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2026-07-22
Joshua J. Mark
The Nimrud Ivories are a vast collection of figures, panels, and plaques, carved from ivory, dated to the 9th to 7th centuries BCE, discovered in the ruins of the ancient city of Nimrud. Today, they are considered among the finest archaeological jewels of ancient Mesopotamia - and their history is fascinating.
2026-07-22
Joshua J. Mark
Abner Doubleday (1819-1893), an officer in the US Army during the American Civil War, is famous today for two events – neither of which actually happened:
2026-07-21
Joshua J. Mark
A Praise Poem of Lipit-Estar is a Sumerian praise song honoring Lipit-Estar (also known as Lipit-Ishtar, reign circa 1935 to circa 1924 BCE), the fifth king of the First Dynasty of Isin, best known for his legal code written between the time of the better-known Code of Ur-Nammu and the later Code of Hammurabi.
2026-07-20
Liam Athas
Miklós Horthy (1868-1957) was a Hungarian admiral and statesman who served as regent for the Kingdom of Hungary from 1920 until his forced abdication in 1944. During the interwar period and for most of World War II, Horthy played a critical but controversial role in both Hungary's foreign and domestic affairs.
2026-07-20
Joshua J. Mark
The Eridu Genesis (also known as the Sumerian Flood Story, The Flood Story, Sumerian creation myth, Sumerian deluge myth) is the oldest Mesopotamian text relating the tale of the Great Flood that would appear in later works such as the Atrahasis (17th century BCE) and The Epic of Gilgamesh (circa 2150-1400 BCE). The title of the work comes from the modern era, coined in 1981 by the scholar Thorkild Jacobsen; the original name for the piece is unknown.
2026-07-17
Mark Cartwright
The North American P-51 Mustang was a long-range fighter aircraft used by the air forces of the United States and Great Britain during the Second World War (1939-45). Widely considered one of the most effective fighter planes of the war, the single-seater Mustang could operate as a reconnaissance aircraft, interceptor fighter, fighter-bomber, and long-range bomber escort. Used in most theatres of the war from 1944, the Mustang gained legendary status and continued to see action in the Korean War (1950-53).
2026-07-17
Liana Miate
In Greek mythology, Calypso, whose name means "to hide" or "to conceal," is a nymph best known from Homer's (c.750 BCE) epic The Odyssey for falling in love with Odysseus and imprisoning him on her island, Ogygia, for seven years (or five years, depending on the source), during his long voyage home.
2026-07-14
Joshua J. Mark
The Queen of the Night (also known as the "Burney Relief") is a high-relief terracotta plaque of baked clay, 19.4 inches (49.5 cm) high, 14.5 inches (37 cm) wide, with a thickness of 1.8 inches (4.8 cm), depicting a naked winged woman flanked by owls and standing on the backs of two lions. The piece originated in southern Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq), most probably in Babylonia, during the reign of Hammurabi (1792-1750 BCE), as it shares qualities in craftsmanship and technique with the famous diorite stele of Hammurabi's laws and also with the piece known as The God of Ur from that same period.
2026-07-09
Matthew Allison
Hara Castle was originally built in 1496 as a subsidiary fortification to nearby Hinoe Castle, with upgrades made from 1599 to 1604. Later dismantled and abandoned by the then daimyo (lord) Matsukura Shigemasa (1574-1630), it was briefly occupied by the rebels who took part in the Shimabara Rebellion (1637-38). It now exists as a series of ruins accessible by bus from the city of Shimabara.
2026-07-08
Reha Mert
Mahmud II was one of the most influential sultans of the Ottoman Empire. As a radical reformer, he strove to implement military and governmental reforms to prevent the empire from collapsing. His removal of the Janissary corps, the establishment of new government institutions, and new measures regarding appearance brought about radical changes in the Ottoman army and society, and because of this very reason, he was known as "Infidel Sultan." He laid the foundations of the modern state structure not only through military reforms but also through measures such as the first census, the first official gazette (Takvim-i Vekayi), the establishment of modern ministries (Interior, Foreign Affairs, etc.), and the modernization of the bureaucracy.
2026-07-03
Mark Cartwright
Homer's epic poem, the Odyssey, is Greek mythology's greatest road trip, journey of redemption, and homecoming voyage all rolled into one. Our hero is Odysseus, veteran of the Trojan War, and he must make his way back home to Ithaca and his faithful wife Penelope after ten years away. In his way stand all manner of challenges, such as the meddling gods, manic monsters, raging storms, and one particularly persistent nymph.
