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What Distinguishes the B-24 Liberator from Other WWII Bombers?

In 1938, specifications for a higher-performing aircraft led to the creation of the B-24 Liberator, a warplane with cutting-edge features that outcompeted almost all its rivals.

How the Indus Valley Built a Civilization Without Kings

The Indus River Valley settlements were among the world’s first civilizations. Did they also exist in a state of equality?

How Robert E. Lee Changed the Course of American History

A scion of his family, Robert E. Lee was a famous Civil War general who earned renown and respect for his brilliance but remains a controversial figure today.

ANCIENT HISTORY

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Two historical illustrations depicting scenes from ancient Rome.
How the Tribune of the Plebs Used Veto to Shape Roman Politics
9 days ago • Daniel Soulard
A Roman marble bust beside a lion-horse mosaic
How a Provincial Pretender Named Clodius Albinus Nearly Ruled Rome
9 days ago • Kieren Johns
How the Indus Valley Built a Civilization Without Kings

The Indus River Valley settlements were among the world’s first civilizations. Did they also exist in a state of equality?

How Sumerian Accountants Discovered the Concept of Nothing

Zero, the concept of nothing, comes with the brain’s cognition of a total absence of physical presence. How did Sumerian scribes pioneer it as a placeholder?

The Roman Expeditions That Went Deep Into Africa

Roman expansionism brought the Romans to the doorstep of Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond, onto Lake Chad and the Sudan.

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edward jenner portrait with vaccine vial
Why Smallpox Is the Only Human Disease We Successfully Eradicated
9 days ago • Evan Fullford
Portrait of a young man over a historic city.
How the Hanseatic League Built a Medieval Trade Empire
9 days ago • Maria-Anita Ronchini
What Distinguishes the B-24 Liberator from Other WWII Bombers?

In 1938, specifications for a higher-performing aircraft led to the creation of the B-24 Liberator, a warplane with cutting-edge features that outcompeted almost all its rivals.

How Robert E. Lee Changed the Course of American History

A scion of his family, Robert E. Lee was a famous Civil War general who earned renown and respect for his brilliance but remains a controversial figure today.

The History Behind Every Month’s Name From January to December

In this article, we will discover when, why, and how the twelve months of the year acquired their names.

 
Roman Emperors
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PHILOSOPHY

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Friedrich Nietzsche superimposed over Raphael's Transfiguration painting.
How Raphael’s Transfiguration of Christ Inspired One of the World’s Most Famous Atheists
9 days ago • Simon Lea
The actress Evelyne Rey with Sartre and Beauvoir
What Sartre Says About Bad Faith and Inauthenticity in His “Altona”
10 days ago • Simon Lea
What Plato’s Tripartite Soul Reveals about Human Nature

Plato uncovers a constant tension within us between our appetitive, spirited, and rational natures. The philosopher harmonizes them in service to rationality.

Does Language Determine Thought? An Overview of the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis

Does our native language have the power to shape our thoughts? According to the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, the answer is firmly yes.

The Symbolism in the Numeric Philosophy of Pythagoras

Pythagoras was one of the most significant mathematicians of all time, and that is clearly reflected in his philosophy.

ART & ARTISTS

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Van Gogh and Gauguin self-portraits with sunflowers.
8 Stories About Van Gogh’s Turbulent Life and Art
14 days ago • Stuti Verma
Portrait of Caravaggio overlaid on a sword duel engraving.
The Dark Side of Caravaggio’s Character
14 days ago • Oana Stan
Where Was the Garden of Eden? 5 Possible Real-World Locations

Drawing from geographical, archaeological, and Biblical sources, there are several theories as to where the Garden of Eden actually was.

7 Witty Samuel Johnson Quotes That Redefined 18th Century Wisdom

Samuel Johnson (1709–1784) was an English lexicographer and writer whose witty, profound essays and aphorisms redefined Enlightenment-era wisdom.

7 Must-Read Poems of Sylvia Plath

Sylvia Plath is one of the 20th century’s most brilliant and original poets. Here are seven visionary works that exemplify her powerful voice.

TRAVEL & CULTURE

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Skulls and bones piled near a flowing water
8 Incredible Museums Located Entirely Underground
8 days ago • Laura Pattara
Traditional mud-built structure along a river
Tracing Songhai’s Legacy Along the Niger River
11 days ago • Laura Pattara
7 Small Museums That Are Better Than the Giants

The world's greatest art experiences are often found in unassuming rooms. Discover seven brilliant small museums.

The 10 Most Beautiful Museum Buildings in the World

From stone palaces to titanium curves, these beautiful museum buildings are admired as much for their architecture as for what they contain.

12 Stops on Aeneas’ Route That Bring Rome’s Beginnings to Life

Virgil’s Aeneid, written at the time of Emperor Augustus, is both an epic poem and a travel itinerary. Follow Aeneas in his journey from Troy to the shores of Italy.

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An edited collage of two Renaissance-style Jesus paintings.
The Main Naturalistic Theories About the Resurrection of Jesus
13 days ago • Mary Lou Cornish
Two Baroque paintings of biblical and women
25 Influential Women in the Bible Who Shaped Scripture
22 days ago • Nita Gleimius
25 Influential Women in the Bible Who Shaped Scripture

Despite the patriarchal slant of scripture, several influential women in the Bible stand out among the many because of their courage, steadfast faith, endurance, or impiety.

The Gospel of Mary Magdalene & Why You’ve Never Heard of It

A short, radical text puts Mary Magdalene at the center of Christian teaching.

5 Saints Who Lived During The 20th Century

Let us take a moment to get to know five saints who lived mainly during the 20th century.

Mary I next to a giant Bloody Mary cocktail.
Who Were the People Behind These Famous Cocktails?
a month ago • Elizabeth Morgan
jane austen great english novelist
Was Jane Austen Really the Last Great English Novelist?
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 Vantablack Controversy: Anish Kapoor vs. Stuart Semple

The sculptor and installation artist Anish Kapoor bought exclusive artistic rights to the world’s blackest black in 2016, resulting in widespread controversy and a longstanding feud with Stuart Semple.

The Seven Stages of Spiritual Alchemy: A Step-by-Step Guide

Spiritual alchemy is a practice that utilizes the ancient occult practice of alchemy as a metaphor to facilitate inner transformation & spiritual awakening.

How a Court Official Became an Egyptian God with Aidan Dodson (PODCAST)How a Court Official Became an Egyptian God with Aidan Dodson (PODCAST)
Why Gentileschi’s Magdalene Is a Baroque Masterpiece with Eve Straussman-Pflanzer (PODCAST)Why Gentileschi’s Magdalene Is a Baroque Masterpiece with Eve Straussman-Pflanzer (PODCAST)
Not Built in a Day, book by Roman historian Dr. Emma Southon
The Hidden History of Roman Slavery with Emma Southon (INTERVIEW)

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