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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 busts within a blue frame
What Did It Mean to Grow a Beard in Ancient Greece?
19 hours ago • Petros Tourikis
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Why the Battle of the Jaxartes Was Alexander’s Most Spectacular Victory
a day ago • Robert Holmes
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 the Silent beside map
How the Eighty Years’ War Freed the Netherlands From Spanish rule
an hour ago • Patrick Bodovitz
Dante Alighieri alongside medieval soldiers marching
The Guelphs vs. Ghibellines Feud That Turned Italian Cities Into Battlefields
4 hours ago • Maria-Anita Ronchini
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.

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.

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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Wooden blocks spelling the word "SEMIOTICS"
The Key Terms and Theories of Semiotics Explained (From Peirce to Barthes)
5 hours ago • Thom Delapa
Grid of ten famous male philosophers
10 Most Important Modern Philosophers Everyone Should Know
2 days ago • Igor Zanetti
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.

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.

ART & ARTISTS

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chinoiserie architecture chinese houses europe
Chinoiserie in Architecture: 6 Extravagant “Chinese Houses” in Europe
4 days ago • Ching Yee Lim
captivating facts mexican muralism
5 Captivating Facts About Mexican Muralism
4 days ago • Anastasiia Kirpalov
6 Unrecognized Composers Who Changed the History of Music

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

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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Albanian eagle over mountain town landscape
7 Historic Cities to Visit in Albania
4 days ago • Jimmy Chen
Interior of the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon beside the Portuguese coat of arms
How to Spot Portugal’s Manueline Architecture and Where to See the Best
16 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.

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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Do Ghosts Exist in the Bible?
6 days ago • Michael Huffman
Religious woodcut and painting of Jesus
What Is the Meaning of the Lord’s Prayer?
7 days ago • Allen Baird
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?

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 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
11 days ago • Dr. Victoria C. Roskams
ancient china silk manufacturing ink silk road
The Secret History of Silk in Ancient China
15 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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