It’s been a whirlwind journey for the entire History Adventures team, and today, we’re proud to share with you a project that has been two years in the making. Introducing “Plague of Athens VR” – an immersive experience now available on Meta Quest’s App Lab!
A Haunting Chapter
“Plague of Athens VR” teleports you to 429 BCE, allowing you to step into the shoes of Nikos, a young physician navigating the challenges of the first recorded pandemic. As the city of Athens grapples with chaos, you’ll witness firsthand the dilemmas and decisions that tested the spirit of its citizens.
Multimodal Learning
History Adventures is committed to delivering rich historical narratives. Whether you’re a history buff, curious about the tales of ancient epidemics, or someone who revels in a gripping narrative, “Plague of Athens VR” promises to take you on a voyage unlike any other. As you immerse yourself in this ancient world, you’ll also find poignant reflections on the challenges that resonate with our times.
Join Us on This Journey
Available for free to Meta Quest users worldwide, “Plague of Athens VR” is a testament to the potential of technology to redefine how we engage with history. Dive into the experience today and let us know your thoughts!
History Adventures would like to extend immense gratitude to our collaborators, supporters, and our ever-growing community of history enthusiasts. Together, we’re not just revisiting history; we’re reimagining how it’s experienced. Here’s to many more adventures!
Since the creation of community social frameworks, shocking political assassinations in modern history have been a component of social reality. Some were shot, some were stabbed, and some were bombed.
Political assassinations are mostly less about the person himself and more about his political position and ideologies. In addition to causing public outrage, grief, and pain – political assassinations tend to bring a billion conspiracy theories and reasons for why they happened.
Here are some of the major political assassinations in history!
Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the successor to the Austro-Hungarian Dynasty, was killed at Sarajevo in June 1914 by a Serbian called Gavilo Princip. Princip was a supporter of the nationalist movement Young Bosnia, which intended to liberate Bosnia from the chains of foreign control. He was angered by the Austro-Hungarian invasion of Bosnia. The assassination is largely seen as the trigger for the commencement of World War One in August 1914
Gandhi was assassinated in Delhi on January 30, 1948, by Hindu extremist Nathuram Godse. He was a few minutes late for the gathering since he was strolling from Birla House to the field where his evening prayer services were conducted.
How a global symbol of non-violence was killed en route to praying made this one of the most tragic and shocking political assassinations. The killing shook the whole globe, and thousands of Indians flocked to the roads to pay their respects to the nation’s father.
Former Marine Lee Harvey Oswald shot and killed the 35th US President John F. Kennedy in a motorcade in Dallas on November 22, 1963. Kennedy is recognized as one of the finest and most beloved presidents in American history, despite lasting less than three years in office.
Lee Harvey Oswald, his shooter, was arrested but murdered before he could be prosecuted. Oswald was shot and killed by a nightclub owner just two days after the tragedy. Many have seen this as evidence of a larger cover-up and a conspiracy.
James Earl Ray fatally murdered the renowned American political activist Martin Luther King Jr. on a hotel balcony in Memphis on April 4, 1968. James Earl Ray, his assailant, first admitted guilt to murder but then retracted his statement. Many people, including King’s family, feel that his killing was orchestrated by the government and/or the mafia to quiet him.
The assassination prompted a phase of nationwide grief, which aided in the passing of an equitable housing measure, the civil rights era’s final significant legislative success.
Indira Gandhi, the country’s third Prime Minister and the country’s sole female leader, was another casualty of religious conflicts in India. Gandhi was a controversial character who backed the independence cause in East Pakistan, resulting in the creation of Bangladesh.
Her Sikh bodyguards killed her in 1984 after commanding military action at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, one of the most sacred sites for Sikhs. Gandhi’s killing sparked a wave of aggression against the Sikh community throughout India, with alleged 8,000 deaths as a result.
Yitzhak Rabin was Israel’s fifth Prime Minister, elected in 1974 and 1992 on a campaign that supported the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Negotiations.
The Oslo Accords, intended to settle Israeli-Palestinian disputes, were signed by the Israeli Prime Minister. On November 4, 1995, a right-wing militant named Yigal Amir became enraged and killed the Prime Minister. There has been no agreement between the two countries since his death. Many people see his killing as the end of the sort of peace he envisioned and strove for, making it one o the major political assassinations.
Benazir Bhutto was Pakistan’s first female Prime Minister and the first woman to lead a democratic administration in a Muslim majority country. She was also one of the nation’s most powerful political personalities. Her death, caused by a suicide bomber during a political gathering in 2007, shocked the entire world. However, her killing boosted public backing for her party, the Pakistan Peoples’ Party, which gained majority seats in the two-month-old elections.
