Primary tabs

Robbie Mitchell

I’m a graduate of History and Literature from The University of Manchester in England and a total history geek. Since a young age, I’ve been obsessed with history. The weirder the better. I spend my days working as a freelance writer researching the weird and wonderful. I firmly believe that history should be both fun and accessible.

History

Member for: 1 year 11 months

Opt-in to Ancient Origins Newsletter (AC):

Posts

Ancient Greek temple in Magna Graecia, modern day Segesta, Sicily. Source: Ludvig14/CC BY-SA 4.0

13 February, 2024 - 13:51 Robbie Mitchell

Magna Graecia's Legacy: The Stories of Italy’s Ancient Greek Colonies

Long before the Roman Empire came along, the Ancient Greeks controlled much of southern Italy. From the 8th to the 5th centuries BC, intrepid Greek settlers transformed this region into a mosaic of...

A tribe of human ancestors, Homo erectus, wanders through the savannah past mammoth skeletons. Source: ratpack223/Adobe Stock)

12 February, 2024 - 23:29 Robbie Mitchell

The Risky Paleo Diets of Our Ancestors (Video)

The excavation of KNM-ER 1808, a Homo erectus specimen, in Kenya unearthed insights into the perilous dietary choices of our ancestors. The skeletal analysis revealed intriguing anomalies, such as...

An engraving from 1724 of Bartholomew Roberts (aka Black Bart Roberts), the notorious Welsh pirate (1682-1722). Source: Benjamin Cole/CC BY-SA 4.0

12 February, 2024 - 19:46 Robbie Mitchell

Bartholomew Roberts- The Pirate That Hated Literally Everyone (Video)

In the tumultuous era of 1722, the notorious pirate Bartholomew Roberts carved a path of chaos and vengeance across the high seas. His ruthless demeanor, revealed in the wake of Captain Howell Davis'...

Pirate crew members diligently swab the deck, maintaining the condition of their ship while sailing across the ocean. Source: Davivd/Adobe Stock

11 February, 2024 - 19:49 Robbie Mitchell

The Five Worst Jobs on a Pirate Ship... (Video)

Life on a pirate ship was fraught with peril, particularly for those assigned to the five most dreaded roles: topmen, forced men, swabbers, liars, and shipboard musicians. Topmen, the nimble climbers...

View at the ruins of the famous Minoan palace of Knossos, the center of the Minoan civilization and one of the largest archaeological sites in Greece. Source: GIORGOS/Adobe Stock

10 February, 2024 - 19:55 Robbie Mitchell

The Mysteries of the Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations (Video)

The ancient Mediterranean harbors mysteries that continue to intrigue historians. Beyond the well-known empires of Rome and Greece lie enigmatic civilizations like the Sea Peoples, who wielded power...

Statue of William Wallace at Aberdeen. Source: Public Domain

10 February, 2024 - 13:59 Robbie Mitchell

Beyond Braveheart – Revealing the Real William Wallace

Except for perhaps Robert the Bruce, William Wallace has to be the most famous figure in Scottish history. This legendary Scottish hero defied the odds and through his many clashes with the English...

A depiction of Ivar and Ubba setting forth to avenge their father, Loðbrók, as it appears on folio 47v of British Library Harley 2278. Source: Public Domain

9 February, 2024 - 20:09 Robbie Mitchell

The Great Heathen Army and the Truth about Ivar the Boneless (Video)

In the realm of Viking lore, Ivar the Boneless emerges as a formidable, if mysterious, figure. Born to Ragnar Lothbrok and Aslaug, Ivar led the infamous Great Heathen Army during the Viking Age. The...

La Noche triste (the sad night). Source: Public Domain

8 February, 2024 - 23:11 Robbie Mitchell

The Hunt for Montezuma’s Stolen Aztec Treasure (Video)

In November 1519, the formidable Aztec king, Montezuma , ruled over a flourishing empire at its pinnacle. His empire, comprising 500 city-states and nearly 6 million people, centered on the...

Woman adorned with a lei engages in the Hooponopono practice, traditional Hawaiian method of finding peace and forgiveness. Source: irissca/Adobe/Stock

8 February, 2024 - 19:55 Robbie Mitchell

The Intrigue and Mystery of Ancient Hawaii (Video)

Hawaii, known today as a popular tourist destination, conceals a deeper historical allure that predates Western influence. The archipelago, primarily volcanic, originated between forty and seventy...

Reenactment of two Armored Medieval Knights Fighting with Swords. Source: Gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock

7 February, 2024 - 20:01 Robbie Mitchell

What a Medieval Duel Really Looked Like (Video)

In medieval Europe , justice was often sought through grim ordeals, and the judicial duel was a stark example. The murder of Charles the Good, Count of Flanders, triggered a brutal confrontation...

AI image of Emperor Augustus also known as the founder of the Roman Empire. Source: Nevio/Adobe Stock

6 February, 2024 - 23:36 Robbie Mitchell

How Did the Pax Romana Start and End? (Videos)

The Pax Romana, a remarkable era of relative peace in the Roman Empire from 27 BC to 180 AD, marked a pivotal period that shaped the empire's trajectory. Emerging from the political turmoil of the...

Edward IV of England & Lancastrian Fugitives at Tewkesbury Abbey. Source: Public Domain

6 February, 2024 - 20:16 Robbie Mitchell

Top Five Worst Rebellions Under the Tudor Regime (Video)

The Tudor era , spanning 118 years, emerged from the aftermath of the Wars of the Roses . Henry VII's victory at Bosworth in 1485 secured his tenuous claim to the throne, symbolized by the Tudor Rose...

Photograph of the Pocahontas statue in Historic Jamestown, Virginia, USA. Source: I, Rolfmueller/CC BY-SA 3.0

5 February, 2024 - 23:54 Robbie Mitchell

The Real Pocahontas: Tragedy Beneath the Jamestown Sky (Video)

The historical narrative of Pocahontas , popularized through the writings of English explorer John Smith, presents a complex and contested tale. Smith, a key figure in Jamestown's early days,...

Bas relief at Nagsh-e-rostam showing the investiture of Ardashir I, Province du Fars, Iran. Source: Fabienkhan/CC BY-SA 2.5

5 February, 2024 - 20:10 Robbie Mitchell

The Parthian Empire: Rome’s Greatest Enemy (Video)

The Parthian Empire, successor to the Persian legacy, emerged in 238 BC, springing from the Parni tribe's conquest of Parthia in modern-day northeastern Iran. Although initially subdued by the...

Representative image of a soldier from the Abbasid Caliphate. Source: Harry / Adobe Stock

5 February, 2024 - 13:33 Robbie Mitchell

From Splendor to Ruin: The Epic Tale of the Abbasid Caliphate

The Abbasid Caliphate was an Arabic dynasty that ruled over much of the Muslim world for over 500 years. It rose from bloody beginnings to become the center of the Muslim world during the Islamic...

The skull of Paranthropus boisei, known as KNM ER 406, photographed at the Nairobi National Museum in August 2012. Source: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen/CC BY-SA 3.0

4 February, 2024 - 19:07 Robbie Mitchell

Paranthropus-Our Most Mysterious Extinct Cousins (Video)

In the tapestry of human evolution , the enigmatic Paranthropus emerges as a parallel cousin to our Homo ancestors. Discovered in South and East Africa in the late 1930s, these hominins, including...