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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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Two classical paintings depicting Aeneas and souls in the Underworld
7 Realms of the Dead in Greek Mythology
21 hours ago • Greg Beyer
mausoleum halicarnassus galle artemisia ashes furini painting
The Incredible Story of How the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus Became an Ancient Wonder
3 days ago • Kieren Johns
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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Portrait of William I and A painting of William I’s arrival on Scheveningen Beach
William I and the Rebirth of the Dutch Monarchy in 1813
16 hours ago • Patrick Bodovitz
british map and house from wwi
Terror from the Sea: Why Germany Shelled British Coastal Towns in WWI
a day ago • Matt Whittaker
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.

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.

How the Fall of Rome Created the Power of the Medieval Papacy

After the fall of Rome in the 5th century, the papacy began to gain influence in the Western World, shaping the politics, culture, and society of the Early Middle Ages.

 
Roman Emperors
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PHILOSOPHY

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Engraved portrait with electric energy background
How Empedocles Used Love and Strife to Explain the Universe
a day ago • Viktoriya Sus
Kafka portrait with “Kafkaesque” book illustration
How Kafka’s Metamorphosis Explains Human Alienation
3 days ago • Mirjana Jojić
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.

6 Exercises to Practice Stoicism in a Stressful World

Stoicism is a timeless philosophical school that can guide us in living a happier, more peaceful life, even when times are stressful.

ART & ARTISTS

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Clara Schumann, Dmitri Shostakovich, and George Gershwin
6 Composers Who Changed the Course of Music History
chinoiserie architecture chinese houses europe
Chinoiserie in Architecture: 6 Extravagant “Chinese Houses” in Europe
9 days ago • Ching Yee Lim
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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historic towns near phoenix arizona
10 Must-Visit Historic Towns Near Phoenix, Arizona
an hour ago • Gabriel Kirellos
mouseion matera first inhabited museum
This Inhabited Museum in Matera Lets You Live in the Ancient World
11 days ago • Antonis Chaliakopoulos
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.

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.

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Seraphim angel collage over Hagia Sophia
The Mysterious Angels of the Hagia Sophia and Their Rediscovery
5 days ago • Joslyn Felicijan
painting the ghost in the stereoscope
Do Ghosts Exist in the Bible?
11 days ago • Michael Huffman
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
16 days ago • Dr. Victoria C. Roskams
ancient china silk manufacturing ink silk road
The Secret History of Silk in Ancient China
20 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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