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TheCollector

TheCollector
What Are Some of Rome’s Unsolved Mysteries? From the strange disappearance of the ninth legion to the unknown substances that made up Roman...
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From the strange disappearance of the ninth legion to the unknown substances that made up Roman concrete, we take a closer look at a series of Rome’s greatest mysteries, which are largely unknown at the time of publication.   The Ninth Legion   One of the more famous Roman...
TheCollector
How Early Peoples of Latin America Interacted With Megafauna Approximately 11,000 years ago, in the Pleistocene epoch, humans began to enter present-day South...
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Approximately 11,000 years ago, in the Pleistocene epoch, humans began to enter present-day South America. There, they came face to face with the giants of their day—ground sloths over 20 feet long, armored glyptodonts the size of a car, and felines with foot-long teeth. Their...
TheCollector
7 Historical Places in Xi’an, China Xi’an was the capital of 13 ancient Chinese dynasties and holds an important place in Chinese...
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Xi’an was the capital of 13 ancient Chinese dynasties and holds an important place in Chinese history. It was the easternmost point of the Silk Road, a Eurasian trade route active from the 2nd century BCE until the mid-15th century. The city, previously known as Chang’An, has...
TheCollector
The History of Lagos, the Epicenter of the Portuguese Age of Discovery Lagos, Portugal is a 4,000-year-old coastal city that was once home to the Carthaginians, the...
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Lagos, Portugal is a 4,000-year-old coastal city that was once home to the Carthaginians, the Romans, and the Moors. After the Reconquista, Lagos played a pivotal role in the Portuguese maritime expansion.   In 1755, Lagos lost its influence after the devastating earthquake and...
TheCollector
Hellenistic Greek Sculpture (Guide with HD Images) After centuries of progress and development, Greek sculpture reached its “final” form during the...
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After centuries of progress and development, Greek sculpture reached its “final” form during the Hellenistic Age, usually dated from Alexander the Great’s death in 323 BCE. Around the 1st century BCE, Greece was incorporated into the Roman Empire, ushering in a new period of...
TheCollector
Archaic Greek Sculpture (Guide with HD Images) Ancient Greece is known for its magnificent statues, the craftsmanship of which is still envied by...
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Ancient Greece is known for its magnificent statues, the craftsmanship of which is still envied by modern artists. The style in which Greek statues were made was not monolithic but rather a gradual evolution over several centuries, with each new generation of artists building on...
TheCollector
Why Chinese Calligraphy Is More Than Just Beautiful Writing Western perceptions of Chinese calligraphy often focus on the skills used to make the artistic...
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Western perceptions of Chinese calligraphy often focus on the skills used to make the artistic lines. However, an appreciation of skills alone does not take into account the traditions tied to it. For over two millennia, Chinese calligraphy was more than an art form. It was a...
TheCollector
How the Gospel of John Differs from the Synoptic Gospels Unlike the synoptic gospels that share many of the events they describe, the Gospel of John presents...
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Unlike the synoptic gospels that share many of the events they describe, the Gospel of John presents a unique perspective. Some scholars claim John authored this gospel after the synoptic gospels, which allowed him to address challenges the fledgling Christian religion faced...
TheCollector
How the Hospitallers Lost the Holy Land but Survived the Ages During the Crusades, warriors devoted themselves to protecting the Holy Land from attack, dedicating...
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During the Crusades, warriors devoted themselves to protecting the Holy Land from attack, dedicating themselves to God, the Church, and their mission. Several orders of devout knights emerged, the most famous of which was the Knights Templar, but another well-known order was the...
TheCollector
The Musket Wars That Changed Māori Society Forever The Musket Wars, which occurred from the early 1800s to the 1840s, brought about a significant...
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The Musket Wars, which occurred from the early 1800s to the 1840s, brought about a significant transformation in Māori society and warfare. This four-decades-long conflict was characterized by the widespread use of muskets, which had been introduced (both willingly and...
TheCollector
The Lost People Who Built Babylon and Vanished The Amorites were a Bronze Age people who were prevalent in the Levant and Near East. But for over a...
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The Amorites were a Bronze Age people who were prevalent in the Levant and Near East. But for over a century, historians and archaeologists have debated if they can even be considered a “people” in an ethnic or political sense. Early theories held that the Amorites were a...
TheCollector
The 8 Most Intriguing Nazca Lines Nestled in the Nazca desert in southern Peru, the group of geoglyphs popularly called the Nazca...
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Nestled in the Nazca desert in southern Peru, the group of geoglyphs popularly called the Nazca Lines fascinates history enthusiasts worldwide. Displaying geometric, animal, and humanoid forms, these glyphs stand out among other archaeological finds due to their sophisticated...
TheCollector
What Is the Significance of the Minoan Octopus Vase? Craftsmen from the Minoan civilization, a society that existed during the Bronze Age on the Greek...
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Craftsmen from the Minoan civilization, a society that existed during the Bronze Age on the Greek island of Crete, created the famous Minoan Octopus vase. Their vases typically featured artistic portrayals of a sinuous octopus and were created at a time when the Minoans were...
TheCollector
How the Normans Conquered England in 1066 Many people may not be aware that the governments of France and England were once closely linked,...
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Many people may not be aware that the governments of France and England were once closely linked, including through a single monarchy. In 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, invaded England to avenge the affront of not being named King of England, as he had been promised.  The...
TheCollector
7 Historical Places to Visit On Your Way to the Isle of Skye Scotland draws tourists year-round to discover its stunning nature, fantastic views, and rich...
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Scotland draws tourists year-round to discover its stunning nature, fantastic views, and rich history. The Isle of Skye is the largest of the Inner Hebrides islands and is famous for its breathtaking views. You can discover the top places to visit on the Isle of Skye here. If...
TheCollector
The Rise and Fall of the Second Bulgarian Empire That Dominated the Balkans The founding of the Second Bulgarian Empire in the late 12th century saw the restoration of...
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The founding of the Second Bulgarian Empire in the late 12th century saw the restoration of Bulgarian independence from Byzantine rule. Under the leadership of effective rulers such as Kaloyan and Ivan Asen II, Bulgaria conquered most of southeastern Europe from the Byzantines....
TheCollector
The Tumultuous Ottoman Interregnum (Bayezid’s Fall & Civil War) Under Sultan Bayezid, “The Thunderbolt,” the Ottoman Empire had a series of stunning military...
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Under Sultan Bayezid, “The Thunderbolt,” the Ottoman Empire had a series of stunning military victories in the Balkans and Western Asia. However, Bayezid’s ambitions placed him in the path of the Turco-Mongol conqueror Timur, who captured the Sultan in battle. Known as the...
TheCollector
How Horses Shaped Human Civilization In no small part, horses have helped create and change human civilization. Although they are not as...
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In no small part, horses have helped create and change human civilization. Although they are not as conspicuous and as commonplace as they used to be, many civilizations were built on foundations provided for by equine labor.   From the plains of Eurasia, where they roamed free...
TheCollector
The Odyssey Still Matters! Dr. Paul Cartledge on Homer’s Epic With the star-studded new Odyssey feature film by Christopher Nolan in the works, everyone is...
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With the star-studded new Odyssey feature film by Christopher Nolan in the works, everyone is talking about Homer and his epic tales about the Trojan War and Odysseus’ long journey home following its conclusion. With this in mind, Richard Marranca spoke to Dr Paul Cartledge,...
TheCollector
How the Crusades Reshaped Medieval Europe From 1096 to about 1300 CE, during the Middle Ages in Europe, European monarchs and other royals...
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From 1096 to about 1300 CE, during the Middle Ages in Europe, European monarchs and other royals sent armies to the Holy Land in the Middle East to attempt to secure the city of Jerusalem and surrounding territory for Christendom. These “holy wars,” fought between Christians and...
TheCollector
5 Alluring Female Portraits Painted by Gustav Klimt Gustav Klimt redefined the modern female portrait. He introduced elements that were previously...
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Gustav Klimt redefined the modern female portrait. He introduced elements that were previously reserved for decorative arts or medieval icons. Klimt used gold, restless geometrical shapes, and dazzling enamel-like colors. While most portraitists of his time focused on showing...
TheCollector
What Was Coco Chanel’s “Slavic Period”? During the 1920s, European fashion reflected the lure of exotic trends. From peasant shirts and...
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During the 1920s, European fashion reflected the lure of exotic trends. From peasant shirts and embroidered dresses to jeweled kokoshnik tiaras, this era saw a strong Slavic influence on Western couture thanks to thousands of émigrés who fled the Bolshevik Revolution. While Coco...
TheCollector
What Did Sargon of Akkad and Sargon of Assyria Have in Common? Sargon of Akkad (ruled c. 2334-2279 BCE) and Sargon II of Assyria (ruled 721-705 BCE) were two of...
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Sargon of Akkad (ruled c. 2334-2279 BCE) and Sargon II of Assyria (ruled 721-705 BCE) were two of the greatest rulers in ancient Near Eastern history. Despite sharing the same name, the two men were from different dynasties and lived more than 1,500 years and hundreds of miles...
TheCollector
7 Unusual Saints of the Middle Ages During the Middle Ages, devout Christians venerated holy people known as saints. As everyday...
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During the Middle Ages, devout Christians venerated holy people known as saints. As everyday Christians made it through the struggles of life, they found comfort by identifying with saints, some of whom had extremely strange and unusual stories, or vitae. As strange as some of...
TheCollector
4 Major Monastic Reform Orders in Medieval Europee Although the tradition of Christian monasticism had its origins in 3rd-century Egypt and the Levant,...
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Although the tradition of Christian monasticism had its origins in 3rd-century Egypt and the Levant, its medieval form was firmly established by St. Benedict’s Rule of the 6th century. Benedictine monasteries adopted this set of rules and became widespread across Europe in the...
TheCollector
Did Life Continue in Pompeii After Its Destruction? In 79 CE, the disastrous eruption of Mount Vesuvius destroyed the prosperous cities of Pompeii and...
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In 79 CE, the disastrous eruption of Mount Vesuvius destroyed the prosperous cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum near Naples. A densely populated city was buried under ash, lava, and stone, but its life was not over. Groups of survivors went on to rebuild their lives in other...
TheCollector
What Ancient Greek Philosophers Said About Friendship (Philia) In Ancient Greek philosophy, friendship (or “philia”) was considered fundamental for shaping how one...
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In Ancient Greek philosophy, friendship (or “philia”) was considered fundamental for shaping how one thought, acted, and organized society. However, we will see that thinkers like Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates viewed the matter rather differently from how we might today. Of...
TheCollector
The Epic Story of El Cid (Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar) Few people have come close to achieving such legendary status as Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, better known...
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Few people have come close to achieving such legendary status as Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, better known as El Cid. Throughout his life, he fought for both Christian and Muslim armies, and was greatly respected and revered by both. In fact, his tale has been told so often that...
TheCollector
Queen Caroline of Denmark and the Forbidden Love That Rocked a Kingdom Caroline Matilda was born July 22, 1751. She was the daughter of Frederick, Prince of Wales and...
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Caroline Matilda was born July 22, 1751. She was the daughter of Frederick, Prince of Wales and Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, and was the youngest of nine children. Her father passed away just before she was born; he was the oldest son and heir of King George II of Great...
TheCollector
How Alexander the Great Won the Battle of the Granicus With Greece and the Balkans secure, Alexander the Great led his army across the Hellespont into Asia...
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With Greece and the Balkans secure, Alexander the Great led his army across the Hellespont into Asia Minor. A revolt in Egypt had drawn away the new Achaemenid king, Darius III, and his army. However, the local Achaemenid satraps were not about to let Alexander do as he pleased....
TheCollector
What the Book of Nahum Says About the Fall of Nineveh Nahum prophesied about the imminent destruction of Nineveh and, by extension, the Assyrian Empire,...
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Nahum prophesied about the imminent destruction of Nineveh and, by extension, the Assyrian Empire, though he did not prophesy directly to them. Instead, he brought his message to an audience in Judah that gained much hope from the news that Nineveh was about to fall. The Kingdom...
TheCollector
The Black Hawk War: Fighting Back Against US Westward Expansion As the United States expanded westwards, Native Americans were subjected to cultural genocide,...
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As the United States expanded westwards, Native Americans were subjected to cultural genocide, foreign diseases, and territorial loss. Faced with destruction and herded onto reservations, many Native Americans resisted what was happening to them and decided to take action.   In...
TheCollector
Why Did Ethiopian Rulers Claim to Be Descendants of King Solomon? Upon converting to Christianity in the 4th century, Ethiopia’s rulers took their new religion and...
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Upon converting to Christianity in the 4th century, Ethiopia’s rulers took their new religion and invested themselves with an entirely new national mythos. Dynasties traced their roots back as far as possible (and even beyond) in order to solidify their legitimacy. And where...
TheCollector
The 12th-Century Renaissance That Transformed Medieval Europe Europe’s long Middle Ages have a reputation as a low point in Western civilization. The period from...
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Europe’s long Middle Ages have a reputation as a low point in Western civilization. The period from the 5th to the 15th century is a byword for anything unenlightened and barbaric. Modern historians, however, prefer to view this stretch as a series of epochs and incremental...
TheCollector
A Complete Guide to the Greek Poet Hesiod & His Works Hesiod (c. 750-650 BCE) is one of the earliest extant Greek poets. His most notable surviving works...
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Hesiod (c. 750-650 BCE) is one of the earliest extant Greek poets. His most notable surviving works are Theogony, which describes the origins and genealogy of the gods and the universe, and Works and Days, which covers various subjects such as farming advice, mythical stories,...
TheCollector
Who Was Legendary Pirate Captain Kidd? Captain Kidd was one of many notorious pirates that operated during the 17th century “Golden Age of...
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Captain Kidd was one of many notorious pirates that operated during the 17th century “Golden Age of Piracy.” Legend has it he hid his treasure, intending to come back to it, but was stopped short when the law caught up with him. So where is this alleged treasure, and if people...
TheCollector
The Forgotten Irish Kingdom in Dark Age Britain It is well known that large numbers of Irish settlers migrated to western Britain, especially...
