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Discover the 7 Best Graphic Novels About Modern History

Child reading comic book
A kid reading History graphic novel

The world of comics isn’t limited to superhero battles or Archie and Jughead stories. They can be the gateway to learning about historical events that took place decades ago.

Graphic illustrations in comics about history can capture the essence of historical events, addressing prevalent issues by looking into the past visually.

If you want to dive into a history lesson without the boredom, take a look at the following best graphic novels about modern history, detailing historical events from a unique perspective.

1. MAUS

Image by Amazon

MAUS, by Art Spiegelman, depicts the events of the Holocaust from a survivor’s perspective. The author, however, takes a completely postmodern approach while trying to narrate his father’s story as a Polish Jew survivor of World War II.

Spiegelman uses animals such as Mice, Cats, Pigs, Dogs, etc., to depict different identities, such as Jews, Germans, Poles, and Americans, and recounts events of the War and Nazi concentration sites from 1933-1938. This makes the illustrations more captivating and unique.

2. Persepolis

Image by Readings

An autobiographical take visualizing the Islamic Revolution of 1978-79, Persepolis is written by Marjane Satrapi, who draws upon her life’s years in Iran and Austria. The title refers to the Persian Empire’s historical capital.

Through a series of black-and-white images, Satrapi lets readers picture her rebellious, alter-ego personality in Islamized and war-torn Iran. The series of comics follow her life’s journey to Europe, where she navigates Western life and then makes her way back to a Post-Islamic Revolution Iran.

3. They Called Us Enemy

mage by Amazon

This autobiographical memoir illustrates George Takei’s Japanese American identity subjected to legalized racism as his family gets imprisoned in American Concentration Camps during World War II in mid 1940s.

Takei retells his childhood and events in the camp surrounded by barbed wires, where he witnesses fights, arrests, and states of emergency. As Takei’s mother denounces her citizenship, the end of the war brings concerns of heightened racism.

Readers can get enthralled by visual depictions of conversations that stem from fear of persecution in this historically packed graphic novel.

4. Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts

Image by Amazon

In this graphic memoir, Rebecca Hall tells the story of Black women and their significant role in leading slave revolts. She employs research in archives to create a story that describes the lives of Adono and Alele, two black slave women who rebelled for freedom.

The comics utilize a superhero style of illustrations to depict stories of other enslaved women who were part of the rebellion of 1712 and led slave movements for freedom in New York. Hall uses her historical imagination to draw attention to their narratives.

5. Palestine

Image by Goodreads

This graphic novel by Joe Sacco sketches the events taking place on the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the early 90s, marked by the failure of the peace process initiated by the Clinton government before the end of the first Uprising.

The somewhat cartoonish illustrations deviate from mainstream perceptions of the conflict between Israel and Palestine and explain the stories of many Palestinians who have suffered tremendously due to it. Sacco’s storytelling is exceptionally comical but, at the same time, genuine and hard-hitting.

6. Mark: Trilogy

Image by Vox

John Lewis, a U.S. congressman and a prominent leader in the Civil Rights Movement, gives an account of his life’s story through this autobiographical comic trilogy. The black and white illustrations provide an insider view of protests raged by Civil Rights Activists in America as they confronted state troopers in the 1960s.

The illustrations in this trilogy sequentially follow Lewis’ life as a young boy in the fields of Alabama. It goes up to his role as an activist and finally as a U.S. congressman preparing for the inauguration of America’s first Black President.

7. Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales: Treaties, Trenches, Mud, and Blood

Image by Amazon

This graphic novel by Nathan Hale engages readers in its true stories of World War I. Similar to ‘MAUS’, Hale uses animals for people to describe famous battles, world leaders, and various technological developments on the cusp of WWI from 1914-1918.

Focusing on the Western Front, the author portrays himself as a war spy about to be hanged and retells the war’s incidents to the provost and executioner. The comics use intelligent humor while adding complexity to unknown aspects of the past.

Final Word

These best historical comics that explore historical events from thought-provoking angles are perfect for people who want to add to their knowledge. Choose the ones you’re the most excited about, and let the fun begin.

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History Adventures Learning Materials

6 Best Games About Historical Pandemics

Global Pandemics: Plague of Athens - Title Page
Global Pandemics: Plague of Athens - Title Page

The world has seen numerous pandemics, disastrously affecting public health. It’s crucial for everyone to be aware of their causes, symptoms, and preventive measures. 

However, most people consider historical pandemics to be not so interesting to gain information about because the long hours of textbook reading tire them out. A fun-filled way to gain this information is through video games! Here are some of the best games about historical pandemics having the perfect ratio of science and adventure.

Global Pandemics: Plague of Athens

Historical Time Period: 4th Century BCE

Image by: global pandemics

If you want to dive into a history lesson without boredom, look at the Global Pandemics: Plague of Athens. Designed to enhance students’ understanding of the role of pandemics in world history, this game offers a fresh perspective on historical events.

The new product integrates digital storytelling with interactive learning design to provide a rich, complex pedagogical experience that helps in a better understanding of the topic.

Players can choose from five significant pandemics in human history and get a real-time experience. The first chapter introduces Nikos, a physician during the Plague of Athens, fighting hard to cure the sick while rethinking his purpose. The interactive historical game series gives a fun touch to history.

