Tag: Interactive History Experiences
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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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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,…
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The Story of Tsutomu Yamaguchi, Who Survived Multiple Nuclear Attacks
One of the most unique and sad tales of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings is of Tsutomu Yamaguchi, who experienced both bombings and lived to tell the story. His terrifying encounters provide a window into the atrocities of nuclear conflict and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unfathomable suffering. Early…
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Beauty Hacks Used by Women in Ancient Egypt
Makeup may appear to be a modern phenomenon but contrary to popular belief, cosmetics were also considered essential in ancient days. You may have heard Cleopatra’s – the great Egyptian Queen’s name in discussions related to makeup! Ancient Egyptians were highly self-conscious about their appearance. In fact, they were so meticulous that they insisted on being…
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Fascinating Depiction of Pirates in Visual Media: Making Learning Fun
If there’s one thing the majority of people would agree on, it’s that pirates are one of the coolest bunch of people to have ever lived on planet Earth. Some might refer to pirates as evil because they kill and steal. But don’t they look fascinating while doing so? And that is precisely why these…
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Empires & Interconnections | Apple Books Launch
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.