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It is well known that large numbers of Irish settlers migrated to western Britain, especially western Wales, during the early Dark Ages. This was mostly after, but some also before, the fall of Roman Britain. They managed to establish a relatively long-lasting kingdom in Dyfed,...
TheCollector
What Lao Tzu Believed and How It Shaped Taoism Lao Tzu (Laozi) is a complex figure, which makes capturing his essence through words difficult. This...
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Lao Tzu (Laozi) is a complex figure, which makes capturing his essence through words difficult. This is not only because of the minimal information we have about his existence but also the many titles that can be given to him. The ancient Chinese philosopher, sage, and to some,...
TheCollector
What Exactly Is Qi? Life Energy in Chinese Medicine & Martial Arts A character in a martial arts anime unleashes a planet-destroying burst of energy to defeat a foe. A...
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A character in a martial arts anime unleashes a planet-destroying burst of energy to defeat a foe. A martial artist in a wuxia film strikes at pressure points to paralyze someone. Another character places their hands on that same person to heal their injuries. These are...
TheCollector
The Three Graces “Charites” of Greek Mythology (Origins & Facts) The Charites, also known as the three Graces, were a group of beautiful goddesses who embodied...
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The Charites, also known as the three Graces, were a group of beautiful goddesses who embodied charm, grace, beauty, and joy. They presided over festival celebrations and were attendants to the goddess of love, Aphrodite. Initially, there were three Charites, but additional...
TheCollector
6 Most Striking Fayum Portraits You Should See The Fayum portraits are realistic paintings of deceased individuals that were placed over their...
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The Fayum portraits are realistic paintings of deceased individuals that were placed over their mummies during the first three centuries of the Common Era in Egypt. These were portraits of the elites who wished to reach the afterlife retaining their lifelike appearance. The...
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5 Roman Emperors (Almost) Lost to Time One of the main symptoms of the Crisis of the Third Century was almost constant civil wars and...
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One of the main symptoms of the Crisis of the Third Century was almost constant civil wars and internal fights for power. Over the course of almost half a century (235-284), many Roman generals and other commanders were proclaimed emperors, mostly by their soldiers after a...
TheCollector
The Game of Kings – The Intriguing History of Tamerlane Chess Tamerlane Chess is a medieval chess variant attributed to the 14th-century conqueror Timur, also...
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Tamerlane Chess is a medieval chess variant attributed to the 14th-century conqueror Timur, also known as Tamerlane. A complex and richly symbolic game, Tamerlane Chess is played on a unique 10×11 board and features over 25 distinct pieces, each with specialized movements. Known...
TheCollector
The Adventures of Perseus, the Greek Hero Who Defeated Medusa Perseus, the son of Zeus, was abandoned by his grandfather, King Acrisius, due to a dark prophecy....
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Perseus, the son of Zeus, was abandoned by his grandfather, King Acrisius, due to a dark prophecy. He and his mother, Danae, were saved by a fisherman named Diktys on the island of Seriphos. However, Diktys’s brother, King Polydectes, desired to marry Danae and devised a plan to...
TheCollector
How Moriori Peacekeepers Survived a Forgotten Māori Invasion For decades, the Moriori have been considered extinct. When two Māori tribes invaded their homeland,...
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For decades, the Moriori have been considered extinct. When two Māori tribes invaded their homeland, the Chatham Islands, in 1835, the Moriori refused to fight back. They remained faithful to the Law of Nunuku, the central tenet of Moriori life, which prohibited warfare and...
TheCollector
The Inca Empire’s Four Quarters Explained (Government & Challenges) The Inca Empire was the largest of the pre-Columbian civilizations. At its peak, the empire spanned...
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The Inca Empire was the largest of the pre-Columbian civilizations. At its peak, the empire spanned from the highest peaks of the Andes mountains to the inhospitable Atacama desert. At its peak between 1438 and 1533, the Inca Empire, known in the Quechua language as Tawantinsuyu,...
TheCollector
Inside the Forgotten Cave World of Old Khndzoresk Embark on a hike through the historic village of Old Khndzoresk in Armenia, perched on the steep...
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Embark on a hike through the historic village of Old Khndzoresk in Armenia, perched on the steep slopes of a breathtaking gorge. This remarkable site, fully inhabited during the 17th and 18th centuries with a population of over 8,000, offers a unique exploration of both natural...
TheCollector
The Story of the Carthaginian Queen Dido & the Trojan Prince Aeneas Dido and Aeneas are perhaps the two most iconic lovers in an ancient epic. Their brief relationship...
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Dido and Aeneas are perhaps the two most iconic lovers in an ancient epic. Their brief relationship becomes a haunting episode in the Aeneid, creating profound repercussions for Aeneas and his quest. Dido, the legendary queen of Carthage, and Aeneas, a Trojan prince fated to...
TheCollector
How Angels and Demons Interact with Humans in the Bible In modern pop culture, angels are often portrayed as gentle protectors, while demons are frequently...
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In modern pop culture, angels are often portrayed as gentle protectors, while demons are frequently depicted as malevolent tempters. However, in the Bible, the distinction between these spiritual beings is more complex. Angels deliver divine messages but also bring destruction....
TheCollector
Did Jesus Have Siblings? Scholars have asked questions about the siblings of Jesus since the earliest centuries of the...
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Scholars have asked questions about the siblings of Jesus since the earliest centuries of the Christian church. Some argue he had younger brothers and sisters based on a plain reading of the gospels. Others claim Jesus had stepsiblings from a prior marriage of Joseph. A third...
TheCollector
8 Facts About Huey Long, the Kingfish Who Promised Every Man a King Political powerhouse Huey Long was a radical democrat who had no qualms about making his opinions...
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Political powerhouse Huey Long was a radical democrat who had no qualms about making his opinions known. Rising through political ranks in Louisiana, he began making an impact on the national stage. Long made a number of reforms during his tenure in government, many of which made...
TheCollector
The Music of the Romantic Era (with Examples) The Romantic Period, often placed in the 19th century but with roots in the late 18th century, is...
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The Romantic Period, often placed in the 19th century but with roots in the late 18th century, is associated with individual self-expression and a reaction against the Age of Enlightenment’s emphasis on logic and rationality. This period also rebelled against industrialization....
TheCollector
How Did the Colonial Period Shape Modern Korean Art? The Japanese Colonial Period (1910-1945) saw the development of Modern Art in Korea according to...
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The Japanese Colonial Period (1910-1945) saw the development of Modern Art in Korea according to Western standards, placing importance on European techniques and styles, such as oil painting. Moving beyond the traditional, Korean art made during this time reflects the great...
TheCollector
Guide to Classical Greek Sculpture (Canon, Materials, and Appearance) After the Persians were thrown back from their attempt to conquer Greece, the Greek world was buoyed...
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After the Persians were thrown back from their attempt to conquer Greece, the Greek world was buoyed by a sense of optimism that permeated all aspects of society. It was during this time, called the Classical Era by historians, that ancient Greek culture reached its apogee,...
TheCollector
Guide to Lisbon’s History, Art, and Museums Lisbon is one of the oldest capitals in Europe. It was also once a prominent port city where...
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Lisbon is one of the oldest capitals in Europe. It was also once a prominent port city where merchants worldwide would meet and trade in the Middle Ages. It was the center of globalization’s earliest days.   Although the infamous 1755 earthquake left Lisbon in shambles, killing...
TheCollector
Mahatma Gandhi’s 3 Quotes That Changed the World Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born in 1869 in Porbandar, in the Indian state of Gujarat. He trained...
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Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born in 1869 in Porbandar, in the Indian state of Gujarat. He trained as a lawyer before moving to South Africa, where he set out to fight racial discrimination against the Indian community through organized civil disobedience. Returning to India in...
TheCollector
8 of the Most Famous Castles in the Middle East Not confined to the medieval history of Europe, massive stone fortifications were also a common...
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Not confined to the medieval history of Europe, massive stone fortifications were also a common sight throughout the Middle East. Many of these castles still stand, their impenetrable stone walls having withstood centuries of war and strife.   Some, however, have crumbled to...
TheCollector
What’s the Best Time of Year to Visit Mexico? Mexico offers arguably the most comprehensive travel experience in Latin America. It is ideal for...
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Mexico offers arguably the most comprehensive travel experience in Latin America. It is ideal for beach lovers, culture vultures, adrenalin addicts, and history enthusiasts. Yet, with a climate as diverse as its landscapes, settling on the perfect time to visit can be a bit...
TheCollector
What Life Was Really Like for a Medieval Monk Spending their lives in monasteries, devoting their entire lives to God, monks in the Middle Ages...
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Spending their lives in monasteries, devoting their entire lives to God, monks in the Middle Ages experienced a quiet existence in a world with a growing sense of religious importance that valued the monastic life.   Not only did they devote themselves to God, but they devoted...
TheCollector
Who Was Stonewall Jackson? The Confederate General Who Became a Legend Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson remains one of the most iconic figures of the American Civil War. Born in...
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Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson remains one of the most iconic figures of the American Civil War. Born in 1824, in what is now West Virginia, his military genius propelled him through the ranks of the Confederate Army from a lowly major to General. Known for his iron discipline and...
TheCollector
Tiresias, the Blind Prophet of Greek Mythology Tiresias, the blind prophet from Thebes, is one of the most renowned seers in Greek mythology. After...
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Tiresias, the blind prophet from Thebes, is one of the most renowned seers in Greek mythology. After being struck blind by one of the gods, Tiresias was granted the gifts of prophecy and longevity. As a prophet, Tiresias played a vital role in the mythology of Thebes. However,...
TheCollector
Could the Trojan War Have Occurred in the Iron Age? The Trojan War is undoubtedly the most famous conflict in Greek legend. The ancient Greeks wrote...
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The Trojan War is undoubtedly the most famous conflict in Greek legend. The ancient Greeks wrote about it extensively, and there are many statements regarding when it took place. These claims, although not all consistent, generally point to c. 1200 BCE as the date of the Trojan...
TheCollector
7 Historical Places to Visit on the Isle of Skye The Isle of Skye, the largest island of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. It has a population of...
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The Isle of Skye, the largest island of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. It has a population of around 10,000 people and is only 50 miles long. Yet, it is filled with history, from prehistoric fossils to highland castles. Peppered with ruins and riveting history, here are the top...
TheCollector
Sumer vs. Indus Valley – Which Is Older? The question of the older civilization between the Sumer and the Indus Valley Civilizations is...
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The question of the older civilization between the Sumer and the Indus Valley Civilizations is interesting as both are considered to be among the earliest human civilizations known to man. That said, they rose at different timelines. To determine which of them was older, it is...
TheCollector
Constantine the Great’s Forgotten Invasion of Britain Constantine the Great is undoubtedly one of the most famous Roman Emperors. He was made emperor...
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Constantine the Great is undoubtedly one of the most famous Roman Emperors. He was made emperor while in Roman Britain, fought a war against Emperor Maxentius in Rome, and then took control of the entire Roman Empire. Interestingly, there is some evidence that he returned to...
TheCollector
Who Were the Taíno, Puerto Rico’s Indigenous Culture? Accounts of the discovery of the “new world” often give the impression that Europeans’ first...
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Accounts of the discovery of the “new world” often give the impression that Europeans’ first encounters were with small native tribes, saving major indigenous histories for large civilizations like the Aztec and Inca. In fact, the very first people the conquistadors met in the...
TheCollector
The Story of the Union General Who Trained an Army He Refused to Use George McClellan was one of the most controversial generals of the American Civil War. Known for...
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George McClellan was one of the most controversial generals of the American Civil War. Known for organizing the Army of the Potomac, McClellan earned praise from superiors for his ability to instill discipline within his men. However, his cautious approach on the battlefield led...
TheCollector
The True History Behind the Legendary Round Table of King Arthur One of the key aspects of the Arthurian legends is that King Arthur was accompanied by a large...
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One of the key aspects of the Arthurian legends is that King Arthur was accompanied by a large alliance of knights known as the Knights of the Round Table. The Round Table itself was a large circular table at which Arthur and his allies sat, reportedly at Camelot. Many aspects of...
TheCollector
Who Won the Battle of Baton Rouge? On May 1, 1862, the Union seized New Orleans, the largest city in the Confederate States of America....
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On May 1, 1862, the Union seized New Orleans, the largest city in the Confederate States of America. This was a tremendous logistical and psychological blow for the South, which lost both a major trading and sociocultural center. Many expected the Confederacy to mount an...
TheCollector
3 Famous Archeological Finds That Were Actually Hoaxes Archeological discoveries have always fascinated us. They offer insights into the lives of our...
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Archeological discoveries have always fascinated us. They offer insights into the lives of our ancestors and the cultures of ancient civilizations, but not all finds stand up to scrutiny. Throughout history, several sensational archeological discoveries have turned out to be...
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What Is Hestia the Goddess of? When you think about Greek mythology, you may immediately picture the epic battles, tragic love...
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When you think about Greek mythology, you may immediately picture the epic battles, tragic love stories, and gods with fiery tempers in all of the famous stories. However, not every deity was defined by strength, power, and spectacle. Hestia, one of the elder Olympian gods,...
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Is There a Cure for Male Loneliness? Unpacking the Myths of Masculinity Male loneliness runs deeper than just feeling alone. Many men find it difficult to make close...
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Male loneliness runs deeper than just feeling alone. Many men find it difficult to make close connections because they are imprisoned by out-of-date concepts of masculinity: be strong, don’t cry, handle it alone, be a man! Such fallacies are not only harmful but also separate...
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The Four Crusader States in the Holy Land As a site of great significance for three world religions, the Levant has been subject to brutal...
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As a site of great significance for three world religions, the Levant has been subject to brutal wars over the centuries. When Pope Urban II launched the First Crusade in 1095, the main target was Jerusalem and the Holy Land. During the First Crusade, the Christians successfully...
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How Did Richard the Lionheart Become England’s Most Famous King? Richard I (1157-1199), the Lionheart, is celebrated as England’s great warrior king, a man who...
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Richard I (1157-1199), the Lionheart, is celebrated as England’s great warrior king, a man who embodied the ideals of medieval chivalry and nobility. Historically, however, Richard was notorious for having had little interest in England or the English—and in truth, he was never...
