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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.

La Divina Comedia, Inferno XVIII by Sandro Botticelli ( 1481-88) Kupferstichkabinett, Berlin (Public Domain)
21 April, 2020 - 00:45 Roberto Volterri

‘Diabolus in Musica’ The Devil Is In The Music

Three, the Triad, is a perfect number, the number that distinguishes the Holy Trinity and the three theological virtues, of Faith, Hope and Charity. Three, in the Jewish Kabbalàh , also indicates the...
Battle Scene. Credit: zef art / Adobe Stock
19 April, 2020 - 14:03 Aleksa Vučković

Battle of Bannockburn: A Scottish Hero Lights the Flame of Freedom

Many brave leaders stepped up for the Battle of Bannockburn and answered the call of the pleading Scottish folk - leading the brave in a fight against the oppressor. One such man was Robert the Bruce...
La conversion de Saint Paul by Luca Giordano (1690), Museum of Fine Arts of Nancy. (Public Domain)
17 April, 2020 - 23:38 Jonathon Perrin

The First Prophets: Inside The Minds Of The World’s Oldest Religious Founders

"Let us be quiet, that we may hear the whispers of the gods." This quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson hints at the subjective experience of religious revelation - the revealing of a higher truth to a...
Aeneas fleeing from Troy
16 April, 2020 - 20:25 pkoutoupis

History Versus Legend: In Search of Aeneas, the Trojan Refugee

Roman mythology designates Aeneas as the founder of the great nation of Rome and ancestor to its peoples. In fact, his story begins long before Rome came into existence. While the Romans lay claim to...
The sorties of many brave Indian queens have been lost to history. Source: jozefklopacka/Adobe Stock
16 April, 2020 - 18:51 Saurav Ranjan Datta

Remembering Brave Indian Queens: 10 Powerhouses History has Forgotten

Just like Gaea, the embodiment of Mother Earth in Greek mythology, India also has a concept of Adi Parashakti, the supreme mother who is behind the creation of the entire universe, the cosmos, and...
Does Historical Account of ‘Chariots in the Clouds’ Actually Describe UFOs?
15 April, 2020 - 23:35 Riley Winters

Does Historical Account of ‘Chariots in the Clouds’ Actually Describe UFOs?

…a certain prodigious and incredible phenomenon appeared; I suppose the account of it would seem to be a fable…were not the events that followed it of so considerable a nature as to deserve such...
Still life with Bible by Vincent van Gogh (1885) Van Gogh Museum (Public Domain)
15 April, 2020 - 23:12 jim willis

Who Wrote The Bible?

Considering the fact that the Bible is the bestselling book of all time with several copies in many homes, one would get diverse responses to the question: Who wrote the Bible? Many Jews, Christians...
The Fall of the Giants by Jacob Jordaens (1636 – 1638) Museo del Prado (Public Domain)
14 April, 2020 - 01:35 ashley cowie

Measuring Up Real World Archaeological Giants

Strabo, Philostratus and Pliny all wrote about mythological giants: Antaeus, Ilio son of Hercules , Orestes, Cyclops and many others, and one of the most common components of creation myths found in...
Medieval village with key players from the hierarchy including: the king, queen, priests, monks and soldiers. Source: Matrioshka / Adobe stock
13 April, 2020 - 19:01 Aleksa Vučković

Feudalism and the Medieval Village Hierarchy

Life in a medieval village was surely no fairytale. Hard work, poverty, uncertainty of life and its comforts, the iron fist of the feudal lord - the disadvantages were numerous, and benefits few and...
African warrior woman. Credit: Coka / Adobe Stock
12 April, 2020 - 22:49 Jonathan Emily ...

Baptized in Blood: Queen Njinga of Ndongo-Matamba

“I never feared facing a group of 25 armed soldiers, except if they had muskets.” —Njinga, 1657 Twenty years after Elizabeth’s death, a Mbundu woman in southwestern Africa became the talk of the...
John Martin’s “Seventh Plague of Egypt” (1823), in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Ascension Number 60.1157. Source: Public Domain
12 April, 2020 - 02:00 Jonathon Perrin

Passover Magic II: Parallels of Egyptian Curses and The Exodus

READ PART I HERE While a crocodile showdown conjured up in Pharaoh’s court sounds incredible enough, it was only the magical warm-up for a series of 10 curses to befall the Egyptian slavers. As far...
Passover Magic I: Secret Egyptian Themes Hidden In Exodus
11 April, 2020 - 14:02 Jonathon Perrin

Passover Magic I: Secret Egyptian Themes Hidden In Exodus

The Jewish Holiday week of Passover is once again upon us. Millions around the world will experience the traditional Seder meal and remember an event from thousands of years ago. They will eat and...
Hares and chickens were revered during the Iron Age. Source: Uros Petrovic / Adobe Stock.
11 April, 2020 - 01:51 ashley cowie

