Humanities

Concentration camps were home to some of the worst most atrocious acts ever done. Here you can learn what the German Holocaust was and what happened at the concentration camps.

The vast forest of Pennsylvania’s Stony Valley, earlier called Saint Anthony's Wilderness, harbors the remains of a once great establishment. Long lost to memory are the missionaries, mining towns, lumber camps, railroads, and lakeside resort of a past era.

Kipling dramatizes humanity's imprudent notions, measuring them against the wisdom of the ages as found in an important learning tool for students.

One of the most infamous crooks of the Victoria era was a violent burglar.

Even supreme sovereigns are not spared the drastic permutations of life! Here are 5 tragic Chinese emperors who ended their reigns in the worst way. They died as slaves or captives.

A look at Lucretius' masterwork "On the Nature of Things" (De Rerum Natura). A philosophical poem.

At the start of World War Two, 209 Polish defenders in an ammunition depot held off thousands of Germans, a battleship and dive-bombers. Even when hope of relief evaporated, they fought on.

Sarah Forbes Bonetta was an orphaned African princess given as a gift to Queen Victoria by the King of Dahomey. Victoria became Sarah's godmother, and received her into the royal extended family.

Whether or not one loves or hates the writing of Ernest Hemingway is never much of a consideration regarding his stature, as his stature as one of the finest of America's writers is cemented in history. The life of Earnest Hemingway was complex, and full of danger, intrigue, and adventure, just like his writing, the man was totally unique.

Confederate civilians trapped in Vicksburg during General Ulysses Grant’s 1863 Vicksburg campaign dug caves to avoid the shelling, and were reduced to eating dogs, cats, and rats.

The most efficient branch of the U.S. Army in World War II was the artillery. 20 years of innovations between the wars helped make it the best in the world.

A little-known dialect from the Midlands of England echoes the language spoken by the Anglo-Saxons.

Do Aquinas's five proofs for the existence of God really prove that God exists?

Society has a great influence on people and their way of life, and can either liberate or oppress them, depending on the accepted standards of the time. Societies which believe in total male superiority cause women to be oppressed and unsatisfied with their lives. The wives in Trifles and A Raisin in the Sun are alienated from their husbands as a result of societal beliefs which dictate complete female submission, male dominance in marriage, and the need for material goods to ensure a happy marr

Carol Ann Duffy's War Photographer is a poem that takes you into the mind of a person paid to take images of human suffering, the result of violence. It provokes and in the end questions what it is to witness war and to feel helpless in the process. Yet where would we be without images of war?

An infamous serial killer lived just down the street from little Ann Marie Burr, who vanished in 1961. Was this little girl Ted Bundy's first victim?

This is an introduction to some of the finest examples of modernist architecture in Manchester from the peak 'modernism' period of the 1960s. At various times, these buildings have been derided for their ugliness; but in recent years, there has been a growing fondness for them and their stories.

St. John of the Cross is the patron of Spanish poets. His most illuminative poetry emerged from the darkness of imprisonment.

This article summarizes the career of legendary explorer Colonel Percy Fawcett, who vanished in Brazil during 1925. The story also provides many theories explaining how and why he disappeared.

To drive the Germans out of the city of Zwolle in the Netherlands, the Canadian Army was prepared to level it. French-Canadian Private Leo Major had other plans.

Kate is an amazingly strong character displayed in Shakespeare's play The Taming of the Shrew. Here you can see how Kate may be the tamest of the sisters.

The Michigan Accent & Slang Words. Groups of people from every US state and, really, every place in the world have a unique accent and Michigan is no different! Learn Michigan-isms here!

Painted screens are a unique folk art tradition of Baltimore, Maryland that gave inhabitants of narrow streets privacy. Includes how to paint a screen as well as a gallery of decorated screens.

Learn about 5 of the most significant battles of the American Civil War and how their outcomes changed the fate of a nation on the brink of ruin.

It would be impossible to visit Ireland's Dingle Peninsula without seeing a clochán, more commonly known as a beehive hut. Who built them, and how old are they?

"Still I Rise" is one of Maya Angelou's best poems. It's a defiant, hopeful, and uplifting lyrical poem that stirs the heart, prepares the soul for struggle, and gives us food for thought.

This essay studies why we have so many documented cases of people with out-of-body experiences and conscious of their surroundings while near death.

This article talks about helpful tips, strategies, research, and stories coming from a native speaker for those learning the Filipino language, especially for beginners.

An in-depth analysis of William Shakespeare's King Lear that scrutinizes how Shakespeare used what we know to be as a fool to show wisdom and how even kings can be quite foolish.

The Roman Baths complex in the city of Bath, England, is a major tourist attraction. It offers a fascinating look at the lives of Ancient Romans in Britain.

This is an analytical essay that examines the racial issues in Shakespeare's play, "Othello." The play ponders whether race is a social fabrication or an innate ugliness of human nature.

