The idea that Rome 'fell' in 476 is really a story about how later medieval writers wanted to periodize history. The people living through those events had no sense of a sharp break.

The Hellenistic period's blend of Greek and Near Eastern culture produced some of the most interesting hybrid intellectual products — Manetho writing Egyptian history in Greek, Berossus doing the same for Babylon.

Terraforming Mars is the most replayable game I own even after 60+ plays. The card variety is staggering.

The Polynesian navigation tradition — using star paths, ocean swells, cloud patterns, and bird behavior to cross thousands of kilometers of open ocean — is probably the most sophisticated pre-instrumental navigation tradition in history.

7 Wonders simultaneous play at seven means the game speeds up with more players. I love the counter-intuitive design.