- Home
- Humanities
- History
History
The Fascinating History of Mansa Musa and Ancient Timbuktu
Mansa Musa was the king of the Mali empire. In his reign, Mali became an African powerhouse and included the countries of Senegal, Burkina Faso, Niger, and the Ivory Coast. Africa's legendary, fabled gold city under Mansa was his capital Timbuktu.
When Stonehenge Was on the Auction Block
One of the world's best known ancient monuments was once owned by a British lawyer.
The Medieval Siege: How to Make a Castle Crumble
Castles were bastions of military might during the Middle Ages, and their conquering was pivotal to medieval military campaigns. Here's how it was done.
The Top 10 Worst Wildfires in American History
This article examines and ranks the 10 worst wildfires in American history. It provides a brief overview of each event, followed by a discussion of each fire's coverage area, destruction, and fatalities.
10 Great Inventions That Changed the World
Scientific discoveries and technological advances have radically transformed the world we live in. Compared to the long period of human history, most great inventions were made relatively recently. This is a list of ten inventions that have profoundly transformed society and our lives.
Elizabethan Makeup: Death by Cosmetics
The pursuit of beauty is an age-old preoccupation with humans. The Elizabethans used ingredients in cosmetics that they didn't realise harmed and killed them. Poisons included white lead, mercury and belladonna, staples in their makeup kit.
5 Factors That Contributed to the Bronze Age Collapse
In the second millennium BC, ancient civilisation was at its apex, but then a series of invasions, earthquakes and epidemics brought it all crashing down. Here are five factors that contributed to the Bronze Age collapse.
3 Ways of Judging the Accused in the Dark Ages
Imagine being forced to burn your own hand, then being declared guilty because the burn didn't heal quickly enough. Here are some medieval methods of determining guilt or innocence that were so cruel, the accused would admit guilt simply to avoid the ordeal.
The Hero's Journey: An Eternal Tale of Trial and Transformation
The hero myth is ancient and pervasive. It features in mythical traditions throughout the world, and wherever it appears, it seems to follow the same basic formula. Here is an overview of what Joseph Campbell called "The Hero's Journey."
Vlad the Impaler: Transylvanian Tyrant
"Vlad the Impaler" was born in Transylvania. As Vlad III Dracula he ruled the Principality of Wallachia and waged war against the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II and rivals to his rule. He was a barbaric medieval warrior who inspired Bram Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula.
The Mystery of L'Oiseau Blanc
On May 8, 1927, two French aviators took off from Paris and disappeared creating one of the great mysteries of flying.
The Top 10 Worst Battles of World War II
This article examines and ranks the 10 worst battles of the Second World War. It provides a brief overview of each event, followed by an analysis of their total casualties.
Battle of Bicocca: The End of the Swiss Military Dominance
Learn all about the Battle of Bicocca, an important historical battle that brought an end to a period of Swiss military dominance.
3 Presidential Stories: Fact or Fiction?
In US History, no figures are studied more than presidents. Each has at least one unusual story. Let's examine some and question their truth.
The Lambert Simnel Rebellion of 1487
Lambert Simnel was crowned King Edward VI in Dublin in May 1487 after claiming to be the English Edward Plantagenet, Earl of Warwick. Lambert had been training to pretend that he was one of the lost Princes in the Tower. Who was he and what did King Henry VII do with this challenger to his throne?
Two Fake Parisian Cities
The capital of France has been replicated twice.
Woodstock Palace: Once a Royal Residence and Jail
Woodstock Manor, later Woodstock Palace in Oxfordshire, England was a royal hunting lodge, a hideaway for a mistress, the birthplace of princes and a jail for Elizabeth Tudor before she became Queen Elizabeth I. Today Blenheim Palace's grounds cover its location.
Why the Confederacy Was Doomed Even If It Won the Civil War
The Confederate states' commitment to state sovereignty would soon have torn them apart.
The Sinking of the SS Athenia
A passenger liner became the first British ship sunk when World War II was only hours old in what was deemed a war crime.
How Prince Albert Lost His Mother Aged 5
Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha's childhood was marked by the unnecessary loss of his mother in 1824 when he was just 5 years old. In a spectacular display of double standards by his father Ernst, mama was banished for having an affair and banned from having a relationship with her children.
The King of Yorkshire Counterfeiters
In 18th century Britain, there was a thriving cottage industry in making fake coins and David Hartley was one of the best in the trade.
