Ancient History
Lost civilizations, forgotten empires, and the archaeological discoveries that rewrite what we thought we knew about the past.
83 articlesLatest Ancient History
Archaeologists Just Found 1,000 Roman Artefacts in a Swiss Lake
Over 1,000 Roman artifacts were discovered in Lake Neuchâtel, Switzerland, including pottery, swords, and a chariot—revealing a military cargo ship that sank nearly 2,000 years ago.
5 Strange Cases of Mass Hysteria
Explore five bizarre historical cases of mass hysteria, from the 1518 Dancing Plague of Strasbourg to the Tanganyika Laughter Epidemic and recurrent outbreaks in Nepal.
History's Worst Archaeologists.
Discover how early archaeologists like Heinrich Schliemann, Arthur Evans, and Lord Elgin used dynamite, concrete, and brute force to destroy the very history they claimed to preserve.
Priceless Artifacts Destroyed by Human Stupidity
From dynamiting ancient Troy to bulldozing Maya temples and Taliban destruction of the Buddhas of Bamiyan, explore how human ignorance and carelessness have wiped out irreplaceable cultural treasures.
The Quartz Crisis: The (Almost) End of the Watch Industry
Discover the dramatic story of the quartz crisis, when Japanese innovation with computerized timepieces brought centuries-old Swiss watchmakers to their knees—and how the industry fought back.
The 5 Most Devastating Days in Human History
From the 1976 Tangshan earthquake to the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, explore five of the most catastrophic 24-hour periods in human history and the lessons learned from each tragedy.
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More in Ancient History
5 American Military Defeats
Explore five of the worst American military failures in history, from Red Cloud's War and the War of 1812 to Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
The Unexpectedly Advanced Technology of Ancient China
Discover five remarkably advanced technologies from ancient China, from the magnetic compass and earthquake detection to paper, gunpowder, and massive irrigation systems that shaped human civilization.
Archaeological "Discoveries"...That Were All Lies.
From the Newport Tower's Viking myths to Oak Island's endless treasure hunt, explore five archaeological "discoveries" that captured global attention only to disappoint when the truth emerged.
World Leaders Who Survived Multiple Assassination Attempts
Discover the remarkable stories of world leaders who survived multiple assassination attempts, from Queen Victoria's eight attacks to the CIA's 634 plots against Fidel Castro.
The Discoveries That Proved Everything Wrong About the Vikings
Archaeological discoveries have shattered our stereotypes about Vikings. From female warriors and advanced legal systems to global trade networks and surprising cleanliness, the real Norse people were far more complex than legend suggests.
Most Disastrous Speeches of All time.
Explore history's most catastrophic speeches, from Gerald Ratner destroying his jewelry empire to Neville Chamberlain's "peace for our time" and beyond.