians traded with many lands that bordered their country,...
The Nephilim Tradition From Ancient Sumer
3 June, 2020 - 18:46 Willem McLoud

The Nephilim Tradition From Ancient Sumer

The oldest literary tradition about great heroic kings claiming to have been scions of the gods dates back to the Sumerian King List in which the First Dynasty of Uruk is described as having been...
Representational image of Moors in Spain. Source: Théodore Chassériau / Public domain
2 June, 2020 - 18:53 dhwty

Deciphering the Truth Behind the Moors in Spain

Al-Andalus is the name given to the Iberian Peninsula when it was under Muslim rule. Islam arrived in that region with the arrival of the Moors during the 8 th century AD, and succeeded in conquering...
2 June, 2020 - 01:24 ashley cowie

Legacies of Otherworldly Celtic Faerie Kings

The Fairy Queen is a famous mythological figure featuring in Irish and British folklore for at least 1000 years, who after Shakespeare's influence, was often named Titania or Mab. In Irish folklore,...
A Deadly Formula - Why Viking Weapons and Armor Were So Effective
1 June, 2020 - 23:07 Aleksa Vučković

A Deadly Formula - Why Viking Weapons and Armor Were So Effective

Nothing continues to be so inspiring and thrilling from early medieval history such as the Viking Age. This exciting historical period turned the nations of Europe upside down, and ushered in a new,...
How the German House of Hanover ruled Britain for 200 Years
1 June, 2020 - 14:01 dhwty

How the German House of Hanover ruled Britain for 200 Years

The House of Hanover (formally known as the House of Brunswick-Lüneburg, Hanover line) is a German royal house that came to rule Great Britain. The Hanoverians, as they are known, gained the British...
Do Akhenaten’s Links With Shavuot Shed New Light on Moses? – Part 2
30 May, 2020 - 23:01 Jonathon Perrin

Do Akhenaten’s Links With Shavuot Shed New Light on Moses? – Part 2

Buried beneath the themes of first fruits and wheat offerings lie deeper connections between Shavuot and Akhenaten. These are suggestive and persuasive and go far beyond delicious foods and...
The origins of the Jewish festival Shavuot’s traditions are obscure. But what if they could be linked to Pharaoh Akhenaten, offering a new view on Moses? Pictures: Representation of Moses’ famous crossing of the sea. Source: Vlastimil Šesták / Adobe stock
30 May, 2020 - 02:06 Jonathon Perrin

An Akhenaten Connection to the Harvest Festival of Shavuot - Part 1

The Jewish festival of Shavuot is taking place around the world. It is an ancient celebration of the spring harvest of grains and first fruits. It is the year’s first wheat harvest, and Jews around...
The Crucifixion by André d’Ypres / Dreux Budé Master, (before 1440) Getty Centre (Public Domain)
29 May, 2020 - 16:46 Alessandra Filiaci

Chronovisor: The Time Machine That Captured The Crucifixion of Jesus

Imagine a time machine , that could capture, among other things, three dimensional holograms of the crucifixion and death of Jesus; a speech by Napoleon; Cicero's first speech against Catiline; and...
Chinese Warrior Woman
29 May, 2020 - 16:38 Natalia Klimczak

The Dramatic True Story Behind Disney's Mulan

Hua Mulan is one of the most legendary women of ancient China. Her heroic actions were first recorded in ancient texts, retold in the famous poem Ballad of Mulan , and later popularized in the 1998...
The total solar eclipse of May 28 585 caused a cease in fighting between the Medians and the Lydians. Source: zef art / Adobe Stock
28 May, 2020 - 18:57 ashley cowie

May 28, 585 BC: The Battle Of The Solar Eclipse

On this day, 28 May, in 585 BC, a fierce battle was underway in Asia Minor when the light vanished in the middle of the day causing the warring armies to lay down their arms and declare a truce. This...

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