An Insight in Ancient Roman Life (Italy)

Pompeii was a flourishing ancient Roman town with a complex water system, an amphitheatre, a gymnasium and a port. In 79 AD the town was destroyed during an eruption of Mount Vesuvius and was buried under tons of ash. Pliny the Younger described the catastrophe in a letter. 

In 1599 Pompeii was rediscovered and since the 18th century it has been progressively excavated and made accessible to the public. It provides an extraordinarily detailed insight into the life of the city, as its artefacts were preserved for centuries due to the lack of air and moisture. 

Pompeii is today one of the most visited sights of Italy. The Archaeological Areas of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata are since 1997 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The History of Palermo and Sicily (Italy)

Palermo was founded in 8th century BCE by the Phoenicians. It was a part of Cathage until it was conquered by the Romans in 254 BCE. In 440 the city came under the control of Germanic tribes, before it was reconquered by the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire in the Gothic War in the 6th century. In 904 Sicily was captured by the Arabs and Palermo became the capital of the Emirate of Sicily. During the Christian Reconquest of the island the County of Sicily was founded, which became a kingdom under Norman rule in 1130. In 1194 the Kingdom of Sicily fell to the House of Hohenstaufen. In the following centuries the kingdom was ruled in personal unions with the Holy Roman Empire (1220–1250), the Crown of Aragon (1282–1516), the Kingdom of Spain (1516–1713), the Duchy of Savoy (1713–1720), the Habsburg Monarchy (1720–1735) and the Kingdom of Naples (1735–1816). In 1816 the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies was founded with Palermo as its capital, but already in 1817 the capital was moved to Naples. In 1861 it was annexed by the Kingdom of Sardinia to form the Kingdom of Italy. 

The Palazzo dei Normanni is the oldest royal residence in Europe. It was the seat of the Kings of Sicily during the Norman domination. Later it was used as the main seat of power for the subsequent rulers of Sicily. In the 12th and 13th century it was the imperial seat of Frederick II and Conrad IV. Today it houses the Sicilian Regional Assembly. 

The Arab-Norman Palermo is since 2015 on the UNESCO World Heritge List.

The History of Zanzibar (Tanzania)

The Zanzibar Archipelago is located in the Indian Ocean and consists of various islands including the largest islands Unguja and Pemba, which were inhabited since the Late Stone Age. 

In the 10th century the Persians established a base for traders on Unguja. In 1498 the Europeans visited the islands and already in 1504 they became a part of the Portuguese Empire. In 1698 Zanzibar fell under the control of the Sultanate of Oman. After struggles over the succession of Said bin Sultan, who moved Oman's capital from Muscat to Zanzibar, his son Majid bin Said became the first Sultan of Zanzibar in 1856. The sultans developed an economy of trade and cash crops in the Zanzibar Archipelago with a ruling Arab elite. Important goods were spices, ivory and slaves. In the following years the United Kingdom increased its influence on the islands and in 1890 the German Empire recognised the British protectorate over the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba in the Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty. In 1963 the protectorate was abolished and Zanzibar became an independent state, but already in 1964 Zanzibar merged with mainland Tanganyika to form the United Republic of Tanzania. 

Today is Zanzibar a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania with Zanzibar City as its capital. The Stone Town of Zanzibar is since 2000 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Did the Neanderthals committed cannibalism? (Croatia)

Near Krapina the largest number of Neanderthal fossil bones in Europe was found in 1899. The findings had a big influence on the different scientific theories about human development and the genesis of our civilisation. Due to various signs on the bones the case was made that the Neanderthals committed cannibalism, but it was already disproved.

The Krapina Neanderthal Museum was opened in 2010 near the site where the Neanderthals remains were discovered. It focuses on the prehistory and protohistory of the humanity and the Neanderthals of Krapina. It is considered to be one of the most interesting evolutionary museums in Europe. 

The Krapina Neanderthal Site and Museum got the European Heritage Label in 2015.

