Docendo Discimus
On April 24, 1183bce (as determined by Eratosthenes the Beta), the City of Troy fell to the Greeks after nine years of devastating siege and bloody war. Few people today realize how many of our cultural values have been inculcated into us by the events of that day. The defeated Trojans would wander west and finally resettle... Continue Reading →
On April 21, 753 BCE, according to tradition, the city of Rome was founded. This date, deeply entrenched in the fabric of Roman history, marks the beginning of a civilization that would eventually dominate the ancient world. The foundation of Rome is wrapped in a tapestry of myth and legend, primarily sourced from two seminal... Continue Reading →
The Battle of Megiddo, fought on April 16, 1457 BCE, stands as one of the most significant and well-documented events of the ancient Near East. This confrontation marked a pivotal moment in the military campaign of Thutmose III, the sixth Pharaoh of Egypt's Eighteenth Dynasty, against a coalition of Canaanite kingdoms. It was not just... Continue Reading →
In the annals of Roman history, few battles rival the significance and strategic intricacies of the Battle of Philippi. This cataclysmic confrontation, fought on October 23, 42bce, marked the culmination of years of political turmoil following the assassination of Julius Caesar and paved the way for the eventual rise of the Roman Empire. The seeds... Continue Reading →
On a clear day in October 320 BCE, the skies above Alexandria darkened unexpectedly. An astronomical event of rare magnitude was unfolding. Pappus of Alexandria, a renowned mathematician and astronomer of the time, was there to document this extraordinary event—a solar eclipse. In the annals of ancient astronomy, few events are as dramatic or as... Continue Reading →
The land of Egypt has seen numerous influential pharaohs grace its vast timeline, and Seti I, without a doubt, stands out as one of the most prominent rulers of the Nineteenth Dynasty. His reign was marked by significant achievements in the realm of military conquests, architecture, and religious devotion, thus affirming his powerful legacy. Born... Continue Reading →
In 52 B.C., the formidable Roman general Julius Caesar faced one of his greatest challenges during his campaign in Gaul. Vercingetorix, a chieftain of the Arverni, was not merely a leader of his tribe; he was a symbol of Gallic unity, resistance, and resilience against the expansionist objectives of Rome. The climax of this contest... Continue Reading →
In the annals of world history, few events hold as much significance as the Battle of Gaugamela. It was not merely a clash of two military powers but rather a defining moment in the rise and fall of empires. By 331 BC, Alexander the Great of Macedonia had spent several years campaigning against the mighty... Continue Reading →
Gaius Sallustius Crispus, commonly known as Sallust, was born October 1, 86bce in Amiternum, a town in the Sabine territory. He hailed from a well-to-do plebeian family, which allowed him to receive a comprehensive education, fostering his love for literature and history. In his early career, Sallust entered public life and climbed the cursus honorum,... Continue Reading →
On September 28, 48 BCE, the ancient world witnessed the tragic demise of one of its most celebrated military and political figures: Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, or Pompey the Great. His murder at the hands of agents in Egypt not only marked a pivotal moment in the history of Rome, but also served as a testament... Continue Reading →
Born on September 23, 63 BCE, as Gaius Octavius Thurinus, the man history remembers as Augustus would go on to become one of the most influential figures in the history of Rome. His life and legacy are intertwined with the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. This article explores the remarkable life... Continue Reading →
The final days and death of the Roman Emperor Titus remain shrouded in some mystery, with debates persisting over the exact cause of his death. Titus, whose full name was Titus Flavius Vespasianus, ruled as Roman Emperor from 79 to 81 CE. He is most famous for his role in the capture and destruction of... Continue Reading →
The Battle of Marathon, fought in 490 BCE, was a pivotal event in ancient Greek history, and its impact resonates through the centuries. Let's delve into the military, political, and historical aspects of this significant battle. In the early 5th century BCE, Greece was divided into city-states, each with its own government and military. The... Continue Reading →
On August 23, 30 BC, the pages of history witnessed the tragic conclusion to the story of Ptolemy XV Philopator Philometor Caesar, better known as Caesarion, the last Pharaoh of Egypt. Caesarion, meaning "Little Caesar," was the son of Cleopatra VII, the last active Pharaoh of Egypt, and Julius Caesar, the Roman military general and... Continue Reading →
The transition of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire was marked by intrigue, power struggles, and the unprecedented rise of one man: Augustus, formerly known as Octavian. On August 19, 43 BCE, at the tender age of 20, he would achieve the rank of consul, a feat unheard of for someone so young. Here’s... Continue Reading →
You think that impeachment is something new? Or that "politics" is just some modern misuse of the process? Let me introduce you to Liu He, the Emperor of China during the Han Dynasty who was impeached as Emperor... after just twenty-seven days of rule... Emperor Liu He, posthumously known as Prince Xiao of Changyi, was... Continue Reading →
Way back in the early-mid 2000's, there came a TV show called "Apocalypse Island." It purported to use the Mayan Long Count calendar AND the "discovery" of a Mayan monument on a remote Pacific Island as proof that when the Mayan Long Count ended and 2012 hit us with it's full force, there would be... Continue Reading →
The Battle of Pharsalus, fought on August 9, 48 BCE, was a pivotal confrontation in the Roman civil war between Julius Caesar and his former ally-turned-rival, Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (Pompey). The events leading up to this battle were marked by political tensions, power struggles, and the breakdown of their alliance, ultimately culminating in a significant... Continue Reading →
The Battle of Cannae, fought on August 2, 216 BCE, during the Second Punic War, stands as one of the most remarkable and decisive engagements in the history of ancient warfare. It pitted the powerful Roman Republic against the formidable Carthaginian forces led by the brilliant general Hannibal Barca. This battle would not only shape... Continue Reading →
Dave Does History 