2026-07-03
Carisma Webb
Singerman's "Unrefined: How Capitalism Reinvented Sugar" is a thorough examination of the history of sugar and how imperialism and capitalism shaped the world through this substance. This book covers themes from the domination of nature to human labor and even law. "Unrefined" will be appreciated by those already familiar with dense historical texts, whether they be historians or academics.
2026-07-02
Liana Miate
In Greek mythology, Penelope is the wife of Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, and the mother of Telemachus. She is best known for her unwavering loyalty and fidelity to her husband during his 20-year-long absence and her clever plan to elude the many suitors who sought to win her hand during Odysseus's absence. Her story is famously told in Homer's (c. 750 BCE) Odyssey.
2026-06-26
Mark Cartwright
The Maginot Line was an extensive series of fortifications built by France through the 1930s to protect its eastern borders from German attack. Stretching for over 200 miles (322 km), and including massive gun emplacements and extensive underground tunnels, the Maginot Line was rendered all but obsolete by the German attack through neutral Belgium and then north-eastern France in the opening stages of the Second World War (1939-45). The German Army's blitzkrieg tactics largely bypassed the Maginot Line and brought about France's defeat in just six weeks. Backing static defence against a mechanized and highly mobile enemy had proved to be utter folly.
2026-06-24
Mark Cartwright
The Allies met in several conferences from 1941 to 1945 to discuss how to guarantee a more peaceful and cooperative world once the Second World War (1939-45) was concluded. To foster global cooperation, facilitate free trade, and give aid to war-ravaged and developing countries, the United Nations was formed along with other new international bodies such as the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and International Court of Justice. This terrible global conflict had, it was hoped, at least led to a solution for lasting peace.
2026-06-23
Joshua J. Mark
The Middle Kingdom (2040-1782 BCE) is considered ancient Egypt's Classical Age, during which it produced some of its greatest works of art and literature. Scholars remain divided on which dynasties constitute the Middle Kingdom, as some argue for the later half of the 11th through the 12th, some the 12th to 14th, and some the 12th and 13th.
2026-06-22
Harrison W. Mark
The Black Codes were a series of racist and discriminatory policies enacted by several former slave states in the United States during the early years of the Reconstruction Era (circa 1865-1877). Rooted in earlier vagrancy laws and slave codes, the Black Codes established a new form of quasi-slavery by restricting Black freedoms, denying Black people equal political rights, and resubjugating freed men and women to forced labor. Outrage over the Black Codes by Northerners and Radical Republicans helped trigger the 'Radical' phase of Reconstruction, leading to the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Fourteenth Amendment, and the Reconstruction Acts. However, the Black Codes, part of a larger legacy of White supremacy, did not end with Reconstruction but morphed into the Jim Crow laws of the segregationist South.
2026-06-22
Mark Cartwright
The Casablanca Conference of January 1943, code-named Symbol, was a meeting between US President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to agree on how they should proceed in the Second World War (1939-45). Joseph Stalin was not at the conference. The most significant decision announced at Casablanca, one taken by the United States alone, was that the Axis powers must unconditionally surrender, a policy decision that may actually have extended the war and one which, in the event, helped achieve US dominance of the post-war world.
2026-06-18
Mark Cartwright
The Tehran Conference, code-named Eureka, was a meeting, in November-December 1943, of 'the Big Three' Allied leaders: Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill. The conference in Iran aimed to decide how the Second World War (1939-45) against Germany and Japan should proceed militarily, when an invasion of Western Europe would be conducted, and who would control what in Central and Eastern Europe after victory was achieved.
2026-06-18
Joshua J. Mark
The Hymn to Nisaba is a devotional piece, which names the attributes of the deity while giving thanks for the gifts they give to humanity. Nisaba was the spark of inspiration that allowed a scribe to create any written work, and the act of writing seems to have been the primary form of worship for Nisaba. It is most likely that the hymn to her was sung in one of her sanctuaries, which were attached to libraries and scribal houses.
2026-06-17
Joshua J. Mark
Nisaba, formerly goddess of grain, became associated with writing as records were made regarding grain transactions. As the great lady who made the grain grow, she also oversaw the accounts of where it was distributed and how. Writing developed as trade grew until Nisaba was synonymous with the concept of writing.
