The Ancient Samnites
The Samnites were an Italic civilisation who lived in Samnium, a region of Southern Italy that includes the present-day Abruzzo, Molise and Campania.… Read More The Ancient Samnites
Tag: History
The Greco-Roman Concept of the Barbarian
‘Barbarian’ and ‘barbaric’ are nowadays commonly used to describe somebody or something behaving in a particularly uncivilized or – to the observer – foreign way, and in this regards differs surprisingly little from it’s ancient counterpart. This article seeks to examine the meaning and history of the term in short.… Read More The Greco-Roman Concept of the Barbarian
The Roman Border in Ancient Germany
The borders of Rome weren’t as much boundaries as they were frontiers: Areas of cultural exchange between different peoples. This article explores the relationship between Rome and the Germanic tribes living beyond the border.… Read More The Roman Border in Ancient Germany
The Origins of the Ancient Greeks
An attempt at answering – in brief – the question of the origin of the Ancient Greeks from an archaeological, mythological and genetic approach.… Read More The Origins of the Ancient Greeks
German Prisoners Of War in Britain 1939-1948
The Second World War was the most devastating conflict in human history. All sides suffered horrendous casualties, but not all of those belonged to the dead or the wounded. Many, in fact, the vast majority, were taken captive and had to be taken care of, which put a massive administrative burden on the belligerent nations. This article seeks to examine the fate of German POWs in British hands during and beyond the War.… Read More German Prisoners Of War in Britain 1939-1948
The Cause of the High German Consonant Shift
The High German Consonant Shift gave rise to the High and Upper German dialects of the West Germanic Dialect Continuum. It’s cause is still debated, however, although a Gallo-Roman substrate seems to be the most likely explanation.… Read More The Cause of the High German Consonant Shift
Tattúínárdǿla saga: If Star Wars Were an Icelandic Saga
Originally posted on Tattúínárdǿla saga:
A long time ago, in a North Atlantic far far away… Introduction Earlier this week I was drawn into an enlightening discussion with my colleague Ben Frey about the complicated textual tradition that lies behind George Lucas’s “Star Wars,” which few outside the scholarly community realize is…
The Origins of The Ancient Celts
Where did the Ancient Celts originally come from? A comparison of the linguistic, archaeological and genetic evidence.… Read More The Origins of The Ancient Celts
Proto-Indo-European Religion
The myths and legends of the Proto-Indo-Europeans have influenced the world like no other be it through the great Greek Classics, the Icelandic Sagas or the Indian Vedas. But what exactly did they themselves believe in and how did they practice their faith?… Read More Proto-Indo-European Religion
History through Poems: Examining Beowulf
Originally posted on Kristyn J. Miller:
Epic poems have incredible staying power both as literary achievements and as historical resources. The Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf is one of the foremost examples of this. Despite its mythological themes, the story offers historians a rare insight into Anglo-Saxon ideals of masculinity, heroism, and society. At the same time,…
The prehistoric Eurasians: The Proto-Indo-Europeans
The Proto-Indo-Europeans are the hypothetical speakers of the (re-)constructed Proto-Indo-European language, the ancestor to most European and some central and south Asian languages.… Read More The prehistoric Eurasians: The Proto-Indo-Europeans
Ragnarok and Reincarnation in Norse Mythology
Ragnarok describes the end of the world in Norse Mythology. Or does it really? Not only the world itself is reborn after its destruction, but one of the gods as well. Could this be an indication for reincarnation in Germanic myth or perhaps even evidence for a pan-Indo-European phenomenon of rebirth?… Read More Ragnarok and Reincarnation in Norse Mythology
The Indo-European Language Family
The Indo-European language family is the most widely spoken language family in the world today, partially due to Colonialism. But even before the European expansion Indo-European languages were spoken throughout Eurasia.… Read More The Indo-European Language Family
Remnants of Proto-Indo-European Society in Sparta
In Nigel M. Kennels book “The Gymnasium of Virtue” he discusses the possible influence of Proto-Indo-European customs on ancient Spartan society.… Read More Remnants of Proto-Indo-European Society in Sparta
Volunteering at the Smithsonian Transcription Center
A report about my personal experience working remotely for the Smithsonian Transcription center.… Read More Volunteering at the Smithsonian Transcription Center
Origins and Culture of the Ancient Germanic Tribes
The origin of the ancient Germans (not to be confused with the modern Germans) is still debated, although somewhere between Northern Germany and Southern Scandinavia seems to be the most likely place. Bu where did the people inhabiting this area come from?… Read More Origins and Culture of the Ancient Germanic Tribes
Do Ancestry DNA Tests Work?
Many people are understandably intrigued by the relatively new service of personal ancestry tests to determine their own origins. But how reliable are they really?… Read More Do Ancestry DNA Tests Work?
The Origin and Expansion of the Celtic Peoples
The Celts belong to the most mysterious of Europe’s inhabitants. Today, Celtic speakers are confined to the far northwest of the continent, in the past, however, much of Continental Europe spoke Celtic. Where did they come from and how did they manage to cover such a vast area?… Read More The Origin and Expansion of the Celtic Peoples
European Origins 