Final Word
Not only did these assassinations play a significant role in the creation and fall of some of history’s most powerful civilizations, but they also continue today as a way to defend one party’s honor over another. What has to be noted is the impact it has for years to come!
History Adventures Empires & Interconnections - all new digital book
All New Digital Book
Introducing Empires & Interconnections, the newest edition in the award-winning History Adventures digital book series, whose accolades include the 2019 Horizon Interactive Awards Gold Medal for Best Education App.
This fully interactive, animated digital learning product represents a fresh approach to history education, designed for today’s digital generation.
History Adventures: Empires & Interconnections (1450-1750) combines the latest in mobile entertainment with the power of narrative design—bringing the pages of history to life.
An Age of Exploration, Gunpowder, and International Trade
During this period of colossal change, from 1450-1750, the world got smaller. The age of exploration, gunpowder, and international trade took hold, like never before. Epic empires expanded, and followed trade routes–as European nations battled to control as much of the world’s wealth as possible. The dark side of this explosion of wealth and consolidated power and influence, meant enslavement and ruin for some, as Europeans unknowingly brought diseases that killed millions and meanwhile initiated the gruesome, inhumane Atlantic Slave Trade. Some nations remained autonomous and isolated, such as the Tokugawa of Japan–but this took huge effort to throw off this tide of increasing global interconnectedness.
Empires & Interconnections
For Empires & Interconnections, we have developed 6 new characters–each of whom confronts the core question: how to deal with this tidal sweep of rising empires, will they fold into this interconnectedness, or will they somehow resist?
A World of Characters
We begin our journey in 1453, as Ioannina, a woman of Byzantine and Turkish ancestry, experiences the Ottoman Siege of Constantinople, led by Sultan Mehmed II. The battle hangs by a thread, but ultimately the ancient capital falls, heralding the final death knell of the Roman Empire, and the rise of the Islamic empires of the Middle East, whose control of this critical crossroads will push the emerging mercantile empires of Western Europe to search for a Western route to Asia. Our next character, Luis Felipe Gutierrez, is a Spanish adventurer, who dreams of achieving wealth and glory in the New World–while spreading the word of God–as Columbus, Cortez, and Pizarro had done before him. In the disease-stricken, war-torn mountains and jungles of Peru, he finds instead madness, confusion, and death.
In Tokugawa Japan, a young woman, Ishi, is a key advisor to the powerful warlord, Tokugawa, who strives to achieve the first Shogunate. She will advise Tokugawa on how to deal with these strange, fanatical European missionaries: should she grant clemency, or should she deal with them harshly, and with violence, to stamp out their looming threat. In 1619, we introduce William, a man forcibly brought to the new settlement of Jamestown in Virginia, by Portuguese Slave traders. Captured by English pirates in the Caribbean, William was sold along with 16 other Africans to the struggling Jamestown colony–and there he would be the first to confront an international slave trade that would last for centuries, and grip the lives of millions.
A century later we find one man, Jonas, was still struggling to find his place in the Atlantic World. As trading companies and governments tightened their grip, a few men like Jonas rebelled and turned pirate. Based in the notorious pirate haven of Nassau, in the Caribbean, Jonas plundered merchant ships. The question was for how long he could escape the hangman’s noose? On the other side of the world, in the Indian subcontinent, a Bengali tax collector must decide whether to remain loyal to the Mughal Emperor or side with the rapidly expanding British East India Company. As the company seized control of Bengal on the battlefield, Arun had to decide where his loyalties lay?
What Would I Have Done? The Best Question About the Past You Can Ever Ask..
Innovative product features
Immersive 360 Panorama Environments
Animated, Interactive Infographics
Enhanced Original Historical Documents
Choose Your Own Adventure Experience
Animated Illustrations & Dynamic Text
AP World History Curriculum
Media-Rich Interactive Assessments
Optimized for cross-platform performance, running flawlessly on phones, tablets, and the web.
What the Press are Saying
“Screenwriters have been adapting historical stories for years, but Spencer Striker, PhD is using a new medium to bring history to life—a fully animated, interactive, narrative-driven digital book series.”
– Script Magazine, May 7, 2020
“Spencer Striker’s History Adventures couldn’t have come at a better time. As parents all over the US are scrambling to home school their children, the digital media professor and producer has delivered us the history of the world, in an enticing and entertaining format.”
– Filmdaily, March 24, 2020
History Adventures showcases a fresh approach to learning and literacy, designed for today’s digital generation: interactive, multimodal content that combines mobile entertainment with the power of story—bringing the pages of history to life!
