ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS
This Crusading Scientist-Comedian Challenges Viking Myths
Ella al-Shamahi is challenging misperceptions, from Neanderthals to an idyllic island off Yemen.
This Roman Emperor Lost His Lover and Turned Him Into a God
Hadrian had lost Antinous, but he wasn’t about to let the younger man’s face be forgotten.
The Growing Global Pushback Against Sketchy Antiquities
A King Tut auction at Christie’s resurfaced long-held grievances from countries of origin — and more are speaking up.
The Confucian Scholar Who Tamed Genghis Khan
This 13th-century adviser faced down a brutal tyrant and helped shape modern Chinese government.
How Dazzling Chinese Silk Defeated the Roman Army
If you’re outnumbered in a battle, remember that you can always turn to showmanship.
What the Ancients Can Teach Us About How to Remember
Ancient mnemonic techniques once shaped the world and how people learned.
Decoding the Secrets of an Ancient Maya Cave
The subterranean world of Central America offers clues as to how environmental changes doomed a civilization.
Smuggling Backlash Leads to Iraq's Stolen Treasures Returning Home
Global strategies are shaping the way museums, collectors and locals preserve history.
What the Foreskin of Jesus Can Teach Us All
The legendary sacred foreskin of Jesus of Nazareth has been the subject of marvel, ridicule, faith and scandal throughout its illustrious history.
The New-Age Spread of Ancient Mexican Cures
A wave of intrigue is taking traditional healing practices to previously unexplored shores.
The Food That Built America
The Food that Built America tells the unbelievable true stories behind the industry titans like Henry Heinz, Milton Hershey, the Kellogg brothers and Ray Kroc, who revolutionized food, and transformed American life and culture forever in the process.
This Maya Village Was Frozen in Time by a Volcano
A visit to this frozen-in-time farming village shows what daily life was like for Maya commoners in Mesoamerica.
A Mythical Chinese Emperor's Favorite Aphrodisiac
After nibbling on hundreds of plants, the father of Chinese medicine discovered ginseng’s contribution to sexual stimulation.