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7 Giant Animals That Were Lost in the Late Pleistocene Extinctions Scientists have recorded five Ice Ages in Earth’s history. The most recent began around three...
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Scientists have recorded five Ice Ages in Earth’s history. The most recent began around three million years ago and continues today. Ice ages are characterized by glacial periods, where the climate is colder and glaciers advance, and interglacial periods, where the climate is...
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Stories from WWII Croatia (Ustasha-era) The Independent State of Croatia, founded in 1941, did not have the same impact on Europe’s...
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The Independent State of Croatia, founded in 1941, did not have the same impact on Europe’s demographics that Nazi Germany did. Nonetheless, the brutality of the genocidal campaign it conducted against its Serbs, Roma, and Jews is haunting. Its history and the memory thereof also...
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The Forgotten Claudian Heirs Who Shaped Imperial Rome The Julio-Claudians were the first dynasty of imperial Rome, descended from the Julian gens through...
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The Julio-Claudians were the first dynasty of imperial Rome, descended from the Julian gens through Julius Caesar and Augustus. The Claudian side came through the empress Livia, herself a Claudian, and her ex-husband Tiberius Claudius Nero, whose name is preserved by three of...
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Medieval Battles Where Archers Ruled the Field Medieval battles were dominated by armored cavalry, but history reveals cases where archers were...
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Medieval battles were dominated by armored cavalry, but history reveals cases where archers were able to outsmart their rivals. Changing tactics only took them so far. New bow types, like the English longbow and the nomadic composite bow, increased the archer’s lethality....
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Alexander Gardner: The Man Who Captured the Civil War Alexander Gardner is one of the principal photographers responsible for capturing the horrors of the...
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Alexander Gardner is one of the principal photographers responsible for capturing the horrors of the Civil War and the adventure of the expansion into the American West, not only for posterity but for his contemporaries, shaping public opinion. His relationship with Abraham...
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The Ancient Hurrian Myth That Inspired the Greek Gods The Kumarbi Cycle was a Hurrian myth adapted by the Hittites. While Kumarbi himself was a Hurrian...
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The Kumarbi Cycle was a Hurrian myth adapted by the Hittites. While Kumarbi himself was a Hurrian god, the epic incorporates other gods from Near Eastern cultures, like the Babylonians and Syrians. The storm god, called Teshub in Hurrian, was replaced with the Hittite and Luwian...
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How the Antigonids Endured and Ruled Macedonia After Alexander Following the death of Alexander the Great, his generals fought for control of the various parts of...
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Following the death of Alexander the Great, his generals fought for control of the various parts of his empire. Despite taking control of the Macedonian homeland, the Antigonids are less famous than the Ptolemies of Egypt and the Seleucids of Asia Minor. Meet the rulers of the...
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Why Did the Romans Conquer the World? Here’s Polybius’ Explanation The growth of the Roman Republic forever changed the ancient world. For those who lived through it,...
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The growth of the Roman Republic forever changed the ancient world. For those who lived through it, the swift rise of Rome from obscurity to superpower must have been stunning. Polybius, a leading politician in a Greek state that had been Rome’s ally and then enemy, experienced...
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Who Was Saint John the Baptist? (Bio, Death, Facts) John the Baptist was more than just a prophet. He was the cousin of Jesus and God tasked him with...
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John the Baptist was more than just a prophet. He was the cousin of Jesus and God tasked him with preparing the way for Jesus. But what did that mean? John showed significant insight into who Jesus was and how he would fulfill the Old Testament type of Christ. John lived a simple...
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The Trojan Horse, the Deception That Ended the Trojan War Arguably, one of the most famous aspects of the Trojan War is the story of how it ended. This story...
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Arguably, one of the most famous aspects of the Trojan War is the story of how it ended. This story famously involved the incredible deception of the Trojan Horse. According to this ancient legend, the Trojan Horse was used by the Greeks to end a grueling ten-year siege of the...
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5 Generals Who Defeated Napoleon in Battle Napoleon Bonaparte is considered one of the greatest military leaders in history. As a result of his...
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Napoleon Bonaparte is considered one of the greatest military leaders in history. As a result of his operational and tactical prowess, he suffered only ten defeats of the 80 or so battles he fought in his career. The generals who defeated him on the field of battle were...
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No One Knows How Cleopatra Really Died But These Are the Most Compelling Theories Cleopatra VII, the last active pharaoh of Egypt, died in August 30 BCE after her kingdom was invaded...
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Cleopatra VII, the last active pharaoh of Egypt, died in August 30 BCE after her kingdom was invaded and conquered by Rome’s first emperor, Octavian. Political ambition, strategic alliances, and legendary relationships with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony marked her life. But her...
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4 Ways that Magical Realism Rewrites History In a particularly striking scene from Gabriel García Márquez’s Nobel prize-winning novel One Hundred...
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In a particularly striking scene from Gabriel García Márquez’s Nobel prize-winning novel One Hundred Years of Solitude, a trickle of blood takes on a life of its own, flowing from room to room, going around the carpets, crossing terraces, and climbing over curbs as it makes its...
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The Symbols and Strange Stories Behind Rembrandt’s Night Watch The Night Watch by Rembrandt van Rijn is one of the most analyzed paintings in the history of art....
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The Night Watch by Rembrandt van Rijn is one of the most analyzed paintings in the history of art. This fascinating artwork has survived many wars, three attacks by vandals, and years of extensive research and attempts to decode its meaning and complex composition. Let’s explore...
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Is Gibbon’s “The Decline & Fall of the Roman Empire” Still Relevant? In the 18th century, Edward Gibbon wrote his six-volume magnum opus, The History of the Decline and...
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In the 18th century, Edward Gibbon wrote his six-volume magnum opus, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. It covers the history of the empire that started in the city of Rome from 98 CE to 1590 CE; over 3,928 pages. For generations, it was considered required...
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6 Magnificent Medieval Castles Around the World Medieval castles evolved as needs or technology changed. Normal castle construction consisted of...
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Medieval castles evolved as needs or technology changed. Normal castle construction consisted of thick stone walls, battlements, ample food storage for soldiers, and perhaps a moat or an internal spring. Builders constructed castles in various ways over time, creating many unique...
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Calypso, the Nymph Who Held Odysseus Captive Calypso was a beautiful nymph who lived alone on the isolated island of Ogygia. Her solitude changed...
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Calypso was a beautiful nymph who lived alone on the isolated island of Ogygia. Her solitude changed when the shipwrecked hero Odysseus washed ashore. Calypso fell in love with him and offered him immortality and an idyllic paradise in exchange for staying with her and marrying...
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Nietzsche vs. Schopenhauer’s Views on Life, Suffering, and the Will Does life weigh us down, or is it an adventure we should accept? Nietzsche and Schopenhauer...
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Does life weigh us down, or is it an adventure we should accept? Nietzsche and Schopenhauer disagreed deeply on the meaning of existence and the nature of human suffering. Schopenhauer, the original pessimist, thought that life inevitably brought pain and torment—and that the...
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Why Was Hope the Last Gift in Pandora’s Box? The story of Pandora’s box is a well-known tale about Pandora, the first woman according to ancient...
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The story of Pandora’s box is a well-known tale about Pandora, the first woman according to ancient Greek mythology, and a box given to her by the gods. Recounted in Hesiod’s Theogony and Works and Days, the box was originally conceptualized as a jar, only becoming a box when a...
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Top 10 Places to Visit in Athens, Greece According to many flight crews, the most beautiful city from above is Athens. Its hilly landscape...
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According to many flight crews, the most beautiful city from above is Athens. Its hilly landscape features vast olive groves, palm tree-lined coastal avenues, and urban neighborhoods sprawling across the Attic peninsula. The city is even more breathtaking from the ground, with...
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How a 7th-Century War Game Transformed Into a Symbol of Intelligence The game of chess has a history spanning over a thousand years, evolving from the ancient Indian...
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The game of chess has a history spanning over a thousand years, evolving from the ancient Indian game of chaturanga into a modern global sport. Shaped by cultural exchange, conquest, and innovation, its rules and strategies have transformed dramatically. Today, modern chess...
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Discover the Irish Ogham, the Medieval “Tree Alphabet” Ogham, sometimes referred to as Ogam, was the earliest form of Irish writing. Otherwise known as the...
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Ogham, sometimes referred to as Ogam, was the earliest form of Irish writing. Otherwise known as the “tree alphabet” because of its distinctive branch shapes, connections have often been drawn between the Ogham alphabet and the ancient Druids, an Iron Age class of Celtic...
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The Life of Seneca, the Stoic Philosopher Who Walked a Moral Tightrope Lucius Annaeus Seneca lived at a formative period in the history of imperial Rome. As a Stoic...
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Lucius Annaeus Seneca lived at a formative period in the history of imperial Rome. As a Stoic philosopher who preached virtue and self-restraint, he also served as an advisor to the infamous emperor Nero. His writings, such as his Letters to Lucilius and On the Shortness of Life,...
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What Is the Celtic Revival? (History, Art, and Impact) The Celtic Revival, which began in 19th-century Ireland, was a resurgence of popular interest in a...
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The Celtic Revival, which began in 19th-century Ireland, was a resurgence of popular interest in a variety of Celtic and medieval Irish traditions, including art, language, and mythology. The movement held great significance for Irish art history and archaeology, as well as for...
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The Enduring Legacy of Suetonius, Rome’s Most Controversial Biographer Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus was an ambitious imperial official under the Roman Emperor Hadrian,...
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Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus was an ambitious imperial official under the Roman Emperor Hadrian, whose name has come down through history for writing imperial biographies of Rome’s first emperors, called The Twelve Caesars. While his position at court gave him unique access to...
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How the Rivalry of Charles V, Francis I, and Henry VIII Shaped Europe In an age when the exercise of power was largely personal rather than corporate, the machinations of...
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In an age when the exercise of power was largely personal rather than corporate, the machinations of and rivalry between three great monarchs (Charles V, Henry VIII, Francis I) could and did have an enormous impact on the events of the time. Nearly every war, alliance, scandal,...
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The Real Story of the Legendary Ninja Hattori Hanzo The Sengoku Jidai was by far the most turbulent period in Japanese history. The country was split...
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The Sengoku Jidai was by far the most turbulent period in Japanese history. The country was split into dozens of separate domains. Various daimyo had their own ideas on how to rule the country and were willing to wage war for it. Some, like Hattori Hanzo Masanari, would be in...
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Why Was King James Such a Powerful Figure? Born James Charles Stuart, son of Mary, Queen of Scots, King James inherited the Scottish throne...
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Born James Charles Stuart, son of Mary, Queen of Scots, King James inherited the Scottish throne from his mother when she was forced to abdicate on July 24, 1567. He was only an infant when this dramatic life turn took place. Through a convoluted set of circumstances resulting...
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5 Sites Related to the Knights Templar in Portugal In Portugal, the Knights Templar left a remarkable legacy, impacting the country’s history,...
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In Portugal, the Knights Templar left a remarkable legacy, impacting the country’s history, architecture, and religion. In this article, you will learn how such a secretive religious order helped shape the future of a new kingdom and how they benefited from the king’s unwavering...
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The Draugr (Norse Undead) Who Haunted the Viking World The Vikings believed in life after death, but also that people could get caught between life and...
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The Vikings believed in life after death, but also that people could get caught between life and death. Returning as a revenant usually happened to evil people who clung to life for their own vile purposes. These zombie-like creatures were called, among other things, “draugr,”...
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An In-Depth Guide to the Christian Doctrine of God The doctrine of God as taught by Christian theologians differs from the conceptual God debated by...
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The doctrine of God as taught by Christian theologians differs from the conceptual God debated by philosophers and the inner God experienced by mystics. But how exactly is the God of the scholars and visionaries different from the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as Pascal...
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What 1 & 2 Kings Reveal About Power and Faith First and Second Kings are one literary work that was divided into the two books we have today when...
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First and Second Kings are one literary work that was divided into the two books we have today when translators rendered the Hebrew text into the Greek Septuagint. That division was carried through to the Latin Vulgate and subsequently into modern Bible translations. The...
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How to Read the Books of the Prophets in the Bible Most people who have picked up a Bible have at some time thought: “Well… this makes no sense!” The...
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Most people who have picked up a Bible have at some time thought: “Well… this makes no sense!” The Bible is a dense collection of writings that was written over centuries. It is no wonder that it does not always make for easy reading. Many modern Christians are hesitant to dive...
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How Did Matisse’s Time in Moscow Shape His Fauvist Art? In 1911, Henri Matisse arrived in Moscow upon the invitation of a famous art collector called Sergei...
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In 1911, Henri Matisse arrived in Moscow upon the invitation of a famous art collector called Sergei Shchukin. Known for his radical taste, Shchukin acquired works by Matisse, Picasso, and Cezanne at a time when their art was scarcely accepted, even in Western circles. In Moscow,...
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What Led to the Rise and Fall of the Indus Civilization? Lost beneath Pakistan and India’s plains, the Indus—or Harappan—Civilization flourished between...
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Lost beneath Pakistan and India’s plains, the Indus—or Harappan—Civilization flourished between 2700-1900 BCE, building the ancient world’s biggest cities long before we even knew they existed. Unearthed only in 1924, these sites reveal no sprawling palaces, temples or writings,...
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The 6 Empires That Shaped the Bible Story The events recorded in the Bible cover thousands of years with thousands of proper names. One way to...
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The events recorded in the Bible cover thousands of years with thousands of proper names. One way to impose order on such complex material is to classify it in terms of the empires that were dominant at the time in which the major events occurred. This is an especially useful...
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The Origins & Symbolism of the Phoenix (From Ancient Greece to Christianity) The myth of the Phoenix is closely identified with stories from ancient Greek and Roman literature,...
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The myth of the Phoenix is closely identified with stories from ancient Greek and Roman literature, although there are Egyptian and Persian counterparts that may have outdated and influenced these. What is less well known are the references to the phoenix and phoenixlike birds...
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The Primordial Gods of Greek Mythology Who Preceded the Olympians According to Greek mythology, when the cosmos was created, it was initially inhabited by the first...