Download History Adventures: Empires & Interconnections today!
TOP 10 Best History Apps And Books That Will Make Learning History Interactive
If you are craving to find out more about the past, History is definitely the perfect subject for you. However, studying history is not only important because it allows us to understand our past, but it also helps us make more sense of the current world.
However, who wants to study history from a boring or difficult book?
Therefore, we’ve compiled a list of the most engaging and interesting history books and apps that are suitable both for educational purposes and for general interest. So, whether you’re a high school student, a business owner or a retired person, we are absolutely sure that you will enjoy all of the items listed here.
History Adventures, World of Characters, (1750-1900) The first item on our list falls under the book category, but it’s much more than a standard history book, it’s much more than that! Developed by Spencer Striker, History Adventures is taking world history learning to a whole new level with 3D experiences, data visualizations, sound effects, and amazing graphics. Moreover, you will also be able to test your comprehension by taking a quiz by the end of each topic.
But the best part is that it is absolutely free to download. But hurry up! It’s only free for the next few weeks.
BBC History Magazine The UK’s best-selling history magazine is now available on iTunes!
Every month the app publishers assemble leading specialists to explore a variety of historical topics – from ancient civilizations to the two world wars. Every issue includes an extensive reviews section, interesting ideas for cultural trips and breaking history news.
History In Pictures This interactive guide formed from the latest pictures of historical events from around the globe is now available for Android users.
You will be able to browse hundreds of historical photos including People, Wars, Events, and Creative moments from world history, that have been uploaded to the app in the last 24 hours.
Civilisations AR Yes, another product created by BBC, but this is their first Augmented Reality app. Explore over 30 astonishing artifacts from around the world at the convenience of your home or office.
This free AR app comes from a major collaboration between the BBC, Nexus Studios and over 30 museums from across the UK, and it is now available for both iOS and Android users.
The Civil War Today The Civil War Today is an award-winning app created exclusively for the iPad 150 years after the start of the American Civil War. The users can explore the war as it unfolded, one day at a time, with daily updates that let you re-live the events in real-time.
You will also be able to browse thousands of original documents, maps, photos, and newspaper broadsheets.
The Book of Kells The Book of Kells is one of the most remarkable illustrated manuscripts and the most complex manuscript of its kind to survive from the early Middle Ages. Currently, it is on display in the Library of Trinity College Dublin.
The app helps users explore the most exquisite details of 21 of the 9th-century manuscript’s best pages at up to 6 times their initial size.
cdli tablet Developed by the University of California, “cdli tablet” is exclusively an iPad app that covers the cultural heritage of ancient Mesopotamia. The app includes text and images of ancient Mesopotamia that span 3500 years of human activity and describe the origins of trade, astronomy, and mathematics in ancient times.
The best part – entries are updated daily.
TimeTours: Uxmal TimeTours is a time travel guidebook that will take you on a virtual trip to the past using modern 3D reconstructions. Its ‘Now and Then’ time windows let users experience what the cities looked like in the ancient world.
The app costs $5.49 and is available in English, German, Spanish. By the way, it is also currently used in the Cambridge Friends School iPad pilot program.
The Presidents – Flash Cards If you’re looking for the fastest and easiest way to learn the Presidents, the Presidents app will definitely have you covered! It contains gorgeous flashcards for all forty-five Presidents of the United States – from George Washington to Donald Trump.
And you will also be able to test your knowledge by turning the information off in the “Tap to Reveal” mode.
Kings & Queens: 1,000 Years of British Royalty This easy to use iTunes app contains both magnificent digital portraits of Britain’s royal family and comprehensive descriptions of their characters and accomplishments.
Telling the story of the British monarchy from William the Conqueror to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, this is a perfect starting point for anyone with an interest in the Royal Family.
With these apps and books, you will definitely have an endless supply of historical facts and stories. In particular, at History Adventures, we go the extra mile to take your history learning to the next level.
In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments which app or book you’ve enjoyed most.
History Adventures, World of Characters, Book 3: 1750-1900 is now available for download in 51 countries around the world... for free for a limited time only!
History Adventures, World of Characters, Book 3: 1750-1900 is now available for download in 51 countries around the world… for free for a limited time only!
History Adventures presents a fresh approach to history education, designed for today’s digital generation.
History Adventures, World of Characters, Book 3: 1750-1900 is now available for download in 51 countries around the world… for free for a limited time only!
This interactive, multimodal learning experience combines the latest in mobile entertainment with the power of narrative design—bringing the pages of history to life.
