Ancient History
Weird and Wonderful Scientific Achievements of the Islamic Golden Age
Here, you’ll be introduced to a few of the more prolific—if not visionary —scientists who worked and thrived during the Islamic Golden Age. […]
World History
History
The Aftermath of WWII—What Were the Nuremberg Trials?
In November 1945, the historic Nuremberg Trials began. They constituted a landmark exercise of a post-war legal system. As hate groups resurface in America today, what can we learn from court proceedings against Nazi war criminals? […]
Language
The Story of Hebrew
Professor Michael Carasik discusses how Hebrew has survived the ages as both a language, and an intrinsic part of Jewish culture. […]
Ancient History
The History of Spanish Gypsies—The Romani and Gitanos in Spain
The history of Spanish Gypsies is more complicated than one of traveling beggars—they were an essential part of the development of modern Spanish culture. Here is their story. […]
History
Criminal Justice in Imperial China: Sorcery in the Qing Dynasty
Halfway through China’s most powerful dynasty, the empire was rocked by accusations of sorcery. These accusations of sorcery in the Qing Dynasty involved tales of masons, monks, and others stealing human souls by cutting the hair of their victims. […]
History
Military History: The Middle East in World War II
The role of the Middle East in World War II fundamentally altered Americans’ conception of the region. For the first time, U.S. officials saw the geopolitical orientation of the Middle East as vital to American national security—a view of the region that persists to this day. […]
American History
History of Latin America: The Rise of Latin American Nations
Latin America does not usually loom in world history as the source of one of the great traditions. It’s a borrower of forces and influences from other places that then merge with more local elements and traditions, but Latin America has had a varied and significant role in world history. […]
Ancient History
Religion in the Ancient Mediterranean World: Egyptian Pharaohs
Official Egyptian religious culture was centered on temple worship, and temple worship was always carried out in the name of the Egyptian Pharaohs. The concerns of official Egyptian religious culture were expressed in “cult”—that is, in actions of ritual worship. […]
History
Big History and The Modern Revolution: Humanity Enters the Modern Era
In the last millennium, the pace of change accelerated sharply and decisively. The isolation of the world zones was breached in the 16th century. Then, from 1700 on the pace of innovation began to accelerate so rapidly that, within just three centuries, the entire world had been transformed. […]
Ancient History
Archaeological Wonders of Mesopotamia: The Royal Cemetery at Ur
One of the most spectacular and widely publicized archaeological discoveries in Mesopotamia was the cemetery at Ur, excavated in the late 1920s. Ur had been known for many years because of the large ziggurat mound that dominated the site. Visitors to the region had described the site in the 17th century A.D. […]