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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.

Lady of Baza, famous Iberian sculpture from a style that was developed by the Iberians of the Bronze age. Source: Juan Aunión / Adobe Stock.
18 August, 2019 - 14:05 Aleksa Vučković

The Restless Peninsula: The Proud and Colorful History of Iberia

Over the ages, the Iberian Peninsula was a melting pot of diverse cultures and civilizations, a piece of Europe that saw numerous migrations and many nations that rose and fell on its soil. Being the...
The Bhagavad Gita. Source: General Press / CC BY-SA 2.0.
17 August, 2019 - 14:00 Caleb Strom

The Ancient Philosophy of the Bhagavad Gita, Song of God

The Bhagavad Gita is one of the most important religious texts in Hinduism as well as one of the most seminal religious texts in the world, alongside the Bible , the Quran , the Torah and the...
Running the Family Business of the Roman Empire: Augustus the Founder
16 August, 2019 - 00:51 Barry Strauss

Running the Family Business of the Roman Empire: Augustus the Founder

Over three and a half centuries the Roman Empire - as seen through the lives of 10 of the most important emperors - gained in splendor and territory, then lost both. Over the ages the emperors...
My Name Is Heracles, And I Have Father Issues
15 August, 2019 - 22:59 B. B. Wagner

My Name Is Heracles, And I Have Father Issues

The story of Heracles is considered one of the oldest of the Greek myths . Heracles’ popularity stretched from the western world to the far reaches of northern India. His likeness has appeared as...
The White Lotus Society was a political, religious, and revolutionary movement that that rebelled against the government in imperial China.
15 August, 2019 - 01:49 dhwty

The White Lotus Secret Society and the Demise of Mongol Rule in China

The White Lotus Society / Sect (written in Chinese as 白莲教, and Romanized as ‘Bai Lian Jiao’) was a millenarian movement that existed in imperial China. As a religious movement, the teachings of the...
The Great Fire of London on the evening of Tuesday, 4 September 1666. To the left is London Bridge; to the right, the Tower of London. St. Paul's Cathedral is in the distance, surrounded by the tallest flames. Source: BevinKacon / Public Domain.
14 August, 2019 - 18:54 Aleksa Vučković

Fighting the Flaming Wrath - The Great Fire of London, 1666

1666. “London was, but is no more.” It was a year with a special number. A year that carried a lot of ominous superstitions. And for thousands of Londoners who lived in that very year, it would prove...
Jael and Sisera by Artemisia Gentileschi (1620) (Public Domain)
14 August, 2019 - 17:47 Cam Rea

Calling Commander Deborah and Callous Jael to Defeat the Canaanites

Of the multitude of wars and battles, whether based on individuals seeking revenge, vendettas, or conflicts that unify or partially unify a nation, the Biblical allegory of Deborah is indeed a story...
Painting of Zarathustra (Zoroaster) at a temple in Isfahan, Iran.
13 August, 2019 - 17:40 dhwty

Who Was Zoroaster and How Did He Gain Religious Followers?

Zoroaster was a prophet of ancient Persia, whose teachings laid the foundation for the religion known as Zoroastrianism, which largely dominated the land of Iran until the arrival of Islam after the...
The Sacred and Ancient Legacy of our Feathered Friends
12 August, 2019 - 23:42 ashley cowie

The Sacred and Ancient Legacy of our Feathered Friends

Although lions, tigers and other ferocious man-eaters were hunted and subsequently ritualized by shamans who attempted to internalize the energy of these different animals, throughout the ages birds...
Lady with an elegant headdress
11 August, 2019 - 20:48 Weam

Ningal: The Mesopotamian Goddess Awakening Female Mysticism

In the city of Ur, where the first settlements in the marshes of southern Mesopotamia were built with reeds without any type of nails or woods, Ningal was born to Ninhursag and Enki. Her name means...
Agathocles of Syracuse; warrior, ruler, tyrant. Source: Fotokvadrat / Adobe Stock.
11 August, 2019 - 01:46 Sarah P Young

Agathocles of Syracuse: The Original Machiavellian Tyrant

Agathocles of Syracuse came from fairly humble beginnings but his focus and ambition brought him to the tyrannical rule of the city where he grew up. But his tyranny was not merciless and...
Roman emperor
10 August, 2019 - 22:43 Aleksa Vučković

Emperor Justinian the Great: The Life and Rule of a Visionary Roman

From the numerous emperors in the long and exciting history of Rome and Byzantium, one manages to stand apart – Justinian the Great. His rule marked a turning point, an opening of a new era filled...
Harbor view of the island of Ponza (Marja /Adobe Stock)
9 August, 2019 - 15:38 Roberto Volterri