History Adventures foregrounds the power of story, narrativizing the experiences of people who lived in past centuries—in different epochs and locations around the globe.
Students will witness the very real moments these very real people lived through, as if they were there. And via the empathy inspired by storytelling: students will feel the life or death stakes of decisions made in the moment.
The January 31, 2020 release covers the Period from 1750-1900 through the lens of 5 amazing people living through complex flash-points in time.
Book 3 Features:
Agent 355, (a slave… and an American Revolutionary War spy)
Jiemba, (an indigenous Australian at Botany Bay when the British convict ships arrived)
Fei Hong, (a Chinese family man, surviving the Opium Wars)
Khari, (a native rebel resisting Belgian oppression during the Congo Free State)
Thomas Brown, (a muckraking reporter, working to expose the gross malpractice of the Chicago Meatpacking Industry).
History Adventures: the Stories of People in Time, Connected by Eternity…
Introducing the official launch trailer!
History Adventures, World of Characters, Book 3, (1750-1900), presents a fresh approach to history education, designed for today’s digital generation.
This interactive, multimodal learning experience combines the latest in mobile entertainment with the power of narrative design—bringing the pages of history to life.
History Adventures, World of Characters, Book 3, (1750-1900).
A fresh approach to history education, designed for today’s digital generation.
This interactive, multimodal learning experience combines the latest in mobile entertainment with the power of narrative design—bringing the pages of history to life.
History Adventures foregrounds the power of story, narrativizing the experiences of people who lived in past centuries—in different epochs and locations around the globe. Students will witness the very real moments these very real people lived through, as if they were there. And via the empathy inspired by quality storytelling, students will feel the life or death stakes of decisions made in the moment.
The January 2020 release of History Adventures covers the Period from 1750-1900 through the lens of 5 amazing people living through complex flash-points in time.
Book 3 Features
Agent 355, (a slave… and an American Revolutionary War spy)
Jiemba, (an indigenous Australian at Botany Bay when the British convict ships arrived)
Fei Hong, (a Chinese family man, surviving the Opium Wars)
Khari, (a native rebel resisting Belgian oppression during the (so-called) Congo Free State)
Thomas Brown, (a muckraking reporter, working to expose the malpractice of the Chicago Meatpacking Industry).
History Adventures, World of Characters, Book 3 (1750-1900), will go live on iTunes, January of 2020, available for download around the world!
History Adventures: The Stories of People in Time, Connected by Eternity..
AUD Assistant Professor of Digital Media Dr. Spencer Striker presented a new digital learning prototype, called Big History Adventures, being developed in collaboration with key members of the International Big History Association.
Big History, an emerging academic discipline that examines history from the Big Bang to the present was discussed at AUD recently by Dr. Jonathan Markley, of Cal State Fullerton, who presented an engaging overview of Big History’s cutting-edge innovation in visual educational multimedia.[1]
Championed by such thought leaders as Bill Gates, who finances the Big History Project, this cutting-edge, macro-level, interdisciplinary approach to world history curricula is increasingly influential around the world.
About Big History Adventures – by Dr. Spencer Striker Building a digital learning experience to be produced in association with the International Big History Association. Featuring contributions by leading scholars of world history, the app will tell the Little Big History of Human Collective Learning from the origins of spoken language on the plains of Africa to the paintings of the Chauvet-Pont-d’Arc Cave; from the invention of cuneiform in Mesopotamia to the audio-visual revolution of the 20th century; and beyond.
Leveraging my original research and expertise in mobile app development, the project will demonstrate how data visualization, big data, interactive maps of time, musical scoring, sound design, branching paths, game-based assessments, and embedded documentary can bring the pages of history to life. [2]
Promotional Poster for Dr. Spencer Striker’s Big History Adventures FX Demo at AUD
About Big History Big History examines long time frames using a multidisciplinary approach based on combining numerous disciplines from science and the humanities and explores human existence in the context of this bigger picture. It integrates studies of the cosmos, Earth, life, and humanity.
Big History examines the past using numerous time scales, from the Big Bang to modernity. If conventional history focuses on human civilization with humankind at the center, Big History focuses on the universe and shows how humankind fits within this framework, and places human history in the wider context of the universe’s history.
Big History draws on the latest findings from biology, astronomy, geology, climatology, prehistory, archaeology, anthropology, evolutionary biology, chemistry, psychology, hydrology, geography, paleontology, ancient history, physics, economics, cosmology, natural history, and population and environmental studies as well as standard history, to draw an unprecedentedly complete portrait of the human story in the universe as we know it.
