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7 Largest Empires of the Ancient World That Shaped History

From the western shores of Iberia to the eastern coasts of China, the ancient world was full of vast empires that left their legacy on world history.

How Women Lived and Worked in Ancient Mesopotamia

From Sumer to Assyria and beyond, women played a significant role in the societies of ancient Mesopotamia.

The Persian King Darius III Who Fought Against Alexander the Great

The story of Darius III, the last king of Achaemenid Persia, was much greater than just losing Persia to Alexander the Great.

ANCIENT HISTORY

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sogdian rock alexander the great
How Alexander’s Winged Soldiers Conquered the Sogdian Rock in 327 BC
17 hours ago • Robert Holmes
corner of the parthenon
The Parthenon Illusion That Makes Imperfection Look Perfect
19 hours ago • Maria Vamvoukaki
7 Largest Empires of the Ancient World That Shaped History

From the western shores of Iberia to the eastern coasts of China, the ancient world was full of vast empires that left their legacy on world history.

How Women Lived and Worked in Ancient Mesopotamia

From Sumer to Assyria and beyond, women played a significant role in the societies of ancient Mesopotamia.

The Persian King Darius III Who Fought Against Alexander the Great

The story of Darius III, the last king of Achaemenid Persia, was much greater than just losing Persia to Alexander the Great.

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painting of acadian migrants moving to louisiana and costumed riders
How the Acadian Expulsion Shaped Louisiana’s Cajun Culture
20 hours ago • Patrick Bodovitz
Two Japanese figures in traditional attire depicted in a woodblock print style
Why Did Akechi Mitsuhide Betray the Most Powerful Man in Japan?
Why Is Ireland Divided Between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland?

The island of Ireland was partitioned by the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921. A century later, the island remains divided despite efforts at reunification.

What Are the 7 Principles of the Samurai?

The 7 key principles of the samurai were outlined in Nitobe Inazō's Bushido: The Soul of Japan in 1899.

Why Voltaire Said the Holy Roman Empire Was Neither Holy Nor Roman Nor an Empire

Voltaire called the Holy Roman Empire “neither Holy, nor Roman, nor an Empire.” Was he right? We put this iconic insult to the historical test.

 
Roman Emperors
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PHILOSOPHY

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How Stoicism Can Help You Deal With Everyday Problems
2 days ago • Igor Zanetti
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How Empedocles Used Love and Strife to Explain the Universe
4 days ago • Viktoriya Sus
The Ancient Yet Relevant Morning Routine of Emperor Marcus Aurelius

One of the most famous Stoic philosophers and the emperor of Rome, Marcus Aurelius, was known for giving the utmost importance to his morning routine.

10 Most Important Modern Philosophers Everyone Should Know

Here are ten Modern philosophers everyone should know, figures whose works not only defined their own era, but continue to influence how we think today.

Ancient Greek Philosophy Guide: Key Thinkers, Schools, and Ideas

Here’s an approachable summary of the most important figures of Ancient Greek Philosophy, their thoughts, and theories that stood the test of time.

ART & ARTISTS

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raphael school athens painting
Who Is Depicted in Raphael’s “School of Athens”?
2 days ago • Daphne Bika
sandro botticelli primavera painting
What Is Depicted in Botticelli’s “Primavera”? An Enigmatic Renaissance Painting
5 days ago • Daphne Bika
6 Composers Who Changed the Course of Music History

Know your Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven already? Read about some other composers whose lives and works changed the course of music history.

Dadaism: 12 Iconic Artworks From The Dada Art Movement

The Dada period rebelled against the dominant political and cultural narrative. Here are major Dadaist paintings, sculptures, and collages.

Expressionism: 12 Iconic Paintings & Their Artists

Expressionism used broad brush strokes, bright colors, and abstract styles to express rather than depict reality.

TRAVEL & CULTURE

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Mummified Fiji mermaid taxidermy with an axe in the background
Top 8 Weirdest Exhibits You Will Encounter in European Museums
13 hours ago • Laura Pattara
Albanian eagle over mountain town landscape
7 Historic Cities to Visit in Albania
12 days ago • Jimmy Chen
The World’s 10 Most Significant Ancient Sites to See in Your Lifetime

From pyramids and temples to lost jungle cities, these ten ancient monuments remain among the greatest achievements of early civilizations.

7 Historic Cities to Visit in Albania

After a traumatic period under Communist rule, Albania is rapidly becoming a European tourist hotspot and welcomes travelers seeking to discover its diverse history.

10 Must-Visit Historic Towns Near Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona has history, but the real stories are a short drive away. Discover old mining towns, frontier streets, and landmarks that built Arizona.

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Why Did Origen of Alexandria Risk Everything to Study Hebrew
7 days ago • Ryan Watson
Seraphim angel collage over Hagia Sophia
The Mysterious Angels of the Hagia Sophia and Their Rediscovery
8 days ago • Joslyn Felicijan
The Mysterious Angels of the Hagia Sophia and Their Rediscovery

Under the highest dome of the Hagia Sophia are the seraphim mosaics. Rediscovered within the last 20 years, these 700-year-old mosaics depict the highest-ranking angels.

What Is the Meaning of the Lord’s Prayer?

Reciting the Lord’s Prayer is a spiritual discipline common to all denominations and traditions in the Christian faith. But what does it mean?

How Ancient Peoples Forged The World’s First Religions

Thousands of years ago, local traditions evolved into organized religion, shaping history as they developed, and leaving a lasting legacy on humankind.

Mary Shelley beside a painting of Percy Bysshe Shelley's funeral pyre
The Life and Genius of Mary Shelley, the Literary Giant Who Wrote Frankenstein
19 days ago • Dr. Victoria C. Roskams
ancient china silk manufacturing ink silk road
The Secret History of Silk in Ancient China
23 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.

The Counterculture Hippie Movement of the 1960s and 1970s

The counterculture movement was the result of a generation that rejected social norms and traditional ways of previous decades.

What was the Black Consciousness Movement in South Africa?

The Black Consciousness Movement was a resistance movement during the apartheid era that restored the dignity of black South Africans.

A funerary veil showing the deceased holding a papyrus roll, standing between Osiris and AnubisThe Little-Known Story of Alexandria’s Antique University (with Kholoud Shawky)
Rethinking the Samurai with British Museum ExpertsRethinking the Samurai with British Museum Experts
museo-reina-sofia-manuel-segadeReina Sofía’s Director Explains How the Museum Highlights “Forgotten” Artists

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