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ANCIENT HISTORY

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Alexander the Great coin overlaying a classical painting.
How Alexander the Great Became Alexander the God
5 hours ago • Jessica Suess
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Did Spartans Really Say These Famous Quotes at Thermopylae?
a day ago • Greg Beyer
How Paleolithic Hunters and Ice Age Wolves Formed an Evolutionary Alliance

Around 30,000 BC, paleolithic wolves formed a beneficial relationship with humans that would eventually lead to modern dogs.

8 Largest Armies of the Ancient World From Rome to China

Even in the ancient period, some empires could deploy large armies of hundreds of thousands of men to defeat and destroy their enemies.

How Ostrogoths Created a Kingdom in Italy From the Ashes of Roman Civilization

Theodoric's Ostrogothic Kingdom rose from Rome's ashes. How did one man's violent ambition lead to an era of surprising peace and cooperation?

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The Mitford sisters in a vintage black-and-white portrait.
The Wild Lives and Political Extremes of the 6 Mitford Sisters
6 hours ago • Dr. Victoria C. Roskams
Portrait of King Charles I next to his trial
Why the English Civil War Was Inevitable
9 hours ago • Mark Shiffer
Why Did British Soldiers Wear Red Uniforms for Centuries?

Contrary to popular myth, the signature color of the British Empire wasn’t used to hide blood!

The Day King Philip Augustus Defeated Three European Powers at Once

The Battle of Bouvines, won by King Philip Augustus of France, was one of the most decisive battles in European history.

4 Legendary WWII Warships That Altered Global History

Like the Great War, World War II produced great ships, both Axis and Allied. These individual ships, which took part in actions, triumphs, or even losses, helped change the war.

 
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PHILOSOPHY

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9 Essential Ideas From Plato’s Republic Explained
Illustration of a silhouette head containing stairs inside.
Does Science Actually Describe Reality? Putnam vs. Van Fraassen
4 days ago • Magnus Wijkander
Post-Modern Stoics? The Revival of Stoicism in the Late 20th Century

The unexpected revival of Stoicism, from Foucault to Deleuze, as a modern tool for self-care, political resistance, and an authentic life.

Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus: Key Similarities and Differences

Existentialists Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus were once friends, but differences ultimately ended their friendship.

9 Essential Ideas From Plato’s Republic Explained

In the Republic, Plato asks who should rule and whether justice is better than power.

ART & ARTISTS

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A painting of a friar standing before an indigenous ruler
12 Paintings That Show How Mexico Used Art to Build a Nation
a day ago • Jimena Escoto
Three triptych art panels showing nature, a crying girl, and a wolf.
3 Video Games That Every Art Enthusiast Will Love
a day ago • Frances Dilworth
10 English Words With Arabic Origins

Discover the roots of ten words that came into the English language from Arabic.

10 Facts About Benvenuto Cellini’s “Perseus With the Head of Medusa”

Benvenuto Cellini’s "Perseus with the Head of Medusa" is a triumph of Mannerist sculpture. Its legacy is deeply entangled in political and artistic controversy.

7 Most Famous Renaissance Paintings Inspired by Mythology

Thousands of years after their emergence, classical myths still excite us. Mythology surrounds us, and our fascination with Renaissance art keeps this love alive.

TRAVEL & CULTURE

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Witchy Locations USA
5 Spooking Places in the US with Witchy Histories to Visit This Halloween
Man looking at Starry Night with Van Gogh foreground
Where to Find Van Gogh’s Most Iconic Paintings Worldwide
12 days ago • Laura Pattara
10 Ancient Cities That You Can Still Visit Today

From Roman grid cities to lost desert fortresses, these ancient cities offer a rare chance to explore history where it actually happened.

These Are the Museums With Vermeer’s Most Famous Paintings

He left barely three dozen paintings and died broke and overlooked. Two centuries on, hunting down Vermeer’s masterpieces is half the experience.

Where to Find Van Gogh’s Most Iconic Paintings Worldwide

Van Gogh sold one painting and died penniless at 37. The work he couldn’t give away now hangs in the world’s biggest museums.

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How Shinto Evolved from Prehistoric Nature Worship in Ancient Japan
3 days ago • Mike Cohen
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Which Biblical Cities Have Archaeologists Actually Discovered?
13 days ago • Eljoh Hartzer
How 2,000 Years of Western Art Redefined the Depiction of Eve

From medieval shame to modern empowerment, trace how changing cultural views shaped the depiction of Eve across 2,000 years of Western art.

What Does the Moabite Stone Reveal About the Kingdom of Israel?

An ancient black basalt slab carved by King Mesha offers rare insight into the Kingdom of Israel.

Which Biblical Cities Have Archaeologists Actually Discovered?

Archaeology has brought ancient Scripture to life by unearthing real destruction layers, inscriptions, and monumental walls across the Levant.

Lesser known wonders of the ancient world
7 Lesser-Known Wonders of the Ancient World You Can Still Visit
18 days ago • Alexandra Doyle
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7 Lesser-Known Special Forces of World War II
24 days ago • Owen Rust
7 Lesser-Known Special Forces of World War II

During World War II, both the Allied and Axis powers used special forces units to accomplish specific tasks. What are some lesser-known special forces?

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.

7 Lesser-Known Wonders of the Ancient World You Can Still Visit

All but one of the so-called Seven Wonders of the Ancient World disappeared long ago, but you can still visit these lesser-known ancient wonders.

Using Thucydides to Understand Modern Politics with Neville Morley (PODCAST)
Using Thucydides to Understand Modern Politics with Neville Morley (PODCAST)
Reading the Iliad Through an Environmental Lens with Edith Hall
Reading the Iliad Through an Environmental Lens with Edith Hall
What Stoicism and Skepticism Teach Us Today with Massimo Pigliucci (PODCAST)
What Stoicism and Skepticism Teach Us Today with Massimo Pigliucci (PODCAST)

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