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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.

Life in ancient Egypt
5 July, 2024 - 23:08 ancient-origins

6 Surprising Facts About Life for Egyptian Slaves

The prominence of slavery in ancient Egypt is well-documented, but many aspects of enslaved people's lives remain less known. Here are six lesser-known facts about how Egyptian slaves lived. From...
AI generated Ancient Celtic warrior prepared for battle.
5 July, 2024 - 16:40 pkoutoupis

Warriors and Kings: The 1500-Year Battle for Celtic Britain - An Interview with Martin Wall

We sit down with Martin Wall, author of Warriors and Kings: The 1500-Year Battle for Celtic Britain, to discuss his recent publication, the motivation behind it and more. Petros Koutoupis: Who is...
Samurai and oriental temple in the background, samurai with armor, Generative AI Source: Kaleb/Adobe Stock
4 July, 2024 - 22:56 Robbie Mitchell

Ninja and Shinobi: Fact vs. Fiction (Video)

During Japan’s Sengoku Jidai era, espionage was integral to the strategies of various daimyos. The figure of Hiroyuki, a cook serving a local daimyo while secretly loyal to another lord, illustrates...
Roman baths, Bath, England. Source: ctj71081/CC BY-SA 2.0
4 July, 2024 - 22:49 Robbie Mitchell

How Were Roman Baths Cleaned? (Video)

Roman baths were integral to daily life, serving as communal spaces for exercise, socialization, and relaxation. These baths were architecturally diverse, ranging from small sheds to grand complexes...
Botticelli's illustration from Inferno XV is part of the third round of Inferno, depicting the punishment of those who acted violently against God, nature, and art. Source: Public Domain
3 July, 2024 - 22:50 Robbie Mitchell

How the Medieval Church Instilled Obedience Through Fear (Video)

In medieval Europe , the Catholic Church wielded immense power over the population, primarily through fear. The church used various methods to instill obedience among its followers, one of the most...
Members of the multi-institutional team at the dig site of what is believed to be the home of King Pompey. Source: Mathew Modoono/Northeastern University
3 July, 2024 - 14:57 Gary Manners

Long-Lost Home of King Pompey Unearthed in New Hampshire Dig

Archaeologists from the University of New Hampshire (UNH) and a historian from Northeastern University have collaborated to reveal what they believe is the long-lost homestead of King Pompey. Pompey...
An 18th-century Rococo painting of The Amazon Queen Thalestris in the Camp of Alexander the Great, by Johann Georg Platzer Source: Public Domain
2 July, 2024 - 23:11 Robbie Mitchell

Five Fascinating Tales from the Lives of Hellenistic Royalty (Video)

The Hellenistic Age , spanning three centuries from Alexander the Great's death to the rise of the Roman Empire, was a period of Greek cultural expansion and the establishment of monarchies in Greece...
Pilgrims going to church. Source: Public Domain
1 July, 2024 - 23:02 Robbie Mitchell

Why Did the Puritans Leave England for America? (Video)

Now known as the Pilgrims , the departure of the Puritans from England was spurred by a confluence of religious, political, and social factors during the early 17th century. Emerging from the...
Wall purported to be used to contain Spartacus in Calabria, Italy Source: Archaeological Institute of America
1 July, 2024 - 21:50 Nathan Falde

Archaeologists Find Roman Wall Built to Trap the Legendary Spartacus

In a discovery sure to capture a good deal of public attention, a team of archaeologists have found the remains of a Roman wall built to trap the forces of Spartacus , the escaped former Roman...
Top image: Entrance to Cloggs Cave. Source: David, B et al/Nature
1 July, 2024 - 17:44 Sahir

Longest Tradition: Australian Cave Holds Evidence of 12,000-year-old Ritual

In societies without writing, archaeologically tracing ethnographically known rituals back more than a few hundred years is rare. However, new archaeological evidence has been gleaned from the...
Left; Mummified skull of Ramesses II, Right; Reconstructed face of Ramesses by Cicero Moraes . Source: Left; G. Elliot Smith/Public domain, Right; © Cicero Moraes
1 July, 2024 - 14:39 Gary Manners

Wise Face of Egypt’s Most Powerful Pharaoh Moments Before Death

The face of Ramesses II, or Ramesses the Great, one of ancient Egypt’s most powerful pharaohs, has been meticulously reconstructed by scientists using advanced 3D modeling techniques. This recreation...
Top image: Immortals, Persian warriors bas relief in Darius palace, Persepolis, Iran. Source: grigvovan
30 June, 2024 - 20:02 Robbie Mitchell

What Contributed to the Immense Power of the Persian Empire? (Video)

The Persian Empire , also known as the Achaemenid Empire , was a dominant force from 559 BC to 331 BC, spanning modern-day Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Several factors...
Top image: Medusa by Caravaggio, 1597, shocked ancient Greece. Source: Uffizi Gallery/CC BY-SA 2.0
30 June, 2024 - 19:46 Robbie Mitchell

