The Romans built arguably the greatest empire of pre-modern times. But, of course, there were bigger empires than it. For example, the Mongol empire was much more extensive. But these other great empires were often short-lived and unstable, and the people who lived in them did not acquire a decent standard of living. By contrast, […]
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We do not typically associate religious piety with vengeance, though revenge is a common thread throughout the Old Testament. It certainly isn’t usually associated with saints, which makes the life and career of St Olga of Kyiv somewhat peculiar. This member of the royal house of Kievan Rus in the tenth century is honored today
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Christianity has never been a homogenous religion with clearly defined ideas and beliefs. When it emerged in the late first and second centuries AD, it was essentially a schismatic branch of Judaism. Then it adopted elements of a Hellenic polytheistic religion to become more popular throughout the Roman Empire. By the fourth century AD, it
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The word Cupid is synonymous today with matchmaking and relationships. Type in the word ‘Cupid’ to Google, and you will immediately be confronted with dozens of internet dating sites while OkCupid.com has been one of the world’s largest online dating platforms for the last fifteen years. Anytime we see an image of a small child-like
Cupid: The Oftentimes Evil God of Love and Desire Read More »
Have you ever thought about what it would be like to live in the Wild West? It’s easy to think it was fun because of how simple life was on the frontier, riding horses, cooking food at campsites, sleeping under the starry sky, fetching food supplies and items from town, and more. Or maybe having
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The Tower of London Prison is one of the most famous prisons in history, known for the gruesome bloodshed, brutal punishment, and gnarly beheadings within its walls. But, it was also home to many wealthy prisoners who were incarcerated here and those of a lower status. So, how was life as a prisoner in the Tower
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The powdered wig was one of the most well-known and often lampooned features of 18th-century fashion. But how did this style come to be? And why did people wear them? Men in 16th century England wore the first wigs to cover up baldness. Wigs became increasingly popular in the 17th century, and by the 18th
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Many people think of history as dry facts and dusty old tomes. But in truth, history is a living, breathing entity that can provide us with invaluable insights into our past and present. In the field of medical history, this is particularly true. By studying the past, we can better understand the diseases that affect
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The 19th century was a time of significant change in the world. Following the end of the American Civil War, the United States industrialized rapidly, with new technologies like the steam engine and internal combustion engine helping transform agriculture and transportation. As a result, global trade increased steadily throughout the century, as did nationalism. The
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The Inca civilization was one of the most advanced in ancient America. With their impressive capital city at Cusco, the Incas were able to build an empire that stretched from modern-day Colombia to northern Chile. The lasting legacy of the Incas included: Sophisticated architecture. A complex code of law known as Quechua. A sophisticated religion
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