My Name is Cacique Guarionex: Leader of the Taíno of Hispaniola I was born into a land of rivers, forests, and mountains, where our people lived peacefully in large villages across the Cibao Valley of Hispaniola. As the son of a cacique, I was raised to understand leadership—how to settle disputes, guide planting and harvests, and honor the zemí spirits who watched over our people. Our world thrived on cooperation, shared labor, and respect for the land that sustained us. I e

My Name is Pausanias the Traveler: A Wanderer and Recorder of the Greek World From my earliest years in Asia Minor, I was gripped by a desire to understand the world beyond my doorstep. Stories of distant temples, ancient battles, and forgotten shrines filled my imagination. I was not a warrior or a statesman; my gift was observation. As soon as I was old enough, I set out on the roads of the Roman Empire, determined to see with my own eyes what others only whispered about.  

My Name is Ixtlilxochitl of Texcoco: Historian and Keeper of the Memories I was born among the descendants of Texcoco’s royal line, a house shaped equally by warriors and by poets. My ancestors served as tlatoque—speakers for the people—and guardians of a tradition that valued wisdom as much as strength. From my earliest days, I walked among manuscripts painted on deerskin, listened to elders recite genealogies stretching back centuries, and learned that history was not merel

My Name is Tiglath-Pileser III: King of the Neo-Assyrian Empire I was not born into quiet times. Assyria was fracturing, its provinces slipping into rebellion, its armies losing their edge, and its kings growing weak. Even as a young man of the royal household, I watched governors act like kings and enemies encroach on territories that once trembled before our name. I learned early that an empire survives only when its ruler refuses to let it fall asleep.   Seizing the Throne

My Name is John Woolman: A Minister for Conscience and Compassion My name is John Woolman, a minister for conscience and compassion, and from my earliest days I felt a quiet uneasiness about the way people treated one another. I was raised among Friends in colonial New Jersey, where simplicity and kindness were taught, yet I saw the shadow of slavery fall across many households. As a youth working in a store, I was once asked to write a bill of sale for an enslaved person. Th

My Name is Thucydides: Historian of War and Human Nature My Name is Thucydides: Historian of War and Human Nature. I was born in Athens during the height of its confidence and ambition, when the city was rich with marble temples, booming trade, and the proud belief that its way of life was the model for all Greece. My family belonged to the aristocratic class, giving me access to teachers, thinkers, and statesmen who shaped my early understanding of politics and power. From a

My Name is Nathan Dane: Author of the Northwest Ordinance I was born in 1752 in Ipswich, Massachusetts, a quiet coastal town shaped by hard work, faith, and a deep belief in education. My family was not wealthy, but we valued learning, and from an early age I developed a habit of study that guided the rest of my days. The colonies were still under Britain’s authority then, but change was in the air, and a young mind like mine could feel the tension rising.   Becoming a Lawyer

My Name is Ramesses III: Pharaoh of Egypt My name is Ramesses III, Pharaoh of Egypt, the protector of the Two Lands, and the last great king of the New Kingdom. I was born into a line of warriors and rulers, raised to believe that Egypt’s strength depended on the vigilance and resolve of its king. From an early age, I walked the halls of vast temples, learned from priests who guarded secrets older than memory, and listened to generals who spoke of distant threats and fading a

My Name is Toussaint Louverture: Leader of the Haitian Revolution I was born into bondage on the Breda Plantation in Saint-Domingue, the colony you now call Haiti. Though enslaved, I was fortunate to have parents who taught me discipline, faith, and dignity despite our circumstances. As a young man, I learned healing with herbs, caring for animals, and the rhythms of plantation life. These early lessons shaped my understanding of people and the land, long before I ever imagin

My Name is Kushim: Keeper of Accounts in the First Cities I was born in a time when our world was changing faster than anyone could understand. Uruk was growing into a vast city of mudbrick temples, bustling workshops, and endless fields. People were coming from every direction, bringing goods, animals, and new ideas. My life began among clay tablets and the smell of freshly baked bread, though I did not yet know how important these things would become to me.   Discovering th