Why Was Joan of Arc So Effective?

France was in a dire state at the start of 1429. The English controlled almost all the territory north of…

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The Strange Story of the Locrian Maidens

“It was midnight, and the clear moon was rising.” So said one of the surviving fragments of the Little Iliad.…

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The Hawara Pyramid of Amenemhat III: The Tomb Robbers’ Bane

Tomb robbing might just be the second oldest profession. Egyptians, ancient and modern, were and are some of the best…

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Pyrrhus of Epirus vs. The Spartan Women

After the death of Alexander the Great, Pyrrhus of Epirus emerged as the Hellenic world’s leading strongman. That he did…

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How Theodore Roosevelt Mediated the Russo-Japanese War

In 1904, war broke out between Russia and Japan after long-simmering tensions. Western feeling was that the Russians would crush…

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Gan Ying Walks the Silk Road from China to Rome: Will He Make It?

It is the first century AD. Han China and the Roman Empire are the two “superpowers” of east and west.…

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Ahhotep – Egypt’s Forgotten Warrior Queen

The darkest days of Egypt tested the country’s women as much as its men. Seqenenre, Kamose, and Ahmose are all…

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A Time to Try Men’s Souls: Egypt’s Second Intermediate Period

If ever there were a time when things seemed hopeless for men who loved their country, Ancient Egypt’s Second Intermediate…

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How Justinian Stole Silk from China

Industrial espionage is nothing new. The Chinese communists are among the masters of this craft. Ironically, the industry China is…

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