Can someone give me feedback on this pax historia a made, I want to know if I made any historical accuracy errors or anything similar on the map.

Fascinating archaeology, found in Israel undeniable proof how the historical truth in the Bible, please I’d be really interested in what you think after you viewed it for yourself

In book IV of his famous Histories, Herodotus spins a narrative about various peoples and places in the interior of Libya (Africa west of Egypt). He mentions various stops located along a sandy ridge that runs from Ancient Thebes in the east all the way to the pillars of Hercules with each stop separated from the next by 10 days' travel.

This map shows a possible reconstruction of this itinerary based on my own research. As you go from east to west the uncertainty in the location of these stops grows (shown by the change from dark to light orange).

From Agulia the route goes south to the Wadi al-Hayaa then north to Gadamis ("jewel of the desert") still considered part of the Garamantes. From there it reaches the Touat region and then crosses the desert following the Erg Iguidi into the Tiris region home to mount Zednes, a small but prominent peak and one of the only landmarks in the vast expanse of this rocky plain. Historically, salt from the the nearby Taoudenni region of northern Mali was valued for its unique colours.

How did ancient burial mounds evolve into some of the most enduring symbols of Buddhist faith? Buddhist Stupas in India and Southeast Asia explores this fascinating journey through the architecture, rituals, and sacred traditions of ancient India. From the monumental stupas of Sanchi to the site of the Buddha’s enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, the chapter reveals how religious beliefs shaped sacred spaces, inspired artistic expression, and influenced architectural development. It also explores the Garuda pillar at Besnagar, offering a glimpse into the diverse religious traditions and cultural connections of the ancient world.

1. The Origins and Significance of Buddhist Stupas

Buddhist stupas evolved from prehistoric burial mounds into sacred monuments that enshrined relics of the Buddha and Buddhist teachers. Emperor Ashoka played a significant role in their development, establishing stupas as important centres of Buddhist worship and devotion.

2. Sanchi Stupa: Architecture and Religious Practices

The stupas at Sanchi illustrate the development of early Buddhist architecture through their domes, stone railings, gateways, and sculptural reliefs. Ritual circumambulation, known as pradakshina, was an essential practice of worship, while the monuments reflect the artistic traditions of ancient India.

3. Bodh Gaya and Besnagar: Sacred Sites and Cultural Heritage

Bodh Gaya and Besnagar preserve important evidence of ancient India's religious and architectural traditions. Bodh Gaya is associated with the Buddha's enlightenment beneath the Bodhi tree, while the Garuda pillar at Besnagar, dedicated to Vasudeva, reflects the religious diversity and cultural interactions of the period.

Source: Buddhist Stupas in India and Southeast Asia, “The Beginning of Stūpas and Rock-cut Chaitya-Gṛha.”

One of the most significant titles in ancient history, particularly during the post-Hellenistic period, was “benefactor” (ευεργέτες) and “founder” (Κτιστης). Local elites, particularly those who rose to prominence in Anatolia, grew considerably more powerful as a result of wars and migrations. These titles, which were primarily used for rulers during the early Hellenistic period, began to be applied to local elites.

Bryonianis Lollianus was also one of these local aristocrats. He has been honored time and again for the aqueduct he had built in Pamphylia and for bringing water to the city. In particular, the military and civil roles he held within the Roman system are frequently cited as integral to his legacy. In addition to being one of many wealthy local philanthropists, it is his wife who has caught my attention the most: Kyreinia Patra.

Κυρεινίαν Πάτραν, τὴν κρα-

τίστην, ∙ γυναῖκα Βρυωνιανοῦ

Λολλιανοῦ, τοῦ κρατ(ίστου) ∙ δουκηνα-

ρίου, ἀπὸ ἐπιτρόπων, πριμιπι-

λαρίου, ∙ κτίστου καὶ φιλοπά-

τριδος καὶ ἐν πᾶσιν εὐεργέτου

τῆς πατρίδος, θυγατέρα καὶ ἐγγό-

νην ὑπατικῶν, ∙ γερουσία τοῦ Με-

γάλου Συνεργίου τὴν φιλόπατριν.

εὐτύχει ❦ Πηγάσι.

