The hottest Ancient Civilizations Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top History Topics

The Punic Paradox: Genetically, Rome's great African rival was startlingly European

Razib Khan's Unsupervised Learning • 560 implied HN points • 12 Jun 25
💾 History Ancient Civilizations Cultural Studies Genetics
  1. Carthage, an ancient city in North Africa, was more culturally European than originally thought. Genetic studies show its people were mainly similar to southern Italians and Greeks, not just the Levantine settlers.
  2. Carthage was a major power in the Mediterranean for centuries, excelling in trade and exploration long before Rome's rise. Their navy and commercial spirit allowed them to establish far-reaching trade routes.
  3. Despite its eventual downfall to Rome, Carthage's cultural legacy lived on. Language, religion, and traditions from Carthage continued to influence North Africa well after the city's destruction.

2,000-year-old wine and the uncanny immediacy of the past

Res Obscura • 5287 implied HN points • 15 Jan 25
💾 History Archaeology Artifacts Ancient Civilizations Cultural heritage Historical Analysis
  1. Ancient artifacts like the Carmona Wine Urn help us connect with the past. They remind us that people long ago lived lives similar to ours.
  2. Discoveries like the oldest known wine show how well-preserved objects can teach us about history. They tell us more than famous artworks or historical figures.
  3. Historical artifacts like the Pazyryk Rug and the Sword of Goujian highlight everyday life in the past. They help us imagine what it was like for ordinary people back then.

When civilization control-alt-deletes: prehistoric Europe’s false dawn and long reboot

Razib Khan's Unsupervised Learning • 955 implied HN points • 30 Jan 25
💾 History Ancient Civilizations Archaeology Cultural History Demographics
  1. History often gets viewed through a lens that says the present is better than the past. Many believe we are moving towards a brighter future, but this ignores how societies have often declined over time.
  2. Civilizations can experience drastic collapses followed by long periods of recovery, like how the Mycenaean Greeks fell into a 'Dark Age' before slowly rebuilding their culture.
  3. Ancient Europeans saw significant demographic changes, and early farmers and foragers were very different from each other. Over time, these distinct groups began to blend, showing how migration and cultural shifts shaped Europe.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

The Mountains of the Moon

Cosmographia • 499 implied HN points • 11 Apr 24
💾 History Ancient Civilizations Exploration Geography
  1. Terra Phantasma is a new series exploring mysterious 'phantom lands' on ancient maps.
  2. The origin of the River Nile has puzzled great figures throughout history, with different theories and stories.
  3. Historical figures like Herodotus and Claudius Ptolemy have contributed differing explanations about the source of the River Nile.

Jews in the Roman Bathhouse

Classical Wisdom • 1670 implied HN points • 30 May 23
💾 History Ancient Civilizations Religion
  1. Public bathhouses in ancient Rome were a central part of life for people from all backgrounds.
  2. The interaction between Jews and Greco-Roman culture in places like the Roman bathhouse shaped Western civilization.
  3. Professor Yaron Eliav's new book 'A Jew in the Roman Bathhouse' explores this relationship and challenges perceptions.

Rome’s miserable fate

Wrong Side of History • 242 implied HN points • 15 Feb 25
💾 History Ancient Civilizations Epidemics Cultural analysis
  1. Farming led to more people living close together, which made it easier for diseases to spread. When humans and animals are close, they can share illnesses, causing epidemics.
  2. Rome had big cities that were perfect for outbreaks of disease. These epidemics were a major reason why the Roman Empire eventually fell apart.
  3. The fall of Rome was a complicated topic with many reasons given, but one strong argument is that a number of deadly diseases wiped out a large part of its population.

Truth in the old myths

Wrong Side of History • 408 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
💾 History Ancient Civilizations Archaeology Mythology Cultural Studies Historical Figures
  1. Ancient myths, like those of Troy and Agamemnon, might have some truths behind them. Archaeological discoveries are showing that these stories could be based on real events.
  2. Visiting historical sites like Mycenae can inspire strong feelings about the past. It makes you think about the legends and heroes that might have lived there.
  3. New findings in DNA and archaeology challenge our view of old myths as just stories. They suggest that some of these legendary tales might have a basis in reality.

Reconstructing Spengler's Prehistory

The Oswald Spengler Project • 259 implied HN points • 16 May 24
💾 History Ancient Civilizations Historical Figures Research Analysis Cultural impact
  1. Oswald Spengler had planned a series of essays on various topics related to the history of the second millennium B.C., showcasing his unique perspectives and insights into different ancient civilizations.
  2. Despite his early death, Spengler was able to complete and publish some of the planned essays, such as 'Tartessos and Alaschia' and 'The War Chariot and its Significance in World-History.'
  3. Spengler's work focused on the significant shifts and developments in human spirit and culture during the second millennium B.C., particularly highlighting the Indo-Europeanization of Eurasia and the emergence of Greco-Roman, Indian, and Chinese cultures.

