Ancient Empires

Palmyra has long attracted the attention of the world. Well before its rediscovery in the 17th century, the ancient city gained legendary status because of its Queen Zenobia, who in the third century CE rebelled against Rome and expanded Palmyra's territory into what is now modern Turkey and Egypt.

Constantine the Great was one of the most pivotal figures in the history of the Roman Empire and the widespread expansion of the Christian religion. This is in no way an understatement; Constantine was not only one of the last truly powerful Roman emperors, but he also successfully reconstituted the whole empire according to his vision of Rome’s future. He played the most significant role in transforming the Empire from a Greco-Roman pagan dominion into a bulwark of the Christian faith, granting for the first time real temporal power for the early Christian church.

Become familiar with the time of the Romans. Learn about their slaves, their freemen, their sex slaves, their sex lives, their prostitutes, their habits and professions, and more. This guide will put special emphasis on the rebellion of Spartacus, the taboos in Roman culture, and the religious cults with their idols.

Considerada como el enfrentamiento militar más importante y crucial de la antigüedad, las consecuencias nacidas tras este emocionante episodio histórico marcaron el rumbo definitivo no sólo de Grecia y Persia, sino de todo el mundo occidental. Ambas naciones, a la sazón las dos naciones más grandes de la época, se enfrascaron en una guerra colosal que empezó en el siglo V antes de Cristo, que duró más de 60 años, y que concluyó con la derrota de quien menos se esperaba: Persia.

Considerada como el enfrentamiento militar más importante y crucial de la antigüedad, las consecuencias nacidas tras este emocionante episodio histórico marcaron el rumbo definitivo no sólo de Grecia y Persia, sino de todo el mundo occidental. Ambas naciones, a la sazón las dos naciones más grandes de la época, se enfrascaron en una guerra colosal que empezó en el siglo V antes de Cristo, que duró más de 60 años, y que concluyó con la derrota de quien menos se esperaba: Persia.

The Inka empire was the largest pre-Columbian polity in the New World. Its vast expanse, its ethnic diversity, and the fact that the empire may have been consolidated in less than a century have prompted much scholarly interest in its creation. In this study, Besom explores the ritual practices of human sacrifice and the worship of mountains, attested in both archaeological investigations and ethnohistorical sources, as tools in the establishment and preservation of political power.

One thirteenth-century man founded history's largest connected empire - Mongol leader Genghis Khan. He not only managed to unite many disparate tribes, but his invasions culminated in the conquest of Northern China, leaving him with a kingdom the size of Africa. His ruthless military campaigns certainly earned him the title he gave himself: "barbarian from the North". While he could be brutal, he also brought about a time of peace and prosperity for the Mongols.

Over the last 2,000 years, ambitious men have dreamed of forging vast empires and attaining eternal glory in battle, but of all the conquerors who took steps toward such dreams, none were ever as successful as antiquity’s first great conqueror. Leaders of the 20th century hoped to rival Napoleon’s accomplishments, while Napoleon aimed to emulate the accomplishments of Julius Caesar. But Caesar himself found inspiration in Alexander the Great (356 - 323 BCE), the Macedonian king who managed to stretch an empire from Greece to the Himalayas in Asia by the age of 30.

La extravagancia de Nerón se ha convertido en nada menos que legendaria. En su día, fue increíblemente destructiva para su pueblo, particularmente después del Gran Incendio de Roma, un incendio que incluso podría haber comenzado él. En lugar de acudir en ayuda de los diez distritos que habían sido dañados por el fuego, Nerón aprovechó el espacio extra para construirse un palacio dorado. Asesinó, entre otros, a su propia madre, su exmujer y su hermanastro. Además, fue un violador, abusó sexualmente de niños y fue un abusador brutal.

La vida de Augusto es históricamente importante porque su liderazgo marcó una nueva era en la historia del mundo romano, una era que vería la expansión del Imperio romano a lo largo del Mediterráneo y más allá. Aún más, la influencia del Imperio romano se extendió mucho más allá de su territorio y tuvo un profundo efecto en el desarrollo de la cultura occidental. Además, las historias y leyendas que emanan del mundo romano se han convertido en parte de la conciencia cultural del mundo occidental de hoy.

