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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.

English Folklore: The Forgotten Death of Mischief Night
16 October, 2016 - 01:50 Charles Christian

English Folklore: The Forgotten Death of Mischief Night

In the post-war years of the 1950’s through to the late 1980’s (when it began to be usurped by Halloween) Mischief Night was the “big” night before Bonfire Night, whereas Halloween on the 31st was...
The Eerie Remains of an Ill-Fated Ship Still Preserves its Cargo Beneath the Mud
15 October, 2016 - 03:52 Natalia Klimczak

The Eerie Remains of an Ill-Fated Ship That Still Preserves its Cargo Beneath the Mud

It was a cold January day when a beautiful cargo ship called Amsterdam disappeared under the waters of the English Channel. When researchers found it once again in 1969 they couldn't believe its...
The Persian War Machine: The Immortals – Part II
15 October, 2016 - 02:08 Cam Rea

The Persian War Machine: The Immortals – Part II

The Persian war machine made empires beforehand look miniature. The Persians were able to take the best from all over the Near East and turn it into a force that could not be defeated for many...
Philip’s Fountain: The Oldest Still-In-Use Hydraulic Work in the World
15 October, 2016 - 00:44 Kerry Sullivan

Philip’s Fountain: The Oldest Still-In-Use Hydraulic Work in the World

The Filippeios Krini (Philip’s Fountain) is a 2,300-year-old fountain that was commissioned by King Philip II of Macedonia. It has miraculous survived in working order to the present day, making it...
Was Tamana a Universal Civilization of Mankind Before the Great Flood?
13 October, 2016 - 21:53 Clyde Winters

Was Tamana a Universal Civilization of Mankind Before the Great Flood?

Was there once a Universal World Culture? A researcher in Hawaii, Dr. Vomos-Toth Bator argued there was such a culture, and he presented over 1,000,000 place names from around the world to prove his...
The Pyramid Complex and the Hopi: Creation Myth Sheds Light on Building Plan
13 October, 2016 - 15:10 Thomas O. Mills

The Pyramid Complex and the Hopi: Creation Myth Sheds Light on Building Plan

The Egyptians did not build the pyramids. No one living in the area can tell you; who built them, why they were built, when they were built, how they were built or why the pyramids at the complex...
Phoenicians: Creating what is now known as the Alphabet
13 October, 2016 - 03:46 ancient-origins

Phoenicians: Creating what is now known as the Alphabet

A-B-C-D-E-F-G ... This famous sequence of letters known to much of the world dates back to the 16th century BC. A fairly small group of traders and merchants known as the Phoenicians created the...
The Persian War Machine: Organization and Command – Part I
12 October, 2016 - 16:59 Cam Rea

The Persian War Machine: Organization and Command – Part I

The Persian war machine made empires beforehand look miniature. The Persians were able to take the best from all over the Near East and turn it into a force that could not be defeated for many...
Albertine to See the Police Surgeon.
12 October, 2016 - 14:41 Riley Winters

The Fallen Women: Were Victorian Prostitutes Really Fallen?

The Victorian era is notoriously known as an era of female repression: sex, drugs and rock and roll—or rather, their Victorian counterparts—were believed to be highly taboo topics of conversation,...
Lucretia And Tarquin, 17th century painting
11 October, 2016 - 01:50 MartiniF

The Rape of Lucretia: A History of the Ancient Wife Who Changed the Destiny of Rome

Sextus Tarquinius was the son of Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, the last king of Rome who was engaged in the siege of Ardea at the time. One day, Sextus invited his friends for supper and drinks at his...
Exhibition showing salt production in Museo do Mar in Vigo, Spain. Source: Natalia Klimczak
10 October, 2016 - 00:49 Natalia Klimczak

Salt: Treasure of the Ancient World and Highly-Valued Currency of the Roman Empire

Salt was one of the greatest treasures of the ancient world. Production facilities dedicated to the mineral provided work for many people, but now most of the sites are destroyed or hidden deeply...
Members of the Habsburg family
9 October, 2016 - 00:41 Natalia Klimczak

Weird Ideas, Weird Behaviors: Bringing the Habsburg Family Skeletons Out of the Closet

The Habsburg family is one of the most important royal families in the history of Europe. This may be somewhat surprising, as many of the rulers from this family behaved strangely, had some weird...
Terrifying Mesoamerican Skull Racks Were Erected to Deter Enemies
8 October, 2016 - 00:42 dhwty