A Plague Tale: Innocence

Historical Time Period:  1347 to 1351

Survival has always been a vital element in video games. Based on the deadly Black Plague, this historical pandemic game revolves around Amicia de Rune and her ill brother Hugo as they find their survival from the French Inquisition soldiers and the deadly rats. Set in 14th-century France, this game blends action and adventure phases.

The game mainly consists of survival puzzles and requires great tactics and puzzle-solving abilities. The player plays Amicia, using stealth and limited equipment to escape from troops and rats, incorporating aspects of survival horror games. The award-winning game is considered one of the best games about historical pandemics. 

Killer Flu

Historical Time Period: 1880 to date

Image by: engaget

Developed by the UK Clinical Virology Network, this pandemic game demonstrates how viruses mutate and how difficult it is to spread the virus without mutations. The game focuses on an Avian flu pandemic.

The player takes the role of the virus itself, trying to spread, infect, and mutate throughout the human race. The killer flu pandemic game has added levels of difficulty, making it even more challenging and exciting to play. 

Great Flu

Historical Time Period: June 2009 to August 2010

Image by: popular science

To spread awareness about the Swine Flu, a Dutch Researcher has developed this highly interactive game. Although a bit away from reality, the game lets the users choose their virus, spread it, and then adapt strategies to contain it.

Trying to control a fast-spreading deadly virus is not very simple, and the number of infected can increase rapidly. This game is a fun depiction of some of the realistic alternatives accessible to people facing a pandemic.

A Plague Tale: Requiem

Historical Time Period:  1347 to 1351

Developed as a sequel to Plague Tale: innocence, this upcoming online game is set to release in October 2022. Following the sets of its predecessor, this game takes the story of Amicia and Hugo further.

After escaping the French soldiers, the siblings arrive in Southern France, where they embark on a new journey of finding a cure for Hugo’s disease while combating another wave of rats from The Black Plague.

Antidote COVID-19

Historical Time Period: 2019 to date

The latest edition in the pandemic history, COVID-19, has attracted many game developers to make games inspired by unfortunate circumstances. The games not only proved to be a great pastime during quarantine but also helped spread awareness about the COVID pandemic situation.

Antidote COVID-19 is developed by Pyson Games under the guidance of the World Health Organization (WHO) and input from public health experts. The game is aimed to help individuals protect themselves from the virus and learn about their immune systems in a fun way.

Final Thoughts

These best games about historical pandemics are perfect for understanding pandemics and their cures through history in a non-tedious way. Choose the ones that attract you the most, and let a fun-filled learning experience begin!

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Books Characters History History Adventures Learning Materials

7 Best Graphic Novels About the Ancient World

a woman with graphic novels

The ancient world is full of interesting events, historical battles, centennial disputes, and classical themes hidden between boring old history books.

If you’re keen to learn about the happenings of the ancient world in a far more captivating way, graphic novels are your best bet. Alternate realities paired with enthralling visuals highlight historical events from various perspectives.

Here are some of the best graphic novels about the ancient world that will leave you mesmerized by the past:

1. Rome West

323 CE

Image by AIPTcomics

Exploring an alternate reality of the New World, a thousand years before Columbus, Rome West offers a vivid description of world events through the eyes of a Roman family. 

The engaging graphics cover themes of revolution and expansion as the Romans experience war in America. The authors make you deep dive into the ancient world through questions of ‘what if?’ as Romans change the course of America’s history, establishing a colony 1000 years before the arrival of Columbus.  

2. Perpetua’s Journey

203 CE

Image by Goodreads

Perpetua’s journey illustrates the tale of Vibia Perpetua, an openly declaring Christian mother residing in Roman Africa, ordered to death for professing her religion. The graphic novel offers a combination of powerful themes such as feminism and Christianity.

The detailed illustrations induce visual storytelling of the ancient Phoenician city of Carthage, where Christianity gains popularity. It moves readers into reimagining life as a Christian woman in Roman North Africa in 203 CE. 

3. 300

480 BC

Image by Amazon

If you enjoy fictional retelling of historical battles, the 300 comic series is the one for you. Adapted into the world-renowned film ‘The 300 Spartans’, this comic book depicts the Battle of Thermopylae and Sparta’s King Leonidas’ attempt to invade Persia.

With its gritty yet beautiful art, the 300 comic series engulfs the reader in the tale of Spartans as they launch themselves into battle. Hyper-violent scenes combined with well-written dialogue become enjoyable for readers interested in ancient wars.  

Frank Miller’s brilliant art and storytelling make the 300 comic series one of the best graphic novels about the ancient world.

4. The Book of Genesis

5th and 6th BC

Image by Wikipedia

A quite literal illustration of the original ‘Book of Genesis’, this graphic novel reproduces the Bible word by word. Albeit its controversial nature, Robert Crumb manages to lend the illustrations his unique perspective on the human condition.

Readers can appreciate Crumb’s signature scratchy and heavily cross-hatched drawing style for all illustrations that provide a humanizing effect to the characters. Instead of giving the religious text a satirical touch, the comics are a must-read, honest and genuine interpretation of the Bible.

5. The Pack

1351-1334 BC

Image by Amazon

The Pack is intense and full of action as it tells the story of two Nubian slave assassins in Ancient Egypt assigned to kill Pharaoh Seti of the Southern Kingdom. Their trials and tribulations are portrayed in a unique painterly style.

The author uses a combination of visual and verbal, including Egyptian hieroglyphs, to add variety and a nice ancient touch to the story. Instead of whitewashing the tale, the protagonists are shown to be dark-skinned Africans which adds even more dimension.

