Video

A Little History of the World No. 17 

We all know the name Alexander the Great and there’a a reason for it. In just 10 years he took over much of the known world from Egypt to India. He was violent, sure, but he could also be lenient and pardoned many who fought against him. In the end he wore his own army out and after 10 years of conquest his soldiers just wanted to go home. It was on the march back to Macedonia that Alexander died: he fell ill after a night of heavy drinking…well he was only 32.

Video

A Little History of the World No.16 

Back to the Mediterranean and it’s time to meet one of the most incredible figures in ancient history. After the assassination of his father Phillip, Alexander was crowned King of Macedonia, a small country north of Greece. But that wasn’t enough for him. Over the next 12 years he marched eastwards and in a very short time ruled a huge kingdom that stretched all the way to India.

What’s even more incredible is how young he was; seriously you should go and find out more about him. 

Video

A Little History of the World No.15 

So far history has mostly been focused around the Mediterranean Sea. But civilisations were thriving all over the world. To the east, in what we now call India and China great cities were built. These societies had great thinkers too and around this time their ideas about love life and the universe began to spread. You’ll recognise their names: Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism.

(P.S. yet, the little histories are back! There’ll be at least one a week over the summer - more at delve.tv)

Video

A Little History of the World No.14 

After conquering Babylonia and Egypt the Persians turned their sights on Greece. Over 20 years two kings, Darius and Xerxes repeatedly attacked the islands.

Partly because they were more forward thinking, and partly because they were fighting for their lives, the Greek tribes united to push back the invaders time and time again. 

Video

A Little History of the World No.13 

Here’s one of history’s remarkable stories: a small tribe from what we now call #Iran rebelled against the Babylonians who ruled them. Within a few years they changed the map, and their king Cyrus I ruled over a huge stretch of land. He called himself The King of Kings. His son and grandson Darius and Xerxes would carry on his empire after he died. 

Learn more history at delve.tv/instagram

Video

A Little History of the World No.12 

A 300 year period in Greece brought us some of the foundations of the modern world, a culture and ideals that many if us still believe today. 

Where would we be without ancient greece?

Image credits: Benjamin Harlow, Juan Pablo Bravo, Michael V Suriano & Simon Child from The Noun Project

Video

A Little History of the World No.11

OK so it’s 800 BCE and now we can introduce some people you’ve definitely heard of. But Ancient Greece wasn’t really a single society as the name suggests, but a collection of smaller, competing, tribes. They included the Ionians who founded Athens and the Dorians better known as the Spartans.

Video

A Little History of the World No.10 

As merchants and traders, the Phoenicians needed receipts and invoices. This meant they needed a more efficient way of writing things down. Their ingenious solution changed our world.

This is part 10 in our series covering world history in 15-second instagrams. You can watch the rest of the series here.

Video

A Little History of the World No.9 

On the Mediterranean Coast in modern day #lebanon a society of great merchants and traders grew. In their legendary Phoenician ships they sailed all around the Mediterranean buying and selling goods. They also gave us something we still use today..any guesses?

Video

A Little History of the World No.8 

In July 1908 archeologists discovered something in the ruins of a Minoan temple on the island of Crete. A circular clay disc about 6.5 inches in diameter, that completely overturns our ideas of ancient technology.