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.
SideProjects Insider
The weekly dispatch for curious builders — what gets made, what goes wrong, and what to try next.
Builders, tinkerers, and curious minds subscribed
- Weekly dispatch
- Creative builds and inventions
- Practical project breakdowns
- Behind-the-scenes notes from Simon
More in Ancient History
Pripyat: The City Made Uninhabitable By Chernobyl
Discover the story of Pripyat, the Soviet atomic city built to house Chernobyl workers, its opulent amenities, and its sudden abandonment after the 1986 nuclear disaster.
Temporary Solutions That Never Went Away
From income tax to the Korean War armistice, discover how history's "temporary" emergency measures became permanent fixtures of law, politics, and society.
In Which Ways do Movies Get Ancient Warfare Wrong?
From shield walls in Troy to slave rowers in Ben-Hur, discover how Hollywood consistently misrepresents ancient battles, tactics, and the real role of women warriors.
Discoveries That Proved Historians Wrong About the Persian Empire
Archaeological evidence and modern scholarship reveal how Greek propaganda distorted our understanding of the Achaemenid Persian Empire's governance, military, women's rights, and eventual fall.
5 Strange Military Traditions from Around the World
Discover five bizarre military traditions from across the globe, from Chile's German-inspired uniforms and Norway's penguin major general to the Whisky War and the dramatic Attari-Wagah border ceremony.
History's Most Incredible One-Man Armies
Discover four of history's most incredible one-man armies, from Alvin York's World War I heroics to Dipprasad Pun's modern-day stand against the Taliban.