Ancient History
Ancient History
From the first cities and pharaohs to Greek democracy and the Roman Empire, explore the civilizations, rulers, religions and everyday lives that shaped the ancient world.
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Explore Ancient History
Stories from this period
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Ancient Pompeii Had at Least 80 Snack Bars
Pompeii contained at least eighty thermopolia—street-side establishments serving prepared food and drinks from counters fitted with large jars.
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Why Ancient Roman Concrete Can Survive for Thousands of Years
Modern research suggests that Roman builders used hot mixing with quicklime, creating concrete capable of chemical reactions that can help seal cracks.
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Woolly Mammoths Were Still Alive After the Great Pyramid Was Built
A remnant population of woolly mammoths survived on Wrangel Island until roughly 4,000 years ago—centuries after the Great Pyramid of Giza was built.
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The First Recorded Labor Strike Happened in Ancient Egypt
Around 1157 BCE, workers at Deir el-Medina stopped work after their food rations were delayed, leaving behind the earliest documented labor strike.
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Cleopatra Lived Closer to the Moon Landing Than to the Great Pyramid
Cleopatra VII lived more than 2,500 years after the Great Pyramid was built—but only about 2,000 years before Apollo 11 landed on the Moon.
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A Day in the Life of a Roman Soldier
Introduction The Roman legions were among the most formidable military forces in history. But behind their battlefield victories lay a daily life of strict discipline, relentless training, and a brotherhood forged through shared hardship. What did a typical day look like for one of these soldiers? Let’s step into the boots of a legionary stationed…
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Mark Antony: The Roman Leader Who Fell Short of Power
A brilliant soldier and Julius Caesar’s most loyal ally for years, Mark Antony appeared poised to become Rome’s new leader after his mentor’s assassination. However, his missteps in governance, disregard for the rising Augustus, indulgence in luxury, and his affair with Cleopatra ultimately led to his downfall. Perhaps, as Mark Antony lay mortally wounded by…
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Roman Britain: The Empire’s Influence on the Isles
For four centuries, thousands of legionaries defended the empire’s most remote frontier, until, after the great barbarian invasions, Britain was left abandoned. Around 410 AD, the citizens of Britain appealed to the Roman Emperor Flavius Honorius for assistance against the barbarian invasions that had been ravaging their lands since the mid-4th century. However, the emperor…
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Who is Dido: history of the queen of Carthage
Dido, a symbolic figure in Roman mythology and the central character in Virgil’s Aeneid, represents a narrative filled with passion, tragedy, and resilience. As the founder and first queen of Carthage, her story is closely connected to themes of love, sacrifice, and fate. According to legend, Dido was the daughter of Belus, sister of Pygmalion,…
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Five intriguing facts about Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, ranks as a premier travel destination in South America. Nestled majestically within the Andes at an altitude of 7,000 feet, it is not only a breathtaking sight but also one of the most mysterious archaeological sites in the world. Constructed at the height of…
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The barbarian invasions: chronology, battles and protagonists
The barbarian invasions: chronology of the raids that led to the fall of the Western Roman Empire. History, battles and protagonists By the expression barbarian invasions, historians mean the series of raids that peoples united by the fact that they were not Romans and defined as barbarians carried out within the borders of the Roman…
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History of Rome: brief summary
From the foundation of Rome to the rise of Octavian, passing through Julius Caesar. A Brief summary of Roman history. The history of Rome: from the foundation to Octavian The foundation of Rome derives from multiple legends. The first: the hero Aeneas, having escaped from Troy, took refuge in Lazio and after subduing the populations…
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Aztec Empire: a brief history of South America’s past
Historians have not yet managed to define the origins of the Aztec people. The most accepted theory is that the Aztecs came from North America. Finding populations already settled in the most fertile territories, they settled in relatively arid areas. What happened next is a story of struggle for territory with local populations made up…
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Overview of the long history of the Mayan civilization
December 20, 2012 is the date on which the Maya calculated the end of their calendar. All over the world there have been episodes of runs on bunkers and supermarkets, alternating with wild parties on the occasion of the end of times based on one of the most accurate and famous calendars in the history…
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Inca Empire: history and society
The political and administrative organization of the Incas can be considered the most developed of all South American and Mesoamerican societies, despite having no laws or a single currency. Like other ancient civilizations it managed to build a great empire despite the challenges posed by the vast territory it occupied. Outlining the Inca civilization in…
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What was life like in Ancient Greece?
The Parthenon is one of the symbols of Greece recognized throughout the world. It is so famous that you can find duplicates in Regensburg, Germany, where it is called the Walhalla Memorial, and in Tennessee, USA. Come to think of it, Tennesseans must be true lovers of Greece as they have given some cities Greek…
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Life and society in Ancient Egypt
Fascinating and mysterious, complex and long, the history of Ancient Egypt spans a period of 5 thousand years. In this period, the territory occupied by this civilization saw great economic, architectural, social and political changes between dynasties of Pharaohs and bitter civil wars. The long story set along the Nile Delta tells us that the…
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Brief history of Mesopotamia
Many ancient civilizations flourished around waterways. The name Mesopotamia indicates the land enclosed between two rivers: which are they? The ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia have inspired artists, writers, filmmakers and video game producers from all over the world. In the land crossed by two rivers, advanced and innovative civilizations have followed one another which have…
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Exploring the Origins of Early Civilizations
When we think of ancient or disappeared civilizations, Egypt, Greece, Rome come to mind, but in other contexts other thousand-year-old civilizations have developed. Some have totally disappeared, others have been absorbed by new peoples, others still resist today. Our species, Homo Sapiens, dates back 300 thousand years, but we learned from our predecessors to use…
