The movie 300 has way more historical value than you might think
Many people would scoff immediately after reading this title, but the almost ten year old movie 300 really does have a lot to contribute to…
The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, Rome’s greatest defeat
Varus was crushed. His feet and hands and mind were numb with the freezing rain. His legions, so splendid and untouchable only days before, were…
The Nika Riots: Sports Riots that Nearly Toppled an Empire
Today soccer is unequivocally the most popular sport in a world with countless different sports vying for fans. In the ancient world there were not…
Mystery Ulfberht Viking sword has archaeologists stumped
More than 170 swords bearing the “ULFBERHT” inscription have been found in several European countries, mainly in Norway, Finland, Estonia and Latvia. There are fewer…
1571 Battle of Lepanto: The Pope’s Naval Crusade – Destroying the Ottoman Empire Naval Supremacy
The Ottoman Empire grew from being a minor power in modern Turkey to controlling much of the Middle East and Eastern Europe. By 1453, they…
Elite Cavalry Units of the Ancient World
Prior to gunpowder and efficient pike squares, cavalry had a key impact on the battlefield. Cavalry was utilized differently based on their training, equipment, and…
The Pros and Cons of Ancient War Elephants
Elephants are generally peaceful and majestic creatures but throughout history, their size and power were used with devastating results on the battlefield. With the adoption…
Alexander’s Masterpiece: Gaugamela – Defeating The Persians, 331 BC
In the countless theoretical lists of best generals of all time, Alexander the Great is often at or very near the top, in fact, such…
How Scipio Defeated Hannibal And His Elephants and Earned the Name Africanus
Scipio Africanus was only of the most talented generals in the ancient world. He was barely an adult when Hannibal invaded Italy. He fought in…
A Turning Point In The Life Of Musashi, The Undefeated Samurai
Miyamoto Musashi was three hours late. This was his way. On the beach the tension in the air was palpable. Sasaki Kojiro paced up and…
Sparta: Growth of an Empire
It is widely known that the Spartans produced some of the most brutally efficient warriors of all time, but how did they gain that reputation?…
Sons of Mars: Early Formative Events that Shaped the Roman Empire
How exactly were the Romans able to rise from a small trading settlement near a ford in the Tiber to establishing an empire that stretched…