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According to Greek mythology, when the cosmos was created, it was initially inhabited by the first generation of beings known as the Primordial gods or Protogenoi (Firstborn). Many of these gods appeared fully formed at the moment of the cosmos’s creation. They personified the...
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When Was Homer’s Iliad Written? Unraveling the Controversy Homer’s Iliad tells the story of the Trojan War. Traditionally, that war has been dated to the late...
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Homer’s Iliad tells the story of the Trojan War. Traditionally, that war has been dated to the late Bronze Age, approximately c. 1200 BCE. However, the Iliad itself was not written that early in history. There is wide agreement that Homer—or whoever the true author of the Iliad...
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What Is the Great Commission? The Final Words of Jesus In the final verses of the Gospel of Matthew we find a passage that is often called “the Great...
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In the final verses of the Gospel of Matthew we find a passage that is often called “the Great Commission.” Matthew’s Gospel ends abruptly, with the resurrected Christ appearing to the disciples one last time and saying the words that would later become famous as the Great...
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Was “Bad” King John Really That Bad? Among the kings of England there have been eight Henrys, eight Edwards, and six Georges but there...
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Among the kings of England there have been eight Henrys, eight Edwards, and six Georges but there has only ever been one John. His successors did not want to be associated with the stain the name had in the minds of the English people. Considering what the monk Matthew Paris...
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How Did the Aztec Empire Rise and Fall in Mesoamerica? The Aztec Empire is among the most talked about Mesoamerican societies. The prominent empire spanned...
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The Aztec Empire is among the most talked about Mesoamerican societies. The prominent empire spanned between 1325 and 1521 CE and covered a significant portion of the modern-day regions of central and southern Mexico. While historians refer to the inhabitants as the Aztecs, they...
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How Gustave Moreau’s Mystical Paintings Defined the Symbolist Movement The late 19th century was a time of political and social upheaval in France. In response to the...
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The late 19th century was a time of political and social upheaval in France. In response to the changing cultural landscape, a small group of writers and artists struck out in defiance of the literal, natural art popular at the time. They turned their focus inward, using their...
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Demetrius “the Besieger” and the Epic Scramble for Alexander’s Empire Demetrius Poliorcetes, “the Besieger,” became central to the scramble for power following the death...
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Demetrius Poliorcetes, “the Besieger,” became central to the scramble for power following the death of Alexander the Great. The drama of his life is such that a historian described it as one that “still awaits a movie producer” (Chaniotis, 2018, 47). Ever-changing fortune cast...
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6 Key Themes For Understanding Confucianism William Theodore de Bary, sinologist and scholar of East Asian Philosophy at Columbia University,...
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William Theodore de Bary, sinologist and scholar of East Asian Philosophy at Columbia University, said that “if we were to characterize, in one word, the Chinese way of life for the last two thousand years, the word would be ‘Confucian.’”   The primary consideration of...
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A Journey Through Greece’s Byzantine & Venetian Heritage in Monemvasia Known as the “Gibraltar of the East,” Monemvasia is a rocky Greek island with a rich Byzantine and...
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Known as the “Gibraltar of the East,” Monemvasia is a rocky Greek island with a rich Byzantine and Venetian history. A completely walled city, its strategic location made it an important trading port for both empires. This combination made for a unique blend of cultures whose...
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How Dark Age Britain Created Welsh Mythology Many mythologies from around the world are based in a historical setting. For example, in the case...
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Many mythologies from around the world are based in a historical setting. For example, in the case of ancient Greek mythology, many scholars agree that much of it originates in some sense from Bronze Age Greece. What about Welsh mythology? Over the 20th century, many scholars...
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How the Renaissance Sparked a Religious Revolution in Europe The Renaissance was symbolic of an intellectual shift in Western Europe that emphasized and promoted...
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The Renaissance was symbolic of an intellectual shift in Western Europe that emphasized and promoted values such as education, individualism, and objectivity via humanist philosophies. This way of thinking had an impact on politics, art, and especially religion. The values...
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The Hidden Human Histories Buried in the Grand Canyon The Grand Canyon is one of Earth’s most incredible and iconic landmarks. But its sculpted stones and...
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The Grand Canyon is one of Earth’s most incredible and iconic landmarks. But its sculpted stones and carved canyons aren’t just a geological timeline. Humans have inhabited, worshipped, and traversed the region for thousands of years. Read on to discover how the hidden histories...
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Classical Sculpture Techniques and Their Surprising Influence on Modernism The thread between ancient and modern art was entwined. Artists of the modern art period employed...
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The thread between ancient and modern art was entwined. Artists of the modern art period employed classical sculpting techniques, materials, and sometimes themes in the creation of their own works of art. The methods and styles used before the first millennium were never fully...
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What Do We Know About the “Missing” Books of the Bible? In the early years of Christianity, following the time of the New Testament, multiple books were...
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In the early years of Christianity, following the time of the New Testament, multiple books were circulated around the newly formed churches. Among those books and letters, a consensus among the churches arose as to which ones were authentically written by an apostle of Jesus...
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What Did an Ottoman Sultan Eat In a Day? In the 15th and 16th centuries, the Ottoman palace kitchens were places where delicious and...
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In the 15th and 16th centuries, the Ottoman palace kitchens were places where delicious and innovative foods emerged. A sultan’s personal tastes, whether leaning towards savory or sweet, influenced the culinary culture of the court. Some of the sultan’s favorite foods, like...
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7 Real Characters from Arthurian Legends The Arthurian legends introduce many fascinating characters, including the selfless King Arthur with...
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The Arthurian legends introduce many fascinating characters, including the selfless King Arthur with his magical sword, the chivalrous Sir Lancelot with his scandalous love affair with Guinevere, and the magician Merlin, possibly a son of demons. As we focus on these lead...
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How Gutenberg’s Press Sparked a World-Changing Revolution The Gutenberg Press revolutionized how information was produced and disseminated, marking a...
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The Gutenberg Press revolutionized how information was produced and disseminated, marking a milestone in the history of book production in Europe. Produced in the mid-15th century by Johannes Gutenberg in Germany, this innovative press combined the movable metal type with a screw...
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How Pegasus Sprang from Medusa and Soared to Olympus The immortal, white-winged stallion Pegasus is one of the most iconic creatures in Greek mythology....
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The immortal, white-winged stallion Pegasus is one of the most iconic creatures in Greek mythology. He was born from the tragic and brutal union of a god, a gorgon, and a hero’s sword. While Pegasus is primarily remembered as the devoted companion of the hero Bellerophon, his...
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9 Facts About Johnny Appleseed Few American legends are as widely known as the story of Johnny Appleseed. But as with many tales of...
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Few American legends are as widely known as the story of Johnny Appleseed. But as with many tales of Americana, it can be hard to separate fact from fiction. While Johnny was a real person, his moniker of “Appleseed” was not his actual last name but a nickname given to him for...
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The Gluttonous Roman Emperor Vitellius of 69 CE Vitellius was one of the four emperors who claimed power in the turbulent year that followed the...
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Vitellius was one of the four emperors who claimed power in the turbulent year that followed the death of the last Julio-Claudian, Nero. History is written by the victor, and after just eight months Vespasian ousted Vitellius and established the Flavian Dynasty. Consequently,...
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The Top 8 Archaeological Discoveries of 2025 (So Far) From lost royal tombs and underwater time capsules to mythic Greek sanctuaries and vibrant Roman...
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From lost royal tombs and underwater time capsules to mythic Greek sanctuaries and vibrant Roman frescoes, 2025 is already shaping up to be a landmark year for archaeology. These top archaeological discoveries span thousands of years and multiple continents.   1. Valley of the...
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The Unique History of Wales (From the Stone Age) Many people are confused and think that Wales, in the United Kingdom, is a part of England,...
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Many people are confused and think that Wales, in the United Kingdom, is a part of England, something that angers most Welsh people due to the turbulent history between the two countries. Wales has a long and fascinating history, all of its own, characterized by consistent...
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What Were the Founding Principles of Monophysitism? Monophysitism is a belief that Jesus Christ had only one divine nature, rather than a nature that...
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Monophysitism is a belief that Jesus Christ had only one divine nature, rather than a nature that was both fully divine and fully human within one person. The Monophysite theology took various forms with various people over the early centuries of Christianity.   The Emergence of...
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Hygiene and Bathing in the Middle Ages The Middle Ages has a reputation for being a time when the average person lived in filth and...
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The Middle Ages has a reputation for being a time when the average person lived in filth and squalor, bathing was unheard of, and personal hygiene was a foreign concept. But is this true? There is no simple answer to this question since the Middle Ages lasted almost a thousand...
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What the Bubonic Plague Can Still Teach Us About Civilization Collapse From 1347 to 1353, the Bubonic Plague, more commonly referred to as the Black Death, wracked the...
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From 1347 to 1353, the Bubonic Plague, more commonly referred to as the Black Death, wracked the continent of Europe. It was a time of misery and suffering as almost half of Europe’s population succumbed to the disease, sending shockwaves throughout the continent and forcing...
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How Hagia Sophia Survived Centuries of Religious and Political Change Rising at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Hagia Sophia is more than a marvel of architecture. For...
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Rising at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Hagia Sophia is more than a marvel of architecture. For over 1,500 years, Istanbul’s international treasure has witnessed the rise and fall of empires and the shifting tides of faith. How did a singular structure survive centuries of...
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The Upstart Roman Emperor Otho Who Claimed Nero’s Legacy Marcus Silvius Otho has gone down in history for claiming the position of emperor of Rome for a...
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Marcus Silvius Otho has gone down in history for claiming the position of emperor of Rome for a short three-month period in 69 CE. This was during the year of volatility that followed the death of the last Julio-Claudian emperor, Nero, known as the Year of the Four Emperors. A...
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Get to Know Venerable Bede, the Father of English History Bede is remembered today chiefly as a historian. Yet he was a dynamic intellectual giant in the...
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Bede is remembered today chiefly as a historian. Yet he was a dynamic intellectual giant in the Early Middle Ages and his most famous historical work is far more than a dry recounting of events. Let us explore Bede, his History, and the influence that it has had.   Northumbria in...
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9 Things to Know About Giorgio Morandi, the Master of Still Life Giorgio Morandi was an Italian artist best known for his still life paintings of bottles and vases....
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Giorgio Morandi was an Italian artist best known for his still life paintings of bottles and vases. Morandi focused not on bold concepts or bright imagery but on composition and color. He deliberately stripped his objects of their practical functions to focus on pure form. Read...
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King Tut: The Life & Afterlife of the Boy Pharaoh When Howard Carter cracked open a forgotten tomb in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings in 1922, the world...
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When Howard Carter cracked open a forgotten tomb in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings in 1922, the world met a golden face that would become immortal. But behind the glittering mask of Tutankhamun was a sickly teenage boy, born into chaos and nearly forgotten forever. The life of King...
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Who Were the Famous Pompeii Victims? In 79 CE, the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum were destroyed by the powerful eruption of...
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In 79 CE, the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum were destroyed by the powerful eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Up to 16,000 victims were buried under ash and rubble or suffocated from poisonous gases. Many of such bodies left silhouette-shaped cavities in compressed ash....
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Real Person or Myth? The Truth About King Arthur Did King Arthur really exist? That question has occupied the minds of historians for centuries. Even...
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Did King Arthur really exist? That question has occupied the minds of historians for centuries. Even in the medieval era, as early as the century in which Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote his Arthurian account, scholars doubted the truth behind much of the Arthurian legends. In more...
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How the Mycenaeans Conquered the Minoans & Took Crete The Bronze Age Aegean in the eastern Mediterranean region had several distinct groups and they...
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The Bronze Age Aegean in the eastern Mediterranean region had several distinct groups and they included the Mycenaeans, who lived in mainland Greece, and the Minoans on the island of Crete. Although the cultures are often studied separately, they were somewhat linked. This is...
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What Did the Emancipation Proclamation Do? Issued by President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War, this executive order declared freedom for...
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Issued by President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War, this executive order declared freedom for enslaved people in Confederate territories. Although its immediate impact was limited by enforcement challenges, its symbolic power redefined the nation’s purpose and the very...
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How Odysseus Survived the Terrifying Sea Monsters Scylla and Charybdis Scylla and Charybdis appear mainly in book twelve of Homer’s Odyssey, in which Odysseus and his crew...
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Scylla and Charybdis appear mainly in book twelve of Homer’s Odyssey, in which Odysseus and his crew must sail through the rocks near where the monsters live. Little information is known about their origins, though some stories are provided in myth. Scylla and Charybdis were...
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What Are the Literary Sources for the Trojan War? When considering the Trojan War, most people think of Homer’s epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey....
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When considering the Trojan War, most people think of Homer’s epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey. But these two defining works only tell part of the story. The Iliad is set in the ninth year of a ten-year war, and the Odyssey is the tale of a hero returning after the conflict....
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How Tiberius & Gaius Gracchus Almost Revolutionized the Roman Republic Rivalries between brothers are a recurring motif throughout Roman history. From the bloody struggle...
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Rivalries between brothers are a recurring motif throughout Roman history. From the bloody struggle between Romulus and Remus during the city’s mythological origins, through to Caracalla’s brutal murder of his brother Geta in the early 3rd century CE, happy families could be rare...
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How John Everett Millais’ Life & Work Shaped the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood Along with William Holman Hunt and Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Everett Millais was one of the...
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Along with William Holman Hunt and Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Everett Millais was one of the founding members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in September 1848. Throughout the early 1850s, John Everett Millais created many works of art that would define the Pre-Raphaelite art...
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What Was the Significance of Philippi and Colossae in Biblical History? The Apostle Paul traveled throughout much of the Roman Empire in the first century spreading...
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The Apostle Paul traveled throughout much of the Roman Empire in the first century spreading Christianity and preaching to people and churches. Two of the cities he visited were Philippi in Greece and Colossae in Asia Minor (now Turkey).   Philippi Before Paul Arrived   Philippi...
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How Solomon’s Wisdom Shaped a Kingdom Solomon is synonymous with the honor, prosperity, and riches of Israel. These material things were...
