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Bite-sized history lessons: your gateway into understanding the world’s greatest historic events and figures. New cards every week!
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Nov 26 14 tweets 5 min read
As the Allies marched through the battle-scarred fields of Europe, they relied on a machine that became the backbone of their advance.

It wasn’t the biggest or the most powerful, but it was the tank that won the war.

A 🧵on the Sherman—the 🇺🇸 workhorse of WWII.Nr 378 - M4 Sherman Tank - Cards of History - Part of the upcoming WWII Edition. When the German blitzkrieg rolled across Europe in the early years of the war, it revealed a grim reality:

The Allies were outgunned and outmaneuvered.

German tanks, with their speed and firepower, dominated the battlefield.
Nov 24 14 tweets 5 min read
Tough times make tough people.

Brutal winters, scarce resources, and an unforgiving landscape forged a society who thrived where others might have faltered.

Who were the Vikings beyond the stereotypes?

To understand them is to understand how hardship breeds innovation.

🧵 Nr 53 - Vikings - Cards of History - Vol II The Viking saga begins in Scandinavia, a land of stunning natural beauty but harsh living conditions.

Long winters and rocky soils meant that survival required ingenuity and cooperation. A Norwegian Fjord - By Eilert Adelsteen Normann
Nov 22 16 tweets 5 min read
During WWII, the Germans unleashed a colossal behemoth onto the battlefield.

Capable of firing shells the weight of a car, it required a 2,000-person crew to operate and left craters the size of buildings in its wake.

A 🧵 on the Schwerer Gustav, complete with rare footage. Image In the annals of military history, few weapons stand out for their sheer audacity and size as the Schwerer Gustav, a massive German railway gun designed during World War II.

While it may seem straight out of a sci-fi movie, it was very much real.
Nov 20 18 tweets 6 min read
From a hidden chamber at Delphi, she whispered the will of the Gods.

Her words shaped empires, toppled kings, and sealed the fate of nations.

A look at some of her most famous prophecies.

🧵 Nr 20 - Oracle of Delphi - Cards of History - Volume I 1) The Tragic Prophecy of King Croesus

One of the most famous—and tragic—prophecies delivered at Delphi was to King Croesus of Lydia, a ruler known for his immense wealth.

Croesus, eager to expand his empire, consulted the Oracle about going to war with Persia. A depiction of Croesus (r. 560-546 BCE), the King of Lydia on a Greek red-figure pottery
Nov 19 16 tweets 5 min read
From the desolate ruins of Stalingrad a deadly phantom emerged.

Amid the shattered bones of a broken city, he carved a hunting ground of his own design.

This is the tale of a humble shepherd who became one of history's most fearsome snipers.

Lock and Load... 🧵 Nr 328 - Vasily Zaitsev - Cards of History - Part of the upcoming WWII Edition. In the winter of 1942, as the German Sixth Army laid siege to Stalingrad, Vasily Zaitsev’s journey from obscurity to legend began. Image
Nov 15 21 tweets 6 min read
Appearing on the front lines in 1942, this juggernaut seemed invincible.

Its armor too thick, its gun too devastating, its hull too impenetrable.

But as the war dragged on, whispers circulated—rumors of rare flaws inspired brave Allied souls to confront the beast. Nr 342 - Tiger Tank - Cards of History - Part of the upcoming World War II Collection In 1941, when Germany invaded the Soviet Union during Operation Barbarossa, the Wehrmacht quickly encountered the devastating effectiveness of the Soviet medium T-34 tanks. Image
Nov 14 14 tweets 5 min read
In the 17th century, the Dutch ruled the waves, with floating fortresses that cut through seas from the North Atlantic to the Indian Ocean.

But how did the Dutch turned their small republic into a maritime empire? Nr 87 - Dutch Man-of-War - Cards of History In the late 16th century, the Dutch Republic was just a patchwork of low-lying provinces, locked in a brutal rebellion against the mighty Spanish Empire.

While other nations turned inland, the Dutch looked to the sea, their only means of escape and survival. Image
Nov 12 17 tweets 5 min read
In the summer of 1941, as Germany unleashed its blitzkrieg across Soviet territory, its panzer divisions met a surprise they weren’t prepared for.

In the fog of war they encountered a new Soviet weapon that changed armored warfare forever.

A 🧵on WWII’s game-changing tank.Card Number 334 | T-34 Medium Tank | Cards of History The primary objective of Barbarossa was to destroy the Soviet Union as a military and political entity, seize its vast territories, and eliminate the threat of the USSR.

3 different German army groups blitzed in and rapidly took over vast amount of territory. Map of operation Barbarossa
Nov 8 19 tweets 5 min read
Once, these men had knelt as humble servants, bound to healing & humility.

Now, they were agents of conquest, heavily armored knights, a brotherhood of steel.

Their mission?

Reclaim the sacred ground where faith and blood had mingled for centuries.68 - Teutonic Knights - Cards of History - Volume II Formed in the crucible of the Third Crusade, their early purpose was simple yet noble: to provide medical aid to wounded Christian soldiers and protect pilgrims braving the perilous journey to Jerusalem.Map of the Third Crusade
Nov 5 15 tweets 5 min read
Today, as Americans 🇺🇸 cast their ballots, the world's eyes are on the heart of democracy.

It is no coincidence that the home to the world's most powerful leader is filled with ancient symbols.

So why does an Egyptian-style obelisk stand at the core of America’s capital?Nr 230 - Washington Monument - Cards of History The year is 1799 AD.

After Washington’s death, there was a widespread desire to memorialize him.

