Introduction – Difference between Galleys and Frigates When it comes to history, maritime pursuits had undoubtedly enhanced the ‘reach’ of humankind, from the perspective of…
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Introduction Harking back to our romanticized notions of the veritable Spanish Armada and the early transatlantic trade routes of the 16th century, the Galleon serves…
Introduction – Modern and Historical Goths Goths – the very name alludes to the chaotic times in continental Europe that derailed the existence of the…
When it comes to history, circa 5th century BC, the Greeks considered the Celts (Keltoi) as one of the four great ‘barbarian’ people – with…
While popular history tends to bring forth the notion of Alexander the Great as a military genius (and rightly so), his generalship was not only…
Introduction The Greek word for military equipment roughly translates to hopla, and thus a hoplite simply meant ‘man at arms’ or ‘armored man’. Of course,…
By the very intrinsic nature of the Greek lands and topography, large-scale cavalry forces were never an option for most burgeoning city-states of Greece. This…
Introduction The New Kingdom of Egypt, roughly corresponding to the period between the 16th century BC and the 11th century BC (encompassing the 18th, 19th,…
Introduction Often overshadowed by the exploits of the Ottomans in Europe and the Near East, it should be noted however that it was the Mamluks…
From the etymological perspective, the term Aztec is derived from Aztlan (or ‘Place of Whiteness’ in connotative meaning), the mythological place of origin for the…
Our popular notions about the Cossacks tended to portray them as the energetic and rambunctious horsemen of the lower steppe from Russia and Ukraine. And…
Introduction Exotic, ferocious, and heavily armored – this, in a nutshell, defined the eminent presence of the Varangian Guard (Greek: Τάγμα των Βαράγγων, Tágma tōn…
Popular culture has been kind to the historical episode of the Battle of Thermopylae but with romanticized anecdotes intertwined between the actual events that took…
Introduction The subject of Spartans has been much discussed and showcased in the realm of popular culture. And while some of them have a historical…
When it comes to the popular history of nomadic groups, tribes (and super-tribes) like Huns and Mongols have had their fair share of coverage in various mediums, ranging from…
Introduction The Polish Winged Hussars epitomized the shock cavalry arm of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth between the 16th and 18th centuries. Showcasing their stylized yet heavily…
The controversial rise, the enviable peak, and finally the ignominious fall – this, in a nutshell, defines the historical spectrum of the elite Janissaries of…
Introduction The ancient Greek helmet is a familiar motif when it comes to popular cultural depictions of Greek history and mythology. However, quite unsurprisingly, many of…
The Battle of Hastings fought on 14 October 1066, proved to be a pivotal event in the long run – with medieval continental Europeans gaining…
Introduction Possibly meaning ‘servant of the land’, the term Landsknecht generally denotes a specific German footsoldier (mostly pikeman) from the late 15th – mid 16th century who generally came…
Introduction – Origins of the Achaemenid Persians When the Assyrians were carving out the world’s first true ‘super empire’ from the period of the 10th century to…
Introduction The Ottoman Empire or the Devlet-i Aliyye-i Osmâniyye is counted among the very few global empires of medieval times, which at its greatest extent stretched all the way…