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Solomon is synonymous with the honor, prosperity, and riches of Israel. These material things were never his goal but were the result of his desire to serve God as a trustworthy steward of his people. Solomon’s wish was to have the insight to distinguish between good and evil and...
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Cimbrian War: Rome’s Greatest Threat Since Hannibal In the middle of the 2nd century BCE, the Roman Republic had fought and won several overseas wars....
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In the middle of the 2nd century BCE, the Roman Republic had fought and won several overseas wars. Carthage had been decisively defeated in the Third Punic War, while the Greeks and Macedonians in the east had also been brought to heel. However, by the end of the century, war...
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Where Was the Biblical Saba (Land of the Queen of Sheba)? Strap on your metaphorical scuba gear because we’re about to dive into the murky depths of history,...
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Strap on your metaphorical scuba gear because we’re about to dive into the murky depths of history, myth, and archaeological intrigue surrounding Saba—the golden land of the fabled Queen Makeda. What was Saba really like? How did its people live, and what did its cities look...
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Everything You Should Know About the Book of Isaiah The Book of Isaiah speaks to some of the darkest days of Israel and Judah yet contains some of the...
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The Book of Isaiah speaks to some of the darkest days of Israel and Judah yet contains some of the most beautiful passages in the Bible, bringing hope and presenting the Messianic promise of salvation and restoration. The book spans several centuries beginning with the time of...
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Who Were King Solomon’s Many Wives and Concubines? King Solomon pulled the ultimate biblical no-no: he married foreign women and allowed them to keep...
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King Solomon pulled the ultimate biblical no-no: he married foreign women and allowed them to keep practicing their own religions. In his zeal to cement political alliances through marriage, he gained a reputation for faithlessness—and divine punishment soon followed. But who...
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How Did Geographical Discoveries Shape Johannes Vermeer’s Artworks? Only around 35 paintings by Johannes Vermeer survive today, but they still captivate viewers of all...
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Only around 35 paintings by Johannes Vermeer survive today, but they still captivate viewers of all ages and backgrounds. This is evident from the ocean of merchandise featuring his masterpieces and the fame of the Girl with a Pearl Earring, which appears in pop culture almost as...
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The Passionate (& Controversial) Relationship of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera In 1929, 22-year-old Mexican painter Frida Kahlo married muralist Diego Rivera, who was two decades...
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In 1929, 22-year-old Mexican painter Frida Kahlo married muralist Diego Rivera, who was two decades her senior. More than lovers, their mutual influence was most prominent in their respective artistic creations. Their admiration for each other’s talent, as well as a shared belief...
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How Did Venice and Byzantium Become Bitter Rivals? The Byzantine Empire emerged as the surviving half of the Roman Empire, while the western half...
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The Byzantine Empire emerged as the surviving half of the Roman Empire, while the western half crumbled. Unlike the West, the Eastern Empire, after 476 CE, remained stable, with a strong military and capable administrators. Marked changes did occur as Greek culture, language, and...
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What Is Structuralism? (Definition & Facts) Structuralists say structures can be uncovered anywhere—from human behavior to star clusters and...
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Structuralists say structures can be uncovered anywhere—from human behavior to star clusters and snowflakes to mathematics. In fact, structuralism offers a kind of mathematization of the entirety of nature, even systems that were once considered too complicated to model, such as...
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Porto for Art Lovers: Galleries, Architecture, and Street Art Porto is famous for its incredible past and its monuments. This mesmerizing city holds some of the...
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Porto is famous for its incredible past and its monuments. This mesmerizing city holds some of the most iconic historical buildings in the country besides renowned contemporary art galleries.   Baroque, Neo-Classical, and Art Nouveau Landmarks   Igreja and Torre dos Clérigos  ...
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The Tumultuous Life of Gaius Marius, the Roman General Who Broke All the Rules Gaius Marius is one of the most compelling personalities of the Roman Republic. Entering politics as...
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Gaius Marius is one of the most compelling personalities of the Roman Republic. Entering politics as a “novus homo” from Italy with few political connections, he proved both his military skill and unbridled ambition during the Jugurthine War. He was subsequently elected consul an...
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What Happened to the Neanderthals? Contrary to popular belief, the Neanderthals had language, hunting strategies, sophisticated tools,...
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Contrary to popular belief, the Neanderthals had language, hunting strategies, sophisticated tools, art, and jewelry. In many ways, they were not dissimilar from us. Having co-existed for thousands of years, there must be more to the story than humans simply wiping them out. For...
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How the Roman Aeminium Became Coimbra, One of Portugal’s Oldest Cities Present-day Coimbra hides an extraordinary past. Here, you can find the most well-preserved...
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Present-day Coimbra hides an extraordinary past. Here, you can find the most well-preserved cryptoporticus from the Roman Empire and the richest Baroque library in Europe. At Coimbra, you will also discover remnants of the Moorish occupation.   Coimbra also played a vital role in...
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How Was Food Preserved Before Fridges? Fridges have become an almost indispensable necessity in many households in the modern world. This...
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Fridges have become an almost indispensable necessity in many households in the modern world. This is because they keep food fresh by maintaining a cool environment. The cool temperatures in fridges help to prevent the growth of microorganisms that cause food decay. That said,...
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How the Great Fire of London in 1666 Completely Transformed the City Few man-made disasters before the 19th century have caused as much damage or reformed a city as much...
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Few man-made disasters before the 19th century have caused as much damage or reformed a city as much as the Great Fire of London did in 1666. Not only did the fire cause untold damage, devastation, and carnage in the city, but it also helped to change the way that buildings were...
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Philopoemen: The Last Great General of Ancient Greece Philopoemen (253-183 BCE) was a strategos (general) of the Achaean League during a turbulent period...
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Philopoemen (253-183 BCE) was a strategos (general) of the Achaean League during a turbulent period of conflict with Sparta. While he has been overshadowed by great generals such as Hannibal, Alexander the Great, and Julius Caesar, Philopoemen was regarded as one of the most...
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How Georges Méliès Brought Magic to the Movies In the earliest days of cinema, when pictures moving at all was still shocking, one visionary saw...
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In the earliest days of cinema, when pictures moving at all was still shocking, one visionary saw the fantastical possibilities of this exciting new technology. Artist, magician, inventor, and director Georges Méliès created worlds filled with magic and adventure that...
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The Evolution of the Samurai (From the Kamakura to the Edo Period) The samurai of feudal Japan are well known in popular culture, yet the popular image of a samurai is...
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The samurai of feudal Japan are well known in popular culture, yet the popular image of a samurai is merely a snapshot of centuries of evolution for this mighty warrior class. Here we will explore how the samurai developed from the beginning of their rule in the Kamakura Period....
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What Are the 5 Biggest Islands in the World? Less than 30 percent of the world’s surface is covered in land, yet this is still a massive amount...
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Less than 30 percent of the world’s surface is covered in land, yet this is still a massive amount of space that humans have sought to explore and exploit. Included in all this land are around 200,000 islands.   From the icy Arctic to the tropics, here are the five biggest...
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The Theban Elite Army of Lovers Who Defeated the Mighty Spartans Active in the 4th century BCE, the Sacred Band was an elite military unit composed of 150 pairs of...
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Active in the 4th century BCE, the Sacred Band was an elite military unit composed of 150 pairs of male lovers. The central idea was that by placing each soldier alongside his beloved, they would fight more fiercely, to both protect one another and to avoid dishonoring themselves...
TheCollector
The Real Story of Henry V, England’s Warrior King Few monarchs have captured the imagination of a nation as much as King Henry V (r. 1413-22). The...
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Few monarchs have captured the imagination of a nation as much as King Henry V (r. 1413-22). The inspiration behind hundreds of books, plays, and movies, the nine-year reign of this English monarch is deemed as one of the most successful not just of any English king, but of any...
TheCollector
What Are the Oldest Human Records and Writings? Humans have been making records of their activities for thousands of years. We have developed...
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Humans have been making records of their activities for thousands of years. We have developed various systems of writing from various cultures, and several came about independently of one another. From paleolithic records to Chinese lettering, we take a closer look at some of the...
TheCollector
Alexander the Great’s Legendary Horse: Who Was Bucephalus? Bucephalus is undoubtedly one of the most famous horses in history. After Alexander the Great tamed...
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Bucephalus is undoubtedly one of the most famous horses in history. After Alexander the Great tamed the horse, the two became inseparable, with Bucephalus accompanying Alexander on his legendary Persian campaign, carrying his master into the battle and sharing his victories....
TheCollector
How Dante Gabriel Rossetti & John Everett Millais Founded the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood Even though they have been linked together by history, the English artists John Everett Millais and...
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Even though they have been linked together by history, the English artists John Everett Millais and Dante Gabriel Rossetti were two very different artists with two very different personalities. While Rossetti’s artistic output conveyed sweeping emotion and mystical fantasy,...
TheCollector
The Powerful Sayings of the Desert Fathers The Desert Fathers withdrew from society, embracing monastic living in the deserts of Egypt,...
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The Desert Fathers withdrew from society, embracing monastic living in the deserts of Egypt, Palestine, and Syria. They wished to live holy lives that reflected the dedication and commitment they had to their faith. They set themselves apart, studying the Bible and spending much...
TheCollector
How Did King Richard III Become King? Richard III is best known from Shakespeare’s biographical play and for his likely involvement in the...
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Richard III is best known from Shakespeare’s biographical play and for his likely involvement in the deaths of his nephews. However, his personality and the way he is portrayed in the play and in historical documents have long been questioned.  In the last decade, he has come to...
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Why the Battle of Badon Can Change What We Know About Dark Age Britain Early Dark Age Britain is shrouded in mystery since there are very few surviving sources about it....
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Early Dark Age Britain is shrouded in mystery since there are very few surviving sources about it. The Arthurian era, broadly the late 5th century through most of the 6th century, is a subject of particular interest to many. This was the era that saw one of the most significant...
TheCollector
Saladin’s Youth Forged the Sultan Who Defied Crusaders Saladin (born Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub) can be credited with almost single-handedly changing...
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Saladin (born Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub) can be credited with almost single-handedly changing both the Muslim and Western worlds during the Crusades in the 12th century. By bringing together various Islamic sects and through his principled leadership, he was able to defeat the...
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3 Legendary Migrations That Shaped Pre-Roman Britain Ancient and medieval writers were thoroughly interested in stories of the origins of nations....
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Ancient and medieval writers were thoroughly interested in stories of the origins of nations. Countless surviving legends deal with how nations came to be, often connecting them to gods or famous characters from mythology. In the case of Britain, there was more than just one...
TheCollector
Medieval Battles Marked by Stunning Underdog Victories Medieval battles were brutal, blood-soaked grind. Clever tactics and strong leadership often...
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Medieval battles were brutal, blood-soaked grind. Clever tactics and strong leadership often mattered, yet true upsets happened only when the weaker side found an edge. Whether better weapons, better tactics, knowledge of the terrain, or an unbreakable esprit de corps. The...
TheCollector
Can the Real King Arthur Be Identified as Athrwys of Gwent? The search for the real King Arthur has occupied historians for centuries. Often, arguments center...
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The search for the real King Arthur has occupied historians for centuries. Often, arguments center on the idea that a real historical person was the inspiration for the legendary king. Once candidate proposed by scholars is Athrwys of Gwent, the son of King Meurig. Since the late...
TheCollector
The Incredible Life of Cicero, Rome’s Greatest Orator & Last Senator A novus homo, no one expected Marcus Tullius Cicero to reach not only the rank of consul, but be...
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A novus homo, no one expected Marcus Tullius Cicero to reach not only the rank of consul, but be hailed princeps senatus, in the dying years of the Roman Republic. He championed Rome’s republican traditions while strongmen such as Pompey Magnus and Julius Caesar were dismantling...
TheCollector
What Did the Hittites Write About the Trojan War? The Trojan War is the subject of Homer’s Iliad, composed in the 7th century BCE. This was one of the...
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The Trojan War is the subject of Homer’s Iliad, composed in the 7th century BCE. This was one of the most popular pieces of literature in the ancient world, and it remains so to this day. Many researchers have attempted to demonstrate that it is fundamentally rooted in historical...
TheCollector
How the Plantation of Ulster Transformed Irish Society The Plantation of Ulster was a major colonial enterprise that transformed a formerly rebellious...
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The Plantation of Ulster was a major colonial enterprise that transformed a formerly rebellious province into a stronghold for the British Crown in Ireland. The process of how Ulster became Protestant saw the native Gaelic Irish population being evicted in favor of English and...
TheCollector
Which Is the “Better” Sword? Katana vs Longsword Among martial arts enthusiasts and certain internet circles, a fierce debate rages: between the...
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Among martial arts enthusiasts and certain internet circles, a fierce debate rages: between the knightly longsword and the Japanese katana, which is the better sword? Both two-handed swords were used by a warrior-noble class as their sidearm, both depicted at various times as the...
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How the Illyrians Became Rome’s Fiercest Enemies in the Balkans The Illyrians were a mosaic of tribes spread across the western Balkans, a region defined by...
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The Illyrians were a mosaic of tribes spread across the western Balkans, a region defined by dramatic coastlines, mountain strongholds, and cultural complexity. From their earliest traces in the Bronze Age to assimilation into the Roman Empire, the Illyrians remained a distinct...
TheCollector
What Is the Venice Biennale? History, Highlights, and Global Art Impact Every other year, Venice transforms its winding network of canals into a citywide art gallery. The...
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Every other year, Venice transforms its winding network of canals into a citywide art gallery. The Venice Biennale is often referred to as “the Olympics of the art world.” It is an international art festival that includes a curated main show, dozens of national pavilions, and...
TheCollector
What Was the Significance of Egyptian Pharaohs? The Pharaoh was the king of Egypt, particularly following the unification of Upper (Southern) Egypt...
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The Pharaoh was the king of Egypt, particularly following the unification of Upper (Southern) Egypt with Lower (Northern) Egypt by Narmer/Menes around 3150 BCE. That was until the Roman Republic conquered Egypt in 30 BCE under the rule of Caesar Augustus (Octavian).  The title is...