The Pack will transport you to an Ancient Egyptian Tale you won’t forget soon!

6. Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne

 Pre-history

Image by Wikipedia

In this action-packed, time-spanning graphic novel, Bruce Wayne finds himself at the dawn of history, fighting evil cavemen through the power of his famous utility belt. As he becomes engrossed in battle, he is transported first to Puritan times and then to the 18th Century.

The comics follow the superhero across different ancient time zones as he builds himself an identity and fights crime. The time-traveling Bruce Wayne is featured in the spotlight through a signature superhero style. 

7. Batman Ninja

1185-1603 CE

Image by Amazon

This animated feature places the Dark Knight in feudal Japan, where the hero’s worst enemies take the form of feudal lords. Combining the Hero vs. Villain action with an ancient setting, Batman Ninja is one of the finest renditions in the Batman series.

Incorporating an anime style into the visuals, the story becomes even more interesting for fans. This animation imparts a unique touch to the Batman franchise, capturing the heroic nature of Batman within a land ruled by sword-yielding Samurais and Ninjas as assassins.

Final Word

The ancient world is filled with fascinating events waiting to be discovered. All of these amazing graphic novels are a must-read to dive into history. 

Additionally, you can also check out History Adventure’s Chrome browser web app, Global Pandemics: Plague of Athens, which tells the story of Nikos of Athens, a physician during the Plague of Athens, 429 BCE, who struggles to treat the multitude who fall ill during this world-upending ordeal, causing him to question everything he holds dear, from his faith in Apollo, healer under the gods, to the meaning of his Hippocratic Oath, and what is truly at stake in medical ethics.

Make sure to add these best graphic novels about the ancient world to your reading list and get enlightened about history in a captivating and exciting way. 

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Characters History History Adventures Learning Materials

6 Best Games About Ancient Rome

If a period or setting in history has the most potential to be turned into video games, it’s ancient Rome. Due to the extensive historical documents describing the fantastic people, locations, and traditions of a civilization that lasted over 1,500 years, Rome is one of the most fascinating ancient societies.

The fall of Rome was one of Europe’s most tumultuous periods, and since Roman civilization influenced so many countries, it has captivated people’s interest for ages. There are numerous Rome-inspired books, movies, games, and even fashion!

For now, let’s focus on the best games about Ancient Rome. This best demonstrates how playing and learning may be combined in minutes.

1. Rome: Total War

Game Release Year: 2004

Historical Period: 270 BC to 14 AD

Image by Wikipedia

With its outstanding campaign and addicting core gameplay, Rome: Total War is a real treat for any enthusiast of the Roman era. Most people didn’t think it was feasible to combine real-time strategy and turn-based gameplay, but Creative Assembly did it. Rome: Total War was the first of several games that combined many characters on the screen, allowing players to combat the army against a single console.

The game depicts the peak and last centuries of the Republican period and the initial years of Ancient Rome’s imperial era. At first, the user assumes charge of one of three Roman dynasties, with other non-Roman clans becoming available later.

It gives a thorough understanding of the Roman army’s structure and how the Romans controlled the inhabitants of towns and cities. It also requires the player to think clearly and sensibly to become the Roman Empire’s Ruler. This is what makes it one of the best games about Ancient Rome.

2. Ryse: Son of Rome

Game Release Year: 2013

Historical Period: 54-68 AD

Image by Pinterest

Ryse: Son of Rome is based in Ancient Rome during Nero’s reign, a fascinating period in the empire’s history. While the majority of the game takes place far outside Rome, in Britannia, on the outskirts of the empire, we get a fair look at numerous historical facts and personalities along the way.

The personalities are not a hundred percent historically correct but are inspired by actual events. These include Nero: Rome’s emperor, warrior queen Boudica, Commodus and Basillius: children of Nero and Damocles amongst many others! With a surprisingly sophisticated combat system, players will engage in large-scale conflicts and gladiatorial clashes in the field.

3. Age of Decadence

Game Release Year: 2015

Historical Period: 395 AD Fall of the Roman Empire

Image by Youtube

The game is set in a world based on the collapse of the Roman Empire. Age of Decadence has a sophisticated turn-based combat system and a rich conversation and decision system that has a significant impact on how the world evolves around them.

As they engage in Roman politics and betrayals, gamers get to build their own identity. It’s also one of the few games that give you complete control over your character. You’ll be in Rome. As a politician, your job will be to keep Rome from breaking apart by avoiding hostile attacks. In essence, gamers must aid in the recovery of this civilization. However, because the narrative is set during the fall of the Roman Empire, there is no happy ending.

4. Shadow of Rome

Game Release Year: 2005

Historical Period: 48 BC

Image by Youtube

The storyline is a dramatized account of Julius Caesar’s assassination, centering on two main characters that the player will assume the role of. The first is Agrippa, a warrior whose father is suspected of murdering Caesar and is condemned to combat in gladiatorial theaters. The second is Octavianus, who embarks to prove Agrippa’s father’s righteousness.

In summary, it’s a wonderful chance to witness and participate in the Roman lifestyle. Players appreciate this old Roman game, which they see as both inventive and beautiful.

5. Assassin’s Creed: Origins

Game Release Year: 2017

Historical Period: 49-43 BC

Image by Forbes

The player assumes Bayek, a Medjay, and Aya, his wife, as they fight to defend the people of the Ptolemaic Empire during a period of massive uprisings. The Pharaoh, Ptolemy XIII, battles to preserve his authority while harboring desires to extend his kingdom.

