The hottest Ancient History Substack posts right now

Medieval artists depicted ancient Romans in medieval clothing to align them with the values and morals of their time.
The Middle Ages saw a conscious effort to alter past narratives to conform with the present, rather than simply emulate the past.
Through copying and adapting ancient texts, medieval scholars preserved and shaped the knowledge of classical antiquity, influencing how we perceive that era today.

History can offer insights into modern problems.
Plagiarism has historical roots and can be understood through the study of history.
Classical Wisdom discusses a range of topics on their podcasts, including ancient animals and 'Big Caesars'.

The term 'conspiracy theory' was created to mock critics of the Warren Commission's report on JFK's assassination.
There is a divide between conspiracy theorists who see hidden cabalistic actions in major events and normies who believe in coincidences.
Conspiracy theorists face the challenge of choosing which theories to believe and often entertain contradictory ideas.

Early Rome was ruled by Kings called 'rex', with Romulus being the first King who founded Rome in 753 BC. The city remained a kingdom until the Republic was born in 509 BC.
There were supposed to be seven Kings in total according to Roman tradition, even though early records are lost. Historical accounts by Livy and Plutarch, though sometimes unreliable, provide captivating stories about these Kings.
Numa Pompilius, chosen as King after Romulus, is known for his peaceful reign where he established religious and political institutions in Rome and created the city's first codified laws said to be dictated by a nymph named Egeria.

Parents can now screen embryos during IVF using whole genome sequencing to check for hundreds of conditions, keeping families safe.
The presence of maternal grandmothers has been linked to higher survivorship among grandchildren, showing the evolutionary importance of menopause.
Research on ancient DNA and AI may offer valuable insights into human history, potentially surpassing the impact of ancient DNA studies.

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The Vesuvius Challenge 2023 Grand Prize was awarded for reading a 2000-year-old scroll.
The scroll discusses music, food, and how to enjoy life's pleasures.
Information about the prize and what comes next can be found at scrollprize.org/grandprize.

Our ancient stories reflect our history, showing us what mattered to us and how we evolved.
Fairy tales, like 'Jack and the Beanstalk,' hold profound messages about courage, heroism, and human nature.
Stories, from ancient myths to modern TV shows, remind us of our strengths, aspirations, and the importance of laughter.

The story of Musa and the three wishes shows the importance of being cautious when dealing with offers that seem too good to be true.
The tale of Mansa Musa highlights the lesson that wealth can be a fleeting possession and emphasizes the value of wisdom over riches.
The narrative of Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi demonstrates how a name can become synonymous with wisdom and the lasting impact of contributions to knowledge.