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The Unknown Artworks of Kahlil Gibran Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931) is one of the most widely read and translated writers of the 20th century....
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Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931) is one of the most widely read and translated writers of the 20th century. His visual art work was an inextricable part of his life and literary career, but is often overlooked. Described as mystical and ethereal, Gibran’s artworks give form to the...
TheCollector
Australia’s Pearl Harbor: History of the City of Darwin Although World War II history often focuses on the more dominant players, such as England and...
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Although World War II history often focuses on the more dominant players, such as England and Germany, the contributions of Australia and its people cannot be underestimated. Nearly one million Australian men and women served in the conflict. The war even came to Australia...
TheCollector
Get to Know the Ainu, Japan’s First People The Ainu, native to the region of Hokkaido, are one of the oldest indigenous people in Japan. Their...
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The Ainu, native to the region of Hokkaido, are one of the oldest indigenous people in Japan. Their unique culture, language, and history predate the creation of modern Japan and set them apart from the rest of the country.   Located in northern Honshu, Hokkaido, and parts of the...
TheCollector
How the Egyptians Celebrated the Pharaoh During the Opet Festival From the New Kingdom (c. 1550-1070 BCE) to the Ptolemaic Kingdom (305-30 BCE), the bond between the...
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From the New Kingdom (c. 1550-1070 BCE) to the Ptolemaic Kingdom (305-30 BCE), the bond between the Egyptian pharaoh and the god Amon-Ra was celebrated at the Temple of Luxor (Thebes). Once a year, Amon-Ra traveled from his principal Karnak Temple (ipet-sut, “the most revered...
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How Portugal Conquered the Indian Ocean Spice Trade The dawn of the 15th century marked the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Age of...
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The dawn of the 15th century marked the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Age of Exploration. In this century, the Portuguese would expand their reach beyond Europe and North Africa thanks to explorers like Bartolomeu Dias and Vasco da Gama. A great trade in spices...
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The 6 Most Important Church Councils in Christian History Christian history has seen many Church councils where matters of doctrinal concern have been...
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Christian history has seen many Church councils where matters of doctrinal concern have been discussed and clarified. Some, like the First Vatican Council which established the doctrine of Papal Infallibility when speaking ex-cathedra, have little bearing on Christianity as a...
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How Did Simone de Beauvoir Redefine Gender? In her magnum opus, The Second Sex, 20th-century philosopher Simone de Beauvoir famously proclaimed...
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In her magnum opus, The Second Sex, 20th-century philosopher Simone de Beauvoir famously proclaimed that “one is not born, but rather becomes, a woman”. At a time when female identity was exclusively determined on biological grounds, she sought to redefine gender away from...
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The Battle of Lugdunum Was the Largest Battle in Roman History On New Year’s Eve 192 CE, the Roman Empire’s Golden Age, almost a century of political tranquility,...
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On New Year’s Eve 192 CE, the Roman Empire’s Golden Age, almost a century of political tranquility, came to an abrupt and violent end. A protracted period of civil war followed as various men sought to fill the void left by the imperial dynasty that died with Commodus. This...
TheCollector
What Is Christian Mysticism? (Definition, History, Practices) When you think of Christian mysticism, the obvious probably comes to mind: exorcisms, contact with...
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When you think of Christian mysticism, the obvious probably comes to mind: exorcisms, contact with the beyond, or supernatural powers. But this is just a small part of it. What lies beyond these surface-level phenomena is a world of contemplation, communication with God, divine...
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What Did “Noble Death” Mean to Greeks and Romans? Death was an ever-present part of life in the ancient Mediterranean. However, it manifested itself...
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Death was an ever-present part of life in the ancient Mediterranean. However, it manifested itself in very different ways according to social class and status. Whilst death simply meant passing into total obscurity for most of the population, for the aristocracy, it could be an...
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What Was the Temple in Ancient Judaism? (Purpose & Significance) The Temple in Jerusalem was the structure that replaced the Tabernacle the Israelites traveled...
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The Temple in Jerusalem was the structure that replaced the Tabernacle the Israelites traveled around with throughout their sojourn in the desert. For 40 years, and even after that, from when the Israelites conquered the promised land until their third king was crowned, the tent...
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How Did Dutch Golden Age Art Demonstrate Protestant Values? The art created throughout the Dutch Golden Age shone a light on the lives of ordinary individuals....
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The art created throughout the Dutch Golden Age shone a light on the lives of ordinary individuals. This art not only represented everyday commonplace activities but also demonstrated the values, morals, and expectations of a Calvinist/Protestant life.   Domestic Settings of the...
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Traitors or Survivors? The Tlaxcalans and the Conquest of Mexico Many see the fall of the Aztec Empire and the subsequent conquest of Mexico as a result of the wit...
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Many see the fall of the Aztec Empire and the subsequent conquest of Mexico as a result of the wit and boldness of Hernán Cortés and his conquistadors’ endeavors. However, without the help of Tlaxcalan warriors, the Spanish never would have taken the great city of Tenochtitlan....
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How Is Nature Portrayed in Shakespeare’s Macbeth? William Shakespeare is known worldwide for his mastery of the English language as a poet and...
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William Shakespeare is known worldwide for his mastery of the English language as a poet and playwright, as well as an actor. Not the least of these contributions is the introduction of close to 1700 words we now use regularly. Among his common themes of love, loss, grief, and...
TheCollector
7 Famous Cubist Artists Who Achieved Greatness Cubism was one of the most radical art movements of the 20th century. Emerging in Paris, Cubism was...
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Cubism was one of the most radical art movements of the 20th century. Emerging in Paris, Cubism was both influential and polarizing, leaving no one indifferent. Discover the principles and evolution of the movement through the works of seven famous Cubist artists who shaped the...
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How Medieval Japan’s Fusion of Buddhism and Shinto Created Shinbutsu-Shugo The religious beliefs of any society both reflect and underpin the daily lives of people from all...
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The religious beliefs of any society both reflect and underpin the daily lives of people from all walks of life. When one culture assimilates another, there is often conflict between old and new beliefs. Japan has a long-established tradition of taking elements from other...
TheCollector
The Celts & Celtic Mythology in Popular Culture Historic cultures often inspire modern artists and are reimagined for consumption as popular...
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Historic cultures often inspire modern artists and are reimagined for consumption as popular culture. The Celts are no exception. While attempts at genuine historical portrayals of Celtic history and culture are rare, the recent television series Brittania being a notable...
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What Is the Fruit of the Spirit in Christianity? Many people erroneously refer to the fruits of the spirit. The Bible does not refer to “fruits” but...
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Many people erroneously refer to the fruits of the spirit. The Bible does not refer to “fruits” but to “fruit.” It then lists nine characteristics, all positive, that are ways the fruit of the spirit manifests itself. As with any Biblical text, it is imperative to consider the...
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Satyrs Sparked the Wildest Parties in Greek Mythology Satyrs (also known as Silens) are considered some of Greek mythology’s most iconic and recognizable...
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Satyrs (also known as Silens) are considered some of Greek mythology’s most iconic and recognizable creatures. These exclusively male nature spirits are primarily human with snubbed noses, ears, tails, and sometimes the lower bodies of a horse or goat. They are associated with...
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What Is the “Gospel of Mark” All About? The Gospel of Mark is the shortest and arguably the first gospel of the three synoptic gospels....
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The Gospel of Mark is the shortest and arguably the first gospel of the three synoptic gospels. Scholars believe that the authors of Matthew and Luke may have used it as a source for their gospels due to the overlap they share with Mark. Mark presents a fast-paced version of the...
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4 Infamous Rulers of the Neo-Assyrian Empire The Neo-Assyrian Empire dominated the landscape of the ancient Near East from 911 BCE until its fall...
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The Neo-Assyrian Empire dominated the landscape of the ancient Near East from 911 BCE until its fall in 609 BCE. The Old Assyrian period saw the Assyrian city-state become somewhat independent around 2025 BCE, and it gradually increased in strength until its penultimate period,...
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What Are the Main Female Archetypes In Myth and Culture? In Jungian psychology, female archetypes are primordial patterns of femininity in the collective...
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In Jungian psychology, female archetypes are primordial patterns of femininity in the collective unconscious. We can consider them the blueprints that determine the different manifestations of female figures featured in myth and culture. Every female archetype is characterized by...
TheCollector
Battle of Himera: Carthage vs. Ancient Greeks of Sicily Since the fall of Phoenician Tyre, the Mediterranean, once interconnected by vast trade networks...
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Since the fall of Phoenician Tyre, the Mediterranean, once interconnected by vast trade networks running from southern Iberia to the Levantine coast, was in flux. Sicily was perfectly positioned to serve as a central commercial hub for the two halves of the sea. But who would...
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Neolithic Wonders Along the Scottish Coastline Along Scotland’s rugged coastline stand some of the most remarkable Neolithic sites in all of...
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Along Scotland’s rugged coastline stand some of the most remarkable Neolithic sites in all of Europe. Older than the pyramids, these stone structures reveal how people once lived, farmed, worked, and worshipped. While well-known places like Skara Brae and the Ring of Brodgar draw...
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The Three Sacred Treasures of Japan (History & Importance) The Three Sacred Treasures—the Jewel of Yasakani, the Sword of Kusanagi, and the Mirror of Yata —are...
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The Three Sacred Treasures—the Jewel of Yasakani, the Sword of Kusanagi, and the Mirror of Yata —are among the most legendary and mysterious objects found in Japanese history. When brought together, these sacred items are referred to as the Imperial Regalia of Japan, and they...
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Ibn Battuta’s Epic 30-Year Journey Across the Medieval World In the mid-14th century, Moroccan judge and scholar Ibn Battuta embarked on an epic 24-year-long...
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In the mid-14th century, Moroccan judge and scholar Ibn Battuta embarked on an epic 24-year-long journey worldwide. He was received by kings and queens, robbed and kidnapped by rebels, and even ended up marrying into the royal family of Omar I, Sultan of the Maldives.   Battuta’s...
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What Would a Day in the Public Baths of Ancient Rome Look Like? At the 8th Roman hour, or 2 pm, the Romans would finish their working day and head to one specific...
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At the 8th Roman hour, or 2 pm, the Romans would finish their working day and head to one specific place to socialize, relax, and clean off the dirt of the day: the terme, or public baths. While some were lucky enough to have their own bath (balnea) at home, most headed to the...
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Was Anne Boleyn the Wife King Henry Loved Most? Lovers of British history are obsessed with Anne Boleyn. It is undoubtedly she, out of all the six...
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Lovers of British history are obsessed with Anne Boleyn. It is undoubtedly she, out of all the six wives of King Henry VIII, who is given the most attention in any publication or production.   Thanks to the enduring power of literature and media, Anne Boleyn has been reimagined...
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What Was Chivalry in the Middle Ages? The idea of chivalry has gone from the stereotypical image of a knight in shining armor rescuing a...
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The idea of chivalry has gone from the stereotypical image of a knight in shining armor rescuing a maiden who has been imprisoned in some evil man’s castle in the Middle Ages (like in many fairytales), to the notion of a modern-day man holding a door open for a woman. But...
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Medieval Japan vs Medieval Europe: How Different Were They? In modern-day society, it is easy to see how Japan differs from Europe. Cultural ideals in Japan are...
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In modern-day society, it is easy to see how Japan differs from Europe. Cultural ideals in Japan are just about as far away from European (or “Western”) culture as you can get—but how far back do these differences go? In this article, we will explore just how different these two...
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An Overview of the Sui and Tang Chinese Dynasties In 581 CE, the general Yang Jian seized power from the Northern Zhou and established the Sui...
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In 581 CE, the general Yang Jian seized power from the Northern Zhou and established the Sui Dynasty. The Sui reunified China in 589, but the failure of costly expeditions in Korea led to the collapse of the dynasty in 618. The Tang Dynasty reaped the rewards of Sui investments...
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How Were Handles Made on Ancient Minoan Pottery? The Minoan civilization existed from about 2800 BC to 1100 BCE and thrived as a group through...
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The Minoan civilization existed from about 2800 BC to 1100 BCE and thrived as a group through maritime trade. Living on the island of Crete, the Minoan civilization eventually spread to most of the Aegean region and mainland Greece. Crete’s strategic location on the sea routes to...
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How Long Would It Take for an Ancient Traveler to See All Seven Wonders? If you were an ancient traveler with wanderlust, you could theoretically see all of the ancient...
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If you were an ancient traveler with wanderlust, you could theoretically see all of the ancient wonders of the world if you were in relatively decent physical shape and had access to a boat. Journeying between them would take over two months, maybe more, and take you across long...
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7 Medieval Weapons & Armor The Medieval Period, which roughly stretched from 500 to 1500 CE, was a turbulent time of...
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The Medieval Period, which roughly stretched from 500 to 1500 CE, was a turbulent time of near-constant conflict. In order to gain an edge on the battlefield, armorers and weapons makers developed an astonishing variety of weapons to deal out damage and armor to keep a warrior...
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What Do the Two Beasts of Revelation Symbolize? Early Christian scholars debated the inclusion of the Book of Revelation for centuries before it...
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Early Christian scholars debated the inclusion of the Book of Revelation for centuries before it became part of the Biblical canon. Some Christian scholars feared that its vivid imagery might lead to dubious interpretations, and many churches avoided studying it. Other scholars...
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The Adventurous Life of Marquis de Lafayette (Orphan, Soldier, Statesman) Gilbert du Motier, better known as Marquis de Lafayette, had the world at his feet. He was wealthy...
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Gilbert du Motier, better known as Marquis de Lafayette, had the world at his feet. He was wealthy and had a deep family history in French nobility and military. He could have done just about anything with his life. Instead of resting on his laurels and enjoying the privileges...
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The Siege Warfare That Shaped Ancient Greece & Rome Discussions of warfare in ancient Greece and Rome usually revolve around open field battles with...
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Discussions of warfare in ancient Greece and Rome usually revolve around open field battles with dense formations of infantry clashing, supported by cavalry and missile troops. But many ancient conflicts were resolved through sieges, with enemy armies attempting to breach a...
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How Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Vitruvian Man’ Defined Renaissance Genius At first glance, it seems like a simple sketch: a nude male figure within a circle and a square. But...