Even though the game is centered in Ancient Egypt during the Ptolemaic period, gamers will still engage with historical personalities such as Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Pompey Magnus, Brutus, Lucius Septimus, and others from Rome’s past.

Image by Youtube

6. Grand Ages: Rome

Game Release Year: 2009

Historical Period: 60-53 BC

Image by Youtube

Grand Ages: Rome is an empire-building and real-time strategy game set during the last period of the Roman Republic. The game depicts actual past events, such as the slave rebellion headed by Spartacus, a former gladiator, and allows players to choose between Julius Caesar and Pompey Magnus.

Players are entrusted with accomplishing missions and establishing a reputation as leaders and politicians. Players must keep the population happy by providing adequate food, religion, and amusement. When players struggle to meet the requirements of their people, crime and sickness may develop, and houses may be abandoned.

The list of best games about Ancient Rome does not end here. It is to get you started. These games not only allow you to get a taste of the Roman culture through characters and settings but also puts you in their shoes. This is because history is not only about learning what happened in the past. You also need to contemplate what could have happened and the possible consequences of those events. This is what these games allow you to do!

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Characters Historical Fiction History Learning Materials

6 Best Games about Alternate History: Learning History the Interesting Way

If you thought video games about history were the ultimate learning tool you needed, you are mistaken. While historic games give you facts and figures about significant past events, games about alternate history allow you to dissect events unlike anything else.

While learning history, often questions are asked about what could have occurred if a single event in history had been altered — a life spared, or possibly a life lost. Thinking about different angles and endings helps gain clarity and understanding about the cause of those events.

You can achieve this in the easiest, funniest way by playing some of the best games about alternate history. These games are incredibly imaginative and thrilling stories that combine genuine historical locations and events with fantasy. Here are some examples that you can try out!

1. Freedom Fighters

Image by Pinterest

After World War II, the US entered the Cold War. The Russian Empire started making its own nuclear arms and financing communist regime reforms worldwide. Although the superpowers never went to war, Freedom Fighters envisions a narrative where the Soviet Union invades New York.

In freedom fighters, you get to take on the role of Chris Stone, who is a plumber-turned-action hero. Together with his brother Troy, he is tasked with gathering rebels and ending the Soviet takeover of New York City.

2. Fallout

Image by Pinterest

In Fallout, China blasted the United States into a radioactive wasteland.  The fact that the 1950s never ended, yet technology evolved, is an intriguing aspect of the game. So, in addition to commercials, music, and fashion from the 1950s, there are robotics and plasma weapons. This difference generates the game’s comic tone amid immense terror, including it in one of the best games about alternate history.

The fallout shows odd equipment that runs on nuclear power because the transistor was never created after World War 2. Fallout uses a reality-based basis and twists it. There might be disastrous variations in how contemporary times played out if something as simple as the transistor was not created — a gadget that many individuals never think about.

3. Homefront

Image by Pinterest

The game’s narrative takes place in the 2010s when North Korea and superpowers clash over the country’s military aggressiveness, which includes a successful nuclear test and the loss of a South Korean ship.

The United States is shown in Homefront in a completely different light than it is presently, with a defense far from the most competitive in the world. As a result, it’s a prime target for a North Korean attack, and it’s up to you to incite a revolt that will liberate the country.

4. Bioshock

Image by Flickr

The alternate history of Bioshock is tough to determine since it exists in several different timelines. Essentially, it occurs in a world when technology progresses at a far quicker rate. This is why, in what seems to be the 1950s, there is essentially futuristic technology.

BioShock transports you to the wreckage of a failed Objectivist civilization. Rapture’s clientele has become substance maniacs addicted to ADAM, a DNA-modifying chemical. You play as Jack, who explores further inside Rapture to learn its mysteries and stop Andrew Ryan, the organization’s commander.

Because cities like Rapture are so remote and cut off from the rest of the world, there isn’t much historical data to draw on. However, it demonstrates a great deal in terms of American customs and beliefs in various situations.

5. Prey

Image by Pinterest

Prey alters history by failing the assassination attempt on President Kennedy, who would live until 2031. This leads to a period of scientific advancement that would result in far more space travel and research. The game goes on to show how you’ll be fleeing from strange aliens that appear to be on the verge of taking over the Earth.

The chronology in the game features humanity’s discovery of the Typhon, aggressive aliens with both physical and mental characteristics. The Typhon was discreetly kidnapped and held in the Kletka space shuttle by the USA and the USSR.

6. We Happy Few

Image by Pinterest

This alternate timeline depicts a World War 2 ending in which Hitler loses power and Germany becomes the German Empire. They then attacked England, which quickly submitted and survived the invasion. Considering how drastically different World War II would have turned out if Germany had control of Great Britain, We Happy Few is dangerously close to reality.

In this game, people living in the Wellington wells had to do something horrible with kids, so they invented a medication to help them recall. This, on the other hand, soon goes downhill. They are joyful because of the drug, but they have no morality. They experience visions and hit anyone who declines to take the pills.

Final Word

Players interested in history may enjoy the mentioned best games about alternate history that explore “what-if?” scenarios. These games follow and modify real history to produce new realities. But because they are based on the authentic culture and technology of the period, you get to learn a lot!

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History History Adventures Learning Materials

9 Significant Historical Moments that Shaped Our Modern World

Historical moments that shaped our modern world

There are countless examples of important historical moments that changed the world we live in today. Some occurrences inspired movements that transformed the world and wars that gave birth to new nations.

