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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.

Ancient Sacred Sites Triangularly Aligned by the Footsteps of the Gods
17 June, 2016 - 14:48 Freddy Silva

Ancient Sacred Sites Triangularly Aligned by the Footsteps of the Gods

Ancient architects not only placed temples sharing commonalities according to perfect triangles, they did so from the sky and across vast distances. The Hindu Trimurti is the eastern equivalent of...
Intellectual, Code Breaker, Blasphemer: George Smith and the Ancient Chaldean Account of Genesis
16 June, 2016 - 15:02 tedloukes

Intellectual, Code Breaker, Blasphemer: George Smith and the Ancient Chaldean Account of Genesis

George Smith was born in 1840 in London to poor parents, and consequently left school at the tender age of fifteen to take up an apprenticeship with Messrs Bradburry and Evans, a firm of engravers...
Golden Lion banner of the newly annexed Kingdom of Rus at the Battle of Grunwald
16 June, 2016 - 03:45 Natalia Klimczak

The Battle of Grunwald: An Iconic Medieval Battle of Central and Eastern Europe

During medieval times, the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania had one main enemy – the Teutonic Order. One of the most important battles between these armies took place on July 15,...
Medusa and the Gorgons: The Origins of the Legendary Tale
14 June, 2016 - 19:10 Cam Rea

Medusa and the Gorgons: The Origins of the Legendary Tale

In the middle is the Gorgon Medusa, an enormous monster about whom snaky locks twist their hissing mouths; her eyes stare malevolently, and under the base of her chin the tail-ends of serpents have...
The Secrets and Treasures of KV5, the Largest Tomb Ever Found in Egypt
14 June, 2016 - 14:58 Natalia Klimczak

The Secrets and Treasures of KV5, the Largest Tomb Ever Found in Egypt

The treasures of Tutankhamun have been remembered as the greatest discovery in Egypt. However, in 1995, the Valley of the Kings revealed another magnificent secret – the tomb of at least 52 sons of...
Deriv; Sassanid-era Cataphract Reenactor, and The Battle of Hormozdgan, April 28, 224 CE.
13 June, 2016 - 18:56 Cam Rea

The House of Arsacid Falls to the House of Sasan: A Challenge, and Military Might – Part II

Ardashir proclaimed himself king of Persis by 208 CE. His brothers protested this and Ardashir disposed of them. If his brother challenges were not enough, many local petty kings of Persis refused to...
The Triple Hecate, 1795 William Blake.
13 June, 2016 - 00:37 Natalia Klimczak

Deities or Vampires? Hecate and other Blood-Drinking Spirits of Ancient Times

Vampires are a relatively recent creation. However, most of the ancient world knew of the practice of consuming blood. It seems that this was a fascinating ritual centuries before the term ''vampire...
Palazzo Vecchio by night.
11 June, 2016 - 21:50 dhwty

Poppi Castle and the Murderous Madam Matilda

Poppi Castle is a medieval castle overlooking the Casentino Valley in the province of Arezzo in the Italian region of Tuscany. This castle is said to have been built around the second half of the 13...
Emperor Caracalla, and Cataphracts circa 101 AD.
10 June, 2016 - 15:56 Cam Rea

The House of Arsacid Falls to the House of Sasan: It Started with a Wedding – Part I

Incredibly, the end of the Parthian Empire started with a fake wedding. Before the wedding took place, a civil war had been raging in Parthia between Vologases VI and his brother Artabanus V. After...
The Battle of Carrhae: A crushing defeat of the unstoppable Roman juggernaut by the Parthian Empire
9 June, 2016 - 15:56 Cam Rea

The Battle of Carrhae: A crushing defeat of the unstoppable Roman juggernaut by the Parthian Empire

Ancient Roman invasion forces were considered to be unstoppable juggernauts, but the tables were turned by a formidable Parthian Empire general and devastating tactics. This clash led to one of the...
Mimar Sinan - A Genius Architect for the Ottoman Empire
9 June, 2016 - 03:47 Natalia Klimczak

Mimar Sinan - A Genius Architect for the Ottoman Empire

Mimar Sinan created at least 374 structures in his lifetime. Most of his projects were produced during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, but he also worked for Selim II and Murad III. Sinan was...
Drugs in Ancient Cultures: A History of Drug Use and Effects
9 June, 2016 - 00:44 Liza Knox

