Was Greek Fire a New, Genuine Breakthrough Chemical Weapon?

Most of us think of chemical weapons as a twentieth century phenomenon. But did you know that one existed in the medieval world as well? We call that chemical weapon Greek fire. For many, the term chemical weapon has negative connotations. We recall the gas mask as an essential piece of equipment for World War […]

Is the Byzantine Empire Underrated or Just Ignored?

I get the question all the time: Was the Byzantine Empire underrated? Have you ever even heard of the Byzantine Empire? If you’re a regular follower of my blog, possibly not. If you got to this post from an Internet search, perhaps you have. Either way, most people know little about the great empire that […]

The Arab Oil Embargo Begins in 1973

October 19 of 1973 ranks as one of the most momentous economic days in US history. On that day, Arab nations announced their Arab Oil Embargo against the United States. The Arab Oil Embargo included a ban on exports to the US and a ten percent cut in overall production. There were politics at work […]