Inside the Terra-cotta Army’s Heads; The World of the Qin Dynasty
July 22, 2024
This applicant for a job in the terra-cotta army was turned down. He now works as a writer. The terra-cotta warriors get lots of
The Temple of Hatshepsut; Setting Aesthetic and Political Standards for Egypt’s New Kingdom
July 16, 2024
Egyptians transferred their energies from pyramid building to temple construction during the New Kingdom (1550–1070/69 BCE). They erected temples that rivaled Giza’s magnificence, and they
Keeping Things in Order the Thai Way; It’s Not Ancient Greece
July 11, 2024
The historic northern Thai town of Chiang Saen is full of ancient Buddhist monuments, but Wat Phra That Chedi Luang is its main shrine. People from all walks of life still pay their respects
Origins of Thai Culture Are More Multidimensional than Most People Think
July 5, 2024
Most historians think Thais originated in southern China. Tais (Tai is the spelling of the diaspora of ethnic groups who speak the same family
How the Colonization Movement Helped to Shape Ancient Greek Thought
July 2, 2024
Greeks began to form colonies in the eighth century BCE. This movement, in which people loaded their belongings onto ships and ventured out to sea
Some Things in Thailand that Seem Ugly Are Actually Beautiful
July 1, 2024
Many historic temples grace the northern Thai town of Nan, so I spent several days there. Wat Ming Muang was low on my list because
Why AI Doesn’t Reveal the Magic in Thai Temples
June 29, 2024
While artists in Florence developed three-dimensional perspective and France’s King Francois I imported the Italian Renaissance to beef up his image, Thais perfected their own art
Why Ancient Greek Cities Were Special
June 24, 2024
Ancient Greek cities were engaging in unique ways. They were so immersive that it was difficult for most people to imagine life outside them, and
Laos at Its Zenith
June 22, 2024
Vientiane has a lot of enchantments besides That Luang. It became one of Southeast Asia’s greatest cities in the 17th century. Lan Xang moved
Facts and Mysteries about That Luang; The Glory Days of Laos
June 21, 2024
Many Laotians consider Vientiane’s That Luang to be their national monument, but the insight guide that the Discovery Channel published called it strange and exotic.