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At first glance, it seems like a simple sketch: a nude male figure within a circle and a square. But Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man is anything but ordinary. Those familiar lines form a fascinating blueprint of Renaissance ideals, revealing layers of artistic and scientific...
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Knights Templar & the Creation of Modern Banking Of all the knightly orders born of the Crusades, none are as well known or as heavily mythologized...
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Of all the knightly orders born of the Crusades, none are as well known or as heavily mythologized as the Knights Templar. From Dan Brown conspiracy thriller novels like The Da Vinci Code to the best-selling Assassin’s Creed video game franchise, the Knights Templar have long...
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Why Are Aristotle’s “Categories” Fundamental to Logic? Aristotle’s Categories is a foundational philosophical work that provides a framework for...
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Aristotle’s Categories is a foundational philosophical work that provides a framework for understanding existence and engaging in classification. The text describes ten categories: substance, quantity, quality, relation, place, time, position, state, action, and passion....
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How the Janissaries Became the Most Powerful Force in Ottoman History Formed in 1363 by Sultan Murad I, the Janissary Corps was a group of elite fighters who, as the...
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Formed in 1363 by Sultan Murad I, the Janissary Corps was a group of elite fighters who, as the ruler’s property, owed complete loyalty and allegiance to the Sultan. This group would go on to influence politics until their dismemberment in 1839. For centuries, the Janissaries...
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How Did the Quakers Transform from Radical Dissenters to Icons of Peace? The Quakers are widely recognised today as a “peace church” marked by a distinct rejection of...
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The Quakers are widely recognised today as a “peace church” marked by a distinct rejection of ecclesiastical hierarchy. They are widely admired for their humanitarian work and known for their preference for “Meeting Houses” over churches. However, their modern pacifist image...
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How the Hittites Used Fear & Strategy to Create a Bronze Age Empire During the Late Bronze Age (c. 1550-1200 BCE), an Indo-European people known as the Hittites...
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During the Late Bronze Age (c. 1550-1200 BCE), an Indo-European people known as the Hittites expanded beyond their borders in central Anatolia to create an empire. The Hittites conquered most of Anatolia, the northern Levant, and destroyed the Mitanni Kingdom, which they...
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How Henry VII Took the English Throne & Founded the Tudors Henry VII often slips through the cracks of history, being sandwiched between the controversial...
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Henry VII often slips through the cracks of history, being sandwiched between the controversial Richard III, a Renaissance Machiavellian prince, and Henry VIII, an impossibly charismatic and epoch-shaping monarch. But without Henry VII, there would be no Henry VIII. It was Henry...
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The Ghost Army: Masters of Deception in World War II In 1944, a tremendous challenge loomed for the Western Allies of World War II: Nazi Germany fully...
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In 1944, a tremendous challenge loomed for the Western Allies of World War II: Nazi Germany fully occupied France and was anticipating the necessary invasion. Although the Allies had amassed huge forces in Britain to storm across the English Channel and hit the Nazis hard, the...
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The Legend of Plato’s Atlantis, Inside the Mythical City The rumor of Atlantis can be traced back to the Greek philosopher Plato, who wrote about the island...
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The rumor of Atlantis can be traced back to the Greek philosopher Plato, who wrote about the island kingdom in two of his dialogues: Timaeus and Critias. Historiographical examination of these sources has led to three primary theories about Atlantis. First, it was a real place...
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Who Were the Heracleidae? Discover Heracles’s Many Children In addition to his superhuman strength and knack for achieving the impossible, the legendary hero...
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In addition to his superhuman strength and knack for achieving the impossible, the legendary hero Heracles was known for his incredible libido. Heracles is said to have fathered numerous children as he traveled the ancient world, battling monsters, conquering armies, and...
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Are There Really Unicorns in the Bible? Some Bible skeptics have criticized the Bible because of references to mythical creatures like the...
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Some Bible skeptics have criticized the Bible because of references to mythical creatures like the unicorn. They claim it undermines the legitimacy of the Bible as a serious religious work. The question we need to ask ourselves, however, is if the references to unicorns were...
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The Secrets of Mycenaean Gold in Ancient Greece Mycenaean gold is a dazzling emblem of Greece’s Bronze Age. Luminous artifacts, from regal funerary...
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Mycenaean gold is a dazzling emblem of Greece’s Bronze Age. Luminous artifacts, from regal funerary masks to intricately wrought jewelry, bring to life an ancient world of beauty and power. But beneath the aesthetic brilliance of Mycenaean gold, there lies a trove of hidden...
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5 Timeless Financial Tips from Greek and Roman Philosophers We often look to well-known experts for financial advice, and the ancient Greeks and Romans were no...
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We often look to well-known experts for financial advice, and the ancient Greeks and Romans were no different. Classical philosophers gave advice on debt management, smart investments, and the accumulation and preservation of wealth. From Epictetus to Plato, nearly every...
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What Is The Jungian Model of The Psyche? Carl Jung’s greatest contribution to psychology was his intricate understanding of the human mind....
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Carl Jung’s greatest contribution to psychology was his intricate understanding of the human mind. His model of the psyche is a holistic and dynamic representation of our inner architecture, with all the seemingly contradictory layers that make us who we are. Decoding the Jungian...
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Meet Osiris, the Egyptian God Who Ruled the Afterlife (Myth & Facts) Osiris is best known as the god of the dead in ancient Egyptian religion, as the afterlife was...
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Osiris is best known as the god of the dead in ancient Egyptian religion, as the afterlife was created for Osiris after he was killed by his brother Set, and he enabled others to join him in eternal life. But Osiris is also connected to many other important aspects of ancient...
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Where Was the Battle of Camlann? King Arthur’s Legendary Final Battle According to the Arthurian legends, King Arthur was mortally wounded at the infamous Battle of...
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According to the Arthurian legends, King Arthur was mortally wounded at the infamous Battle of Camlann. This was the culmination of a civil war between Arthur and his nephew, Mordred. The historicity of this legendary account is seriously questioned by modern scholars....
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What Is the “Gospel of Luke” All About? Luke, a physician, played a significant role in the early church but was not an eyewitness to the...
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Luke, a physician, played a significant role in the early church but was not an eyewitness to the life and ministry of Jesus. He nevertheless compiled his account of the gospel after careful research to produce a reliable, orderly account of what Jesus had said and done during...
TheCollector
Yuan Dynasty of China: History, Origins, Decline Throughout its incredible history, there has seldom been a time in China when the Chinese rulers...
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Throughout its incredible history, there has seldom been a time in China when the Chinese rulers themselves have been overthrown at the hands of foreign invaders. That is what makes the Yuan Dynasty so interesting—and so culturally different from other famous dynasties in Chinese...
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Heroic Warrior Deaths in Beowulf and The Song of Roland Both La Chanson de Roland and Beowulf are national epic poems whose heroes die in dramatic and...
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Both La Chanson de Roland and Beowulf are national epic poems whose heroes die in dramatic and memorable ways. Both are distinctly products of their religious setting, though those settings are different for each poem. Wyrd, an Anglo-Saxon word that gives us the Modern English...
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Octavia the Younger, the Roman Woman Who Shaped an Empire By the time of her death in 11 BCE, Octavia the Younger had lived through some of the most...
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By the time of her death in 11 BCE, Octavia the Younger had lived through some of the most tumultuous decades in Roman history. As the Roman Republic entered its death throes, Octavia was caught between rivals, as her brother, Augustus, vied with her husband, Mark Antony, for...
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Decoding Friedrich Nietzsche’s Two Most Famous Declarations Friedrich Nietzsche is a timeless icon in the history of philosophy whose works continue to inspire...
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Friedrich Nietzsche is a timeless icon in the history of philosophy whose works continue to inspire thousands of people worldwide. His oeuvre is not just prized for its philosophical genius, but for its bold and masterful poetic style. Out of everything Nietzsche composed, “God...
TheCollector
Did Rome “Abduct” Mithras, the Persian Sun God? The establishment of Roman Mithraism in the West (1st to 4th century CE) mirrored the military and...
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The establishment of Roman Mithraism in the West (1st to 4th century CE) mirrored the military and cultural challenge to Roman hegemony that emerged in the East from the Parthian Empire.   Successor to a Persian legacy, Parthia was the true patron of Mithraism’s deeply antiquated...
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The Rise & Fall of the Minoan Civilization (Bronze Age Greece) From about 3000 BCE until about the collapse of the Bronze Age in 1200 BCE, the Minoans were a...
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From about 3000 BCE until about the collapse of the Bronze Age in 1200 BCE, the Minoans were a premier Aegean culture. Located on the island of Crete, the Minoan people developed sophisticated trade and diplomatic ties with other cultures, such as the Egyptians. With the wealth...
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The Weighing of the Heart Ceremony & Its Role in the Egyptian Afterlife One of the most famous scenes surviving from ancient Egyptian art is the Weighing of the Heart...
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One of the most famous scenes surviving from ancient Egyptian art is the Weighing of the Heart Ceremony, during which the heart of the deceased was weighed against the feather of Ma’at. If the heart was lighter than the feather, they passed into ancient Egypt’s paradisical...
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An Overview of the Song, Liao, Jurchen Jin, and Yuan Chinese Dynasties The political fragmentation in China after the collapse of the Tang Dynasty was brought to an end by...
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The political fragmentation in China after the collapse of the Tang Dynasty was brought to an end by Zhao Kuangyin, a warlord who founded the Song Dynasty in 960. Northeastern China remained under the control of the Khitan Liao Dynasty, which was overthrown by the Jurchens early...
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Everything You Need to Know About the Ten Commandments The lists of commandments in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 are almost identical to each other,...
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The lists of commandments in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 are almost identical to each other, diverging significantly only in the reasons they each give for keeping the Sabbath day. This list—often called the Decalogue—is what is popularly known as the Ten Commandments. However,...
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Who Were King Arthur’s Legendary Wives? In the Arthurian legends, the wife of King Arthur is famously named Guinevere. However, the idea...
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In the Arthurian legends, the wife of King Arthur is famously named Guinevere. However, the idea that King Arthur only had a single wife is not something that is seen in Welsh tradition. In fact, even some Latin texts refer to him having multiple wives. In any case, Welsh...
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What Was the Impact of the Silk Road Sogdians? They may be largely unknown in the modern world but in their time the Sogdians were exceptionally...
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They may be largely unknown in the modern world but in their time the Sogdians were exceptionally influential. The Sogdians were an Iranian-speaking people who originated from Central Asia (modern-day Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) and were at the center of the Silk Road trade. Their...
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Did Sparta Exist in the Mycenaean Period (Bronze Age)? In studies of the Iliad, composed by Homer in the 7th century BCE, there is one obvious peculiarity...
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In studies of the Iliad, composed by Homer in the 7th century BCE, there is one obvious peculiarity about its presentation of the Greek kings. One of the most powerful kings, Menelaus—the brother of the mighty Agamemnon—is presented as the king of Sparta. The reason that this is...
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Helios Was the Personification of the Sun in Greek Mythology In ancient Greek mythology, Helios was the embodiment of the sun and drove across the sky every day...
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In ancient Greek mythology, Helios was the embodiment of the sun and drove across the sky every day in his golden chariot, creating the day-night cycle. As the god of the sun, Helios was also associated with light, life, and truth. From his place high in the sky, he was said to...
TheCollector
6 Inspirational Women Who Redefined Art History For centuries, women had no access to formal artistic education and the art world, yet they found...
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For centuries, women had no access to formal artistic education and the art world, yet they found ways to influence it and secure their places in history. For centuries, women were patrons, collectors, muses, or creators themselves who impacted the art of others. Some of them had...
TheCollector
The Raphael Rooms in Vatican City Revealed Entering the Raphael Rooms is like stepping through a portal to the heart of the Italian...
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Entering the Raphael Rooms is like stepping through a portal to the heart of the Italian Renaissance. In the early 16th century, at the peak of the storied art movement, Raphael and his workshop painted a spectacular suite of papal apartments in the Vatican.   The resulting...
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How Did Medieval Religion Shape Everyday Life? To say that religion shaped everyday life in the Middle Ages would be an understatement. In fact, it...
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To say that religion shaped everyday life in the Middle Ages would be an understatement. In fact, it was so important that not going to church once a week was simply not an option. There were multiple church services throughout the day, let alone the week, and Medieval religion...
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How Did Leon Battista Alberti’s “On Painting” Shaped the Renaissance? In his seminal book of art theory entitled On Painting, Leon Battista Alberti staked a claim for...
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In his seminal book of art theory entitled On Painting, Leon Battista Alberti staked a claim for painting as a liberal art for the first time. Split into three sections dealing with geometry, art theory and method, and the ethical constitution of great painters, this brief...
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How Did Emperor Constantine Shape the History of Christianity? Under Emperor Constantine’s rule and within a half-century afterward, Christianity experienced...
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Under Emperor Constantine’s rule and within a half-century afterward, Christianity experienced significant changes. It went from a persecuted religion to becoming the state religion of the Roman Empire. This change was largely attributable to Constantine, a fierce defender of the...
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Who Were the Puritans? (History & Beliefs) Emerging in the context of Henry VIII’s English Reformation, the Puritans, a loosely knit community...
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Emerging in the context of Henry VIII’s English Reformation, the Puritans, a loosely knit community of English protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries, believed that the Church of England preserved too many remnants of Roman Catholicism. They sought more radical reform – a...
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Why Does the Assyrian King Sennacherib Appear in the Bible? Sennacherib was an Assyrian king who reigned from 705 to 681 BCE. He was known for consolidating and...
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Sennacherib was an Assyrian king who reigned from 705 to 681 BCE. He was known for consolidating and expanding the Neo-Assyrian Empire. In the biblical narrative, he invaded Judah during the reign of King Hezekiah in 701 BCE, capturing many fortified cities and eventually laying...
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Hannibal’s Master Class in Ambush Tactics at the Battle of Trasimene In 218 BCE, war broke out between Rome and Carthage, the two largest powers in the Western...
