Europe chose the path of centralized power, and it was constructed by Louis XIV. He referred to himself as the "Sun King," the monarch at the center of the political constellation. He built Versailles and ruled his kingdom. He made absolutism the wave of the future and the high road to mili...

Both Asoka in India and Augusta in Rome brought a period of peace through their rule as emperors. These periods of peace were both implicated after military victory. Asoka, conquered new lands for ancient India, but unlike Augustus saw the horror and destruction his war brought. After seeing what...

With his brother, Gaius Gracchus (153-121 BC), Tiberius Gracchus, (163-133 BC), was brought up under special care of his mother, Cornelia, daughter of Scipio Africanus the Elder. In 146 BC he took part in the capture and destruction of Carthage, on which occasion he is said to have been the first R...

"Augustus" Gaius Julius Octavius Augustus was born plain Gaius Octavius at Rome on September 23rd. His father was the first in the family to become senator, but died when Octavian was only four years old. It was his mother who had the more distinguished connection. She was the daughter ...

Marcus Ulpius Trajanus (52 A.D–117 A.D) Marcus Ulpius Trajanus was born on the 18th of September at Italica near Seville, around the year 52 A.D. Also referred to as Trajan, he was surprisingly the first emperor not to come from Italy. Coming from an old Umbrian family that lived in no...

The subject of modern international relations, which is quite broad, is approached from many different perspectives. Arguably, this makes it imperative to understand the history of the subject in order to understand the present. In The Philosophy of International Relations, F. Parkinson introdu...

Rome is one of the most beautifully ancient cities in the entire world. Its buildings, stones, and walkways hold a history all to their own, and each one has withstood the ages baring, and yet concealing, all. From the Pantheon and the Spanish Square to other famous monuments like the Colosseum, whi...

Life in Ancient Rome Romans of the Classical era built what was perhaps the greatest empire of all time. Roman civilization has served as a model or basis for much of Western culture. Roman engineers pioneered the use of concrete, glass windows, the dome, central heating, and apartm...

What Is Mercury?As anyone who's ever broken a thermometer can attest, mercury is a fascinating substance. It also has an interesting history.Named after the fleet-footed Roman messenger of the gods, mercury has been used for more than 2,000 years. Mercury ore cinnabar has even been found smeared on ...

During the Greek-Roman period there was a time span that began with the reign of Augustus Caesar to the death of Marcus Aurelius known as the Pax Romana. This time span which covered more than 200 years brought many changes to the Roman Empire. It was a time for unity, peace, and national stability ...

Charlemagne Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great, became the undisputed ruler of Western Europe. As Western Europe was deteriorating Charlemagne was crowned the privilege of being joint king of the Franks in 768 A.D. People of Western Europe, excluding the church followers, had all but for...

Charlemagne Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great, became the undisputed ruler of Western Europe. As Western Europe was deteriorating Charlemagne was crowned the privilege of being joint king of the Franks in 768 A.D. People of Western Europe, excluding the church followers, had all but for...

Gladiator came from the Latin word gladius, which meant 'sword'. The majority of the gladiators were primarily slaves condemned criminals, prisoners of war, and sometimes Christians. But some freemen also just chose this path mostly in spite of the results of the sport. This would include the gla...

The greatest cities, the greatest empires, the greatest dictators, and the greatest example of conquest and administration in the history of civilization. More land than the united states, 3 million square miles acquired in 500 years and held for an additional 400 years. All the land, people and a...

Julius Caesar was born into a patrician family in Rome, but early on he opposed the rule of a small conservative group. His family belonged to the old nobility the patrician order and several of his ancestors had won distinction in the service of the state. Caesar was the most prominent man of all h...

J. Donald Hughes, Pan's Travail, (Baltimore, 1994), 277 pp. Oddly enough, there is little biographical information available on J. Donald Hughes. His special interest in the Mediterranean and sacred groves is evidenced by the numerous books and articles he has published on the subject. He is multi...