Choosing the most significant event in history is a subjective task by default. These instances are too numerous to list and difficult to compare throughout history. 

We picked the events with the most significant far-reaching influence, even if it wasn’t necessarily the most renowned event in a particular year.

Industrial Revolution 1760

Image from Pinterest

In the 18th century, new industrial advances enabled civilizations to concentrate, specialize, and flourish, resulting in the first Industrial Revolution. The first American factory was founded in 1790 by Samuel Slater. 

The creation of machine-driven industries sparked a wave of urbanization, increasing global trade, social unrest, new sources of income, and new forms of authority. It changed the way people thought about labor and professions and social welfare and what it meant to make a livelihood.

The outbreak of World War I, 1914

On the 28th of June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, were assassinated in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip. Following the First World War, there was a greater appreciation for women’s contributions to society. Several countries granted women the right to vote.

There was also a larger recognition of the role of the working class, which had battled in the war and now wished for a more peaceful future.

Russian Revolution 1917

Image from the Guardian

The Bolshevik revolution, headed by Lenin, brought in a radically different type of government with global ramifications in October 1917. The Soviet Union changed the Russian people’s lives by bringing economic progress. However, this came at the cost of political oppression. The Soviet Union’s ideology also resulted in a long-running Cold War, an ideological division between western democracy and Soviet Communism.

Stock Market Crash 1929

Image from Investopedia

Following the stock market surge of the 1920s, Wall Street stock prices plummeted in October 1929. This resulted in a long-term drop in share price, which triggered the worldwide Great Depression. Unemployment in the United States has risen to 25%, while global output and commerce have also decreased. The poverty and a sense of isolation that followed fueled the rise of political extremes throughout the world.

World War II 1939

Image from CNN

Hitler took control of Poland on September 1, 1939, while France and Britain attacked Germany two days later, starting World War II. The destruction was practically unmeasurable: casualties were estimated to be between 70 and 85 million. 

The end of World War II signaled the start of a new era for the global market. International trade began to increase again under the rule of a rising superpower, the United States of America and was supported by technology from the Second Industrial Revolution.

Foundation of United Nations 1945


Image from New York Times

The United Nations was founded on October 24, 1945. Its mission was to avert conflict and organize philanthropic operations to alleviate poverty, enforce civil treaties, and safeguard the environment. Despite its inability to stop hostility on several occasions, the establishment is considered a historical moment in history. The United Nations remains an essential international platform, with the United Nations Charter guaranteeing fundamental rights and liberties without difference or bias.

Hiroshima Attack 1945

Image from Britannica

Hiroshima and Nagasaki’s atomic bombing by the US in 1945 was one of the major historical events that changed the world. The Japanese surrendered due to the destruction, putting a stop to a long and costly Pacific conflict. Japan’s capitulation was once considered impossible. The atomic bomb, on the other hand, expedited Japan’s defeat.

The atomic bomb had far-reaching consequences that went beyond the conclusion of WWII. It demonstrated the destruction that a third global war could bring to the rest of the world. Even today, Hiroshima’s impact and the prospect of nuclear war loom large worldwide.

9/11 Terrorist Attacks 2001

In November 2001, 19 terrorists killed over 3,000 people in the greatest attack on American territory since the Japanese struck Pearl Harbor in 1941. The incident significantly impacted American foreign policy and was a driving force behind the contentious Iraq invasion.

Covid Pandemic 2019

Covid-19 pandemic

Covid-19, a new virus, was discovered in China in late 2019 and, to date, remains the most significant event in human history. People were restricted to their residences, and offices were shut down due to substantial worldwide ‘lockdowns.’ 

Despite travel limitations, the virus spread to every country across the globe. The lockdown severely harmed the world economy, which resulted in a high increase in unemployment and a drop in the production of goods and services. 

You must check out Global Pandemic: Plague of Athens to help make sense of global pandemics!

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History History Adventures Learning Materials

Games Based on Important Historical Events: Learning the Smart Way

video games about historical events
Learning Games | History Adventures

Video games based on important historical events take you back in time, ensuring that you fall in love with the subject! Historical video games allow players to become active participants in some of the most pivotal periods in human history. Unlike history textbooks, these games provide enormous experiences that cannot be matched by written content. Here are some of the video games based on important historical events that bring history to life!

1.      The Oregon Trail

Game Release Year: 1971

Historical Time Period: 1846–1869

The Oregon Trail is a famous computer game intended to teach youngsters about the hard realities of pioneer life on the Oregon Trail. In The Oregon Trail, players will assume a wagon commander attempting to cross the legendary Trail.

They’ll start in Independence, Missouri, and conclude in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. The game depicts how different classes could travel the Oregon Trail, with a banker having more money and hence more resources than a farmer. It was not uncommon for a group member to become ill and die, and this is no exception in the game.

The fear of wild Native Americans was exaggerated in the imaginations of actual travelers, and this was replicated in the computer game characters. Native Americans would emerge out of nowhere in the game to attack the travelers.

2.      Victoria II

Image from Amazon

Game Release Year: 2010

Historical Time Period: 1836–1936

The Industrial Revolution is more than just a transition from agriculture to industry. The Industrial Revolution sparked a boom in literacy and complex concepts like communism, labor laws, and universal suffrage. Victoria II allows gamers to experience the entire revolution.

