Tag: Engaging History Content
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Al-Khwarizmi and the House of Wisdom: The Man Who Gave Us the Algorithm
In 820s Baghdad an outsider from the Silk Road wrote a book with no symbols that named algebra and, through a Latin misspelling of his name, the algorithm. Meet al-Khwarizmi, the House of Wisdom, and the recipe still running inside your phone.
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Inside the 429 BCE Plague of Athens: What Thucydides Witnessed (And What Modern DNA Reveals)
Thucydides survived the plague that struck Athens in 430 BCE and wrote down every symptom. Here is what he saw, and what DNA from a Kerameikos mass grave can and cannot tell us about the disease.
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AP World History 1450 to 1900: Why Students Remember People, Not Periods
A teacher’s guide to AP World History Units 3 to 6, from the Columbian Exchange to the Scramble for Africa: what the exam really tests, why students remember people rather than periods, and three ways to use our free apps with the units.
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Black Sails and the Real Republic of Pirates: How Nassau Actually Worked
Black Sails got the Golden Age of piracy right: the real Republic of Pirates at Nassau, 1715 to 1718, ran on elected captains, equal shares, written articles and the next prize. Here is how Hornigold, Vane, Blackbeard and Woodes Rogers actually played it.
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Shōgun: What the Hit Series and James Clavell Got Right About Japan in 1600
FX’s Shōgun and James Clavell’s novel are built on real people: Tokugawa Ieyasu, the English pilot William Adams and Hosokawa Gracia in the year of Sekigahara. Here is what the series gets right, what Clavell bent, and why Toranaga never believed in bushido.
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What Did Ancient Roman Emperors Do for Fun?
The emperors of ancient Rome are widely remembered for their scandalous politics and military conquests across their 1000-year reign. In addition, the Roman Empire has also made major contributions to the advancement of science, technology, and law. Naturally, all that physical and mental exertion required much-needed stress relief, and the Roman Emperors made sure they…
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WWI’s Dark Innovations: Unveiling Ingenious Yet Horrifying Inventions
World War I, spanning from 1914 to 1918, witnessed the birth of ingenious yet terrifying innovations that changed the face of warfare. From poison gas to tanks, the following inventions left an indelible mark on history, showcasing humanity’s capacity for creation and destruction. 1. Poison Gas The introduction of poison gas in 1915 marked a…
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From Archers to Architects: 5 Brilliant Mongol Empire Innovations
The pages of history testify that the Mongol Empire, an extensive empire stretching across Asia and Europe during the 13th and 14th centuries, was more than a conqueror’s realm. The Mongols promoted new ideas, technologies, and cultural exchanges. Here, we will discuss how the five innovations Mongol Empire promoted and how their legacy still affects…
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Misfires in the Sky: WWII’s Worst Manufactured Planes
World War II was a time of great technological innovation, and the aircraft industry was no exception. New and improved planes were being developed all the time, but not all of them were successful. Some were plagued with problems that made them difficult to fly, unreliable, or simply not effective in combat. These planes are…
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The Depths of Despair: 5 Worst Prisons of the 20th Century
Prisons are meant to be correction institutions, but some have become synonymous with brutality, torture, and neglect. From ancient times to the present, there have been prisons that have inflicted unbearable suffering on inmates. Here are the 5 worst prisons in history that showcase the dark side of justice and unimaginable suffering. Tuol Sleng Prison,…