Ancient furnace workers experimented with heating the ends of glass tubes to rework them. One day, someone blew into that tube and changed history.
Articles on Roman history
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Ovid thought that a bit of healthy competition could foster romance.
“When they make a wasteland, they call it ‘peace,‘” wrote the Roman historian Tacitus, in a turn of phrase that a classics scholar says has been relevant for centuries – including right now.
The statue, titled Kneeling Before Iran, shows the emperor grovelling before Persian king Shapur I. Where did this imagery come from? And why now?
Nero, Rome’s emperor from 54 to 68 C.E., rose to power at a young age and remained focused on himself, letting the needs of citizens fall to the wayside.
Fermented fish sauce was a staple of the Roman diet, but its origins were even more ancient.
We can probably safely assume Rome, in many areas, was likely pretty dirty and rank-smelling. That said, there’s evidence of perfumes, incense and even deodorants.
Cretian raisin wine was incredibly popular with Romans but the real deal takes a long time to make.
One of the world’s oldest cookbooks, De Re Coquinaria, contains recipes for familiar staples, along with more exotic fare.
While Roman emperors dominated the institutions of state, they were still constrained by them.
The checks and balances that hold a functioning democracy together may be coming under threat in the US.
From dogs to snakes, people have been keeping pets for millennia. Here’s what people in ancient civilisations thought about their furry (or scaled, or feathered) friends.
Historians may not know much about Silvester’s life, but the era he lived in was pivotal for Christianity.
Numidia was once a vast kingdom, stretching from the east of modern-day Morocco into Algeria, Tunisia and the west of Libya.
Much like modern-day football hooliganism, gladiator fandom could be weaponised in inter-communal violence.
This doomed romance ended abruptly in 44 BCE when Caesar was quite literally stabbed in the back (and from all sides) by his enemies in Rome. She pretty soon hooked up with one of his closest allies.
The film follows the son of Russell Crowe’s Maximus who has been living under a new identity to escape Roman politics.
The scene shows two warships at a face-off while sharks circle in the waters below.
From the fifth to third centuries BCE, the Gallic tribes of central Europe were among the continent’s most fearsome warriors. And in 387 BCE, Gallic raiders sacked and profoundly humiliated Rome.
Hannibal remains a towering figure in military history, not only for his tactical brilliance but also for the profound impact he had on Rome. He continues to inspire military leaders today.
Top contributors
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Honorary Research Fellow and Community Archaeology Liaison Officer, University of Nottingham
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Head, Public Engagement, Chau Chak Wing Museum, University of Sydney
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Gale Research Fellow in Ancient Glass and Material Culture, Macquarie University
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Professor of Classics and Head of the Centre for Classical Studies, Australian National University
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Associate Professor in Ancient History, Macquarie University
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Professor of Classics and the Director of Peace and Conflict Studies, College of the Holy Cross
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Lecturer in Archaeology and Classical Studies, Adelaide University ; School of Advanced Study, University of London
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Senior Lecturer in Classics and Ancient History, University of Exeter
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Senior lecturer, Cardiff University
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Professor of Classics, Miami University
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Lecturer in Ancient History, Cardiff University
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Professor of Roman Archaeology, University of Winchester
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Postdoctoral Faculty Fellow in Classical Studies, Temple University
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PhD Candidate in Classics and Archaeology, The University of Melbourne
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Professor of Modern History, Keele University