Ancient Greece and Rome are remembered for the rulers who conquered the known world, but also for the Odyssey and the Iliad, for a forum and a coliseum.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Presents Medals in Arts and Humanities

The public may applaud all the louder for a winner who has conquered the peaks and time-trials under his own steam.

ECONOMIST: The Tour de France is not dead yet

America, from the perspective of those who work for the prince and the duchess, has been conquered.

BBC: Prince Charles and Camilla

The idea of Israel giving up the land it conquered in the course of successive wars waged against it in exchange for a genuine peace with the Arabs has been around at least since the last of those wars ended in 1973.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: The Saudi Charm Offensive

Mussolini at least conquered Ethiopia, but for him and his people the second world war was yet another disaster.

ECONOMIST: Italy