The mostly peaceful Revolutions of 1989 brought the collapse of communist governments in Central and Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. They also marked the end of the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the West….[Continue]
Berlin Wall
In 1945, after World War II, Germany was divided by the victors into two countries. East Germany was controlled by the communist regime of the Soviet Union. West Germany was a democracy supported by the U.S. The former capital city …[Continue]
Parthenon
Constructed entirely of white marble in less than nine years, the Parthenon is widely regarded as the epitome of ancient Greek architecture. Built on a hill in the middle of Athens, known as the Acropolis, the Parthenon was dedicated to …[Continue]
Samurai
Japanese samurai warriors lived in medieval castle towns, and were paid by their local lords or governors as both military men and administrators. They were an important part of society, and at times accounted for about ten percent of the …[Continue]
King Tut
Tutankhamun, popularly known as King Tut, was a little-known Egyptian pharaoh who ruled from 1332 BC to 1323 BC. After centuries of obscurity, he became a popular pop culture icon when British archeologist, Howard Carter, discovered his well-preserved tomb in …[Continue]
Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
On July 26, 1945, President Harry Truman called for Japan’s unconditional surrender. When Japan rejected this ultimatum, the U.S. President authorized the dropping of two atomic bombs on the Japanese. The first fell on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. The …[Continue]
World War I
World War I, previously known as the Great War, took place from July 28, 1914 until November 11, 1918. Although it was mostly concentrated in Europe, it involved all of the world’s great powers, many of which were spread all …[Continue]
History of Women’s Rights
Although it is easy to take women’s modern day rights for granted, women have not always had the right to vote and own property. In fact, in some countries, women are still considered to be their husband’s property, and have …[Continue]
Prohibition
Prohibition (1920 – 1933) was a period of American history in which the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol was illegal. The 18th Amendment (which created Prohibition) was ratified on January 16, 1919 and was the first amendment to address …[Continue]
Cleopatra
She is known in pop culture as simply Cleopatra, although there were six Egyptian queens before her with the same name. Cleopatra VII (69 – 30 BCE) was the last pharaoh in the Ptolemy dynasty, and although ruthless at times, …[Continue]
