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My name was Sharrum-kin, and I was the vizier of the King of Kish, but my king was conquered by Lugalzagesi of Uruk. However, I soon usurped the usurper, hence my new name. Who was I?

Sargon. Sargon means "true king". Sharrum-kin (c. 2371-2316 BC) founded the first true empire in recorded history, the Dynasty of Agade or Akkadian Empire. During his reign, its borders stretched from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. In order to keep his throne, he destroyed all of the city walls throughout Babylonia, forced the local dynasties to send him members as hostages, and appointed only his fellow Agadians in important offices.

Which of these cities was the center of the Assyrian trade network in Anatolia during the Middle Bronze Age?

Kanesh. When we think of Assyria, most of us think of military barbarism and authoritarian government, but it was not always that way. During the Middle Bronze Age (20th - 18th centuries BC), Assyria maintained an elaborate commercial network throughout the Near East, including Anatolia.

As King of Rome, I made the 10-month year a 12-month year. Who was I?

Numa Pompilius. Ever wonder why the twelfth month of the year is December, meaning 10th month? Well, now you know. Originally, the Roman year had 10 months. January was named for Janus, the god of beginnings (among other things); March for Mars, one of the most important Roman deities; May for Maia, the mother of Mercury; July for Gaius Julius Caesar (Caesar); and August for Augustus (Octavian).

In ancient Mesoamerica (i.e. Olmec, Maya, Aztec), the people, probably the Olmec, developed a rather elaborate calender system that consisted of three different calendars: 365-Day Solar Year; 260-Day Ritual Year, and the 52-year Calendar Round. However, there was also a sort of simplification of the Calendar Round. What is this called?

Year Count. Okay, this is rather complicated! The 365-Day Solar Calendar is self- explanatory. It was divided into 13 months with 20 days apiece. This left 5 extra days at the end of the year that were considered to be extremely unlucky. Those 13 months were further divided into 4 weeks consisting of 5 days each. The 260-Day Ritual Calendar had a total of 20 day names coupled with the numbers 1 through 13. These were cycled. Example: Cipactli 1, Ehecatl 2, Calli 3, etc. until you got to Acati 13, then you would have Ocelotl 1. 20 x 13 = 260. Now, the Calendar Round: 260 x 365 = 18,980 days or 52 years. The Year Count simplified this, and was used to keep track of years. They took 4 day names with the numbers 1 through 13, which gave them 52 different names each cycle. Example: 1518 was 13 Tochtli and 1519 was 1 Acatli. At the end of each Calender Round cycle, the Aztecs would hold a New Fire Ceremony to make sure that the sun would continue to rise and set, thus continuing the current universe.

When we think of Egyptian history, we think in terms of dynasties. But before the dynasties, there are other archaeological divisions, what were they?

Amratian, Gerzean, Semainean. Amratian is used to designate the second half of the fifth millennium BC, Gerzean the first half of the fourth millennium B.C, and Semainean the second half of the fourth millennium B.C. These names are derived from villages in Upper Egypt where characteristic forms of the cultures have been discovered. Alternately, the second half of the fifth millennium BC is also called Badarian and the fourth millennium BC can be divided into Early and Late Naqada periods.

In 330-300 BC, I made a treacherous sea voyage from Cadiz to the Don, recording my findings in my "Of the Ocean". Who was I?

Pytheas of Massalia. "In 330-300 BC Pytheas made a remarkable voyage west and north as part of his survey of the coasts of Europe from Cadiz to the Don. But the work" (from "A History of the Vikings" by Gwen Jones, pg. 21). He sailed along the coast of Britain, recording details about the inhabitants, and along the coast of portions of Scandinavia.

This culture preceded the rise of the Etruscans in central Italy.

Villanovans. Of disputed origin, the Villanovans were the first people in Italy to use iron. Some scholars believe that they evolved from a local culture, whereas others believe that they were invaders to the region. Emerging during the 800s BC, they florished between the Tiber and the Po. In the eight century BC, they were replaced by the Etruscans, who were also of unknown origin. However, I have recently read a theory that states that the Etruscans were descended from one of the so-called "Sea Peoples" responsible for the fall of the Hittite Empire.

What was the name of the city of Paris during the Roman Empire?

Lutatia & Lutetia. The name Paris comes from the Gaulic tribe who inhabited the area, the Parisii. There was also a branch of this tribe in Roman Britain.

In the royal succession of 18th Dynasty Egypt, we have Ahmose I, Amenhotep I, Thutmose I, Thutmose II, Hatshepsut, and Thutmose III, who comes next?

Amenhotep II. Interesting fact: According to new DNA evidence, the 18th Dynasty, which is actually a continuance of the 17th, should be divided into two families instead of one. Recent tests have revealed that Amenhotep I and Thutmose I were not related. Thutmose IV succeeded Amenhotep II, Smenkhkare succeeded Akhenaten (aka Amenhotep IV), and Ahmose II was one of the last pharoahs of the 26th Dynasty.

Of the following, which was NOT part of the so-called "Sea Peoples" who ravaged much of the Near (or Middle) East at the end of the Bronze Age?

Yamkad. Yamkad was an ancient kingdom based in Syria, specifically, Aleppo, which was conquered by the Hittites in c. 1595 BC, when they were en route to destroy Babylon. The Peleset were the people we know as the Philistines; the Shekelesh were probably of Anatolian origin, and may have later occupied the island of Sicily; and the Lukka lived in the portion of Anatolia that would become classical Lycia. They were infamous pirates in both times. Incidentally, another group, the Sherden, probably took over Sardinia, and the Teresh may even have been early Etruscans.