Connecting the dots across time
Long before billboards, the Sasanian Emperors of Persia carved their triumphs into the very mountainsides. Discover the colossal rock reliefs at Naqsh-e Rostam, where stunning carvings depict the unprecedented humiliation…
Long before the Ottomans, the Seljuk Turks thundered out of Central Asia to build a vast empire stretching from the Hindu Kush to the Mediterranean. Their conquests permanently reshaped the…
Long before Genghis Khan’s hordes thundered across the plains, another great power dominated the Eurasian steppe: the Göktürks. As the first to bear the name "Türk", they forged a vast…
We all know the legend of the marathon run, a story of endurance and a triumphant message. But the true heart of the Marathon legend lies not in the run,…
Discover the remarkable story of the Parsis, Zoroastrian refugees who rose to become titans of global trade in colonial India. From building warships for the British Empire to mastering the…
Long before modern air conditioning, ancient Persian architects engineered magnificent towers called Bâdgirs, or 'wind-catchers', to cool their desert cities. This sustainable technology masterfully harnessed natural physics, funneling breezes and…
Beyond the opulent courts of Sasanian kings lay the true foundation of their empire: the Dehqans. This class of landed gentry served as the local administrators, tax collectors, and elite…
In 53 BC, Rome's richest man, Marcus Licinius Crassus, marched his legions into the desert seeking glory, only to find annihilation at the hands of the Parthian general Surena. The…
Before Christianity dominated the Roman Empire, a mysterious Roman cult with Persian roots captivated its soldiers. Delve into the world of Mithraism, a secret brotherhood that met in underground temples…
Long dismissed as a fantasy from the historian Herodotus, the story of a Persian king digging a canal through a Greek peninsula was a powerful myth. But modern archaeology, using…
More than just treasure, the ornate silver plates of the Sasanian Empire were masterfully crafted tools of propaganda. These luxurious objects depict kings as divine heroes, using powerful symbolism to…
One of the most famous pieces of art to survive from antiquity, the Alexander Mosaic from Pompeii is a masterpiece of drama and detail. Preserved by the eruption of Vesuvius,…
Long before the modern era, the medieval Islamic world created the Bimaristan, a revolutionary type of hospital centuries ahead of its time. These remarkable institutions were not just places of…
Dive into the history of the legendary Assassins of Alamut. We separate Marco Polo's myths of drug-fueled killers from the historical reality of a sophisticated Nizari Ismaili state that used…
Delve into the surprising history of ocular prosthetics, a journey spanning millennia from the symbolic burial eyes of ancient Egypt to the exquisite glass artistry of Renaissance Venice. This is…
For over 400 years, long after Carthage had fallen, Rome faced a true equal in the East: the mighty Sassanian Persian Empire. More than just a rival, this sophisticated civilization…
While Hannibal is famous for challenging Rome, another forgotten king posed a threat for decades from his Black Sea empire. Discover the Kingdom of Pontus and its charismatic ruler, Mithridates…
Explore the forgotten story of the Seleucid Empire, the largest but least-known successor state to Alexander the Great. Spanning from India to Turkey, this vast kingdom was a unique crucible…
The "Parthian Shot" was more than just a military maneuver; it was the signature tactic of the Parthian Empire. Explore how these master horse archers used a feigned retreat and…
Explore how Athens masterfully converted a voluntary alliance against Persia, the Delian League, into a powerful empire funded by its own allies. This transformation, fueled by a shift from ships…