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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.

Top 7 American WWII Generals Ranked by Global Impact

Ranking the top seven American WWII generals by their global impact, exploring how their leadership on the front lines and in the halls of power secured an Allied victory and built the foundations of the postwar world.

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.

ANCIENT HISTORY

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Persian relief with ancient postal map
How Cyrus the Great Built the First Empire-Wide Postal System
13 hours ago • Robert De Graaff
Bust of Julius Caesar and relief
How Julius Caesar Became a Living God (Literally)
3 days ago • Jessica Suess
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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Annie Oakley, Sitting Bull, and Buffalo Bill
6 Incredible Performers in Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show
10 hours ago • Kassandre Dwyer
todai ji temple nara japan
What Was Japan’s Nara Period Known For?
a day ago • Mike Cohen
Top 7 American WWII Generals Ranked by Global Impact

Ranking the top seven American WWII generals by their global impact, exploring how their leadership on the front lines and in the halls of power secured an Allied victory and built the foundations of the postwar world.

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.

The “Rule” of Saint Benedict That Shaped Medieval Europe

Providing guidance for a life of Godly pursuits, Saint Benedict revolutionized Europe with his “Rule.”

 
Roman Emperors
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PHILOSOPHY

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Albert Camus with Algiers café painting
Albert Camus’s Early Philosophy in “The Wrong Side and the Right Side”
4 hours ago • Simon Lea
Man pushing large boulder up hill
What Camus’s Sisyphus Revealed About Human Dignity and the Absurd
15 hours ago • Simon Lea
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.

What Is 4E Cognition? The Theory That Will Change the Way You Think of Your Own Mind

4E cognition takes a holistic view of cognition, as shaped by our body and environment, in opposition to the traditional view of the mind as closed off and decompositional.

The Vedanta School of Philosophy That Sought to Break the Cycle of Birth, Death, and Rebirth

Vedānta transformed the ancient Vedas into a rigorous metaphysical project. Its central debate is centered on non-dualism and theism.

ART & ARTISTS

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Goethe and Faust's bargain with Mephistopheles
Faust’s Devil’s Bargain That Haunted Writers From Goethe to Mann
Composite of two wartime paintings
9 Famous Artists Who Faced War Up Close and Turned Trauma Into Masterpieces
3 days ago • Jimena Escoto
Katana vs. Saber: A Closer Look at Two Iconic Blades

How does a samurai's katana truly compare to a cavalry saber? We explore the history, combat use, and cultural roles of these legendary blades.

Why Did the Britons Stop Using the Name ‘Arthur’ After King Arthur?

According to some researchers, there is evidence that the medieval Britons avoided using the name “Arthur” after the time of King Arthur. Why?

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.

TRAVEL & CULTURE

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mouseion matera first inhabited museum
This Inhabited Museum in Matera Lets You Live in the Ancient World
14 hours ago • Antonis Chaliakopoulos
Cathedral of Angra do Heroísmo
9 Fascinating Historic Landmarks in Angra do Heroísmo
11 days ago • Inês Tito
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.

The First Land Found: 10 Historical Sites to Visit in Madeira

Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago off the coast of Morocco. You might have heard of its natural beauty, yet Madeira is so much more.

10 Highlights You Must See at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

From 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.

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Religious woodcut and painting of Jesus
What Is the Meaning of the Lord’s Prayer?
a day ago • Allen Baird
Micah illustration and Micah Orthodox icon
The Book of Micah Features the Prophet Who Put Justice Above Empty Religion
a day ago • Eben De Jager
Why the Catholic Church Tried to Erase the Scandalous Pope Benedict IX From History

Benedict IX was a scandalous pope who held the office three separate times. His pontificates were ones the Catholic Church would rather forget.

What Was the Land of Canaan That Appears in the Bible?

The land of Canaan features prominently in the Old Testament. Where did the name come from, where is it, and why is it so significant?

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?

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
ancient china silk manufacturing ink silk road
The Secret History of Silk in Ancient China
9 days ago • Mike Cohen
The Villain of Robin Hood: The True History of King John of England

King John of England is one of history’s most memorable and celebrated kings, whose name has entered the realms of myth and legend.

How European Imperialism Chased Resources From Columbus to the Modern Global South

Why did the powers of Europe decide to spend resources and manpower claiming and seizing vast tracts of Africa, the Western Hemisphere, Asia, and the Pacific?

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 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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