History & Archaeology

Ancient Pyramids Around the World

No matter if the civilization was Mesopotamian, Egyptian, or Mayan, its legacy today is in part marked by towering pyramids
November 2009 | By Amanda Bensen

Also see: The Mystery of Bosnia's Ancient Pyramids

Page 1 of 35

Ten Notable Apocalypses That (Obviously) Didn’t Happen

Apocalyptic predictions, such as those warning of global destruction in 2012, are nothing new – they have been around for millennia
November 2009 | By Mark Strauss

The Waldseemüller Map: Charting the New World

Two obscure 16th-century German scholars named the American continent and changed the way people thought about the world
December 2009 | By Toby Lester

The Mystery of Bosnia's Ancient Pyramids

An amateur archaeologist says he's discovered the world's oldest pyramids in the Balkans. But many experts remain dubious
December 2009 | By Colin Woodard

Memoirs of a World War II Buffalo Soldier

In a recently published memoir written over 60 years ago, veteran James Daugherty details his experiences as an African-American in combat
November 2009 | By Abby Callard

Nan Madol: The City Built on Coral Reefs

One of the oldest archaeological sites not on a heritage list, this Pacific state, like Easter Island, is an engineering marvel
November 2009 | By Christopher Pala

Flying With America’s Most Famous Female Aviators

Dozens of talented women preceded Amelia Earhart, and thousands have followed, and each has her own groundbreaking story to tell
October 2009 | By Patricia Trenner

How Arlington National Cemetery Came to Be

The fight over Robert E. Lee's beloved home—seized by the U.S. government during the Civil War—went on for decades
November 2009 | By Robert M. Poole

A Photo-journalist's Remembrance of Vietnam

The death of Hugh Van Es, whose photograph captured the Vietnam War's end, launched a "reunion" of those who covered the conflict
November 2009 | By David Lamb

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Smithsonian.com expands on Smithsonian magazine's in-depth coverage of history, science, nature, the arts, travel, world culture and technology. Join us regularly as we take a dynamic and interactive approach to exploring modern and historic perspectives on the arts, sciences, nature, world culture and travel, including videos, blogs and a reader forum.

No matter if the civilization was Mesopotamian, Egyptian, or Mayan, its legacy today is in part marked by towering pyramids November 2009 | By Amanda Bensen

Apocalyptic predictions, such as those warning of global destruction in 2012, are nothing new – they have been around for millennia November 2009 | By Mark Strauss

Two obscure 16th-century German scholars named the American continent and changed the way people thought about the world December 2009 | By Toby Lester

An amateur archaeologist says he's discovered the world's oldest pyramids in the Balkans. But many experts remain dubious December 2009 | By Colin Woodard

December 2009 | By Alison McLean

For reliable sources and mole poblano December 2009 | By Carey Winfrey

In a recently published memoir written over 60 years ago, veteran James Daugherty details his experiences as an African-American in combat November 2009 | By Abby Callard

One of the oldest archaeological sites not on a heritage list, this Pacific state, like Easter Island, is an engineering marvel November 2009 | By Christopher Pala

Dozens of talented women preceded Amelia Earhart, and thousands have followed, and each has her own groundbreaking story to tell October 2009 | By Patricia Trenner

The fight over Robert E. Lee's beloved home—seized by the U.S. government during the Civil War—went on for decades November 2009 | By Robert M. Poole

A long-lost painting of the Senate's Great Compromiser finds a fitting new home in the halls of the U.S. Capitol November 2009 | By Fergus M. Bordewich

The death of Hugh Van Es, whose photograph captured the Vietnam War's end, launched a "reunion" of those who covered the conflict November 2009 | By David Lamb