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 was Freeing slaves so common in Roman Empire? Even when a slave was freed, it did not free them from obWhyligations to their former master. Freeing slaves would help you build a network of freedmen clientes, who would often continue to help out with their master’s work or help run a campaign for them if they ran for public office. Also, as Steve Anthony pointed out nicely, it helped you appear as magnanimous, and it would also give slaves hope that they might one day be free, which greatly reduced the risk of revolts. Masters also sometimes allowed their slaves to earn money, which they could save up and one day buy their freedom. Roman slavery was also a lot less racially motivated, so the Romans didn’t despise their slaves and see them as subhuman the way masters in the New World colonial age did. Often, masters and slaves had close friendships and personal ties. The Romans had many incentives to treat their slaves nicely, and even free some. When the wars of conquest basically ...

In December 1945, in the Egyptian town of Nag Hammadi, a farmer stumbled upon a  remarkable discovery. While working his field, he unearthed a sealed earthenware jar containing 13 leather-bound papyrus books. These ancient texts, now known as the Nag Hammadi codices, were the work of early Christians called Gnostics, written during the first several centuries AD. The books included the gospels of Thomas and Phillip, as well as other previously unknown secret gospels. Among these religious writings were also poems, instructions for mystical practices, and a description of the origin of the universe. The discovery of these texts shed significant light on early religious issues, biblical texts, and history. However, they also mentioned a mysterious race of creatures known as the archons. Scholars like Nick Redfern noted that these archons were described as definitively reptilian. David Icke further elaborated on their characteristics, describing them as robot-like, machine-like, and t...

Ethiopia – de Hamar gemeenschap The married women surprise us with their decorated tresses smeared just like their bodies with a red substance made of clay, finely ground red stone and oil. A dozen or more copper  bracelets around their arms and thick welts on their bodies which they applied themselves by cutting into their bodies and treating the wound with ashes and charcoal. In addition to the colorful beaded necklaces, these women wear one or more thick copper rings, often with a round wedge of approximately 10 cm long that protrudes from the front of the throat. The excellent wedge shows that she is woman number one. These metal rings can no longer be removed. In their pierced earlobes they wear metal earrings. Leather cloths are worn as a kind of dress and are held at the waist by belts decorated with Kauri shells (porcelain shells). The shells are easy to pierce and therefore they are sewn on everywhere. Superstition: in front of them they have 'evil-repelling' shells. N...

THE HIMBA ONDJONGO DANCE OF HAPPINESS VISITING THE HIMBA TRIBE IN RUACANA Miina is my guide and translator.  She is from the Zemba tribe and grew-up in the nearby town of Ruacana.  She has been living and managing the Hippo Pools Community Campsite for sixteen years. We leave the campsite in my car, and drive past the hydroelectric dam.  We stop at the turn-off for the Angolan border, which is just a couple kilometers away.  There are a couple Himba ladies sitting under a tree, and some men getting drunk in a tin shed in the back.  Everyone notes our arrival with a long gaze.  The store there sells five kilo bags of noodles, cheap charcoal stoves, and packages of crackers that never expire.  Miina buys little plastic jars of Vaseline and we get back in the car. This is modern day tribal life, Miina explains.  The Himba used to mix butter made from their cows with ochre to lather their skin a glowing red, and matte their hair the color of volcanic ...

rooted in their nomadic culture and in a symbiotic relationship with the animals and plants, the San or “Bushmen” are the original  inhabitants of South Africa, aboriginal to sub-Saharan Africa. Their unique hunter-gatherer culture stretches back over 20 000 years. San genetic origins reach back to over one million years, revealing the oldest gene pattern amongst modern humans. Evolutionary studies support the evidence indicating that San are the closest surviving people to the original Homo sapiens and ancestors of contemporary humanity. Stone  San civilization goes back to the Stone Age. The San did not use metals; all of their weapons were made of wood, stone, and bones, and instead of pottery, ostrich eggshells were used for storing liquids. They were known to live along the coast, fishing for crayfish, mussels, and seals as proven by a large number of bones found in coastal caves. These caves record their rich heritage in the form of rock art, extending all the way from t...

Strong Evidence of Extraterrestrial Encounters in the Northwestern New York Mountains.ngocthuy In the heart of the mountains of Northwestern  New York lies a hidden trove of ancient mysteries waiting to be unraveled. For centuries, these rugged landscapes have whispered tales of lost civilizations, strange phenomena, and encounters beyond the realm of human understanding. Now, a groundbreaking discovery promises to shed light on one of the most enigmatic chapters in the region’s history: evidence of alien presence. The journey to this revelation began with a series of baffling reports from local residents and explorers. Stories of inexplicable lights dancing in the night sky, unexplained disappearances, and sightings of peculiar objects hovering over the mountains sparked curiosity and speculation. While many dismissed these accounts as mere folklore or imagination, a dedicated team of researchers embarked on a quest to separate fact from fiction. Led by renowned archaeologist Dr. ...

