Across the arid plains of southern Peru, beneath a sky that rarely sees rain, lies one of the world’s most…
Category: Archaeology
Cusco: Capital of the Inca Civilization
High in the Andes Mountains of present-day Peru, at more than 3,400 meters (11,200 feet) above sea level, lies the…
Inca Roads: Engineering in the Mountains
High in the soaring peaks of the Andes, where the air grows thin and the earth trembles under the weight…
Machu Picchu: Lost City of the Incas
High in the Andes of Peru, where mist weaves through jagged peaks and sunlight glimmers on terraces carved into mountainsides,…
The Inca Empire: Builders of the Andes
High in the rugged peaks of the Andes Mountains, where snow-capped summits kiss the sky and valleys echo with rushing…
The Fall of the Aztecs: Conquest by the Spanish
In the early 16th century, the Aztec Empire stood as one of the most extraordinary civilizations in the Americas. At…
Ancient Mesoamerican Ballgame: Ritual and Sport
Thousands of years ago, long before soccer stadiums or basketball courts filled with cheering crowds, the people of Mesoamerica gathered…
Mayan Writing: Decoding an Ancient Script
For centuries, the writing of the ancient Maya remained one of the great puzzles of human history. Visitors who wandered…
The Olmecs: America’s First Great Civilization
Long before the mighty cities of the Maya rose in the jungles of Central America, and centuries before the Aztecs…
Human Sacrifice in the Aztec Civilization
Few images from history capture the imagination with as much intensity as that of the Aztec priest, standing atop a…
Mayan Calendar: Ancient Timekeeping Explained
Time has always fascinated humanity. From the rising of the sun to the changing of the seasons, early civilizations sought…
Tenochtitlán: The Great Aztec Capital
In the heart of the Valley of Mexico, where high mountains circle a basin dotted with lakes, a city once…
The Aztec Empire: Rise and Fall of a Warrior Nation
Long before the great cathedrals of Europe towered over bustling cities, and centuries before the skyscrapers of the modern world,…
Chichen Itza: Ancient Mayan City of Wonders
In the dense jungles of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula rises one of the most awe-inspiring remnants of human civilization: Chichen Itza.…
The Maya Civilization: Astronomy and Pyramids
The Maya civilization, one of the most remarkable cultures of the ancient world, was not merely a society that built…
Women in Ancient Rome: Power and Limitations
To walk the streets of ancient Rome as a woman was to live within a paradox. Women were celebrated in…
Religion in Ancient Rome: From Gods to Christianity
Religion in Ancient Rome was never simply a matter of private belief; it was the heartbeat of the city, woven…
The Fall of Rome: Why the Empire Collapsed
Rome once called itself eternal, and for centuries, it seemed true. The Roman Empire stretched from the misty hills of…
Roman Aqueducts: Masterpieces of Engineering
Civilizations rise and fall upon their mastery of resources, and for the Romans, water was the essence of power, health,…
The Roman Republic vs. The Roman Empire
Few civilizations in history have left as deep and lasting an imprint on the world as ancient Rome. Its influence…
Roman Roads: Engineering the Empire
Few achievements of the ancient world have endured in both physical form and symbolic meaning like the roads of Rome.…
The Roman Colosseum: Gladiators and Spectacle
Rising from the heart of Rome, the Colosseum remains one of the most recognizable monuments of the ancient world. Its…