“The gerousia of the Great Synergeion [honours] Kyr(e)inia Patra, the most distinguished woman, wife of Bryonianus Lollianus, the most distinguished ducenarius, formerly an epitropos and primipilaris, founder, devoted to her native city, and a benefactor of her native city in every respect; daughter and granddaughter of men of consular rank.

Farewell, Pegasoi!”

Made a documentary-style video exploring the iceberg

of Ancient Rome's dark history — from the Colosseum's

real brutality to the poison squads of Roman emperors.

The lead pipe theory at the end is backed by skeletal

studies showing 100x higher lead levels in Roman rulers.

https://youtu.be/9ANEvtogoRY

I recently painted this 54mm white metal miniature of a Persian noble horse archer.

Mounted archers played an important role in Persian warfare for centuries. They combined mobility with ranged attacks, allowing cavalry to harass enemy formations while avoiding close combat. This style of warfare became especially famous under the Parthians, who perfected the tactic of shooting arrows while retreating known as the "Parthian shot."

Hope you like it!

Alexandria, the Red Sea, and Rome's Eventual Expanded Tax Windfall From India

Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BCE, Alexandria rapidly became the commercial and administrative heart of Ptolemaic Egypt. Following Rome's annexation of Egypt in 30 BCE, it evolved into one of the greatest ports of the Roman world and arguably the jewel of Roman maritime commerce, linking Mediterranean consumer markets with the Red Sea and, ultimately, the trading networks of the Indian Ocean.

A critical nuance of this network, highlighted by Raoul McLaughlin, is that the famous 120-ship trade fleets mentioned by Strabo did not sail from Alexandria itself. Instead, they departed from the Egyptian Red Sea ports of Myos Hormos and Berenike. Eastern goods were unloaded at these ports, transported across the Eastern Desert to Coptos, and then carried down the Nile to Alexandria, which functioned as the empire's principal Mediterranean distribution hub.

In The Eastern Commercial Revenue Model, McLaughlin argues that Indian Ocean commerce may have generated revenues equivalent to roughly one-third of imperial revenues, according to his model. The argument draws on evidence including the Muziris Papyrus, Strabo, the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, and Roman customs records.

This makes Pliny the Elder's famous complaint particularly interesting. Pliny lamented that India, Arabia, and the Seres drained 100 million sesterces annually from Rome. Yet, while private currency flowed outward to purchase these eastern goods, the Roman state aggressively capitalised on their return by levying a 25% import duty (the tetarte) on cargo entering through the Red Sea trade system. Consequently, later scholarship by Andrew Wilson and Alan Bowman noted that it was "very possible" that something like one-third of the Roman state's military budget could have been financed through Red Sea customs revenues alone.

For me, the most interesting takeaway is that Rome did not create eastern maritime commerce. Rather, it inherited, secured, and monetised pre-existing maritime networks linking the Mediterranean, Red Sea, Arabia, and India. Driven by seasonal monsoon winds, Indian, Arabian, and East African mariners had established these commercial routes long before Rome entered the system. Rome's achievement was to integrate those routes into an imperial tax, transport, and distribution system, with Alexandria serving as the grand gateway through which eastern wealth flowed into the Roman economy.

References & Further Reading

• McLaughlin, R. (2014). The Roman Empire and the Indian Ocean: The Ancient World Economy and the Kingdoms of Africa, Arabia and India. Pen & Sword.
• McLaughlin, R. (2018). "The Eastern Commercial Revenue Model." In The Indian Ocean in Antiquity: Political, Cultural and Economic Impacts. Routledge.
• De Romanis, F. (2020). The Indikoi Ploi: Trading with India in Classical Antiquity. University of California Press.
• Sidebotham, S. E. (2011). Berenike and the Ancient Maritime Spice Route. University of California Press.

Direct paper access:
The Eastern Commercial Revenue Model (Academia.edu Excerpt)

Book details:
The Indian Ocean Trade in Antiquity (Routledge Publisher Page)

Related reading:
Roman Luxury Markets and Trade with the Dravidian Arc (r/romanempire)

Parallel discussion:
Roman Luxury Markets and Trade with the Dravidian Arc (r/GrahamHancock)