44 Items Tagged

Empire

Songo Mnara Island, Tanzania

Songo Mnara

Mosques carved from coral and dozens of well-preserved stone structures fill this 500-year-old Swahili trading center.

Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum

One of the largest, grandest imperial mausoleums was built as the founder of the Ming Dynasty's final resting place.

The Women Who Ran Genghis Khan’s Empire

From fighting in the army to managing the kingdom, women were key players in every aspect of the Mongol Empire.

Sarah Durn May 26, 2022

The Curious Case of Colonial India's Breakfast Curries

Even as the British Empire appropriated curry, authentic versions conquered local officials' tables.

Lily Kelting February 16, 2022

A View of the Space Age From the Classical World

This mesmerizing image brings the International Space Station and Rome's ancient Colosseum together.

Gemma Tarlach January 4, 2022

Bunnik, Netherlands

Castellum Fectio

For years, the remains of this ancient Roman fortress were hidden under an orchard.

Wadi Halfa, Sudan

Church Pillars of Sai Island

These pillars are one of the few remnants from the mysterious lost empire of Makuria.

Baelo Claudia

The ruins of a 2,000-year-old Roman fishing village perched on one of the best beaches in Spain.

Podcast: Kilwa Kisiwani

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.

The Podcast Team July 21, 2021

Remembering the London Refuge for South Asian Nannies Far From Home

Abandoned by their employers after a months-long sea voyage, countless women found shelter here.

Radhika Iyengar May 25, 2021

Paseo Yortuque

Stroll among dozens of statues depicting pre-Columbian kings, gods, and supernatural beings.

objects of intrigue

This Miniature Quran Bears Witness to an Immense History

It is an artifact of devotion, wealth, and empire.

Matthew Taub January 6, 2021

Did an Alaskan Volcano Help Change the Face of the Mediterranean World?

At the time, unrest roiled Egypt and an empire rose in Rome.

Isaac Schultz June 23, 2020

Tomba di Nerone (Tomb of Nero)

Known for centuries as the famous Roman emperor's burial place, this monument is actually something else.

To Work Out Like an Aztec, Play Hard Ball or Invest in Sneakers

Turns out there’s a lot of running involved in running an empire.

Isaac Schultz June 12, 2020

Arco di Malborghetto

The meaning behind this triumphal Roman arch was a mystery until the early 20th century.

Found: Possibly the First Recorded Death-by-Meteorite

Call it a cold case from space.

Isaac Schultz May 8, 2020

'Constantine the Great'

This sculpture marks the spot where one of the greatest Roman rulers was proclaimed emperor.