Mon, Dec 14, 2020
A host of ancient middle eastern traditions, stories and documents reference a magnificent city of pillars also know as Iram, on the Arabian Peninsula that grew rich on the frankincense trade. But for a thousand years it's been lost. Locals contend it is buried under the sand of which there is a plenty. It was only rediscovered in 1990 by a clever trick using satellite imagery to see where ancient trade routes converged.
Tue, May 18, 2021
In 1066 following the Battle of Hastings, William the Conquerer of Normandy invaded and conquered England beginning a dynasty that exists to the present day. Simon explains why WIlliam felt he had a claim to the English throne and how the battle of Hastings turned miraculously in his favor with the death of Harold Godwinson allowing William to over thrown the Anglos-Saxons.
Tue, Jun 29, 2021
In the ancient world gardens became popular as place of refuge and prestige. So much so that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon are one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World commonly attributed to Nebuchadnezzar II, Yet despite his tendency to self promotion there are no contemporary Babylonian accounts of the gardens. And of all the writers and historians who mention the gardens none actually visited them.
Fri, Feb 18, 2022
In the mid fifteenth century the world was treated to a natural disaster lasting for years. As yet scientists have not been able to pin it down to a single event but the general consensus is a volcanic eruption in the vicinity of Tonga is the cause. But rather than a single eruption it may have been as series of smaller ones over several years.