So Who is This Guy Called Hannibal? The Man Who Nearly Took Down Rome

Hannibal is for many people the only thing of Carthage that people are familiar with, for most the great city state of Carthage is completely unknown, it is forgotten, lost in the mists of time. By the time of Hannibal's birth, Carthage had fallen on hard times. They had been defeated in the First Punic War against the Roman Republic. The loss devastated the Carthaginians who before the war had being the dominant force in the Western Mediterranean. The Romans imposed harsh terms upon Carthage, including seizing the provinces of Sicily, Corsica and Sardinia. Hannibal's father, Hamilcar Barca was the Carthaginian general who was charged with the task of restoring prestige by invading the Iberian peninsula in 237 BCE. Hannibal, at the tender age of eleven accompanied him and began learning the trade of war. In 221 BCE. Hannibal assumed command of the Carthage armies in Hispania, made ground and rose the old enemy, Rome, thus beginning the Second Punic War in 218 BCE. Hannibal was in no mood to sit around waiting for the onslaught, he brought the war to Rome, fighting his way through the Pyrenees, subduing the local tribes there.

The History of Thai Currency - from Ancient Beads to Modern Baht

Present-Day Thai Currency

The history of Thailand currency traces the evolution of the medium of exchange used in Thailand prior to the 1st century. This dates from the days of barter trade, ancient beads and money in various shapes and sizes till the currency in modern times.

Ancient beads, seeds, bracelets and pebbles used as a medium of exchange in the early days around 200 - 300 BC, have been discovered in Thailand, including old Roman copper coins dating back to 270 BC!

Norman Architecture

Norman Architecture, named so due to its roots in Normandy, arose in the Middle Ages. It began in the early 11th century and ended by the 12th century, following the Saxon architectural movement and preceding the Gothic movement. Norman architecture is a form of the prevailing Romanesque Architecture that was propagated by the Normans (or Vikings) who conquered England. Its development gave rise to large and impenetrable cathedrals, fortresses, castles, and fortifications.  

Mont Saint Michel, Normandy France

The archetypal monastery building arose during this movement, with its squat buildings that were either rectangular or circular. For instance, the renowned abbey Mont-Saint-Michel was built in the Norman era. In fact, the majority of Norman Architecture is religious structures, from village churches to royal cathedrals. A hallmark of Norman churches is their cross-like shape, deriving from the Roman basilica pattern. These churches also had bell towers, or campaniles, which were built nearby the main church buildings. 

The quintessential medieval castles are also a distinctly Norman innovation. They arose not only in England but also in Scotland, Ireland, Normandy, and even Italy. In Italy, however, Norman features were combined with Byzantine and Arabic styles, which made for less gloominess.