2026-06-15
Joshua J. Mark
Nanshe (also known as Nanse, Nazi) is the Sumerian goddess of social justice and divination, whose popularity eventually transcended her original boundaries of southern Mesopotamia toward all points throughout the region in the 3rd millennium BCE. She became one of the most popular deities of the Mesopotamian pantheon for her selfless devotion to the good of humanity. She watched over orphans and widows, oversaw fairness, fresh water, birds and fish, fertility, and favored prophets, giving them the ability to interpret dreams accurately. She was also known as the "Lady of the Storerooms" and, in this capacity, made sure that weights and measures were correct. It was originally in this role, connected to commerce, that her popularity grew.
2026-06-12
Joshua J. Mark
The Old Kingdom of Egypt (circa 2613-2181 BCE) is also known as the "Age of the Pyramids" or "Age of the Pyramid Builders" as it includes the great 4th Dynasty when King Sneferu perfected the art of pyramid building and the pyramids of Giza were constructed under the kings Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure.
2026-06-10
Joshua J. Mark
Egypt thrived for thousands of years (from before circa 6000 BCE to 30 BCE) as an independent nation whose culture was famous for great cultural advances in every area of human knowledge, from the arts to science to technology and religion. The great monuments of ancient Egypt reflect the depth and grandeur of Egyptian culture, which influenced many ancient civilizations, among them Greece and Rome. One of the reasons for the enduring popularity of Egyptian culture is its emphasis on the grandeur of the human experience. Their great monuments, tombs, temples, and artwork all celebrate life and stand as reminders of what once was and what human beings, at their best, are capable of achieving.
2026-06-09
Joshua J. Mark
The Hyksos were a West Semitic-speaking people who gained a foothold in Egypt circa 1782 BCE at the city of Avaris in Lower Egypt, thus initiating the era known in Egyptian history as the Second Intermediate Period (circa 1782 to circa 1570 BCE). Though villified by later Egyptian scribes, the innovations they introduced transformed Egypt, and without them, there would have been no Egyptian Empire.
2026-06-05
Mark Cartwright
The Boer War (aka Second Anglo-Boer War, South Africa War, and Second War of Freedom, 1899-1902) was won by the British but only after it employed controversial policies such as scorched-earth tactics and civilian concentration camps, both intended to deprive the Boers of logistical support. A watershed conflict, the Boer War involved technologically advanced weaponry, was followed closely by the British public thanks to newsreels and photography, and was one of the first major wars where civilian deaths far outweighed those of combatants.
2026-06-05
Joshua J. Mark
Nabu (sometimes known as Tutu) was the Babylonian god of wisdom, learning, prophecy, scribes, and writing, also responsible for the abundant harvest and all growing things. His name means "the Announcer," which refers to his prophetic and creative powers in calling forth words, the harvest and other plant life, and the visions of prophecies.
2026-06-04
Joshua J. Mark
The New Kingdom (circa 1570 to circa 1069 BCE) is the era in Egyptian history following the disunity of the Second Intermediate Period (circa 1782-1570 BCE) and preceding the dissolution of the central government at the start of the Third Intermediate Period (circa 1069 to circa 525 BCE). This is the time of Imperial Egypt when it became an empire. It is the most popular era in Egyptian history in the present day, with the best known pharaohs of the 18th Dynasty such as Hatshepsut, Thuthmoses III, Amenhotep III, Akhenaten and his wife Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, those of the 19th Dynasty like Seti I, Ramesses II (The Great), and Merenptah, and of the 20th Dynasty such as Ramesses III.
2026-06-03
Joshua J. Mark
Marduk was the patron god of Babylon who presided over justice, compassion, healing, regeneration, magic, and fairness, although he is also sometimes referenced as a storm god and agricultural deity. He rose to prominence during the reign of King Hammuabi of Babylon (1792-1750 BCE). His temple, the famous ziggurat described by Greek historian Herodotus, is considered the model for the biblical Tower of Babel.
2026-06-02
Joshua J. Mark
Tiamat is the Mesopotamian goddess associated with primordial chaos and the salt sea, best known from the Babylonian epic Enuma Elish. In all versions of the myth, following the original, Tiamat always symbolizes the forces of chaos, which threaten the order established by the gods, and Marduk (or Ashur in Assyrian versions) is the hero who preserves it.