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Rome under the Julio-Claudian Dynasty
The Julio-Claudians were the first dynasty to rule the Roman Empire. After the death of the dictator-for-life Julius Caesar in 44 BCE, his adopted son Octavian - later to become known as Augustus (r. 27 BCE - 14 CE) - fought a civil war against...
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Julio-Claudian Dynasty
The Julio-Claudian dynasty is the collective name given to the first five emperors of the ancient Roman Empire. The name of the dynasty derives from the names of the two families from which its members came: the Julii Caesares and Claudii...
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Faces of Roman Emperors: Nerva to the Severan Dynasty
A series of facial reconstructions of Roman emperors from the Nerva-Antonine Dynasty (96 CE-192 CE), the Year of the Five Emperors (193 CE) and the Severan Dynasty (193-235 CE). These photorealistic representations are only best guesses at...
Definition
Ancient Armenia
Ancient Armenia, located in the south Caucasus area of Eurasia, was settled in the Neolithic era but its first recorded state proper was the kingdom of Urartu from the 9th century BCE. Incorporated into the Persian Empire of Cyrus the Great...
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Siege Warfare in Ancient India
Forts and sieges held a key position in ancient Indian warfare. Built on considerations of strategic location, topography, and the natural advantages provided by the site, forts would be heavily supplemented with man-made fortifications...
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Chinese Literature
Chinese literature is among the most imaginative and interesting in the world. The precision of the language results in perfectly realized images whether in poetry or prose and, as with all great literature, the themes are timeless. The Chinese...
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Shang Dynasty of China, c. 1100 BCE
This map illustrates the rise and expansion of the Shang dynasty, which emerged around 1600 BCE after the fall of the Xia dynasty. Centered on the North China Plain, the Shang established a hereditary monarchy with a centralized government...
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Women in Ancient China
Women in ancient China did not enjoy the status, either social or political, afforded to men. Women were subordinate to first their fathers, then their husbands, and finally, in the case of being left a widow, their sons in a system known...
Definition
Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is a barrier fortification in northern China running west-to-east 13,171 miles (21,196 km) from the Jiayuguan Pass (in the west) to the Hushan Mountains in Liaoning Province in the east, ending at the Bohai Gulf. It...
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Map of the Tang Dynasty of China, c. 669 CE
The Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE) represents one of the high points of imperial Chinese history, reaching its widest territorial extent during the reign of Emperor Gaozong (reign 649–683 CE). By the late 7th century, around 669 CE, the empire...