Category: Histories of countries and key towns and cities around the world

By Tim Lambert Early Latvia The earliest people in Latvia were Stone Age hunters and gatherers who arrived there after the last ice age about 9000 BC. However, the ancestors of today’s Latvians were Baltic tribes who migrated to the area about 2,000 BC. In the 12th century AD, some of the last pagans in… Continue reading A Short History of Latvia

By Tim Lambert Ancient Libya At first, Libya was inhabited by Berber tribes. After 1,000 BC a people from Lebanon called the Phoenicians settled in Tripolitania (western Libya). They founded Tripoli. Later, the ancient Greeks settled in Cyrenaica (eastern Libya). Later, both areas of Libya became part of the Roman Empire. A Roman Emperor called… Continue reading A Short History of Libya

By Tim Lambert Early Lithuania The ancestors of modern Lithuanians were a people called the Balts who arrived in the area about 2,000 BC. In c.1240 AD a man named Mindaugas united the Lithuanian tribes. In 1251 he converted to Christianity. However, Mindaugas was assassinated in 1263 and his people reverted to paganism. In 1316… Continue reading A Short History of Lithuania

By Tim Lambert Ancient Malaysia The first people to live in Malaysia were Stone Age hunter-gatherers. They arrived as early as 8,000 BC. Later Stone Age farmers came to Malaya and displaced them. (The hunter-gatherers continued to exist but they retreated into remote areas). The farmers practiced slash-and-burn agriculture. They cleared an area of the… Continue reading A Short History of Malaysia

By Tim Lambert Dedicated to Chloe Annabel Ancient Malta During the last Ice Age Malta was a high mountain joined to Italy by land. However, when the Ice Age ended about 10,000 years ago the sea level rose and Malta became a group of islands. However, about 5,200 BC Stone Age farmers arrived in Malta… Continue reading A Short History of Malta

By Tim Lambert Early Mongolia In 209 BC a great leader called Modun united the people of Mongolia. This early state was called Hunnu. The Hunnu was a powerful empire and they were often at war with China. However, the Hunnu state broke up in the 4th century AD. From the 6th century to the… Continue reading A Short History of Mongolia

By Tim Lambert Early Morocco The written history of Morocco began about 1,000 BCE when a people called the Phoenicians from what is now Lebanon sailed there. The Phoenicians were great traders, and they founded trading posts in Morocco. The Phoenicians founded the city of Carthage in what is now Tunisia. Soon, Carthage became the… Continue reading A Short History of Morocco

By Tim Lambert Early Myanmar By 300 BC a rich civilization existed in southern Myanmar. A people called the Mon lived in the estuaries of the rivers Sittang and Saliveen. The Indians called it the Land of Gold. This civilization in Myanmar was also known to the Chinese. Then after 100 BC, a people called… Continue reading A Short History of Myanmar

By Tim Lambert Early Nepal Nepal was known to the Ancient Indians. It was mentioned in classical Indian literature. In the 3rd century BC, the great Indian Emperor introduced Buddhism into Nepal. Nepal was also in contact with China. About 200 AD a people called the Lichavis took power in Nepal. Under them, Nepal flourished… Continue reading A Short History of Nepal

By Tim Lambert The Maori The Maori arrived in New Zealand in the 10th century AD. They called the new land Aotearoa, which means Land of the Long White Cloud. The Maori brought dogs and rats. They also brought yams and kumara or sweet potatoes and gourds. The Maori also ate fern roots. There was… Continue reading A Short History of New Zealand