Donne's love poem, an aubade, contains a metaphysical conceit, an argument, a figure of speech involving imaginative use of unusual metaphor. The Good-Morrow is about the unity of love, two hemispheres forming one globe, the speaker waking up wondering what the lovers did 'till we loved?'

At the height of the Cold War, Canadian engineers built an advanced combat interceptor, but it never went into production.

In this article, you will find the names of different types of crops in the Hindi language. The Hindi names of the crops have also been provided in the Roman letters for the ease of understanding by English readers.

In the first of a series of articles on Medal of Honor winners from the artillery branch, we look at three heroes from World War II.

John Donne's "The Flea" is an erotic metaphysical poem employing a conceit, or extended argument. The male speaker wants to make love to a woman, who resists. The lead role is the humble flea, which sucks the speaker first then the woman. Their blood is mingled in the flea, a symbol of sexual union.

St. Philip Neri revived Rome during the Renaissance, earning him the title of “Apostle of Rome,” but his most endearing quality is his joy.

6 Easy Rules with examples for punctuating quotation in dialogue and conversation. Includes examples, Words for Said chart and writing conversation tips.

Carp art - and in particular koi art - is some of the most famous artwork to be exported from Asia. In "Chinese and Japanese Koi Fish Art", Chinese and Japanese carp paintings, koi art, and the history and cultural significance behind the carp are discussed.

U.S. destroyer Johnston will go down in the annals of history for taking on destroyers, cruisers and battleships during WW2.

In this article, I discuss some of the ideas that stood out to me most in Audre Lorde's "Sister Outsider."

It is hard to believe that in the 19th century, a man could have his wife committed to a psychiatric hospital based solely upon his whim. Yet it was the law that made this possible.

The sixpence and the shilling are pre-decimal coins from the United Kingdom. They have a long history and are associated with some interesting traditions.

For Clyde Barrow, incarceration at the Eastham Prison Farm marked the beginning of life of rampage and destruction across the Midwest.

Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois both fought in different ways for African American equal rights. But Du Bois accused Washington of counseling blacks to accept second class status.

Robert Frost wrote some memorable poems and became one of America's most popular poets. He sought to produce a 'sound of sense' in his work. But what does this phrase mean?

Before Jackie Robinson wore #42 for the Brooklyn Dodgers, he was a US Army officer court-martialed after refusing to go to the back of the bus.

In 1968 Peanuts, the most popular comic strip in history, was still all white. But a concerned schoolteacher convinced Charles Schulz to bring a black kid into the cast.

A criminal slang known as "Patter Flash" was used among pickpockets and thieves in 19th century London. This criminal slang was used to confuse police and create a secret mode of communication between thieves, who often worked in large gangs known as battalions.

Robert Browning's dramatic monologue is all about power and the psychology of possession. The curiously disturbing Duke of Ferrara, who is telling lies, or truths, to an emissary of the next family he will marry into, comments on his last duchess, now a painting on the wall. A satire on the elite?

The Puritans fled England to escape religious persecution, but were the Puritan colonies in the Americas bastions of religious tolerance and freedom of thought?

God reveals Himself by many names throughout Scripture. Each expresses a quality of Him that is vital to know. One, in particular, stands out in reference to the miracle of the five loaves and two fish as told in all four of the Gospels signifying a lesson that applies to every sphere of our life.

Meet some of the characters of Grand Canyon's human history.

Industrialization began in Britain in the middle of the 18th Century, radically changing the world forever. Here are 10 Facts on the Industrial Revolution.

The 1705 Virginia Slave Act turned indentured servants into slaves for life, removed legal protection against torture and murder of slaves, and required runaway slaves to be returned to their owners.

Magazines, books, art materials, toilet tissue, wall-coverings, tickets, posters, packaging and even money are all made from paper. But where does paper come from, who invented it and how is it made?

Many religions suggest that there is a creator of life and the universe. This article is a discussion of theological and physical concepts to offer alternative views.

DNA evidence shows that some Viking warriors were female, but what was everyday life like for the common ancient Norse woman?

Overcoming fierce racial discrimination, Hugh Mulzac became the first African American to command a Liberty Ship in World War II.

Of the world’s approximately 6,000 languages, English is said to be one of the easier ones to learn despite its idiosyncrasies of spelling and pronunciation.

Jacob, one of the founding patriarchs of the Jewish faith, had many character flaws. Jacob, however, was chosen by God for a profound purpose. God revealed part of that purpose to Jacob in a vision of a miraculous ladder that linked heaven and earth.

The values of the Cult of Domesticity focused on the happiness of the family unit and the wholeness of the home. Popular in the 1800s to early 1900s, 1950s, and now 2010s as the New Domesticity.

Tyburn was a famous site for public executions in London for many centuries. Many criminals and traitors against were executed on Tyburn Tree and hanging days were huge public spectacles.

Emily Dickinson's American (innovative) sonnet reveals an attitude dramatized in the Shakespeare sonnets: the poet's confidence in her creation of a world of beauty that will last forever.