The new nation mourned deeply, feeling the loss of the man who had led them through the Revolutionary War and set a precedent of honorable leadership as the first president.George Washington
Nov 1 14 tweets 4 min read
They rode with ferocious speed to save Western civilization.

Would they arrive on time to save Europe when all seemed lost?

The ground shook as they thundered across the battlefield, lowering their lances and bracing for impact…43 - WInged Hussars - Cards of History - Volume II The year is 1683 AD.

At this time, the Ottoman Empire had expanded deep into Europe, and Vienna, a critical stronghold, was under siege.The Ottoman Empire in 1683 AD
Oct 30 17 tweets 4 min read
As the pestilence swept through the heart of Europe, ominous figures started appearing in its streets.

They became harbingers of both hope and terror in cities ravaged by the bubonic plague.

These men were tasked with the impossible: stemming the tide of death.Nr 64 - Plague Doctors - Cards of History Having recovered from the Black Death only a couple centuries earlier, the bubonic plague re-surged in Europe with a vengeance.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, it reappeared in waves that repeatedly devastated cities and towns.Image
Oct 29 17 tweets 5 min read
The “fairy tale castle” still holds many mysteries, including the strange death of the “Mad King” who dwelled there.

This is the haunting story about a place where dreams meet tragedy and beauty meets madness...

🧵Nr 56 - Neuschwanstein Castle - Cards of History Before we start, it is important to understand that the king who commissioned it was living in 1869 AD.

It was a time when castles were no longer necessary for defense or military purposes, but rather symbols of romanticized medieval ideals and personal ambition.Construction of the castle in the late 19th century
Oct 26 19 tweets 6 min read
A man from humble beginnings dropped one of the hardest lines ever spoken:

"I found the crown of France lying in the gutter, and I picked it up with my sword."

This is the story about his epic rise to power and what it teaches those of us striving for greatness...🧵Nr 187 - Napoleon Bonaparte - Cards of History In the quiet, sun-drenched hills of Corsica, the hero of our story was born on August 15, 1769.

The island, rich with a fierce spirit of independence and a history of conflict, would shape his character and ambitions.The Island of Corsica with its different regions. Note the birthplace of the hero of our story on the left.
Oct 23 20 tweets 5 min read
Some ideas are so dangerous that they could bring about the downfall of civilization.

Thomas Malthus warned of the perils of overpopulation, but ironically, it is his ideas that have now sown the seeds of another crisis—underpopulation, which may lead to humanity’s demise.Nr 58 - Thomas Robert Malthus - Cards of History In 1798, Thomas Malthus, a British scholar and cleric, published his famous work An Essay on the Principle of Population.Essay on the Principles of Population
Oct 18 20 tweets 5 min read
Legends tell of his sword flashing with holy fire, cutting through darkness to lead the faithful to victory.

He is the embodiment of divine justice in the eternal fight between good and evil.

But how does this ultimate warrior of Heaven align with the peaceful ethos of Christ?Nr 72 - Archangel Michael - Cards of History - Volume II The answer this question, we have to delve into the themes of divine justice, protection of the innocent, and the nature of spiritual warfare.
Oct 16 18 tweets 5 min read
Søren Kierkegaard, a Danish philosopher, theologian, and writer, is regarded as one of the founding figures of existentialism.

He once wrote:

“Whether you do it or don’t do it, you will regret both.”

Here is why this is still excellent advice in contemporary times.Image The wonderful quote is still highly relevant because it speaks to the paradox of choice, fear of missing out, and the existential anxiety that comes with modern life. Image
Oct 11 24 tweets 7 min read
It is the year 1429 AD, as the Hundred Years' War ravaged France. 🇫🇷

A teenage girl from a small village claimed she had been sent by God to save her country.

Though she had never held a sword, she would soon lead armies, inspire a nation, and face impossible odds...

🧵Nr 183 - Jeanne d'Arc - by Cards of History The heroine of our story is born in the quiet village of Domrémy, in northeastern France, around the year 1412 AD.

Jeanne d'Arc’s early life was marked by simplicity—she was the daughter of farmers, living in a region that had known war for decades.France at the height of the Anglo-Burgundian Power
Oct 9 18 tweets 6 min read
In a land where samurai clashed for power, and loyalty was measured in blood, one warlord dared to dream beyond Japan’s shores.

Would Masamune’s ambition elevate Japan to a new golden age—or plunge it into conflict with forces beyond imagination?Nr 46 - Date Masume - Cards of History Date Masamune was born in 1567 AD during the tumultuous Sengoku period (1467–1600).

A time marked by nearly constant civil war, shifting alliances, and battles between competing feudal lords (daimyo) who vied for control of Japan.A map of Japan during the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568-1600 CE).
Oct 4 15 tweets 5 min read
Few names in history carry the weight of Eleanor of Aquitaine.

A queen forced to rebel against her own king birthed one of histories greatest legends.

Her story is one of defiance, betrayal, and the ultimate revenge...Nr 47 - Eleanor of Aquitaine - Cards of History - Volume II The year 1122 AD is when the heroine of our story is born in Poitiers, the heart of the Duchy of Aquitaine.

Surrounded by the elegance of one of Europe’s wealthiest and most powerful courts, Eleanor’s early years were shaped by luxury, culture, and ambition.Image
Oct 3 20 tweets 5 min read
As a true Renaissance man, his impact profoundly influenced the trajectory of American history.

He wrote extensively about the internal threats that are confronting his beloved country. 🇺🇸

However, issues America grappled with centuries ago are once again resurfacing...Image 1) On Unity

Franklin worked throughout his life to foster unity and a sense of shared purpose among the colonies

However, the vision he had for a new world of united people was already being threatened by internal strife between the different colonies.Image