Ashoka the Great Ashoka the Great, also known as Ashoka Maurya, was one of India’s most remarkable emperors. He ruled the Mauryan Empire from around 268 to 232 BCE. His reign is notable for the significant transformation he underwent from a ruthless conqueror to a benevolent ruler who embraced Buddhism and non-violence. Early Life and […]
Sumerian King List The Sumerian King List is a fascinating ancient document that records the names of kings of Sumer (an ancient civilization in Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq) and the lengths of their reigns. It was likely created to legitimize the claims to power of various city-states and kingdoms in southern Mesopotamia during the late third
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Phoenicians The Phoenicians were an ancient civilization that thrived along the eastern Mediterranean coast, primarily in what is now modern-day Lebanon, as well as parts of Syria and Israel2. They were known for their seafaring skills, extensive trade networks, and the creation of the Phoenician alphabet, which greatly influenced the development of writing systems in
The Legend of Gilgamesh The Legend of Gilgamesh is one of the oldest known stories in human history, dating back to ancient Mesopotamia around 2100 BC. It’s an epic poem written on clay tablets in cuneiform script. Main Characters Gilgamesh: The protagonist, a king of Uruk who is two-thirds god and one-third human. He’s known
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Emperor Qin Shi Huang Emperor Qin Shi Huang, born as Ying Zheng in 259 BC, was the founder of the Qin dynasty and the first emperor of a unified China2. He ascended to the throne at the age of 13 after his father’s death and became the King of Qin. By 221 BC, he had
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Gutenberg Bible The Gutenberg Bible, also known as the 42-line Bible or the Mazarin Bible, is one of the earliest major books printed using mass-produced movable metal type. It was created by Johannes Gutenberg in Mainz, Germany, around 14552. This invention marked the beginning of the “Gutenberg Revolution” and the age of printed books in
Mycenaeans The Mycenaeans were an ancient Greek civilization that thrived during the Late Bronze Age, roughly from 1750 to 1050 BC2. They are named after their most famous city, Mycenae, located in the northeastern Peloponnese region of Greece. Key Aspects of Mycenaean Civilization Society and culture: The Mycenaeans were known for their advanced and distinctively
The Legend of Beowulf The Legend of Beowulf is an epic poem and one of the most important works of Old English literature. It’s set in Scandinavia and tells the story of its heroic protagonist, Beowulf. The poem was composed between the 8th and early 11th centuries, and though the author’s identity remains unknown, the
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Hannibal Barca Hannibal Barca was a Carthaginian general, born in 247 BCE in North Africa. He is considered one of the greatest military leaders in history. His father, Hamilcar Barca, was also a prominent general. Hannibal is best known for his role in the Second Punic War against Rome, which took place from 218 to
The Domesday Book The Domesday Book is a fascinating historical record from medieval England. It was created in 1086 by order of King William the Conqueror. The purpose of the book was to survey and document the landholdings and resources of much of England and parts of Wales. This was done to assess the wealth
