A collection of great stories that teach, inform, and inspire millions of readers.

Exclusively authored by academics. Trusted by scholars and classrooms.

How 5 Great Thinkers Found Meaning Through Walking

What do an ancient Greek philosopher, a French exile, an American urbanist, a 19th-century German philosopher, and a Scottish nature writer have in common? Walking.

How 5 Great Thinkers Found Meaning Through Physical Exercise

From Plato to Nietzsche, these are five philosophers’ views on physical exercise and how the body shapes discipline, balance, and the good life.

How the Ancient Egyptians Built the Red Sea Suez Canal and Connected East and West

The ancient Egyptians were able to connect the Red Sea to the Nile River for trade via what would become known as the Suez Canal.

ANCIENT HISTORY

View All Posts
Roman Feast, by Roberto Bompiani
5 Holidays That Date Back to Ancient Rome
4 days ago • Kelly O’Shea
Ancient mask overlaid on Roman illustration.
The Little-Known Celtic Queen Cartimandua Who Supported the Romans
8 days ago • Rachel Sweeney
How the Ancient Egyptians Built the Red Sea Suez Canal and Connected East and West

The ancient Egyptians were able to connect the Red Sea to the Nile River for trade via what would become known as the Suez Canal.

The Little-Known Celtic Queen Cartimandua Who Supported the Romans

Cartimandua was the Celtic queen of the Brigantes tribe in the 1st century CE, but unlike her famous contemporary Boudica, she supported the Romans.

How the Chremonidean War Shattered the Last Hope of Greek Freedom

In the middle of the Hellenistic period, the two great cities of ancient Greece, Athens and Sparta, united to free themselves from Macedonian influence.

Follow your Favorite Topics.

Sign up to our Free Weekly Newsletter

Irish harp flag with historical dictators
6 Armies That Switched Sides During a War
2 hours ago • Sasha Putt
Torquemada before Ferdinand and Isabella
The Persecution of the Conversos in Spain and Portugal
a day ago • Greg Pasciuto
The Real Historical Background of Sir Percival’s Arthurian Legends

Sir Percival is a famous character from the Arthurian legends closely associated with the Holy Grail. Was the virtuous knight a real historical figure?

8 Most Famous Cats From History

Cats have been by our side for thousands of years, and some of them have become incredibly famous.

How Henry Knox Became the Father of US Artillery During the American Revolution

The United States would not have won the American Revolutionary War without Henry Knox, the father of United States artillery.

 
Roman Emperors
View Posts

PHILOSOPHY

View All Posts
Camus book cover with silhouetted figure
Explaining the Profound, Cosmic Infidelity in Camus’s “Adulterous Woman”
12 days ago • Simon Lea
Portrait of Nietzsche with quote
Nietzsche’s Riddle: Why Did Zarathustra Credit “Sounding Brass” for His Greatest Victory?
13 days ago • Simon Lea
How 5 Great Thinkers Found Meaning Through Walking

What do an ancient Greek philosopher, a French exile, an American urbanist, a 19th-century German philosopher, and a Scottish nature writer have in common? Walking.

5 Quotes by Thomas Hobbes Explained

Hobbes teaches us to seek truth, beware of manipulation, understand human nature, value science, and approach language cautiously.

Jean-Paul Sartre’s 5 Most Striking Quotes Explained

What can we learn from Jean-Paul Sartre's teachings on freedom, responsibility, and navigating the complexities of human existence?

ART & ARTISTS

View All Posts
titian most important works
7 Most Important Works by Titian
3 days ago • Anastasiia Kirpalov
most important works donatello
11 Most Important Works by Donatello
3 days ago • Anastasiia Kirpalov
How 5 Great Thinkers Found Meaning Through Physical Exercise

From Plato to Nietzsche, these are five philosophers’ views on physical exercise and how the body shapes discipline, balance, and the good life.

5 Christmas Poems That Have Been Treasured Since the 1800s

Christmas poems varied in sentiment throughout the 1800s. From joyous to heartbreaking, these poems have been treasured ever since.

The 6 Most Stylish Moments in the History of Art (From Vermeer to Sargent)

One of the most iconic outfits in art history was a gown embroidered with the wings of real beetles.

TRAVEL & CULTURE

View All Posts
yunnan province china historic cultural gems
6 Historic and Cultural Gems in China’s Yunnan Province
a day ago • Sarah Wilson
Bagrati cathedral overlooking green valley
7 Historic Cities to Visit in the Country of Georgia
3 days ago • Jimmy Chen
What Are the Wealthiest Countries in Africa?

Flying in the face of international perceptions of poverty, some parts of Africa are extremely wealthy!

Türkiye’s Must-See Historical Sites by Region

From the ruins of Troy to the grandeur of the Hagia Sophia, Türkiye’s legendary historical sites recount the stories that shaped civilizations.

7 Cool Historic Sites in Portugal That Have Withstood the Test of Time

Discover some of Portugal’s most intriguing historical sites.

historical map

Download Free Historical Maps
for Students, Classrooms & More!

High-Quality, Printable Cartographic Resources

View Maps
moses silver medal
Why Is Moses Often Depicted with Horns?
3 days ago • Michael Huffman
council icon beside marked calendar
Comparing the Christian, Jewish, and Islamic Calendars
3 days ago • Michael Huffman
5 Controversial Ancient Theories About Jesus’s Crucifixion

The belief that Jesus rose from the dead following his crucifixion started today's largest religious movement. However, some explained Jesus’s postmortem appearances in other ways.

Why the Book of Esther Never Mentions God

When reading a book, one expects to find the protagonist present… Why does God appear absent from the Book of Esther in the Bible?

Fallen Angels in the Book of Enoch: Who Are the Watchers?

The Book of Enoch tells the story of the Watchers, angels who procreated with mortal wives and taught mankind forbidden arts, resulting in their downfall.

Beloved Christmas characters from illustration, film, and animation
10 Classic Christmas Characters That Turn December Into a Fairy Tale
7 days ago • Olivia Jordan
pablo escobar
What Happened to Pablo Escobar?
11 days ago • Mike Cohen
Blue Fugates: The True Story of Kentucky’s Blue People

The Blue Fugates of Troublesome Creek baffled science for decades, until a rare mutation that caused the color was discovered.

A Generation Later, What Does Chernobyl Look Like Today?

In 1986, the world’s worst nuclear disaster emptied towns surrounding the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Today, the scene is different.

Whaleship Essex: The Terrifying Story That Inspired Moby Dick

The tragedy of the whaleship Essex left horrifying scars on the minds and bodies of the men who survived but helped weave a tale that would be immortalized in literature.

Dr Kara Cooney, Professor of Egyptian Art and ArchitectureEgypt During the Bronze Age Collapse, an Interview With Dr Kara Cooney
karahantepe prehistoric discovery necmi karul interview“The Earliest 3D Story”, Necmi Karul on Karahantepe’s Latest Discoveries
Professor Paul Cartledge and Matt Damon The OdysseyThe Odyssey Still Matters! Dr. Paul Cartledge on Homer’s Epic

For Interview Inquiries, contact Public Relations