How did Slaves Survive on Ships? Those ships, were all about maximizing cargo, and unfortunately, human beings were seen as just that—cargo. let’s talk about food and water. Provisions on these ships were basic at best. Slaves were often given meager rations of hardtack (a kind of tough biscuit) and gruel, with water being rationed to barely enough to survive. The quality of these rations was often poor, leading to malnutrition and disease. Think of it this way, if the sailors were eating poorly, the slaves were eating the worst of the worst. Sanitation was almost non-existent. With so many people packed into tight spaces, disease spread rapidly. Conditions were filthy, and with little to no access to fresh air and sunlight, respiratory illnesses were common. One of the deadliest threats was dysentery, which spread through the cramped, unsanitary quarters like wildfire. The survival of slaves on these ships often came down to their ability to withstand these harsh conditions. But here...

A horreo is a traditional granary or storage building commonly found in the northwest region of Spain, particularly in Galicia, Asturias, and Cantabria. These structures are typically raised off the ground on pillars or stilts to  protect the stored grain or food from moisture and pests. Horreos are characterized by their unique architectural design, featuring a rectangular or elongated shape with slatted walls or vents to allow for air circulation. The construction of horreos dates back centuries, with some examples dating as far back as the Middle Ages. They were originally used to store and preserve crops such as corn, wheat, and other grains, as well as other food items like potatoes and beans. The elevated design of horreos helps to keep the stored goods dry and safe from rodents and insects. Horreos are not only functional structures but also hold cultural significance in the regions where they are prevalent. They are often decorated with intricate carvings, symbols, or patte...

Junius G. Groves 1859 - 1925. Farmer, landowner, and businessman Junius G. Groves was one of the wealthiest African Americans of the early 20th century. Born a slave in Green County, Kentucky, Groves was later liberated and joined other freedmen in the “Great Exodus” to Kansas in 1879, eventually finding work as a farmhand. Impressed with his strong work ethic and production, Groves’  employer offered him nine acres of land to farm on shares. By 1884, he and his wife Matilda had saved enough to purchase 80 acres of land near Edwardsville, Kansas. So successful was their venture that, just four years later, they had acquired a total of 2,000 acres and replaced their one-room shanty with a 22-room mansion. Groves made a name for himself as a potato grower, producing as many as 721,500 bushels in one year – far and away more than any other farmer – and earning the title of “Potato King of the World.” He also operated a general store, maintained several orchards, and had investments in...

THE TALE OF THE BUFFALO BROTHERS.. Long ago, a party of Dakota warriors went out on a buffalo hunt. Afterward, they went around to survey their kills. They came upon an injured buffalo who was being guarded by another. The  hunters tried to chase the healthy buffalo away, but he wouldn't leave. He even charged at them. He was strong and able to run but he wouldn't leave the other buffalo behind. They decided to leave them be and come back the next day, concluding that the healthy buffalo would leave eventually. When they returned the next day, they were surprised to see that the strong buffalo remained. He stayed right there by the side of his brother. The strong buffalo would gently prod his injured relative, urging him to rise. The hunters left again, deciding to check back the following day. When they came back, they saw that the buffalo brothers were still together- only now, the injured buffalo appeared to be getting stronger. The hunters realized the buffalo might survive...

The First World War: Was it worth it? Did the outcome of the First World War justify the enormous loss of life? We ask two leading historians, Gary Sheffield and Richard J Evans, to put the case, both for and against Was the outcome of the First World War, from the British point of view, worth the sacrifice? At the time, the vast majority of the British population thought it was. But the society of today is very different from that of a century ago and, not surprisingly, we struggle to grasp why our predecessors were prepared to endure privation and the death of young men on a vast scale. Even in Ireland, a majority supported the war until the events of 1916–18 overturned the consensus. In 1914 the UK was a democracy, albeit an incomplete one, governed on liberal principles. The masses actively supported a total war that encompassed the whole of society. Without that ‘buy-in’, waging such a conflict would have been impossible. As dreadful as the war was, a German victory was regarded a...

On this day, 5 May 1818, Karl Marx was born in Trier, Germany. Living until the age of 64, Marx was a journalist, revolutionary socialist, philosopher and economist, and one of the most influential figures in world history.  He inspired hundreds of millions with his works, including Capital which, over a century later, remains the most incisive critique of the capitalist system.  Though his wife was from a wealthy background, Marx and his family often lived in abject poverty, and four of their children died in infancy. His children who survived to adulthood all became socialist activists in their own right, including his eldest daughter Jenny who also died before him. Despite his often difficult circumstances and the tragedy in his personal life, Marx was also well up for a laugh. For example, his friend and biographer Wilhelm Liebknecht recounted an evening pub crawl in west London in which he, Marx and another German friend, Edgar Bauer, drunkenly began ridiculing "English s...

