The French Revolution was a result of the social and economic inequality in France at the time. The First Estate had absolute power and untold wealth, and the Third Estate had no political or economic power. Characterized by beheadings at the guillotine, the storming of the Bastille, and a queen ...
No civilization reflects the ancient world’s capacity for both success and failure as Rome. After more than 200 years as a monarchy, and nearly 500 years as a republic, Rome became an empire despite people’s reservations about having only one person in power. The rise, expansion, and fall of anci...
Occurring during the 1920's and 1930's, the Harlem Renaissance was one of the eras during which man’s potential for creativity and expression reached its height. The African American community in Harlem began to tell its story through visual art, literature, music and dance. Issues like equal rig...
The epic poem was one of the most complex creations of the ancient world. It reflected the ancients’ true capacity for analytical and creative thought as well as their tremendous literary skills and abilities. Epic poems reveal a great deal about the values of ancient cultures. One might question...
Our history is riddled with mysterious events and occurrences. While much is known about history, even more is unknown. People have long been fascinated by Stonehenge, Atlantis, the Loch Ness monster and other mysteries of history. Such mysteries tend to be high interest topics for students, part...
Today’s students can hardly imagine a world devoid of cell phones, iPods and computers. However, these ubiquitous technologies are extremely recent inventions. It is important for students to understand that the definition of technology is something that makes life easier and that ancient culture...
Although it can be a challenge to find time to integrate additional material into any curriculum, it is, nevertheless, a tremendously worthwhile pursuit. History and social studies curricula have the potential to be greatly enhanced by including a study of the history of art. Before the invention...
The ancient Greeks were arguably one of the most advanced civilizations of their time. Not only did they create what would become the foundation for American government, but they also inaugurated the notion of citizenship. The Greeks focused on not just living life, but also thinking about their ...
Finding the time to plan effective, substantive interdisciplinary units can be a challenge; however, educators need not shy away from such opportunities. Many cross-curricular lessons require minimal planning and can even be taught without co-teaching if schedules are prohibitive.
Social studies...
The people of the ancient world were far more advanced than most students realize. Virtually every ancient civilization made contributions and advancements that are still used in some form today. Architecture is one area in which the ancients excelled; the Egyptians created perfect pyra...
A study of archaeology is an important component of any social studies curriculum. Artifacts are the way that we know what took place in the past; they complement and enhance written records and make history come to life. Artifacts are especially important when learning about prehistoric cultures...
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World have recently regained popularity thanks to a world-wide contest to identify the Seven Wonders of the Modern World and the Natural World. The original list of wonders written by Herodotus was Greek-centric and limited to seven because of the ancients’ belief...
The Renaissance was a time of tremendous intellectual growth throughout Europe. Artists, scientists, writers and mathematicians made advances in their respective fields that left an indelible mark on history. Social studies and history teachers are fortunate that they can teach the Renaissance fr...
Monuments, memorials and public spaces are critical elements of collective memory in every society. Most nations honor their war dead and their social and political leaders in addition to commemorating important events in their history. Often, these structures serve to provide a place for the liv...
Showing films, or other types of media provides great ways to make the themes that students have studied in the classroom come alive. By showing your students a film clip or a movie you can enhance student learning, and help those who may be having a difficult time understanding a theme or major ...
Mythology is a high interest topic for most students, and you can use this as an opportunity to help your students increase their knowledge of history, and improve their analytical skills. Historians and archaeologists learn a great deal about ancient cultures from a close and careful analysis of...
Just what made Alexander the Great so great? Was it his tolerance for other cultures? Was it the comprehensive education he received from Aristotle? Was it his ambition? Was it the fact that he was thought to be a descendant of the war hero Achilles? One could argue that there was not one single ...
The role of photography in history is fascinating, and can be explored from many different angles. Rarely in our digital age do we stop to contemplate the power of a photographic image since we are literally bombarded with them all day long. In the relatively short life of the art of photography,...
The art of the ancient world reveals a tremendous amount to modern historians about the culture, values and beliefs of these early civilizations. At a time when few people could read and write, art was an important means of communication, and a critical way to record important events.
A study of...
While many students are aware of social injustice around the world today, fewer and fewer students know about the struggle for social justice in the United States. The Civil Rights Movement was a watershed era in American history. This subject matter can also be taught in conjunction with Blac...
It is difficult for students to imagine a world without writing. Without a system of writing, communication would be entirely different. Not only would there be no books, but there would be no Internet, instant messaging, or texting either. Students may be surprised that in the history of the wor...
There have been many incidents in the history of the United States that placed fear in the minds of many Americans. Two major events of this nature occurred from 1919-1920, and again from 1947-1957. What caused these waves of fear? The answer is communism. The Red Scare was a ...
Throughout history there have been many atrocities committed against humanity. The Holocaust is one of these. It has changed the way the world examines and responds to genocides. The stories of those who survived describe the mistreatment and torture that Jews and many others endured during this ...
The history of war photography is an interesting one. This genre of photography has always been controversial; how much is too much for civilians to see? Do these photographs serve as proof and evidence or as commentary? Studying the use of photographs taken in times of war is important to helpin...
Oskar Kokoschka was a person whose work and life can provide an interesting exploration for students. Although he is best known for his work as an Expressionist painter, he was also a writer. He was born in 1886 in Vienna, Austria. After serving in the Austrian army in World War I, he was declare...
Almost every student in school will have to complete a research project about at least one famous person in history. For many students this could be a difficult task. Selecting an individual, gathering information, and putting it all together can be overwhelming for any student. But there are som...
What is one thing that Arnold Schwarzenegger, Albert Einstein, and Marcus Garvey have in common? The answer is simple; they all are famous American immigrants who contributed to the history of this country. These individuals were born in other countries, but were able to make their mark in the hi...
Germany is a country that has a long history. Major historical events, including the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, occurred in Germany. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the event which made international headlines. The Berlin Wall, that once divided the eastern and western p...
Poverty is a social issue that plagues many countries around the world. It is one of many international issues that do not have an easy solution. The United States has struggled with poverty-related issues for centuries. Despite many efforts made by the government, poverty is still a major concer...
Sometimes we may forget that we live in a world where there are organizations devoted to maintaining a peaceful world. The United Nations is one of them. It is an international organization that is concerned with balancing and keeping harmony around the world. This organization was founded in 194...
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