A collection of great stories that teach, inform, and inspire millions of readers.
Exclusively authored by academics. Trusted by scholars and classrooms.

ANCIENT HISTORY
View All PostsRome was in a state of near constant conquest. While it reached its largest extent under the emperor Trajan, it expanded fastest during the Republic.
The term “Persian Empire” often brings to mind the empire of Xerxes that invaded Greece, but the Persian Empire transformed over the course of a millennium.
Follow your Favorite Topics.
Sign up to our Free Weekly Newsletter
HISTORY
View All PostsOnce numbering 5 billion, the passenger pigeon vanished forever. The story of the hunt that caused its extinction.
From trebuchets launching plague-ridden bodies to massive siege towers, the terrifying weapons that crushed medieval castles and ruled the battlefield.
PHILOSOPHY
View All PostsVedānta transformed the ancient Vedas into a rigorous metaphysical project. Its central debate is centered on non-dualism and theism.
Yoga was not primarily about flexibility or relaxation. It was a systematic school of thought, codified by the sage Patañjali, that sought liberation from suffering.
ART & ARTISTS
View All PostsWilliam Butler Yeats’ theater revolutionized the stage by combining Noh dance drama, images of the afterlife, and myths.
A key figure in Romanticism, ETA Hoffmann is best remembered for his uncanny stories—but he was also a major player in music history.
TRAVEL & CULTURE
View All PostsFrom the Egyptian temple of Dendur to Van Gogh's self-portrait, don't miss the Met's best highlights. Here's the ultimate must-see list for your visit.
While not usually listed among England’s tourism highlights, Worcestershire is a beautiful country peppered with fascinating historical sites.

Download Free Historical Maps
for Students, Classrooms & More!
High-Quality, Printable Cartographic Resources
View MapsReligion
View All PostsEaster can be challenging to grasp, so this timeline from Palm Sunday to Resurrection Day is a great tool to see the bigger picture.
Benedict IX was a scandalous pope who held the office three separate times. His pontificates were ones the Catholic Church would rather forget.
Stories
View All PostsDid Alexander Graham Bell steal the telephone? Uncover the 150-year mystery of the liquid transmitter and a race for history's biggest patent.
How did Mexico, under the leadership of General Santa Anna, lose the breakaway republic of Texas to its northern neighbor, the United States of America?




























