Two related learning modules consider Western perspectives on the Middle East, beginning with the Persian invasions of Greece (fifth century BC) and moving forward into the present time. Useful background on the history of wartime and...

Learning module looks at the ancient peoples of Mesopotamia, including the Sumerians and Akkadians. Particular emphasis given to the status of women in the region, religious practices, and language.

A wonderfully detailed exhibition site, developed by the Art Institute of Chicago, devoted to this gifted French painter, whose work is often viewed in opposition to the prevailing neoclassical style of his time. With a career that...

At the online home of the Art Institute of Chicago, browse the full scope and focus of the museum's collections of French impressionism, photography, architectural drawing, European decorative arts, American art, textiles, African art,...

From the landing page, learn about tapestries, their function, and creation, including the production of dyes used to produce colors. Tapestries in the the Art Institute's collection are highlighted as the history of tapestries is...

The subject matter of this medieval manuscript by the friar, Jacobus de Cessolis, is interesting--looking at the game of chess from a societal standpoint. Even more interesting from the viewpoint of the history of art is the illustrated...

Learn about the history of the royal art of the Benin Kingdom in Africa. An overview of the art is provided and with further explanation given according to themes. View maps and selected works of art. A video, charts, glossary, and a...

Learning resource uses maps to tell the early history of Chicago and the Midwest and explores how nations use maps to secure control of a region.

Learning module considers questions of identity among populations of the Middle East, both ancient and modern, in terms of their ethnicities, language spoken, religious affiliation, and gender.

World War I brought turmoil to Chicago because of its large immigrant population, especially Germans. Read about how the war affected the politics and industry of Chicago both during and after the war.

Read about the history of the Yerkes Observatory, which was run by the University of Chicago. This observatory houses one of the few research grade refractors in the world. The observatory was closed in October 2018 and discussions were...

Essay considers the long history of antipathy to Jews and Judaism.

This lesson for high school students explores the race riot in Chicago in the summer of 1919. Students are asked to explain the reasons for the riot and address the questions in the lesson. Included are excerpts from 26 primary source...

An interesting look at how some businesses in Chicago practiced welfare capitalism, a way to give noncash compensation to workers primarily to stave off unionization, but also to promote a loyalty to the company. Many examples are given.

Learning module considers the writing systems and literature of ancient Mesopotamia before the arrival of Christianity or Islam.

An overview of the cultures, contributions, history, peoples, and geography of the Middle East developed specifically for educators. Learning modules, essays, maps, scholarly perspectives, resource and image banks, framing questions, and...

Learning module considers the language, literature, material culture, and architectural monuments of classical Islamic civilization (AD 610-1258).

Art of the Baroque period of the 17th century embodied a dynamic energy that mirrored the restless spirit of its age. In painting, dramatic images of faith driven by the Catholic Church's Counter-Reformation contrast with lively...

Examine a coin portrait of Alexander the Great struck after his death as a commemoration. Also view two accompanying video clips that provide useful background information about Alexander and about the history of coins used in the...

Home page of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. A very simple, but easy site to navigate and find what you are looking for. Links to research archives, electronic resources, and projects are available on this site.

Learn about Chicago in 1919 through music, video, images, and transcripts of newspaper articles of the time.

Examine the history of famous Chicago landmark, the Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum.

Come explore the history and culture of Chicago through this resource. There are lots of activities for kids with different sections for teachers and parents.

As part of a larger site, this article gives the history of the famous Chicago "L" and its development in the last part of the 19th century. Hyperlinks to photos, many of which are period photos.