It's 1178 BCE and the Bronze Age Has Never Looked Stronger. No, I Won't Lift My Eyes to the Horizon Right Now

The Chatner • 1218 implied HN points • 24 Apr 23
💾 History Ancient Civilizations Literacy
  1. Bronze was a key material in the Bronze Age, highly valued for its durability and versatility.
  2. Linear A script was highly effective for communication and widespread literacy in ancient civilizations.
  3. The strength and stability of various empires and civilizations during the Bronze Age are highlighted.

The two Indo-European revolutions and Germania’s rise

Razib Khan's Unsupervised Learning • 274 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
💾 History Ancient Civilizations Genetics Archaeology
  1. The rise and fall of different cultures in pre-Roman Germany was influenced by successive trends in artifacts and genetics, highlighting a transition from Bronze Age patriarchies to new ruling elites.
  2. The Beaker revolution in Central Europe saw the replacement of Corded Ware male lineages dominated by R1a with a rise in the R1b haplogroup, indicating a shift in ruling elite and population dynamics.
  3. The Beaker people's expansion from western Germany led to genetic subsuming of previous populations in Britain and Ireland, contributing to the formation of proto-Germanic tribes in antiquity.

King Tut's meteorite dagger: A weapon from the heavens

The Exformation Newsletter • 157 implied HN points • 16 May 23
💾 History Minerals Ancient Civilizations Artifacts Archaeology
  1. King Tut's iron dagger made from a meteorite was more valuable than his gold one, showcasing the significance of minerals in history and power.
  2. Ancient Egypt's peak power was not during the time of the pyramids, but between 1550 BC and 1200 BC when they were a Great Power expanding their empire.
  3. Minerals like tin were crucial for advancements like bronze, highlighting their importance in shaping ancient civilizations and trade patterns.

Down the wormhole...

aproposofnothing • 58 implied HN points • 07 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mythology Religion Beliefs Ancient Civilizations Symbols
  1. Parasites like Toxoplasma gondii can cause neurological issues and schizophrenia in humans, so it's important to fight off worms.
  2. Myths of heroes battling worms or serpents are prevalent in various cultures, symbolizing order vs chaos and death.
  3. Serpents and worms have deep mythological significance, tying into ancient civilizations, biblical stories, and even symbolizing foresight and health.

Raqmu: Striking the Stone

Outlandish Claims • 19 implied HN points • 05 May 24
💾 History Ancient Civilizations Warfare Culture Legends Innovation
  1. The biblical character Aaron is portrayed as making mistakes in various stories, leading to consequences for others.
  2. The Nabateans in history turned a dry area into an oasis by carving water sources from rock, eventually building a castle to protect it.
  3. The ancient Nabateans had a petroleum industry, using bitumen for adhesives and potentially influencing the legend of Hanukkah with their oil trade.

The Birth of Israel

Cosmographia • 3 HN points • 04 Apr 24
💾 History Ancient Civilizations Archaeology Origins Religious Studies Cultural Evolution
  1. The birth of Israel dates back to ancient times, with the earliest mention of Israel on the Merneptah Stele in around 1208 BC, indicating their presence and significance.
  2. The origins of the Israelites are complex, involving gradual settlements, interactions with various groups like the Philistines, and the assimilation of diverse traditions into a shared cultural identity.
  3. Archaeological evidence and historical context suggest that the Israelites likely originated as pastoralist groups like the Shasu, gradually forming a distinct group in the highlands of Canaan, challenging the established Canaanite and Egyptian powers.

Book Review: The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt

Something to Consider • 19 implied HN points • 08 Feb 23
💾 History Ancient Civilizations Cultural Evolution Political History Historical Narratives
  1. The book mainly focuses on the history of Egypt's kings rather than the lives of everyday people. Most of what we know about ancient Egyptians comes from royal artifacts and structures, so there’s limited information about the general population.
  2. It’s a fun and easy read, full of fascinating facts that correct common misconceptions about Egyptian history. Readers learn a lot about important figures and events without feeling bogged down by overly complex details.
  3. The study highlights how and why states form and fall apart. Ancient Egypt's stability relied on agricultural wealth and a balance of power, while neglect or too much strength in leadership could lead to its eventual decline.

Spoken Egyptian in Age of Mythology

Maximum Effort, Minimum Reward • 1 HN point • 09 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Video Games Languages Ancient Civilizations
  1. Age of Mythology is a fun real-time strategy game with rich mythology and fantastical elements
  2. The game features unit sounds in ancient languages like Greek and Norse, allowing players to translate some of the words
  3. Deciphering the Egyptian unit sounds in the game is challenging due to limited knowledge of how Ancient Egyptian language sounded

🧐 Ancient Beat #95: The Gravettian culture(s), unique dolmens, and Alexander the Great's fam

Ancient Beat • 0 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
💾 History Ancient Civilizations Archaeology Discovery Cultural Diversity Historical Figures
  1. Ice Age hunters in Europe were not one homogenous group, but actually comprised of multiple distinct cultures.
  2. Neanderthals and humans coexisted in Northern Europe 45,000 years ago, shifting previous knowledge about the timeline and interaction between species.
  3. Recent excavation in Sweden revealed a unique dolmen burial chamber from 3500 BCE with missing skeletal parts, hinting at possible ritualistic practices.