European History
History of Bastille Day
Getting Ready for Bastille Day, 2017! Learn about the history and celebrations of July 14th from Professor Ann Williams, professor of French. […]
History
European History
The Great Powers of World War I — Germany’s Revolution
Germany’s rise as a Great Power during the turn of the century is a story complete with revolution, political upheaval, unstable leaders, and generals dancing in tutus. […]
American History
The Importance of Experimenting: The Wright Brothers
At the turn of the century, The Wright brothers’ ground-breaking inventions captured the spirit of innovation in our nation. Even today, their methods illustrate the importance of experimenting during the process of inventing. […]
Ancient History
Decoding the Secrets of Egyptian Hieroglyphs
Ancient Egyptian civilization is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating chapters in human history. While remnants of the culture like temples, obelisks, and sarcophagi continue to mystify us, you can unlock their true meaning if you know how to read hieroglyphs. […]
Cooking
How The History of Coffee Shaped The Global Economy
It’s amazing how just a few items—coffee, tea, sugar, tobacco, and spices—completely changed the focus of the global economy, especially as they’re all entirely superfluous. […]
European History
The Ukraine-Russia Crisis Explained
Survey the recent crisis in Ukraine and see how the origins of this conflict stem from the last hundred years of the region’s history, which is rife with skirmishes and shifting borders. After providing the historical context, Professor Liulevicius explains the ins and outs of the current crisis, including ethnic divisions within Ukraine and Russia’s attitude toward former Soviet territory. […]
European History
The Lost Treasure of the Amber Room
What incredible images are evoked by the lost treasure of the Amber Room of the Tsars, looted and spirited away from Russia during World War II. […]
American History
Symbol of Liberty: Benjamin Franklin’s Walking Stick
Benjamin Franklin, one of America’s Founding Fathers, cherished his walking stick. This relatively simple object, adorned with a liberty fur cap at the top, conveys a powerful message about America’s national character at its inception and reveals the success of Franklin’s diplomatic efforts with France during Revolutionary times. […]
American History
10 Historical Artifacts That Shaped America
A list of 10 historical artifacts that helped shape America, drawn from the collection of the Smithsonian Institution and it’s museums. […]
American History
Who Helped Fund America? — The History of Robert Morris
Money issues abounded in the new United States. Why was the abundance of land (and lack of hard coin) such a problem? What compelled states to print so much of their own unsecure paper money? how did Robert Morris attempt to restore the links between commerce, agriculture, and government finances? […]