Michele Gama Sosa
Location
Berries Springs, MI
School
Yale University, University Of Chicago
Expertise
Ancient Middle East History, Christianity And Church History, Indo-European Languages
- In 2020, Michele finished a dissertation on how the Trojan War might have actually happened historically — no mean feat considering there are barely any texts.
- Michele's blog "Hidden Gems of History" discusses little known events, languages, and people that give our world its diversity and flavor — like the Dalmatian language, or Christianity in China in 800 AD.
- Language study is key to providing perspectives and material otherwise unknown to English speakers — and that's why Michele has endeavored to learn the languages of his primary interests, especially in Eastern Europe and the Romance-speaking world.
Experience
Michele has worked as a writer since finishing graduate school. His expertise is primarily in the Bronze Age Mediterranean, with a focus on the Hittite Empire. However, his interests extend into other historical fields, particularly the history of Christianity, linguistics, Romance languages, and Eastern Europe. His training as a historian is particularly relevant for weaving different threads together to form a coherent picture to explain how the past influences our present world and why it matters.
Education
Michele earned a B.A. in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from Yale University in 2014 and a Ph.D. in Near Eastern History from the University of Chicago in 2020.
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Stories By Michele Gama Sosa
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Angels hold a special place in Western thought, but they are some of the most misunderstood beings in the Bible. Here are things people get wrong about angels.
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While most viewed the Carpenters as a wholesome duo, their lives behind the glamor of fame are not as well-known. This is the untold truth of the Carpenters.
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The exact meaning of Epiphany has long been up for debate. For some, the holiday is an opportunity to celebrate the glory of Jesus' various manifestations.
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Wealthy producer Dodi Fayed gladly embraced a fancy lifestyle, but things were more complicated than they seemed. Here's the untold truth of Dodi Fayed.
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An enemy would have to break through layers of defenses before having a chance at setting foot on U.S. soil. Here's how the U.S. would react to an invasion.
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There's more to the period before Christmas than chocolate advent calendars. These are some Advent customs from around the world explained.
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The Bible has been restricted, redacted, and even banned to prevent people from reading it. Learn about some of the occasions.
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Pakistan owes its nuclear weapons to Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan. Also known as A.Q. Khan, this scientist created a Pakistani nuclear bomb and sold secret technology.
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Most Christians are familiar with the general significance of Bethlehem. But Bethlehem contains many more surprises.
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The Great Schism refers to the gradual divide between the churches in the West and East that resulted in separation of Roman Catholic and Orthodox religions.
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In 1678, a Venetian noblewoman named Elena Cornaro Piscopia made history by obtaining a doctorate. This is the true story of the first woman to earn a Ph.D.
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The American Civil War was made worse by multiple blunders by incompetent generals and politicians. Here are some of the Civil War's biggest blunders.
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Christian symbols are easily recognizable, but their purposes are often not. Here are the meanings of major Christian symbols as well as some lesser-known ones.
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The Bible continues to be an influential and controversial text. So it's no surprise there are common misconceptions of its material.
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The Church of the East, often associated with Nestorianism, completely contradicts the notion that Christianity was brought to Asia by force and colonialism.
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Without the Nile River, Ancient Egypt wouldn't have existed. Here's why the Nile was so essential in Ancient Egypt.
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Certain interpretations of Biblical text align with modern scientific knowledge. These are the parts of the Bible that science has confirmed to be true.
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The collapse of the Inca Empire lies in a civil war that pitted brother against brother. This is the tragic story of the Inca Civil War.
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The Eucharist, a Sunday routine for many Catholics, has held great significance in history and even started a war. This is the untold truth of the Eucharist.
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History is made at the Olympic games. Here are some of the most memorable moments from Summer Olympics history.
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When it comes to weapons, war is the mother of invention. Here are some of the most bizarre weapons used by soldiers in war.
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In the 1700s, the people of Corsica mounted an independence struggle against European powers in defense of their constitution, the oldest in the modern world.
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How did Greenland, so close to North America and populated primarily by Inuit, end up under Danish rule? Here's the real reason Denmark owns Greenland.
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The final downfall of Napoleon Bonaparte came on June 18, 1815, near a small Belgian village called Waterloo. Here's the Battle of Waterloo finally explained.
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the Renaissance is known as the period when Europe emerged from the Middle Ages and rediscovered science, art, and literature. But not all was enlightenment.
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Richard I "the Lionheart" was one of England's most famous and polarizing rulers.
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Ivan the Terrible is known as a cruel ruler who waged wars at the expense of his subjects and ruthlessly eliminated his domestic political opponents.