Edgar Lee Masters’ speaker in "Aner Clute" compares her choosing "the life" to a boy stealing an apple from a grocery store.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial salutes Veterans who died during the war. The Wall has an interesting history surrounded by controversy. The Three Servicemen Statue and Womens Memorial are also in the park.

A brief account of eight of the largest and greatest migrations in recent history.

Curious about life in the Colonial period? Learn about how daily life for colonial Americans and some surprising facts about women in Colonial trades.

A line-by-line analysis of the elements used by Robert Frost within his poem "After Apple Picking" that give it depth and meaning.

The final four requested items on God's list, as it concerned the Tabernacle as recorded in Exodus 25, will be visited in this article along with its connection with salvation through Jesus Christ..

Unlike his wimpy appearance in art, the real St. Aloysius Gonzaga had formidable will power and manly virtue.

Herein lies a detailed analysis of Edgar Allan Poe's famous short story "The Cask of Amontillado." This story of a vengeful murder is still popular today, even 150 years after it was published.

Despite being written in 1948, many parts of George Orwell's fictional dystopian society have become reality. The prevalence of surveillance and loss of privacy, the state of perpetual war with shifting landscapes and changing enemies, the truncation of language and fake news are the new norm.

Review and summary of Orlando Figes' book, "A People's Tragedy: A History of the Russian Revolution."

What would the world be like if it was socially acceptable to experiment on orphans, slaves, prisoners, and other voiceless individuals? Our past has the answer and it's not pretty.

The inspiration behind the many pre-Raphaelite paintings of Arthurian lore.

This article explores the fundamental role of the Holy Spirit, and its role in providing salvation to lost sinners.

Sweet Fanny Adams is used by the British to describe anything worthless. It is also the name of a pretty young girl murdered in Victorian England. This is how Fanny's name became slang for worthless.

40 Facts about Tamerlane - Timur the Lame conquered half the world despite his debilitating injuries. However, he is largely forgotten in popular history.

This article suggests the 45 best paintings of modern art. Biographies for the artists are provided as well as photos of their paintings. The different styles of modern art are also explained: Expressionism, Impressionism, Symbolism, Pop Art, Dada, Futurism, post-Impressionism and Fauvism.

In the Civil War Robert E. Lee was a defender of slavery, while Ulysses S. Grant did all he could to destroy it. But it was Lee who thought slavery was morally wrong, while Grant seemed not to care one way or the other.

During the Battle of the Bulge, one segregated unit nearly lost all its men and it took years to be recognized. By helping to defend both St. Vith and Bastogne, it deserves its place in history.

Get to know The Wife of Bath, one of the pilgrims in the Canterbury Tales. She is a strong willed woman, married five times and on the look out for number six! Never dull, she wants equality with men.

Thousands of years ago, Doggerland connected Britain to Europe where the North Sea exists today. The area had a rich Mesolithic culture, which researchers are exploring.

Five historical Japanese religious leaders that permanently transformed the socio-political landscape of Japan with their beliefs and practices.

Sister Nazarena was an American Camaldolese nun, who lived like an Egyptian hermit in a Roman convent for forty-five years.

D. H. Lawrence's "Afternoon in School: The Last Lesson" features a teacher, who dramatizes the uninspired performance of his lackluster students. The teacher has become weary from vain attempts to instruct them as they refuse to learn.

10 popular and beloved Chinese myths to know before visiting China. Familiarity with the gods and heroes in these legends will make your holiday much more meaningful.

'The Emperor's New Clothes' is a fairy tale for children, but it is also a perceptive commentary on the human condition. In this review I look at the story, its history and its great wisdom

To many people, the Middle Ages and the Dark Ages are interchangeable terms. But during the Middle Ages, ideas of philosophy, science, and engineering were being made every day—just not in Europe.

This article explores death and the afterlife according to Christian and other viewpoints.

Plato's student Aristotle differed from him in many opposing ways.

In 1914, military aviation was in its infancy. By the end of World War One, just four years later, Germany had giant bombers larger than those they would use in World War Two.

William Miller's prophesy of the second coming came and went and led to the Great Disappointment. But, the let down didn't stop the Millerites. Here's a look at the man and the event that defined him.

"Tom’s Midnight Garden" is a classic children’s book about time travel, loneliness, and friendship. The appealing and popular story was written by Philippa Pearce.

An overview of the political ans social landscape that shaped and determined the events of Jesus Christ's life and death

When you want to learn about World War II, hear it from people who were there.

Death of a Salesman's Willy Loman was a low man. He led a sorrowful life, accomplished little, but had big dreams. Here is an analysis of the man behind the story.

The Effingham hospital fire on the night of April 4, 1949, was the second largest in United States history, with a total of 77 fatalities. The tragedy resulted in a nationwide overhaul of hospital fire safety regulations thereafter.

Private William Hunter, who enlisted in the British Army in 1914 when he was 16, after repeated absences from his regiment, was shot at dawn for desertion on Feb 21, 1916.