10 Shocking Facts About the Ancient Greeks

The Ancient Greeks are often hailed as the founders of Western civilization. Celebrated for their advancements in philosophy, democracy, science, and the arts, we tend to view the ancient Greeks...
Tapestry of Vespasian and his two sons Titus and Domitian. Source: Public Domain
29 June, 2024 - 22:40 Robbie Mitchell

Flavian Dynasty: Rebellion, Conspiracy, and Triumph in Rome (Video)

The Flavian Dynasty ruled the Roman Empire from 69 to 96 AD, leaving a notable impact through significant events and leadership. Vespasian, the dynasty's founder, initially governed via his son...
: Statues depicting the high dignitary Nefer and his wife (Abusir, Egypt). Source: Martin Frouz and the Czech Institute of Egyptology, Charles University/Nature
28 June, 2024 - 23:14 Nathan Falde

Ancient Egyptian Scribes Suffered from Arthritis & Other Skeletal Pain

A fascinating study of the skeletal remains of ancient Egyptian scribes from the third millennium BC has revealed the physical costs of this job. While the type of work they did might seem relatively...
Ruins of Lindisfarne monastery. Source: Christopher Down/CC BY 4.0
28 June, 2024 - 19:22 Robbie Mitchell

The Fierce Viking Raid on Lindisfarne Monastery (Video)

The Viking raid on Lindisfarne Monastery in 793 marked a significant event in the history of England. Located on the east coast of Northumbria, Lindisfarne, also known as Holy Island, was a crucial...
Amazons, ancient roman warriors in a battle. Source: neurobite/Adobe Stock
28 June, 2024 - 19:08 Nicholas Costa

“Vaginas Have Received You, And You Know Of Nothing Else!” - Finding The Amazons

Feminist Amazons? In the conclusion to her essay in the Feminist Theology magazine Olga Papamichali writes: “The independent and radical nature of the Amazon spirit changed the way men used to see...
Apotheosis or deification of Roman emperor Claudius. Source: I, Sailko/CC BY-SA 3.0
27 June, 2024 - 20:55 Robbie Mitchell

Retrieving Rome's Last Teutoburg Eagle: Claudius' Quest (Video)

In 9 AD, the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest marked one of Rome's most devastating military defeats, resulting in the loss of three legions and their revered eagle standards. The capture of these...
Battle of Vienna 1683. Source: Public Domain
27 June, 2024 - 20:46 Robbie Mitchell

Siege to Salvation: The 1683 Battle of Vienna

Europe has seen a lot of bloody battles throughout its history, but few have been as pivotal as 1683’s Battle of Vienna. This bloody confrontation between the Ottoman Empire as the aggressors and a...
Archaeologists at work in a large burial field in southeastern Norway, where 40 circular stone formations with cremated bone remains, mostly from children, were found placed in the middle. Source: Museum of Cultural History/Science Norway
27 June, 2024 - 14:48 Nathan Falde

Ancient Stone Circles Cover 2,800-Year-Old Graves of Children in Norway

An ancient burial field in Norway that features more than 40 circular stone grave markers has been found to contain the remains of mostly children, all of whom died more than 2,000 years ago, Norway’...
Portrait of a man dressed like Moctezuma.
26 June, 2024 - 23:57 Aleksa Vučković

The Social Hierarchy of the Aztec Empire: A Complex Human Mechanism

The Aztec Empire, known for its grandeur and sophistication, was one of the most powerful and influential civilizations in Mesoamerican history. Flourishing from the early 14th century until the...
Bas-relief of a Thracian god, 3rd century BC, exhibited in Teteven History Museum. Source: Spiritia/CC BY-SA 3.0
26 June, 2024 - 17:10 Robbie Mitchell

Ancient Thrace: A Melting Pot of Cultures and Conquests (Video)

The Southeastern Balkans, a crucial intersection of Europe and Asia, has long been a region of significant historical importance. In antiquity, this area was known as Thrace, reputedly the birthplace...
Port Erin, Calf of Mann, Isle of Man. Source: tr3gi/Adobe Stock
26 June, 2024 - 16:27 Aleksa Vučković

Short History of the Isle of Man, the Small But Significant Island

Nestled in the heart of the Irish Sea, the Isle of Man is a small, but very significant island nation with a rich history that stretches back thousands of years. T he Isle of Man boasts a unique...
Portrait of the royal Queen Elizabeth I. AI generated image. Source: AS Photo Family/Adobe Stock
25 June, 2024 - 22:11 Robbie Mitchell

Opulent Excess: The Elizabethan Ruff Trend (Video)

During the Elizabethan era , the trend of wearing oversized collars became synonymous with aristocracy and opulence. These massive collars, known as ruffs, were not merely fashion statements but...

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