Greeks, Romans and Christians in Ephesus (Turkey)

Ephesus is a former Greek and later Roman city and was one of the most important cities in Asia minor. Once it had an important harbour, but as it silted up its importance as a commercial center declined. It was the location of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It is also said to be the place where the Virgin Mary spent the last years of her life and where John the Apostle wrote his Gospel.

Ephesus is since 2015 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Destruction of a Cultural Bridge and its Rediscovery (Turkey)

Troy was a city in Asia minor, modern day Turkey. The city was a cultural bridge between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea regions. It was destroyed during the Trojan War, which was described in Homer's Iliad.

The city was just rediscovered by the German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann in 1870. The excavations could be considered the starting point of modern archaeology.

The Archaeological Site of Troy is today one of the most famous archaeological sites in the World. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1998.

The Birthplace of European Values (Greece)

Athens was a city-state, a polis, in Ancient Greece. It was a centre of philosophy, music and theatre. Socrates, Pericles, Sophocles and other famous persons of Ancient Greece were born there. The city is also considered to be Cradle of Western Civilization and the birthplace of democracy.

The Acropolis was built by the Athenian statesman Pericles and is one of the greatest architectural and artistic complexes of the Greek Antiquity.

In 1985 was Athens the first European Capital of Culture. Since 1987 is the Acropolis of Athens on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Heart of Ancient Athens got the European Heritage Label in 2014.

Imperium Romanum and its remains in Rome (Italy)

Ancient Rome was one of the largest empires of the ancient World. Once the complete Mediterranean area was under Roman rule. The modern day countries of Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Crimea, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Germany, Georgia, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Libya, Macedonia, Malta, Morocco, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey and Vatican belonged at least in parts to the Roman Empire. The Empire existed for more than 1000 years and its remains can still be seen today in its former territory.

According to the legend Rome was founded in BCE 753 by Romulus, who introduced the monarchy. Romulus and his brother Remus were the sons of Mars, the Roman God of War, and Rhea Silvia. They were later abandoned in the Tiber, breastfed by a wolf and nursed by a shepherd.

In BCE 509 the monarchy was overthrown and the republic was established. The government was then headed by two consuls advised by the senate. Firstly only the aristocratic Patricians had political power, but over the years also the common Plebeians got more and more rights.

The Senate had it seat at the Forum Romanum, the heart of Ancient Rome and the centre of Roman public life. Today it is one of the most important excavation sites about Ancient Rome.

Until the 3rd Centenary BCE the Romans were able to bring the complete Italian peninsula under their control. In the following Rome was able to gain the control in the western Mediterranean area after they defeated Carthage in the three Punic Wars and also in the eastern Mediterranean area after they conquered the Kingdoms of the Diadochi. But the Republic did not have the ability to control the large territory. A time of civil wars followed. Caesar emerged victorious, abandoned the republic and put himself in charge. But not for long, in BCE 44 Caesar was killed and a new civil war broke out. Caesar's adopted son Octavius won and became monocrat. The principate was introduced and the Roman imperial period began, a period of peace and stability. The emperors led the Ancient Rome to a new heyday, although the principate was also weakened by scandals.

A famous monument from this time is the Colosseum. The construction was started in 72 by the Roman Emperor Vespasian. He want to ingratiate oneself with the people while staging panem et circenses (Bread and Games). His son Titus finished the construction. Inside was enough space for 50000 viewers. It is one of the 7 New Wonders of the World.

Under the rule of Trajan the Roman Empire reached its largest expansion. Due to external pressure starting in the 3rd century the Romans became more and more impatient with the government. With the Edict of Milan, issued in 313, the Christianity was admitted.

Arch of Constantine commemorating the victory of
Constantin the Great in the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312

In 395 the Roman Empire was divided. Constantinople became capital of the Eastern part, the government of the Western part was housed in Milan. The end of the Western part came in 476 with the dismissal of the last emperor, the Eastern part became part of the Byzantine Empire.

After the fall of the Roman Empire Rome fell under the control of the Pope. In the 8th Century it became the capital of the Papal States, in 1871 of the Kingdom of Italy and in 1946 of modern day Italy. Since 1980 is the Historic Centre of Rome on the UNESCO World Heritage List.