What innocent-seeming picture is actually heartbreaking? -trigger Warning. The image below could potentially be triggering for some viewers as it is not %100 innocent if you look closely- Ok, so this picture doesn't exactly seem innocent, but it doesn't seem too tragic or abnormal either. In this picture we can see a woman crying, walking away from a man that seems to be having an arguement from behind. That's not what's really going on though. Take a look at the picture and observe the background as well and I'll explain. This picture was taken August 11, 1947, Los Angelos, California. Mr. John Thomas and his wife decided to go on a picnic with their two children. They brought with them their 9-year-old son, Raymond, and 7-year-old daughter, Patricia, to nearby Hansen Dam for the picnic. Both children wandered off out of sight and ended up missing until the following morning. The chief lifeguard, F.M Cox, discovered Patricia's body, drowned in the dam...

How can your wife be as romantic as your side chick when you have impregnated her 5 times, sent her to labour 5 times, antenatal, postnatal and breastfeeding for many years, childcare and upbringing till each baby turns 20, school runs  every morning and evening, kitchen to cook for you and your 5 kids, in the hospital for many days just to look after your kids when they fall ill, house chores and groceries are still to be taken care of by her. You the husband has caused her many cuts down her "V", cuts as a result of CS, what about sagged breast and stomach stretch marks you caused her, pimples and big nose you caused her during pregnancy, what about vomiting and loss of appetite, you have totally withdrawn your wife from the society because of the African culture and yet you don't want to value and respect her, yet the only thing you remember is that she is not romantic but your side chick is. Put that your side chick to this life threatening adventure and see if she ca...

Reconstruction of an ancient Roman bikini on basis of a mosaic from Villa Romana del Casale in Sicily, Italy : Deep in the Sicilian countryside, a grand Roman villa from the early 4th Century AD, offers a glimpse into the luxury of Late Antiquity through colorful mosaics and frescoes that cover the  grounds of some of Italy's best-preserved works of art. Although its origins are shrouded in mystery, Villa Romana del Casale is a historical guide to the lives of its aristocratic owners, their passion for ostentatious beauty, and the elite tastes of the High Empire. Some rooms of the villa are decorated with less formal decorations and more playful mosaics depicting scenes from mythological tales, hunting expeditions, athletic competitions, and other pastimes the owner probably enjoyed. Around 1960, “Gymnasts' Room” also known as "Ten Young Girls" was excavated and an elaborate mosaic of female athletes in magnificent condition was uncovered. These women are depicted run...

The Most Mysterious Female Figure in the History of Humanity. She was nicknamed "The Babushka Lady" by the CIA. Although she seems like a normal woman, she is not, as she was a first-hand witness to one of the most iconic moments in history, the assassination of JFK. The woman was present during the attack in which President John F. Kennedy lost his life. Not only that, several direct witnesses stated that she was carrying a camera with her and that she was recording. The footage from that camera can be very useful to the authorities since the woman was in a corner where the killer could potentially have been filmed. The woman, however, was never identified. She was never heard from, nor her identity discovered. After a few years, a woman appeared on television claiming to be "The Lady with the Babushka", but the police found many inconsistencies with her testimony and determined that she was lying.

Rome may have been an incredible empire, but it was also utterly brutal. Let’s do a quick list: Utterly brutal punishments When it came to punishing criminals, enemies and, anyone else they didn’t like, the Romans were brutal and cruel. Here are but a few of the most violent punishments they used: —Mass Crucifixion In situations such as slave revolts, the Romans would often mass-crucify thousands and thousands together. —Decimation Decimation was a punishment given to legionaries for severe breaches of discipline, the most common cause being if they fled the field of battle. Each cohort would be split into groups of 10, each drawing straws. Whoever drew the short straw would then be beaten to death by the other 9. Just imagine the brutality to being forced to beat to death your closest friends and colleagues, not to even consider being the one that drew the short straw. —Buried Alive The Vestal Virgins were a groups of virgins who had an oath of chastity to the Goddess Vesta. These oat...

What Life in Ancient Rome Was Really Like No other civilization in human history has fascinated the world quite like the Roman Empire. On the battlefield, the Romans were a force the world had never seen before, an unparalleled war machine that could sweep through cities and absorb entire countries into its borders.  At the heart of it all was Rome, the epicenter of the world. But what was it really like to live there? Where did the common Roman person live? What were the Roman games really like? And just how bad were some of those Roman emperors?  From the streets to the senate to the games, this is what life was like in ancient Rome. Most Romans lived in tall (up to 100 feet), rectangular apartment buildings called insula, meaning "island." Rome was crammed with these buildings, which were spaced very closely together, creating a labyrinth-esque network of narrow alleys. These buildings were built so close together that one man wrote that he and the man in the apartment acr...