Victoria II has a greater focus on internal control than on warfare. This is a massive geopolitical simulation in which you assume command of any state you choose at the start of the Victorian era in 1836 and govern it in real-time for the next century.

It will take the gamers on a virtual visit back in time where they will learn the historical events and take decisions that will help them visualize possible historical alternatives.

3.      Genghis Khan II

Game Release Year: 1992

Historical Time Period: 1184 AD – 1274 AD

Genghis Khan II is a turn-based grand strategy game featuring tactical and strategic phases. The strategy phase focuses on state-building, economic improvement, and diplomacy, while the tactics phase focuses on turn-based warfare between various forces.

There are four time periods covered in the game. Starting from the conquest of Mongolia, the transformation of Genghis Khan, the birth of the Yuan Dynasty to the conquest of the world. Aside from Genghis Khan, gamers can choose from various leaders from surrounding regions in North Africa, Asia, and even Europe.

4.      Battlefield Germany

Game Release Year: 1987

Historical Time Period: 1955–1991

Battlefield Germany is a strategic video game with turn-based gameplay. The game takes place in a hypothetical scenario in which powers of NATO and the Warsaw Pact engage a military conflict across Europe, focusing on West and East Germany.

Based on whatever party was selected, the gamer will enter the play on either side of Europe. When playing as NATO, the primary goal is to keep Soviet forces pinned down long enough for American assistance to come. When fighting as the Warsaw Pact, however, the goal is to eliminate all NATO troops. The game allows the player to view both sides of a significant historical event which is an integral part of any history lesson.

5.      1979 Revolution: Black Friday

Image from Oxford student

Game Release Year: 2016

Historical Time Period: 1978 (Iranian Revolution)

1979 Revolution: Black Friday allows gamers to see the upheavals through the eyes of a photographer who is witnessing the Iranian Revolution. Throughout the game, the player makes timed responses that determine the plot’s fate.

The game developers took hundreds of interviews with Iranians who experienced the revolution. Gamers may get history education through authentic pictures and audio recordings, in addition to picking their own journey in the game to find alternative narratives. By the end of the game, it feels like you experienced the Iranian revolution firsthand.

6.      Valiant Hearts: The Great War

Game Release Year: 2014

Historical Time Period: 1914 (World War I)

Valiant Hearts is a riveting and eye-opening story of the numerous hardships people endured during the Great War.  Valiant Hearts is, at its core, a puzzle game set against the backdrop of a gripping tale. In this game, four characters assist a German soldier in finding his true love.

Valiant Hearts is a unique game. It encompasses a magnificent experience that will warm your heart while also educating you about history. Collectibles from World War I are scattered throughout each level, and locating them reveals detailed descriptions of the object. Each level is organized by a useful chronology and events overview, and each page provides more historical knowledge, statistics, and critical events from WWI.

7.      The Saboteur

Image from change.org

Game Release Year: 2009

Historical Time Period: 1940 (World War II)

The player plays Sean Devlin the Saboteur, a street-tough Irish car racer stuck behind enemy territory in Nazi-occupied France in the 1940s. Sean battles through expansive Paris, slipping into the core of Nazi activities and disrupting their every move, driven by personal vengeance.

This game is unlike any other historical simulation of World War II. Instead of playing the game through the eyes of a soldier, you get to be a spy. Sean Devlin, the protagonist, is modeled on William Grover-Williams’ true story. While the Nazis took his life, his legacy helped lay the groundwork for France’s independence.

These games based on significant historical events aren’t experiences that will offer you a completely accurate representation of a historical period, but they will give you a sense of the era’s settings, culture, politics, military, and other aspects. These games have created a fantastic experience based on a solid historical foundation.

It’s just enough to give you a sense of critical historical events and lure you towards history. Once you develop a budding interest in the subject, you can explore the era or the personality that inspired you the most!

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History History Adventures Learning Materials

The 6 Best WWII Video Games History Lovers Will Want to Play

Image from pcgamesn.com

As countries fought it out and countless people were killed, World War II altered the path of history forever. History lovers are generally fascinated by the incidents and conflicts during this period, and they want to study more about it. And is there a better way to learn than WWII video games?

Video games bring a World War II simulation for everyone, whether you like the gritty realism of a bombing mission, the complexity of combat preparation, the excitement of an aerial duel, or the profound solidarity of a group of men.

Some games focus on this period and strive to be historically accurate. They all have different perspectives on the conflict, but they’ll all provide you with plenty of information. The following are among the finest World War II games ever made.

1. Wolfenstein

Wolfenstein 3D is a must-have for any list of the finest World War II games. Not only did the game pioneer the first-person shooter genre, but it also addressed the unsettling topic of Nazi occultism and allowed players to fight a ferocious robot-Hitler.

“What if the Nazis had won World War II?” is by far the most often posed alternate history question, and with good reason. In 2014, Wolfenstein: The New Order was released, giving you a chance to experience that alternate reality. You get to assume the character of William Blazkowicz, a former soldier who joined up with a resistance movement to topple Nazi rule and build a new order.

2. Call of Duty WWII

The return of Call of Duty to WWII is a startling fast-paced twist on the traditional setting. It has an excellent story, a terrific new multiplayer option, and a crazier, richer version of Nazi Zombies, among many other improvements.

Image from YouTube

Expect to be blown away by the graphic quality. It offers the campaign an almost cinematic polish, whether it’s the ring that plays every time you load a gun or the uncompromising pixels that give every texture and setting their proper depth. Sure, you’ve seen and played these World War II conflicts in video games before, but they’ve never looked this realistic.

