Duckwyn's Travel Blog

Photo by Juan Salmoral on Flickr Marcus Aurelius was one of the Roman Empires greatest leaders. He used all of his mental and physical strength to guard and protect Rome and it's borders. He would become the last of the "Five Good Emperors" handing his reign to his son, Commodus, after his death. Before this, he would overcome several attempts by his enemies at the northern border to destroy his reign. They would come close during the Macomannic Wars but a miracle would happ

Emperor Antoninus Pius Photo by Michael Kooiman on Flickr Antoninus Pius was the fourth of the "Five Good Emperors" of Rome. He came to power in 138 AD after the death of Emperor Hadrian . Antoninus wasn't like most Roman leaders. He wasn't out to expand the empire. Instead, Antoninus focused on consolidating the empire, strengthening its borders and improving the lives of every day citizens. Because of this, his reign was called a time of "Roman Peace." The empire prospered

Photo by Tom Bastin on Flickr This weeks newsletter focused on the third of the Five Good Emperors of Rome. This time we looked at the life of Emperor Hadrian. Hadrian's reign began with the death of Trajan in 117 AD. Unlike many previous rulers, Hadrian focused on consolidating and protecting the empire, instead of seeking expansion. This made for a relative peaceful time although no Roman Emperor can avoid all conflict during their reign. Hadrian spent much of his time trav

When Emperor Nerva took the throne in 96 A.D., Rome was on the brink of chaos. The previous emperor, Domitian, had ruled through fear and suspicion, leaving the empire deeply divided. Nerva’s short reign—just 16 months long—brought something rare to Rome: calm, cooperation, and the promise of lasting peace. Despite his age and reluctance to rule, Nerva’s steady leadership marked the start of the era of the Five Good Emperors, a period that historians consider one of the most

Recently, I've been doing a lot of research on the Roman Empire . There's something about this time in history that seems to appeal to people of all ages. The architecture, the people, the culture, there's so many things that came together during this time period that I find fascinating. If I had a time machine, Rome is the first place I'd go and I'd set the time dial to the period of Emperor Hadrian's rule. Emperor Hadrian had the fortune of ruling Rome during one of it's mo

The Tulsa Race Massacre occurred from May 31 to June 1, 1921, in the prosperous Black community of Greenwood, Tulsa, Oklahoma, also known as "Black Wall Street." Sparked by a false accusation against a Black man, a white mob attacked, looted, and burned the area, killing up to 300 residents and leaving thousands homeless. The massacre caused massive property destruction and long-lasting trauma. It was largely ignored for decades, but recent efforts aim to recognize and rememb

Walnut Canyon National Monument is located in northern Arizona, near the city of Flagstaff. This beautiful park is known for its stunning canyon and ancient cliff dwellings built by the Sinagua people. These homes were carved into the canyon walls, creating a unique historical site. Early History and the Sinagua People Walnut Canyon National Monument The history of Walnut Canyon begins with the Sinagua people, who lived in the region from around AD 600 to 1400. The name "Sina