A “Simple Boy” That Wasn’t Naive: Julius Caesar’s Adventure with Pirates
Although Rome protected the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic seas, it was a mainland power and it was a challenge to go against the rising power of pirates, even for powerful Roman leaders just like Julius Caesar.
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‘Special Talents and Notorious PSYWAR’: Cold War Spy Tradecraft Behind The Iron Curtain
Although there weren’t high-tech gadgets like today, Cold War espionage was extremely efficient. In a geopolitical situation where the nuclear threat was constantly present, information was a key currency. As there were no smartphones, internet, or other benefits of the modern age, people were the most important.
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When the Ballista Changed Sieges: Ancient Origins of the Missile Weapon
The first ballista appeared with the invention of torsion spring bundle technology. They brought the three most important changes in the history of war: speed, effectiveness and success.
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The Harmony of Art and Beauty: Long Tradition of European Gazebos
Enjoying the small things is often priceless. There is no greater luxury but to enjoy the peace and quiet of nature, throw a rock across the lake and watch in delight how it ripples while you breath in the fresh spring breeze. It seems that the European architects of the 18th and 19th century really appreciated these things, so they created spaces pleasant for all the senses. Building pavilions hidden in the greenery and gazebos- relaxation sanctuaries were a must. Today, these little architectural gems are true decorations to European parks, woods and coasts. The story about them takes the reader down a real history avenue…
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Spy Artist Against the System: George Tomaziu’s Life in Communist Romania
George (Gheorghe) Tomaziu was a Romanian painter, illustrator, memoirist and poet. He graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Bucharest. During World War II, he operated as an MI6 agent. As an agent of the British Intelligence Service, he organized a secret group of collaborators that included Alexandru Balaci, Romanian italianist, literary critic and historian. During 1944, Tomaziu was arrested, beaten and placed under investigation under suspicion of espionage. The same year he was released from Malmaison prison in Bucharest.
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