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In 218 BCE, war broke out between Rome and Carthage, the two largest powers in the Western Mediterranean. What Rome expected to be a quick and easy war turned out to be a long, bitter, and costly conflict that would claim the lives of many brave Romans. The Romans suffered...
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How Slaves Created the Free Greek State of Ancient Messenia Beneath the foundations of the legendary Spartan political system labored the oppressed Messenians....
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Beneath the foundations of the legendary Spartan political system labored the oppressed Messenians. Messenia, a prosperous corner of southwestern Greece, was conquered by the Spartans in the 8th century BCE. Its population, along with elements of the Spartan region of Lakonia,...
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The History of Neutral Moresnet, Europe’s Forgotten Micronation Following Napoleon Bonaparte’s defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1825, the Congress of Vienna...
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Following Napoleon Bonaparte’s defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1825, the Congress of Vienna aimed to draw a new map of Europe. During the negotiation processes, the area of Moresnet, a small village in the province of Liège, modern-day Belgium, posed challenges as both the...
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The Incredible Life of Demosthenes, the Greatest Orator of Ancient Athens By the mid-4th century BCE, the political landscape of Greece looked markedly different from what it...
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By the mid-4th century BCE, the political landscape of Greece looked markedly different from what it had been a century earlier. Then, Athens had been at its height and locked in war with her great rival, Sparta. Now, the supremacy of both states has been shattered. To the north,...
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6 Iconic Artworks by Wassily Kandinsky Before the 19th century, art was centered around naturalistic depictions designed to create a...
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Before the 19th century, art was centered around naturalistic depictions designed to create a realistic window onto the world. Artists were inspired by history, mythology, and the Bible, with Michelangelo, Caravaggio, and Vermeer representing the pinnacle of artistic expression....
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How the Byzantines Crushed the Arab Sieges of 674 and 717 The roots of both the 674 and 717 Bosporus battles lay in the Umayyad Caliphate’s ambition to end...
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The roots of both the 674 and 717 Bosporus battles lay in the Umayyad Caliphate’s ambition to end Constantinople politically and religiously. In the 660s, the Umayyad Caliphate’s campaigns began to complete the initial Arab conquests. North Africa, Palestine, and Syria fell in...
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How Did the Libyans Shape Ancient Egypt? The ancient Egyptians had three primary foreign enemies throughout their history: the Nubians, the...
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The ancient Egyptians had three primary foreign enemies throughout their history: the Nubians, the Canaanites/Asiatics, and the Libyans. Of these three groups, the Libyans are perhaps the most enigmatic. The Egyptians rarely ventured into the Libyan homeland, just to the west of...
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An Overview of the Ming and Qing Chinese Dynasties The Ming Dynasty was founded in 1368 and brought an end to Mongol rule in China. The dynasty reached...
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The Ming Dynasty was founded in 1368 and brought an end to Mongol rule in China. The dynasty reached its height in the early 15th century when the Yongle Emperor ordered the construction of the Forbidden City in Beijing and ordered Zheng He’s voyages of exploration. While the...
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What Is Hegel’s Dialectic Method? When considering Hegel’s contribution to logic, nothing is more significant than his dialectic...
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When considering Hegel’s contribution to logic, nothing is more significant than his dialectic method. The method is prevalent in almost all his works, most notably Logic, Philosophy of History, and Phenomenology of Spirit. He describes it as “the only true method” and the basic...
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How Did Augustus Become Rome’s Longest-Reigning Emperor? Rome’s shift from an oligarchic Republic to an authoritative Empire was a bloody one fueled in part...
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Rome’s shift from an oligarchic Republic to an authoritative Empire was a bloody one fueled in part by the traditional Roman hatred of the idea of kingship. Julius Caesar lived for less than two months after he was named “dictator for life,” but after his successor Octavian was...
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The Antichrist in Fantasy, Prophecy, & History (What You Need to Know) The character known as the Antichrist has played a prominent role as the villain in many Hollywood...
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The character known as the Antichrist has played a prominent role as the villain in many Hollywood classics of religious horror, from The Omen to Rosemary’s Baby. The name and deeds of the Antichrist are also included in novels, songs, and philosophical doctrines. This article...
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How Did the Assyrians Conquer Egypt? When the Neo-Assyrian Empire set its sites on conquering Egypt, the country was in its Third...
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When the Neo-Assyrian Empire set its sites on conquering Egypt, the country was in its Third Intermediate Period. Egypt was divided and ruled by regional kings and under Kushite influence. While the Assyrians were successful in their conquest of Egypt in the 7th century BCE,...
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What Makes the Nag Hammadi Library So Significant? Not long after the founding of Christianity, the Christian faith spread throughout the Roman Empire....
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Not long after the founding of Christianity, the Christian faith spread throughout the Roman Empire. As Christianity developed, the 27 books of the New Testament were recopied and distributed, along with other books, written later, which claimed false apostolic authorship. Many...
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10 Important Sites of the Celtic World The Celtic people, who occupied large areas of Europe during the Iron Age, have left their mark...
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The Celtic people, who occupied large areas of Europe during the Iron Age, have left their mark across the landscape. Surviving Celtic sites include villages, sanctuaries, burial mounds, and natural wonders considered sacred. This article looks at ten of the most important Celtic...
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How the Seljuks Rose from Steppe Nomads to Rulers of a Vast Empire In the 10th century, a group of nomadic Turks called the Seljuks began a migration through Central...
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In the 10th century, a group of nomadic Turks called the Seljuks began a migration through Central Asia, searching for pasture for their herds. By 1071, this tribe had formed a mighty empire that encouraged the Turkic migration and settlement of Anatolia. This would ultimately...
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The Assyrian Conquest of Babylon (What Really Happened?) The Assyrian conquest of Babylon took centuries, with successive Assyrian kings committing to the...
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The Assyrian conquest of Babylon took centuries, with successive Assyrian kings committing to the cause. Babylon’s kings fought hard for their autonomy but could not resist the continuous onslaught. However, while the Assyrians wanted to dominate Babylon, they also respected the...
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The Jōmon Period: Japan’s Mysterious Origin Story Long before the age of shoguns and samurai, before the Japanese people even arrived in what is now...
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Long before the age of shoguns and samurai, before the Japanese people even arrived in what is now considered their homeland, the islands were already inhabited in what is known as the Jōmon period. While the people of the Jōmon period had no written language, archaeology reveals...
TheCollector
The 6 Foundational Shinto Myths Shinto, “the way of the Gods,” has been the folk religion of Japan for thousands of years, even...
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Shinto, “the way of the Gods,” has been the folk religion of Japan for thousands of years, even after being partially subsumed into Buddhism. It resembles Taoism in many ways, with a focus on harmony with nature and ancestor veneration. Another key part of Shinto is the worship...
TheCollector
The Story of Kösem Sultan Who Ruled the Ottoman Empire With an Iron Fist Kösem Sultan, initially a concubine, then the wife of the Ottoman Sultan Ahmed I, was a...
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Kösem Sultan, initially a concubine, then the wife of the Ottoman Sultan Ahmed I, was a controversial figure even in her own time. She not only exercised power through three different sultans but influenced court politics in her own right. She had her son Ibrahim deposed from...
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What Can Marcus Aurelius Teach Us About Resilience? When we encounter challenging obstacles in our lives, we instinctively tend to fight against them,...
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When we encounter challenging obstacles in our lives, we instinctively tend to fight against them, escape them, or simply freeze. Marcus Aurelius, however,  responded to obstacles in a different way. Armed by the wisdom of Stoic philosophy, he considered barriers on his journey...
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Discover the Land of the Moche in Northern Peru Most people traveling through Peru head south, enticed by big-ticket highlights like Machu Picchu,...
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Most people traveling through Peru head south, enticed by big-ticket highlights like Machu Picchu, Cusco, the Sacred Valley, or the Amazon. But in the north, hidden treasures abound. This dry, coastal region was once home to the Moche, a powerful pre-Inca culture known for its...
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The Puzzling Origins & Meaning of the Nazca Lines The Nazca Lines in southern Peru fascinate history enthusiasts worldwide. Since these glyphs first...
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The Nazca Lines in southern Peru fascinate history enthusiasts worldwide. Since these glyphs first began to be studied in the early 20th century, the theories for their origin and purpose have ranged from astronomical markers to representations of the Nazca people’s mythology and...
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The 3 Most Infamous Praetorian Plots That (Un)Made Roman Emperors The Praetorian Guards were the personal bodyguard of the Roman Emperors from the reign of Augustus...
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The Praetorian Guards were the personal bodyguard of the Roman Emperors from the reign of Augustus through to the rise of Constantine. From the first century CE to the early fourth, these soldiers had an unrivaled proximity to imperial politics. This made them incredibly...
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The First Punic War: A Clash of Cultures The story of the Punic Wars is usually told from the perspective of the victors, the Romans, for...
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The story of the Punic Wars is usually told from the perspective of the victors, the Romans, for whom it was the first step towards dominating the Mediterranean. For the Carthaginians, the conflict with Rome initially seemed like a third-party dispute that would be resolved...
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Amaterasu, the Mercurial Goddess of the Sun in Japanese Mythology When something is 100% certain, we often say that it’s “as sure as the sun rises in the east.”...
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When something is 100% certain, we often say that it’s “as sure as the sun rises in the east.” That’s because the sun is the most dependable thing in all of human history. Except perhaps in Japanese mythology. Personified by the goddess Amaterasu (lit. “Heaven Shining”), one of...
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What Is Egyptian Blue? From Ancient Art to Modern Science Egyptian blue, the world’s first synthetic pigment, is so much more than just a color. Its...
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Egyptian blue, the world’s first synthetic pigment, is so much more than just a color. Its incomparable radiance was revered by pharaohs, and its complex chemical properties have long mystified researchers. Nearly 5,000 years later, it continues to captivate us with its ancient...
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5 Famous Operas Based on Greek Mythology Love, jealousy, vengeance, and a multitude of other thrilling emotions give lasting intrigue to the...
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Love, jealousy, vengeance, and a multitude of other thrilling emotions give lasting intrigue to the tales of ancient Greek mythology. With such passionate feelings and magical allure, it is no wonder that many of these stories have become muses for some of the world’s most famous...
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Plutarch & His Parallel Lives: The Biographer of Greece & Rome Every student of ancient history has heard the name Plutarch, whose extensive collection of...
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Every student of ancient history has heard the name Plutarch, whose extensive collection of biographies of important figures from Greek and Roman history has become part of the standard curriculum. While he was a prolific writer, his most famous work is his Parallel Lives, in...
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How Did Genghis Khan Die? Theories and Mysteries We know the ferocious and ruthless yet able Mongol Khan died in August 1227 aged 65. August 18 is...
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We know the ferocious and ruthless yet able Mongol Khan died in August 1227 aged 65. August 18 is often given as the date. However, the reasons for his death are still shrouded in mystery. His rise from Temujin to Genghis Khan just two decades prior marked an empire-building...
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Exploring the Sacred Valley Before the Incas When people think of Peru’s Sacred Valley, they picture Inca ruins, royal estates, and sun temples...
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When people think of Peru’s Sacred Valley, they picture Inca ruins, royal estates, and sun temples carved high into the impossibly beautiful Andes. But this fertile corridor has a much older story. Before Cusco became a capital, other civilizations were building, farming,...
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9 Myths About the Greek God Hephaestus Hephaestus, the god of smithing and fire, was counted among the twelve Olympian gods. He does not...
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Hephaestus, the god of smithing and fire, was counted among the twelve Olympian gods. He does not feature as prominently in Greek myths as the rest of his family, but he is credited with creating all the divine tools used by gods and heroes, from Zeus’ aegis to the armor of...
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8 Myths About the Greek God Ares Ares was the Greek god of war and battle frenzy. He numbered among the twelve Olympian gods who...
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Ares was the Greek god of war and battle frenzy. He numbered among the twelve Olympian gods who ruled over the cosmos. While his sister Athena was a goddess of war, representing strategy and temperance, Ares represented battle lust and the horrors of war. He was often followed...
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Battle of Andrassos: Byzantine Empire vs. Sayf al-Dawla’s Jihad During the 10th century CE Sayf al-Dawla, Sword of the Dynasty, ruler of the Emirate of Aleppo...
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During the 10th century CE Sayf al-Dawla, Sword of the Dynasty, ruler of the Emirate of Aleppo became the most prominent antagonist of the Byzantine Empire. Taking up the call of jihad, he launched devastating raids year after year across the Taurus mountains into the lands of...
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Who Were the Desert Fathers (& Mothers)? The Desert Fathers appeared on the Christian historical scene in the third century CE. Saint Anthony...
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The Desert Fathers appeared on the Christian historical scene in the third century CE. Saint Anthony is often considered the most notable among them, though he was not the first. The Desert Fathers were committed and dedicated believers who chose an ascetic lifestyle that would...
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The Metaphysics of Stoicism: 4 Key Tenets One of the most fundamental questions examined by most philosophical schools of thought is the...
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One of the most fundamental questions examined by most philosophical schools of thought is the nature of existence. According to Stoicism, everything in the universe is matter, created, animated, destroyed, and recreated by divine fire, logos. Consequently, everything is...
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8 Important Norse Symbols From the Viking World While many stories survive about Norse mythology and legendary Viking warriors, these mostly come...
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While many stories survive about Norse mythology and legendary Viking warriors, these mostly come from later Christian accounts, as the pagan Vikings wrote very little about themselves. But symbols were powerful in the Viking world. They could be used as shorthand for important...
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How Did People Track Time Before Clocks? Humans’ age-old desire to tell time has helped propel the rise of more advanced time-telling tools....
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Humans’ age-old desire to tell time has helped propel the rise of more advanced time-telling tools. The need to track the different parts of the day and night led people in ancient civilizations, such as those in Greece and Egypt, to develop water clocks, sundials, and other...
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The Forgotten Son of Claudius Who Never Became an Emperor Britannicus was the son of the Roman emperor Claudius and his third wife Messalina. The infant boy...
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Britannicus was the son of the Roman emperor Claudius and his third wife Messalina. The infant boy was proudly named Britannicus by his father following his conquest of Britain, and as Claudius’s only living son, Britannicus was his presumed heir.   But when Messalina fell from...