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Ancient History
A comparison of wealth gaps in ancient empires reveals stark differences and lasting consequences.
The Gospels aren’t historical biographies but genre-defining works that blend myth, theology, and a promise of hope.
From medieval myths to Shakespeare's plays and modern cinema, British culture kept the Roman Empire alive long after its fall.
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"I think happiness is not a smiling face, it's more a smiling soul."
The latest season of the "Revolutions" podcast blends history with science fiction to tell the story of the Red Planet's rise.
While death-bed utterances are more famous, baby’s first words have influenced us too.
Ethan Kross, psychologist and author of "Shift," explains how negative emotions help us live safely and well.
The Roman Empire at one point emitted roughly 3,600 tons of lead dust per year, causing “widespread cognitive decline.”
Dubbed "Valeriana" by researchers, the city of 50,000 peaked around 800 AD before being swallowed by the jungle.
Pleasure, virtue, and doubt are necessary, but each is insufficient on its own.
One alchemist's search for a whiz-bang method to produce gold unlocked the central science instead.
Did the Milky Way form by slowly accreting matter or by devouring its neighboring galaxies? At last, we're uncovering our own history.
Carl Sagan was far from the first to declare we are the children of ancient stars.
Two great philosophies — but do they work better together?
Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.
All religions have three traits: metaphysical commitments, ethical guidance, and daily rituals or practices. So does Stoicism.
Magnificent time-tested buildings are filled with lessons in resilience and stability — and the benefits for investment strategy can be huge.
"In that conversation with Laozi’s text, I began to see the shape of my own life, the questions that opened seams, the patterns that pooled and shimmered."
Some biologists believe natural selection produces animals that are just good enough. Dawkins disagrees.
In popular culture, the eruption is usually depicted as an apocalyptic event.
An analysis of Indonesian cave paintings is reframing the history of human art, though whether the paintings really were created by human hands remains an open question.
19 rooms. 1,636 square feet. 1,800 years of history.
A new method of mapping migration factors in erratic movements and changing climate.
In ancient Sparta, it was accepted practice for more women to marry and have children by more than one man.
Rhetorical mastery is within everyone’s reach — equipped with some basic techniques you can rock it like Aristotle.
Some think the reason fundamental scientific revolutions are so rare is because of groupthink. It's not; it's hard to mess with success.
The burial spot was found in one of the Herculaneum scrolls charred by Mt. Vesuvius.
A poignant, 2,000-year-old burial in northern Italy could be the latest evidence of an ancient friendship.
Although human beings arrived on Earth just ~300,000 years ago, we've transformed the entire planet completely. Here's how we did it.
Plagues, war, and genocide were literally frozen in time.