Curious Reverence of the Chicken and the Hare by Iron Age Brits

New archaeological research demonstrates brown hares and chickens held godly status in Iron Age Britain . We invite you to tumble down the rabbit hole and learn about a new archaeological analysis...
Aurochs, Horses and Deer of Lascaux caves (Lascaux / CC BY-SA 3.0)
10 April, 2020 - 18:15 nrushton

Entoptic Imagery in Prehistoric and Pre-Industrial Rock Art

Throughout the world, prehistoric and pre-industrial shamanic cultures have rendered painted imagery onto rock faces; often in deep cave systems, but also in above-ground shelters. This rock art...
Painting of Howe Browne (1788 – 1845), 2nd Marquess of Sligo, the Irish Aristocrat. Source: Unknown author / Public domain
10 April, 2020 - 14:00 Anne Chambers

2nd Marquess of Sligo: The Forgotten Irish ‘Emancipator of Slaves’

The only child and heir of John Denis, 1 st Marquess of Sligo, Westport House estate, Co Mayo and his wife Louisa, daughter and co-heiress of Admiral Richard Howe, British naval hero, victor of the ‘...
The Battle of Agincourt was fought between France and England in 1415. Source: Fxquadro / Adobe Stock.
9 April, 2020 - 23:01 dhwty

The Battle of Agincourt: The Muddy Massacre of the Hundred Years’ War

The Battle of Agincourt was fought in 1415 and is one of the most famous battles of the Hundred Years’ War . During the battle, the English won an unexpected victory over the French, who are recorded...
Socrates: The Father of Western Philosophy
9 April, 2020 - 20:09 Theodoros Karasavvas

Socrates: The Father of Western Philosophy

Socrates, the most famous philosopher of all time, had one of the most subtle and complicated minds we have on record. His death was a dark moment in Athenian and human history, but his thinking and...
Spring Goddess
9 April, 2020 - 13:23 Joanna Gillan

The Ancient Pagan Origins of Easter

Easter is a festival and holiday celebrated by millions of people around the world who honor the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred three days...
Enthroned Sumerian king of Ur, with attendants. Standard of Ur, (c. 2600 BC) (Michel wal /CC BY-SA 3.0)
8 April, 2020 - 23:35 Willem McLoud

The Coveted Title of King of Kish in Ancient Sumer

According to ancient Mesopotamian tradition, Etana, founder of the first dynasty of Kish, was the very first ruler ever to have ruled as king. Not only did the kings of Kish stand tall in the history...
Apothecary vintage set of bottles, herbs and mortar Source: Kiryl Lis/ Adobe Stock
7 April, 2020 - 19:15 Michelle Freson

Mithridate, Universal Antidote or the Ultimate Hoax?

Mithridate was one of the most complex and highly sought-after preparations during the Middle Ages and Renaissance era. This somewhat mythical, ancient tonic which contained more than 60 ingredients...
Mark the Evangelist's symbol is the winged lion, the Lion of Saint Mark. Inscription: PAX TIBI MARCE EVANGELISTA MEVS ("peace be upon you, Mark, my evangelist"). The same lion is also symbol of Venice (Public Domain)
7 April, 2020 - 02:46 Andrew Michael Chugg

Was Alexander the Great Entombed In Venice In Disguise As St Mark?

The Venetians themselves tell how in 828 AD two of their merchants, Tribunus and Rusticus, fetched a mummy from Alexandria in Egypt, which was said to contain the corpse of St Mark the Evangelist...
Bodhisattvas of Mahayana Buddhism. Source: yuliana_s / Adobe Stock.
6 April, 2020 - 23:01 dhwty

Bodhisattvas – Selfless Saviors of Mahayana Buddhism

In Buddhism, a bodhisattva, in its most general sense, refers to a person who is on his/her way to becoming a buddha. More specifically, bodhisattvas are savior-like beings who forsake their own...
Famous structure of the Nuragic civilization. Su Nuraxi of Barumini, included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites since 1997
5 April, 2020 - 22:54 Kristen C

The Mysterious Nuragic Civilization of Sardinia

Throughout the ancient island of Sardinia, the story of the indigenous Nuragic civilization lies obscured by unanswered questions. Although one can examine thousands of their laboriously-assembled...
Medieval soldier at war. Credit: Andrey Kiselev / Adobe Stock
4 April, 2020 - 23:23 Aleksa Vučković

The Battle of Tours - A Decisive Fight for Europe’s Future

The early medieval world of our ancestors was built upon struggles and decisive battles. The emerging nations united the broken tribes, expanded their borders, conquered their enemies, and often...

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