Part I: The Rise and Fall of the Kidarites — In the middle of the 4th century CE, a tempestuous storm erupted across the vast Eurasian Steppes, shattering the tranquility of ancient civilizations. Like ghosts, ruthless warriors came from endless pastures and wreaked havoc on the proud empires of India and Persia. They were the White Huns, a haunting enigma…

His empire was almost twice the size of Alexander’s — Riding across the open Steppes, the prince set out on his hunt. The king, his father, had joined him. As the prince spotted a stag, a group of loyal companions followed him. He let his father do the honors and follow the beast, as was customary. The monarch pursued the…

Cleopatra’s ancestry is not controversial, she wasn’t African — Netflix has announced the release of a documentary on Egypt’s Queen Cleopatra. The declaration was met with criticism. The reason is that Netflix chose Adele James, an actor of African descent, to play Cleopatra. Cleopatra wasn’t Egyptian or African. She ruled Egypt but she was of Macedonian Greek heritage with…

#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…

The fascinating story of the Ghent Altarpiece — This, my friends, is the story of the most stolen painting in history. A masterpiece that was burned, looted, damaged, and obsessively desired in its 600-year history. Welcome to Ghent, Belgium, where we stand before a true work of art of the Northern Renaissance: the Ghent Altarpiece. The Ghent Altarpiece…

An unbiased take on what works and what doesn’t on each platform — Starting out as a writer can feel like a daunting task. It can be tough to know which platform to choose or where to even begin. But I’m here to tell you that you’re not alone! As we head into the summer of 2023, there’s a whole world of writing…

#1. Steppe Empires were only nomadic — What comes to mind when you think of enormous empires that arose from the vast grasslands of the Eurasian Steppes, such as the Turks, Huns, Xiongnu, and Mongols? Galloping horses, savage raids, powerful warriors driven by greed, and nomads seeking greener pastures are some images that strike us. How accurate…

The great conqueror’s body didn’t decay for six days after his death — “His body, although it lay without special care in places that were moist and stifling, showed no sign of such a destructive influence, but remained pure and fresh.”- Plutarch A dead body that doesn’t decompose for six days after the person passed away is remarkable. But Alexander the Great was…

AI won’t be replacing specialist historians anytime soon — Recently, I met an old classmate of mine who is working at Microsoft. Let’s call him Vicky. After we exchanged pleasantries, he asked, “Aren’t you worried AI will replace our jobs?” He works as a Senior Machine Learning Engineer, so I assume he knows more than I do about the…