Queen Victoria and the Lady Flora Hastings Scandal
The Lady Flora Hastings scandal exposed Queen Victoria's personal prejudices and her poor judgement. Flora was a lady-in-waiting to Victoria's mother the Duchess of Kent. When Flora's abdomen swelled accusations flew around court about her being pregnant. Victoria soon regretted vilifying Flora.
Professor Beringer's Lying Stones
A cautionary story about how even renowned experts can be fooled.
Second Silesian War: The Rise of Prussia
Learn about the Second Silesian War, a momentous event that furthered the rise of Prussia as a European power.
Napoleon in Egypt
Learn the story of the French campaign in the Middle East.
The First Silesian War: The Rise of Prussia
This article discusses the First Silesian War. Learn about the rise of Prussia as a major continental European power.
What Is Construction Sacrifice?
Learn all about the ancient practice of construction sacrifice and why people around the globe went to this extreme.
Decisive Battles of History: Catalaunian Plains
Learn about the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains and how modern historians interpret this vital historical event.
Decisive Battles of History: Philippi
Learn about the Battle of Philippi and its role in the fall of the Roman Republic.
The Sticky Story of the Penny Black Stamp
Long before we could email, text or tweet our news to family and friends there was post, snail mail. During the British reforms of the 1830s, the postal system was revolutionised. The first prepaid adhesive stamp in the world was invented: The Penny Black. Did you know that it was quickly abandoned?
The Hard Toil of Pit Ponies in Coal Mines
In Wales, there is a huge earthwork memorial that honours the lives of horses and ponies that worked in underground coal mines.
Popes Who Behaved Badly
The Roman Catholic Church has had 266 popes and a few of them have been rotten to the core.
How Emperor Aurelian Reunited the Roman Empire
Learn how emperor Aurelian restored the Mediterranean world by reuniting the Roman Empire.
The Wars of the Roses: Medieval England's Climactic Conflict
Matthew's interests include writing, gaming, movies, and pretending to be Irish despite only having one Irish Great Grandparent.
Early Roman Warfare, by Jeremy Armstrong, a Review
A review of Early Roman Warfare, by Jeremy Armstrong, a book detailing a revised model of development for the early Roman armies.
Project Acoustic Kitty Lets the Spy Cat Out of the Bag
In the 1960s, the CIA thought it could train cats to spy on its enemies. Project Acoustic Kitty was born.
Lincoln and Douglas History in Winchester, Illinois
The town of Winchester, Illinois, was once home to Stephen A. Douglas and the site of an important speech by Abraham Lincoln. A number of buildings of historic and architectural significance remain there as well.
Decisive Battles of History: Wagram
Read on to learn how Napoleon defeated the Fifth Coalition, and the importance of the Battle of Wagram.
Timeline of the Scientific Revolution
From the 15th through the 18th centuries, scientific thought underwent a revolution. The Aristotelian view of nature that had dominated science for almost 2,000 years was cast out. The Scientific Revolution brought forth a more rigorous method of scientific exploration.
Decisives Battles of History: Blenheim
Marlborough stops Louis XIV at the Battle of Blenheim, a decisive battle in European history.
Medieval Food: What Did People in England Eat During the Middle Ages?
Fine dining in the feudal era was reserved for the rich, while the poor made do with bread and stew. Here is an overview of what people from various classes of medieval society depended on for their daily sustenance.
Decisive Battles of History: Poltava
This article discusses the battle of Poltava, which was decisive in that it brought about the fall of the Swedish Empire.
The Herald of Free Enterprise Disaster
Negligence, combined with a culture of corporate greed, took the lives of 193 people.
Lady Jane Grey's Claim to the Tudor Throne
Lady Jane Grey became known in history as the tragic "nine days' queen" but why did she think of herself as the rightful queen of England when Henry VIII's daughter Mary was waiting in the wings?
The 7 Most Elite Fighting Forces in History
Behind every mighty empire of history was an elite warrior order that dominated the battlefield. Learn about the 7 most adept of these here.
The Assassination of Percival Lea-Wilson
By mistreating prisoners under his supervision he signed his own death warrant.
Decisive Battles of History: Pharsalus
Learn about the battle of Pharsalus, a decisive military engagement that ensured the fall of the Roman Republic
Top 4 Deadly Wars in Last 25 Years
Is war inevitable? It's difficult to know. Learn about the 4 deadliest wars of the past 25 years in this informative article.
Decisive Battles of History: Zama
This article covers the war that decided the fate of the Western Mediterranean.
Decisive Battles of History: Waterloo
This article discusses the final defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte.