Debunking the overplayed Mongol card — On January 29, 1258, Al-Musta’sim, the last Abbasid Caliph, had his worst nightmare come true. After cheering for Alamut’s(the Nizari Islamili capital) annihilation the caliph found the Mongol war machine, led by Hulagu Khan, at his doorstep. The caliph underestimated how little…

Exploring the unanswered questions about Attila’s death — It was the year 453. Attila the Hun, the most powerful man in Europe, had devastated Italy. He was celebrating his wedding with a new bride after promising the Pope that he would withdraw his troops. Her name was Ildico. Attila threw a lavish feast. Everyone ate, drank, and had…

#12. Mayans used to turn their dead leaders into rubber balls for a game — In 2022, history enthusiasts and science buffs alike were thrilled by groundbreaking finds that uncovered some of the most enduring mysteries of the past. From ancient artifacts to long-lost manuscripts, these discoveries provide insight into the lives of our ancestors and the world they lived in. In this story, we’ll…

Elements of Paleolithic cave art had confused experts since their discovery — If we travel back in time to the Stone Age, we shall see one of our ancestors’ greatest legacies: Paleolithic cave paintings. It was the start of human creativity. Early humans left a great artistic legacy. The paintings and carvings they made on the walls of caves and rocks show…

Could the sage have descended from the Iranian-speaking Scythians of the Steppes? — Did the Buddha have Iranian origins? Was he descended from the Scythians? When I first came across this theory, I thought it was a conspiracy doing rounds on social media. But digging deeper, I found several scholars have discussed whether the Buddha had roots among the Iranian-speaking tribes of the…

You’ll be surprised by where it was found — When you think about ancient mummies, what is the first thing that springs to mind? Probably the famous Egyptian mummies? Or perhaps Iceman Otzi, a mummy discovered in the Alps in 1991, that is older than most Egyptian mummies and became a celebrity in both academia and popular culture. But…

A peek into the lives of women in the Assyrian Empire — The Neo-Assyrian Empire( 912 BC to 612 BC), which stretched from Armenia in the north to Egypt in the south, was the world’s first global power. In an earlier story, I discussed how the Assyrian Empire laid the groundwork for future world empires. But have you ever wondered what role…

A new look at the taming of the jungle fowl — Do you enjoy the irresistible combo of chicken and rice? There could be an evolutionary explanation for it! According to new research, chicken and rice have been inseparable since the bird’s domestication, after which the fowl conquered our gastronomic and linguistic worlds. Humans may have domesticated chicken in the rice…

Timur’s victory at Ankara was cheered by the Christian world — In the autumn of 1402, a diplomat arrived to meet the infamous conqueror Timur, also known as Tamerlane. He carried presents and tribute from Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos. The emperor was happy that the Mongol warrior had not only spared Constantinople but also preserved it from certain calamity. Timur…