3. Company of Heroes

Image from Times of India

Company of Heroes is a WWII role-playing game with two factions to choose from. Players must seize critical resource sectors scattered around the globe to construct base facilities, generate new units, and destroy their opponents.

It is a real-time strategy game with a rich, complex single-player story and a thrilling, furious multiplayer mode. It has the distinction of being the top authentic strategy game ever, with Company of Heroes 2 receiving much of the same appreciation as its predecessor. With such attention to detail, it’s no surprise that it’s one of the greatest WW2 PC games.

4. Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad

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The game allows the user to participate in one of history’s most horrific conflicts. Red Orchestra 2 concentrates on the Battle of Stalingrad and the associated activities. The game contains everything from fast, violent firefights to more sophisticated and demanding tactical scenarios.

Warriors can be killed instantly with a well-aimed shot, gun sights must be tuned in by hand per the target range, and real-world ballistics are utilized to calculate bullet drop at vast distances. Everybody fantasizes about being a hero if they were forced into a battle. Red Orchestra 2 deserves praise for quickly debunking such an idea.

5. Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30

Image from MobyGames

You get to assume the role of Sgt. Matt Baker, a real-life soldier of the 101st Airborne Division. Each chapter and all of the locales are modeled on Baker’s platoon’s authentic operations. You’ll earn items like pictures and reconnaissance photos as you complete each mission, showing how closely the game’s stages reflect what Baker’s unit faced during the war.

Brothers in Arms delivers a one-of-a-kind gaming experience by combining the most outstanding features of squad-based shooters with the flexibility of a more action-oriented videogame. Brothers in Arms is one of the greatest World War II games, thanks to its well-designed and well-thought-out multiplayer component.

6. Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond

Image from Roadtovr.com

You will take on the role of an agent working for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), which strives to be historically accurate. Its single-player narrative and Survival modes are entertaining, and they provide a unique opportunity to see classic World War 2 events recreated in virtual reality.

Gamers go through various stressful encounters in the game, whether they’re on the land tossing explosives, fighting airborne, or even at sea. This is a game worth checking out if you have suitable VR gear. There are many more games in the collection, and every game you experience from this franchise will leave you speechless.

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History History Adventures Learning Materials

Learn About the Best History Video Games Through the Years: Part 1

Contrary to popular belief, children don’t need to be wasting time when they spend hours on their laptops or consoles. The video games based in historical times make the children learn a lot by playing them. So the children get to do what they love while staying educational!

Most people consider history to be not so interesting. Here at History Adventures, we ensure that it is anything but that! We make exploring history exciting and adventurous. What better way to do that than play video games while expanding your historic arena?

As video gaming evolved into a multibillion-dollar market, historians have started to recognize the significance of video games as valid historical materials. However, this did happen over a long period. As time passed, video games also changed. Here are examples of the best history video games through the years!

The Oregon Trail 1985

Image by Oregon Trail Deluxe

The first set of instructional video games on the market began with The Oregon Trail on the Apple II by (MECC). It was created to educate kids about the reality of pioneer life on the Oregon Trail in the nineteenth century. If you attended middle school in the 1980s, you’d undoubtedly recall The Oregon Route.

In the videogame, the player takes on the role of a wagon captain leading a group of immigrants via covered wagon from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon’s Willamette Valley in 1848. While playing, it provides plenty of interesting facts about the real-life path.

Photo by Britannica

Since there are so many possibilities, such as picking your wagon leader’s occupation and taking alternative routes, you may play the game several times before becoming bored of the terrain.

Crusader Kings 2004

Photo by Steampowered

Crusader Kings may transport players to the early Middle Ages, but the design emphasis remains firmly on actual history. While casual players may be overwhelmed, you will enjoy Crusader Kings’ close attention to detail and enormous grandeur if you are a history buff.

Crusader Kings is a dynasty simulation that centers on a character whose primary objective is to build and develop their kingdom. The player must manage their dynasty’s familial, financial, tactical, political, and religious matters over four centuries in this game.

Photo by Gog

The Crusader Kings series is set mainly in Europe during the Middle Ages. History’s most significant figures, including William the Conqueror, Ivar the Boneless, and Genghis Khan, have appeared in the series.

Europa Universalis 4 (2013)

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Released in 2013, Europa Universalis tops any gamer’s list. This is mainly because of how it has been designed to start historically with real-time occurrences. The players can control a nation from the Late Middle Ages through the early modern period (1444 to 1821 AD) in this strategy game.

The game is a dynamic map of the world split into provinces that make up countries. You must rule a country by striking a balance between warfare, politics, and finances. You are supposed to do this by making decisions as the ruler of their country and allocating the resources available.

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2018

Photo by Epic Games

Warhorse Studios’ Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a role-playing action game. The emphasis throughout the match was on authenticity. The small ways Warhorse conveys the illusion of living in the Late Middle Ages show best in its narrative of struggle and betrayal.

It is based in the ancient Kingdom of Bohemia. This Imperial State of the Holy Roman Empire was also known as the Czech Kingdom. Despite the game’s enormous open world, the creators ensured that the landscape was populated with factually authentic weaponry, personalities, and structures.

To stay healthy, players must feed, drink, and rest. Moreover, with time, weapons, clothes, and perishable food degrade, so be careful about that!