The Curious Roman Cult of the Moray Eel on the Island of Ponza

A mysterious cult in which moray eels decided the fate of men existed on Ponza island, in the Tyrrhenian sea off the coast of Italy, during the first century AD at the so-called ‘Caves of Pilate’. "...
The ancient Timoto-Cuica culture focused on agriculture. Source: Melissa / Adobe Stock
9 August, 2019 - 14:02 Aleksa Vučković

Beyond the Mists of Time: The Mysterious Timoto-Cuica Culture of the Venezuelan Andes

When we speak of the pre-Columbian South American civilizations, the first to come to mind are the Incas , the Tiwanaku , the Nazca , or perhaps even the Mayans . But we rarely venture deeper into...
Moses crossing the Red Sea. Source: Davy Cheng / Adobe Stock.
8 August, 2019 - 18:59 Annette Duckworth

Has the Biblical Moses Been Identified in Secular Egyptian Records?

Moses was a prophet and a leader according to Abrahamic religions, but many scholars view him as a legendary figure rather than a real historic person. They do concede that a Moses-like figure could...
An image of Shah Jahan
8 August, 2019 - 18:34 dhwty

Shah Jahan: Mughal Emperor, Creator of the Taj Mahal, Champion of Fine Cuisine

One of the most well-known buildings in India is the Taj Mahal in Agra, which was commissioned by the Mughal emperor, Shahabuddin Muhammad Shah Jahan, more commonly known as Shah Jahan. This building...
The Norrie's Law hoard. In the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh (Mike Peel / CC BY-SA 4.0)
7 August, 2019 - 18:18 ashley cowie

Ancient Gold Hoards of the Celtic El Dorado

The legendary lost city of gold, El Dorado, has drawn over 500 formal treasure recovery teams to South America over the last 500 years and over 3,000 people have been lost searching for ancient...
Haunted Castle Source: twindesigner / Adobe Stock
7 August, 2019 - 01:30 ancient-origins

World’s 8 Most Haunted Castles: The Lost Souls Tormenting Visitors of Famous Bastions

The histories of many of the world’s most haunted castles are filled with bloodshed, treason, and treasure. The checkered past and centuries of existence make these locations the perfect choice for...
An example of Gyotaku art.
6 August, 2019 - 18:53 dhwty

Gyotaku: A Unique Japanese Tradition in Which a Fish Becomes a Work of Art

Gyotaku is a traditional Japanese art form that is highly unique, and some may even say bizarre. The word Gyotaku itself is a combination of two separate words – Gyo , which means ‘fish’, and Taku ,...
Moche Decapitator mural at Huaca de la Luna
6 August, 2019 - 13:27 B. B. Wagner

Exploring the Cupisnique Civilization: First Amongst the Supernatural Decapitators?

The Cupisnique culture (1500 BC-200 BC) is considered one of the most definitive and influential societies that existed in the Jequetepeque Valley of Peru. Their influence reached Cajamarca , Chavin...
Modern representation of a Viking with a tattoo.
5 August, 2019 - 18:47 Scott Rank

Were Norsemen Tattooed? Evidence of Ink on the Rugged Rusiyyah

Did the Norsemen of Scandinavia have tattoos? Did runic script adorn their arms as they sailed their longships down fjords? While material remains offer few clues, one piece of historical evidence...
The Osirion temple at Abydos, Egypt by Konstantin (Adobe Stock)
5 August, 2019 - 16:00 Freddy Silva

The True Age of the Osirion at Abydos, an Antediluvian Temple

By 5400 BC Abydos in Egypt was a thriving city, and 2,000 years later pre-dynastic pharaohs were still building shrines, temples and mortuaries at the site. Seti I added his own masterpiece in the...
Ancient Greek warrior fighting in the combat. Credit: Fotokvadrat / Adobe Stock
4 August, 2019 - 14:01 Aleksa Vučković

The Peloponnesian War: Intrigues and Conquests in Ancient Greece

When speaking of ancient Greece, most of us tend to think of their sprawling city states, iconic classical culture, philosophers, and myths – and rightly so. Classical Greece was certainly a...
Egyptian mummy. Credit: markrhhiggins / Adobe Stock
3 August, 2019 - 22:57 Sarah P Young

Nine Parts of the Human Soul According to the Ancient Egyptians

The idea of the human soul has fascinated humankind for thousands of years. Cultures around the world have sought to explain the soul or spirit in a wide and fascinating variety of ways. The soul is...

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