Drugs in Ancient Cultures: A History of Drug Use and Effects

The battle against drugs and drug usage rages on today and for good reason. However, with the near constant limelight that the ‘drug war’ receives today, it can seem like the most common drugs have...
The Four Great Beauties, and the Arts of the Courtesans in Ancient China
8 June, 2016 - 16:00 MartiniF

The Four Great Beauties, and the Arts of the Courtesans in Ancient China

The Four Great Beauties are four ancient Chinese women renowned for their beauty which they skillfully exercised to influence Chinese history. Although each of the Four Great Beauties frequently...
Château de Brissac and the Ghost of the Green Lady
8 June, 2016 - 03:47 dhwty

Château de Brissac and the Ghost of the Green Lady

Château de Brissac is a castle located in the commune of Brissac-Quincé, the department of Maine-et-Loire, France. The castle is recorded to have been built during the 11 th century, and has a long...
Mithridates VI of Pontus: The Poison King of Pontus and Aggravation to Rome
7 June, 2016 - 03:43 dhwty

Mithridates VI of Pontus: The Poison King of Pontus and Aggravation to Rome

Mithridates (spelled also as Mithradates) VI, whose full name is Mithridates VI Eupator Dionysius, was a famous king of Pontus, a Hellenistic kingdom in Asia Minor of Persian origin. Mithridates...
How the Light of the Wives of Julius Caesar Was Dimmed by an Egyptian Lover
6 June, 2016 - 21:45 Natalia Klimczak

How the Light of the Wives of Julius Caesar Was Dimmed by an Egyptian Lover

Julius Caesar was married three times. He also had plenty of romances, including a famous one with the last queen of Egypt, Cleopatra VII. Caesar was born on July 13, 100 or 102 BC. During his...
How Europeans saw the Garden of Eden in the Middle Ages. Painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553)
6 June, 2016 - 15:50 David Millar

Was the Garden of Eden a Real Place?

Mention the Garden of Eden to a group of friends and you are likely to get as many suggestions on its true location as people you ask, plus a fair number who will deny that it was ever a real place...
Dogs of War: Ancient History of Animals in Warfare
5 June, 2016 - 15:45 lizleafloor

Dogs of War: Ancient History of Animals in Warfare

Man and beast have partnered for various reasons over tens of thousands of years—almost always for food or protection. The dirty history of animals in warfare is sometimes inspiring, sometimes...
Evicted from a Cemetery and into a Museum: The Multitude of Mummies of Guanajuato
4 June, 2016 - 21:49 dhwty

Evicted from a Cemetery and into a Museum: The Multitude of Mummies of Guanajuato

The mummies of Guanajuato are a group of naturally preserved bodies that were found in Guanajuato, a city in central Mexico. The story of these mummies dates back to 1833, when the city was hit by an...
A Surprising Japanese Interpretation of the Lost Years of Jesus Christ
4 June, 2016 - 14:37 Natalia Klimczak

A Surprising Japanese Interpretation of the Lost Years of Jesus Christ

Most Christians believe that Jesus was born and died in the Middle East. However, there is a small group of people in Japan who believe a completely different story. Some Japanese researchers think...
Exposing the Secret Sex Lives of Famous Greeks and Romans in the Ancient World
3 June, 2016 - 03:46 valdar

Exposing the Secret Sex Lives of Famous Greeks and Romans in the Ancient World

In the ancient world, the public were not so privy to information about the scandalous sex lives of central societal figures. Still, sexual rumors have always existed and, in this way, historical...
Royal Scandal in the Court of The Queen of Denmark-Norway
1 June, 2016 - 03:39 dhwty

Royal Scandal in the Court of The Queen of Denmark-Norway

During the latter half of the 18 th century, Denmark-Norway was ruled by a king by the name of Christian VII. His wife was Caroline Matilda of Great Britain. Christian’s reign, which lasted from 1788...
The History of the Incredible Vasa Warship and its Humiliating Shipwreck
1 June, 2016 - 00:47 dhwty

The History of the Incredible Vasa Warship and its Humiliating Shipwreck

The Vasa was a Swedish warship that was built during the early part of the 17 th century. The construction of this warship was commissioned by the King of Sweden, Gustav II Adolf, whose aim was to...
Deadly Strategies and Ruthless Tactics of the Ancient Assassins
31 May, 2016 - 14:38 dhwty

Deadly Strategies and Ruthless Tactics of the Ancient Assassins

Assassinations have existed for a very long time in the history of human civilization. The goal of such covert activities was often to get rid of important characters in the enemy’s camp, be it...

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