The birth of Europe as people know it today was hardly an easy and effortless process. The Old World was reshaped by centuries of continuous wars, raids, and the falls and rises of empires. The most turbulent of these events happened at the beginning of the Middle Ages, from the third through seventh centuries CE. This was the time when the old slave society gave way to the feudal system that marked the latter Middle Ages, and it was also a period of battles between the Roman Empire and various barbarian peoples.

While the name Justinian may not be one that instantly strikes a chord with people, his life and his legacy continue to impact people all over the world to this day. It is very likely that as you read this, you are living your life in accordance with laws that came about as a result of Justinian’s rewriting of the old Roman codes.

At one point in antiquity, the Achaemenid Persian Empire was the largest empire the world had ever seen, but aside from its role in the Greco-Persian Wars and its collapse at the hands of Alexander the Great, it has been mostly overlooked. When it has been studied, the historical sources have mostly been Greek, the very people the Persians sought to conquer. Needless to say, their versions were biased, and attitudes about the Persians were only exacerbated by Alexander the Great and his biographers, who maintained a fiery hatred toward Xerxes I of Persia due to his burning of Athens.

At one point in antiquity, the Achaemenid Persian Empire was the largest empire the world had ever seen, but aside from its role in the Greco-Persian Wars and its collapse at the hands of Alexander the Great, it has been mostly overlooked. When it has been studied, the historical sources have mostly been Greek, the very people the Persians sought to conquer.

Nero’s extravagance has become nothing short of legendary. In its day, it was incredibly destructive to his people, particularly after the Great Fire of Rome - a fire that he may have even started. Instead of assisting the ten districts that had been damaged by the fire, Nero took advantage of the extra space to build himself a golden palace. He murdered, among others, his own mother, his ex-wife, and his stepbrother. He was additionally a rapist, a child molester, and a brutal abuser.

The life of Augustus is historically important because his leadership marked out a new era in the story of the Roman world - an era that would see the expansion of the Roman Empire across the Mediterranean and beyond. However, the influence of the Roman Empire extended much farther than its territory and had a profound effect on the development of Western culture.

Triumphal arches in Rome provided a centerpiece for triumphs that were restricted to the emperors and their immediate families after the establishment of the Roman Empire, but arches in the wider empire did not have this specific function. Roman Arches: The History of the Famous Monuments in Rome and Throughout the Roman Empire examines the events surrounding the celebrations, accounts of them, and how the arches influenced other architectural monuments. You will learn about Roman arches like never before.

The Byzantine Empire existed for over a thousand years, with a history spanning from the division of the Roman Empire in 395 until the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453. It was formed from the previous Eastern Roman Empire, and during its long existence, the Byzantine inhabitants were very proud to call themselves Romans. However, many things changed during the long lifespan of the Byzantine Empire, starting with a Hellenization in the sixth century.

At one point in antiquity, the Achaemenid Persian Empire was the largest empire the world had ever seen, but aside from its role in the Greco-Persian Wars and its collapse at the hands of Alexander the Great, it has been mostly overlooked. The Battle of Gaugamela: The History of Alexander the Great’s Decisive Victory and the Destruction of the Achaemenid Persian Empire looks at one of antiquity’s most important conflicts, and the profound ramifications of Alexander’s campaign; you will learn about the battle like never before.

While he was one of the most influential men in the ancient world, research on Cyrus the Great is simultaneously fascinating and frustrating. Of course, this reality has deepened the mystique that surrounds Cyrus even to this day, and it has elevated his status from conqueror and king to enlightened humanist monarch and ideal ruler. Whatever the underlying issues, the incredible achievements of Cyrus distinguish him as one of the greatest kings in history, and his life, conquests, reforms, and rule continue to be of great interest over 2,500 years later.