Mark Twain’s novels are some of the best examples of American literature. Though known for his humor, Twain shows a bitter edge in his later works.

Many present-day Russians have managed to discount his horrific impact on history to rehabilitate Stalin—some even suggesting his elevation to sainthood. Why?

World War I has been described as the war to end all war. The ensuing years—most notably, the Second World War—showed that this thought was ridiculously naïve.

China’s First Emperor, of the short-lived Qin dynasty, had extravagant ambitions—not only for his earthly life but for the afterlife he anticipated.

Zionist ideology formed the core of David Ben-Gurion’s identity. From his youth, the importance of settlement in the land was central to his views.

When Ben-Gurion proclaimed the State of Israel on May 14, 1948, he likely did not envisage how long the conflict with the Arab world would persist.

Broadly speaking, Israeli political philosophy follows two main schools of thought: political Zionism and revisionist Zionism.

In 1896 Theodor Herzl published The Jewish State (Der Judenstaat), the basis for his reputation as the father of political Zionism.

Scholars claim Nero built a huge bronze statue of himself as the sun god and set it up in his Golden House. But he probably never saw the statue standing in his house.