Images

French soldiers inspect goods in Leipzig in 1806, near the start of Napoleon's Continental System. By Gottfried Heinrich Geißler, 1824.

Smugglers in 1808, defying the Continental System. Etching by John Augustus Atkinson and William Miller, 1808. National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London.

A clay tablet from Zakros, Crete inscribed with Linear A script. Still undeciphered, Linear A script was used by the Minoan civilization from c. 1850 to c. 1450 BCE. (Zakros Archaeological Museum)

The Persian manuscript copy of The Canon of Medicine by Ibn Sina (Avicenna). Museum and Mausoleum of Avicenna, Hamedan, Iran.

Persian Scholar Pavilion, including statues of Avicenna (Ibn Sina) and Biruni, in Vienna International Centre donated by Iran.

The Antikythera Mechanism (also known as the Antikythera Device), dated to the late 2nd century/early 1st century BCE (roughly 205-60 BCE) is understood as the world's first analogue computer. National Archaeological Museum, Athens.

After having his knee smashed by a cannonball during the Battle of Aspern-Essling (21-22 May 1809), French Marshal Jean Lannes lies mortally wounded, his left leg amputated. Here he is visited by Emperor Napoleon I, who considered Lannes...

Archduke Charles of Austria (center) issues orders during the Battle of Aspern-Essling (21-22 May 1809). At Aspern-Essling, Archduke Charles becomes the first European military commander to score a major victory against Napoleon himself...

Archduke Charles of Austria leads a pivotal charge during the Battle of Aspern-Essling (21-22 May 1809) that contributes to the Austrian victory. Painting by Johann Peter Krafft, circa early 19th century. Heeresgeschichtliches Museum, Vienna...

The Battle of Aspern-Essling, 21-22 May 1809, between French and Austrian armies. The battle resulted in an Austrian victory and marked Napoleon's first major battlefield defeat in a decade. Oil on canvas painting by Fernand Cormon. Musée...