Weapons of the Bronze Age: An Expanding Arsenal
byThe Bronze age was a time of change in terms of warfare; however, what changed was not necessarily tactics or how wars were fought, but instead…
Pre-Classical History (to 600 BCE)
Hunters of the Old Stone Age
byEver wonder how natural instinct aided in our species’ remarkable triumph against the endless dangers of the Paleolithic Age? We should not underestimate the amazing feat…
Shang Dynasty Oracle Bones
byWe have all had our fair share of curiosity when it comes to predicting our future. We buy magic 8 balls, and go to fortune tellers….
Neolithic Era: Technology Advances and Beginnings of Agriculture
byEarly humans before the neolithic era lived in small nomadic communities. Certain prehistoric communities started to make their own innovations regarding tools. They were…
The History behind Noah’s Ark
byOver the years there have been several adaptations regarding the biblical story of Noah’s Ark, whether the comedy film starring Steve Carell, or a film…
Assyrians: More than Warriors
byThe success of the Assyrian empire was not mere luck on the part of the Assyrian army. It was quite frankly anything but luck….
Oracle Bones: Writing Begins with a Mystery
byThe Shang Dynasty was born in 1550 B.C.E. after the fall of the Xia Dynasty. A ritual was created during the latter part of…
Early forms of Government: Hammurabi’s Code of Law
byWho would become the first king of the Babylonian Empire as well as gain fame for his creation of a law code? From conqueror…
The Upanishads: Foundations for Hinduism
byThe earliest form of Hindu tradition occurred during the Vedic period in Indian history.1 The Upanishads, works of philosophical thought, were a major contribution to…
Mummies: Behind the Wraps
byFrom pyramids to hieroglyphics, it is no surprise that ancient Egypt is known for its strange, unique, and specific rituals that tie into their spirituality….
Enkidu’s Impact on the Epic of Gilgamesh
byThe Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the oldest and greatest works of literature. There are many different versions of this epic, but most…
The Mandate of Heaven
byAccording to historians, the Shang Dynasty in China lasted from 1766 to 1122 B.C.E., and it had a big impact on setting the fundamental characteristics of…
Figurines in Europe and China
bySince the early stages of human life and prosperity, art has used by different societies to display their craftsmanship and to demonstrate their beliefs. Two types…
The Holy Language – Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics
byThe word hieroglyph stems from two Greek words; hiero meaning holy and glyphs meaning writing. In 1799, the French Captain Pierre Bouchard discovered the…
Indo-European Language: The Origin
byCommunication among humans is essential, and as we evolved, we have come to master the art of speaking. Through time and research, linguists have come…
Jericho: The First City
byThe Neolithic Era began between six to twelve thousands years ago, when our ancestors discovered that instead of hunting and gathering, they could live in…
Zoroastrianism and the Cosmic Conflict between Good and Evil
byZoroastrianism was a dualist faith that originated in Persia, and over the years it has influenced a number of other faiths. Even though we may not recognize…
“She’s the Man”: The Reign of Queen Hatshepsut
byWinner of the Fall 2016 StMU History Media Award for Best Introductory Paragraph Article with the Best Title Queen B said it best when she…
Set in Clay: The Origins of Writing
byWritten language, which is perhaps taken for granted in the 21st century, was not common for early civilizations. Around 3,000 B.C.E. the first writing system…
The Hammurabi Code: Amelu vs. Muskenu
byWithin the years 1792 and 1750 BCE, one of the most influential rulers known in ancient history emerged in the Babylonian Empire. Hammurabi took the throne…
