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Plus, how the flooding of the Nile ruled Ancient Egypt ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

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In today’s History newsletter: Cyrus the Great was considered a tolerant ruler, but was he actually? Plus, new evidence is rewriting old myths about Romans abandoning disabled infants, an explainer on how the Nile flooding ruled ancient Egyptian life, and the oldest known city map is startingly precise.

But first: The hidden ruins of the great Maya Snake Kingdom almost lost to time.

Structure II, a pyramid at Calakmul, was enlarged in several stages and reached a height of almost 200 feet.

DAVID COVENTRY/NG IMAGE COLLECTION

The great Maya Snake Kingdom remained relatively undisturbed until gum harvesters in Mexico led an American botanist to them in 1931. Here’s what was found in its remnants.

INSIDE THE HIDDEN RUINS

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Archaeologists from the University of Pennsylvania began the first full excavation of the Mesopotamian city of Nippur in 1899.

Penn Museum, Image 139049

The oldest known city map is startlingly precise

Was Cyrus the Great really a tolerant conqueror?

Did the ancient Romans really abandon people with disabilities?

Why ancient Egyptians needed the flooding of the Nile

Thanks for reading today’s newsletter, edited and curated by William O’Connor and produced by Amanda Williams-Bryant. Sign up here to get our future adventures in your inbox.

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