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla 2020

The Assassins Creed franchise has brought gamers to a few of history’s most iconic times. From Renaissance Italy in the fifteenth century through the American Revolution in the 1700s to Classical Egypt’s Ptolemaic era.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is a game situated in 872–878 AD, released in 2020. It covers the time during the Viking invasions of the British Isles, shown through a fiction that you will surely enjoy. Valhalla does a fantastic job presenting people, ideas, and themes while challenging us to figure out how Eivor, the protagonist, relates to them.

You will get to assume command of Eivor Varinsdottir: a Viking warrior caught up in a decades-old struggle between the Assassin Brotherhood, who battle for harmony and freedom, and the Templar Order, who desires peace through power.

In the words of James Paul Gee

If you’re still not persuaded that games can help you learn history, consider what the ‘godfather’ of Game-Based Learning (GBL) has to say. James Paul Gee is well-versed in the subject, due to his extensive academic study on efficient learning approaches via video games.

For today’s youngsters, James Paul Gee presents a compelling argument for the connection between video games and education. He claims that the new literacy that emerges from gaming fosters skill mastery, responsibility, and command, all of which may be easily applied to wider educational goals.

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Characters History History Adventures

Dynasty Warriors: How Historically Accurate Is It?

dynasty warriors
dynasty warriors, a fascinating history game

You might argue that a video game has to be historically accurate before it is called a history game. What is the point of playing a history game if it has misleading facts and exaggerated stories?

However, we need to understand that when other sources inspire games, they tend to version it. To achieve drama and ensure entertainment, the creators will change the narrative to sensationalize it.

Dynasty Warriors, created by Omega Force and Koei, is a Japanese hack and slash video game. Before we decide how historically accurate the game is, let’s go through its chain of inspiration. The longer the chain, the more likelihood of changes occurring in the transition.

Chain of Inspiration

Image from Medium

This phenomenal hack-and-slash game series was prompted by Toei’s previous turn-based strategy game “Romance of the Three Kingdoms.” The strategy game takes its title from the same-named classic novel by Luo Guanzhong, which is one of traditional Chinese literature’s four great masterpieces.

Surprisingly the chain does not end here. That story is inspired by the late Han-era historian Chen Shou’s Chinese historical document “Records of the Three Kingdoms.”

As a result, despite the powerful epic aspects, the basis of the narrative is firmly grounded in reality. The names used are also kept from the historical document. However, it’s fair that the creator took full advantage of his creative freedom to make the game more attractive to a broader audience.

Concept

The central concept of the series was that it let the player be a “one-man army” against the thousands of opponents in ancient China. Even though academics agreed that battles between the two generals were exceedingly rare, Koei included exaggerated actions.

It recreated legendary battles that you may have read about and allows you to feel what it was like to be the greatest warrior of the day. It was undoubtedly uncommon at the time; even now, action games generally only have a few rivals to battle at a time.

With simple commands, players could do superhuman actions comparable to those performed by heroes from ancient myths.  Dynasty Warriors does an excellent job at it by allowing you to put yourself in the position of legendary fighters and experience their epic triumphs.

Image from standard.co.uk

You never again have to listen to or watch the account of Zhao Yun battling through the hordes of Cao Cao’s army; you may now fight the armies yourself and emerge victoriously.

Characters

Characters are an essential part of any narrative. The authenticity of the story depends on how realistically the people involved were portrayed. Despite being based on historical figures, the Dynasty Warriors game series is infamous for altering how specific historical figures were shown in Romance of the Three Kingdoms or ancient texts.

Image from proprofs.com

Zhang He was not the tall, egotistical guy shown in Dynasty Warriors. However, because he lacked other distinguishing characteristics, such as Xu Huang’s ax, Koei transformed him into a crazy character, entirely unlike the actual person. However, while new characters were continually being added to the roster, such characterization made various characters stand out.

Image from dynasty warriors fandom

Some protagonists, such as Zhuge Liang, Sima Yi, and Zuo Ci, have the power to wield magic in their assault, which adds a touch of mystique to the plot. Young women who did not engage in any conflicts in the text or reality (excluding Zhurong and Wang Yi) are presented as dangerously strong females with outstanding combat skills and weaponry.

Image from YouTube

Take another example, Lu Bü: Koei depicts him as the most powerful fighter of all, a frightening and powerful figure whom everyone fears. As per the source, he was a cunning man who lacked dignity and made several disastrous political and military decisions. As far as I recall, there is no talk of him being a great fighter anywhere; in fact, he is shown as more of a foolish person. That’s quite a change.

That’s essentially what they do with the majority of the characters. Most of them are only shortly described or not at all in Three Kingdoms. So Koei gives them a unique attitude and unexpected cool features. Understandably so, it’d be pretty dull if everyone looked and acted the same.

The video game may be derived from historical text, but it is nevertheless a videogame. To gain audience and popularity, it needs to have strong, bold characters with personalities users enjoy.

Conclusion

The Dynasty Warrior is a perfect game for children to learn about Chinese history. It allows them to think critically about why historical events developed the way they did and even consider alternate endings. This will encourage them more to read and research about history in ways textbook teaching will not be able to.

One thing to keep in mind regarding Koei’s historical simulation is that they don’t claim to be completely accurate. The purpose of the game is to instigate historical interest.  To learn more about the real history behind Dynasty Warriors parents can help children read the following:

  • Chinese Dynasties for Kids by Keith Goodman
  • Ancient History for Kids: Emperors of China by Left Brain Kids.

Happy learning!