National Geographic History

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FROM THE EDITOR

National Geographic History

Europe’s Oldest Sinew Bowstrings Unveiled • A study reveals that bowstrings discovered in a Spanish cave predate by more than two millennia those used by the ice mummy Ötzi.

OLDEST BOWSTRINGS

EVEN OLDER THAN ÖTZI’S BOW

TREASURES OF A BAT CAVE

Lusitania: A Tragedy That Changed the Tide of War • In 1915, the British ocean liner Lusitania was sunk off the coast of Ireland by a German U-boat torpedo. Approximately 1,200 people died, including 128 Americans.

A SUBMARINE WAR

GERMAN AGGRESSION

Loose Ends in the Lusitania Tragedy • The sinking of the flagship of the British civilian fleet sparked long-standing debate. Controversies continue to surround key issues such as the nature of the war cargo on board and the actions of the ship’s captain.

The Birth of Basketball • In the late 19th century, sports instructor James Naismith had to devise an indoor-friendly game to keep his students active during the winter. His invention was an instant hit.

QUEENS OF THE COURT

THE NILE THE GIFT OF HAPY • Every year the fields of the Nile Valley were revitalized when the great river flooded. The Egyptians called the event the coming of Hapy, god of abundance and fertility.

THE GREAT EGYPTIAN RIVER

HEALING OR HARMFUL WATERS?

DROWNING AND DEIFICATION

THE ARK OF THE COVENANT THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE SACRED CHEST OF THE JEWS • King Solomon put the Ark of the Covenant in the inner sanctum (the Holy of Holies) of the Temple of Jerusalem. But then it mysteriously disappeared. Some say it was taken to Ethiopia; others claim it is hidden in passages beneath the site of the temple.

THE ARK OF GOD

A HOME FOR THE ARK • These four miniatures illuminate a manuscript (ca 1300 B.C.) combining a French translation of the Bible with a biblical commentary (Bible historiale). The images depict the ark’s stories and design, following Yahweh’s orders.

THE PRESENCE OF YAHWEH

THE TRAIL SHIFTS TO ETHIOPIA

THE ARK AND THE TEMPLARS

CONSTANTINE A CONVERTED EMPEROR • On the eve of the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, Constantine received a vision of victory if he embraced the Christian faith, heralding the dawn of the Roman Empire’s Christianization.

THE FIRST CHRISTIAN EMPEROR

A FATAL LAST STAND AT THE MILVIAN BRIDGE

FROM VISION TO CONVERSION

REVENGE IN THE IMPERIAL PALACE

THE HEROES’ HEREAFTER VIKING FUNERALS • The Vikings organized spectacular ceremonies in honor of their dead, holding banquets and making sacrifices before arranging the body of the deceased in its final resting place, sometimes under a burial mound or inside a ship.

GRAVES OF THE VIKINGS

A FUNERAL PYRE

THE VIKING SHIPS OF SAAREMAA

PREPARING FOR A LONG JOURNEY

Why the Vietnam War Lasted Decades • This costly conflict spanned generations—and its brutal legacy endures. But why did the bloodshed go on for so long?

A CITY REBORN

Calakmul, the Maya Kingdom of the Snake • In 1931 gum harvesters in Mexico led an American botanist to see some impressive ruins: an ancient Maya city hidden in the jungle.

BENEATH THE FRIEZE

Royal Grave Goods

Paintings Uncovered