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The Rise and Fall of Roman North Africa
Right around the birth of Christ, Rome was in the middle of taking over North Africa. When Carthage fell to the Romans in 146BC, Rome created the province of Africa Proconsularis, which consisted of what is now northern Tunisia. Over the next few centuries, the Roman lands in North Africa expanded to include northeastern Algeria… Read more
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A Basic History of Guns
Guns are a controversial topic and have been a controversial topic for a long time. In 2019 alone, approximately 250,227 people died from gun-related deaths. 71% of those deaths were homicides, 21% were suicides, and 8% were accidental discharges. So, guns are a big deal. Like a really big deal. Not just because of all the… Read more
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Has There Ever Been an Actual Zombie?
Zombies are fun. Or horrifying, depending on whether you’re dressing up as one for Halloween or if one is coming after you. Where Does Zombie Folklore Come From? The oldest form of zombie folklore that we know dates back to 17th century slaves who were brought to Haiti. In fact, the oldest instance of the… Read more
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The Cahokia Mounds
What are the Cahokia Mounds? The Cahokia Mounds are a group of mounds on the southern tip of Illinois in Collinsville, 8 miles (13km) northeast of St. Louis. They were created by the Natives who lived in the area between the years 600 and 1400 AD. The largest mound, called Monks Mound, is the biggest… Read more
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Rich Africa: The Trans-Saharan Gold Trade
Look at the above photo. What do you feel? Awe? Serenity? Fear? The Sahara Desert has tantalized minds, been a transcendent destination, and/or a tomb for the countless people who have stood in its wake and asked, “What do those golden horizons hold for me?” The Beginning of the Trans-Saharan Gold Trade The Saharan Desert… Read more
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The Invention of Paper: Fear and Promise
Paper was one of the most influential inventions of all time. That statement seems pretty obvious today, but when it was first invented there were plenty of people who believed it would ruin their way of life. And, for better or worse, many were right. The Invention of Paper: Myth vs Reality (Maybe) In ancient… Read more