The Phoenicians’ success from the late Bronze Age on sat astride an already strong foundation. This base in what’s now Lebanon consisted of three successful trade hubs (Tyre, Sidon, and Byblos). With fewer opportunities inland, they took to the seas. They sailed west across the Mediterranean Sea to establish a loose-knit network of independent […]

At its peak, the Angevin Empire stretched from Scotland to France, a formidable medieval dominion under the English kings of the Plantagenet Dynasty. Shaped by pivotal figures such as Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard the Lionheart, and King John, this empire experienced a dynamic history, wherein its rapid expansion was almost as significant […]

From the first chapter, the Book of Ezekiel is packed with vivid imagery and colorful descriptions of God’s warnings to his people about the impending destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. Like Jeremiah, Ezekiel pivots later to messages of hope and restoration, calling on the people of God to repent and turn away from […]

Japanese history is not short on great women, from fearsome female warriors to wise empresses, poets, and more. Yet one name rarely makes its way to classrooms and the Japanese consciousness: Himiko. Many historians believe that she was a real 3rd-century-CE warrior queen and shaman who used her skills of diplomacy and divination to […]

When the Romans ousted their kings and established the Republic, they established checks and balances to ensure that no one man could gain too much power. This system of regulation included the Cursus Honorum, which was the acceptable order in which Roman public offices should be held. It started with military service and the […]