Terrifying Mesoamerican Skull Racks Were Erected to Deter Enemies

A skull rack, known also as Tzompantli in the Nahuatl language, is an object documented to have been used in several Mesoamerican civilizations, including the Aztecs, the Toltecs, and the Mayas...
The Untold Story of Walpurga Hausmannin: An Infamous German Witch
7 October, 2016 - 03:53 Natalia Klimczak

The Untold Story of Walpurga Hausmannin: An Infamous German Witch

The legend of Walpurga Hausmannin is one of the scariest witch stories in the world. It is told as a tale of one of the most horrible killers in German history. However, the story seems to be half-...
Are Stone Circles Ancient Pregnancy Calendars?
6 October, 2016 - 14:55 David Halpin

Are Stone Circles Ancient Pregnancy Calendars?

Even today, giving birth can be one of the most dangerous moments in a woman's life. In ancient times it would have been even more so. Matriarchal societies would have tried to ensure the safest...
Cyrus the Great’s Last Campaign: Who Killed Cyrus? - Part II
6 October, 2016 - 01:58 Cam Rea

Cyrus the Great’s Last Campaign: Who Killed Cyrus? - Part II

According to the popular Greek historian Herodotus, Cyrus went on his last campaign to subdue the Massagetae, a tribe located in the southernmost portion of the steppe regions of modern-day...
The Lasting Legacy of Wiseman Confucius
4 October, 2016 - 03:51 dhwty

The Lasting Legacy of Wiseman Confucius

Confucius was a Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher who lived 2,500 years ago. In his life, he was convinced that his teachings had not made any impact on Chinese society. However,...
Cyrus the Great: Conquests and Death! – Part I
4 October, 2016 - 01:50 Cam Rea

Cyrus the Great: Conquests and Death! – Part I

Cyrus the Great or “Cyrus II” was King of Anshan from 559-530 BCE and known as the King of Four Corners of the world and founder of the Achaemenid Empire. Cyrus was the son of King Cambyses I of...
Judgment in the Hall of Truth and Preparations for the Afterlife
3 October, 2016 - 21:45 ancient-origins

Judgment in the Hall of Truth and Preparations for the Afterlife

A dead noble stands trembling in the Hall of Truth. Behind the noble, Horus, the half-falcon, half-man ruler of Earth, unleashes a piercing stare at the quivering man. Thoth, the sharp-beaked, ibis-...
Andreas Vesalius: The Medieval Physician Who Loved Dissecting Humans
3 October, 2016 - 00:54 dhwty

Andreas Vesalius: The Medieval Physician Who Loved Dissecting Humans

Andreas Vesalius was a physician and anatomist who lived during the 16th century AD. Up until this point of time, the standard authority on anatomy was the work of Galen, a 2nd / 3rd century Greek...
Spirit Cave Mummy: The Incredible Discovery of Kennewick Man
1 October, 2016 - 14:48 Kerry Sullivan

The Incredible Discovery of the Spirit Cave Mummy

Many cultural traditions surrounding death are meant to preserve a person’s legacy. Yet few souls could ever have expected to be remembered for so long. Nor could they possibly imagine the amount of...
Apeiron, The Source of All Things and The Philosophies of Anaximenes
1 October, 2016 - 03:54 dhwty

Apeiron, The Source of All Things and The Philosophies of Anaximenes

Anaximenes was a Pre-Socratic philosopher who belonged to the Milesian school. According to tradition, Anaximenes was a student and associate of Anaximander of Miletus. Alternatively, Anaximenes is...
The Birth of Arthashastra: Ancient Handbook of Science of Politics in India, and Those Who Wielded It
1 October, 2016 - 01:57 MartiniF

The Birth of Arthashastra: Ancient Handbook of Science of Politics in India, and Those Who Wielded It

In 1904, a copy of an ancient book which had been lost for more than 1400 years was discovered in India. A modest book written on palm leaves, its outward appearance was proven to be deceiving as the...
Searching for Celtic Trade Routes and the Stories Behind Them
30 September, 2016 - 14:46 Natalia Klimczak

Searching for Celtic Trade Routes and the Stories Behind Them

Before the Roman Empire dominated Europe, a group of tribes known now as the Celts created a trade system which allowed them to communicate and sell things over large distances. It is known that...

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