Long-form stories about how civilizations and empires rose and fell, from ancient Egypt, Persia and Rome to the Mongols, the Ottomans and early modern Russia. Some empires rose around a single ruler. Read how Attila the Hun shook the late Roman world, from his invasion of Gaul in 451 to his march into Italy a year later. In the East, discover how Zenobia of Palmyra seized Egypt from Rome and held a rival empire until Emperor Aurelian marched against her in 272 CE. And further north, follow how Olga of Kyiv avenged Prince Igor and ruled as regent after the Drevlians killed him in 945, and later accepted baptism in Constantinople. Farther west, see how Otto the Great revived the empire of Charlemagne with his coronation in Rome in 962.
Unravel the threads of time, one captivating story at a time.
The story of Mehmed II, famously called Mehmed the Conqueror, is not just about taking the throne; it’s about the reshaping of a centuries-old empire, the pivotal fall of an ancient city, and blending tradition with innovation in a way so that the Ottoman state could dominate the region for generations.
Throughout history, certain leaders stand out for their ability to reshape the world. One such figure is Cyrus II of Persia, the founder of the Achaemenid Empire.
Genghis Khan would rise to become the founder and emperor of one of the largest empires the world has ever seen and reshaped the course of history.
On Christmas Day 800, Pope Leo III crowned the Frankish king Charlemagne Emperor of the Romans in St. Peter’s. Why the pope did it and what it meant for Europe.
At Siwa, Alexander the Great was hailed as son of Zeus-Ammon, and he claimed descent from Achilles. Did he believe he was divine, or use it as a tool of power?
