Did you know that, according to legend, tea came from the eyelids of a monk? Green Tea in Japan has a long history, dating back to the 8th century where it began its importance in the country as a stimulant for meditating monks. In both the traditions of China and Japan, tea or cha was discovered by an Indian sage in the fifth to sixth century. This Indian sage, Daruma (also known as Bodhidharma), was the founder of Chan Buddishm, the precursor to Zen Buddhism – after spreading his new doctrine, he founded the Shaolin temple in southern China Tea became popular with the Buddhist monks for keeping sleep away, and is made by adding hot water to the young leaves, leaf tips, and buds. It was thought that tea had some medicinal qualities and we know now that the antioxidant tannins in tea can help strengthen the immune system. Monks visiting Japan in the eighth century, as well as travelling traders and diplomats, introduced tea to Japan in the eighth century, and some Japanese monks visited China and brought back both tea seeds themselves, as well as the cultural practice of tea drinking. LEARN MORE --> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toDK_awBu5s
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire was a single-seater fighter plane, one of the most important aircraft of the Second World War (1939-45). Employed by the Royal Air Force in such crucial encounters as the Battle of Britain in the summer of 1940, the Spitfire gained legendary status thanks to its graceful lines and superlative manoeuvrability.
The Railways in the British Industrial Revolution
The railways were perhaps the most visible element of the Industrial Revolution for many. Trains powered by steam engines carried goods and people faster than ever before and reached new destinations, connecting businesses to new markets. There were also unfortunate consequences such as the decline in traditional transport like canal boats and stagecoaches, and the impact on unspoilt countryside.
Scenic Views of Ireland
According to one legend, Ireland takes its name from the Gaelic Eire, derived from Eriu, the daughter of the Mother Goddess Ernmas of the mystical Tuatha De Danaan and, for anyone who has spent any time there, this seems fitting in explaining the enchanting beauty of the land.
Did you know that the industrial revolution in Britain is referred to as the first industrial revolution, since that is where it happened first? The British Industrial Revolution was a period of both innovative mechanisation and deep social change that has been generally agreed to have spanned from the mid-18th century to the mid-19th century, or more specifically, between 1760 and 1840 – but that's not to say that there weren’t any important or necessary developments before or after this general period. The Industrial Revolution in Britain, also known as the First Industrial Revolution, wasn’t one single dramatic event, but instead, a gradual process of the mechanisation of industry as well as of agriculture that created long-lasting social change, such as the urbanisation of Britain, that then spread throughout France from 1830, Germany from 1850, and to the United States from 1865 in the Second Industrial Revolution. LEARN MORE --> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm_M8NrBJS4
Philadelphia Campaign
The Philadelphia Campaign (July 1777 to June 1778) was a major military operation during the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), in which a British army under Sir William Howe attempted to capture the revolutionary capital of Philadelphia and, in the process, draw the Continental Army into a decisive battle. Although the British captured Philadelphia, their campaign ultimately ended in failure.
The Bound Children
The Bound Children is a Sioux legend highlighting the importance of proper behavior, not only among family members but within one's community. The widow, who does not properly care for her children, is punished, along with those who support her, while the children, and the old woman who takes them in, are rewarded.
Phoenician Maritime Trade and Cultural Exchange
This lesson plan has two parts. During the first part, students will watch a video introducing the Phoenicians and answer the questions on Worksheet #1. In the second part, students will participate in a trading simulation activity which will end in a discussion period about the cultural impact of Phoenician maritime trade.
Conway Cabal
The Conway Cabal was a movement undertaken by American military officers and political leaders to remove General George Washington from command of the Continental Army during the winter of 1777-78. These Patriot leaders had lost confidence in Washington's cautious style of leadership and plotted to replace him with the more energetic General Horatio Gates, hero of Saratoga.
Operation Chastise
Operation Chastise, the 'Dambusters' raid, was an attack by a squadron of RAF Lancaster bombers on the dams of the Ruhr basin in Germany in May 1943. Led by Squadron Leader Guy Gibson, the bombers breached two dams causing enormous flooding in the valleys below, disrupting industrial targets and killing at least 1,300 civilians.
Crazy Horse
Crazy Horse (Tasunke Witko, l. c. 1840-1877) was an Oglala Lakota Sioux warrior and warband leader considered among the greatest defenders of Sioux lands against the forces of the US government in the 19th century. He is one of the most famous Native American figures in history and among the Sioux's most honored heroes.
Etruscan Art
The art of the Etruscans, who flourished in central Italy between the 8th and 3rd century BCE, is renowned for its vitality and often vivid colouring. Wall paintings were especially vibrant and frequently capture scenes of Etruscans enjoying themselves at parties and banquets. Terracotta additions to buildings were another Etruscan speciality, as were carved bronze mirrors and fine figure sculpture in bronze and terracotta. Minor arts are perhaps best represented by intricate gold jewellery pieces and the distinctive black pottery known as bucchero whose shapes like the kantharos cup would inspire Greek potters.
A complex and captivating portrait of Mark Antony that offers a fresh perspective on the fall of the Roman Republic In his lifetime, Mark Antony was a famous man. Ally and avenger of Julius Caesar, rhetorical target of Cicero, lover of Cleopatra, and mortal enemy of Octavian (the future emperor Augustus), Antony played a leading role in the transformation of the Roman world. Ever since his and Cleopatra's demise at the hands of Octavian, he has remained famous, or infamous, a figure of recurring fascination. His life--variegated, passionate, sensual, bold, and tragic--inspires vigorous reactions. Nearly everyone has a view on Antony. For Cicero, he was a distasteful though talented man. Octavian fashioned him a dangerous failure, a Roman noble corrupted by his appetites and his lust for Cleopatra. Later historians adopted and adapted these themes, delivering their readers an Antony who was irresistibly depraved, startlingly brave, sometimes cunning, but almost always constitutionally incapable of choosing the right side of history. From these, especially Plutarch's compelling portrait, Shakespeare gave us the chivalrous and unstudied Antony of Antony and Cleopatra. A Noble Ruin, the fullest biography of Antony in English, assimilates the various, often competing, ancient sources to provide a strong and much-needed dose of realism to the caricature we have of this major historical figure. The book gives ample attention to the varied cultural circumstances in which Antony operated, including the social and moral expectations of his republican heritage, as well as the exceptional challenges posed by the convulsion of civil war. In furnishing a complex and captivating portrait of Anthony, A Noble Ruin allows readers to freshly assess his conduct, ambitions, and attainments, as well as the turbulent age in which he lived. LEARN MORE --> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jO4NJ58ILM
Lancaster Bomber
The Avro 683 Lancaster bomber was a four-engine heavy bomber flown by the Royal Air Force and allies during the Second World War (1939-45). Lancasters were particularly used in nighttime bombing raids and could carry the heaviest bombs ever dropped in WWII. Lancasters dropped the 'bouncing bombs' on several Ruhr dams in Operation Chastise, the 'Dam Buster' raid of May 1943.
Wreck of the Batavia
The Batavia was a Dutch East India Company ship that foundered on the coral reefs of the Houtman Albrolhos Islands, 60 kilometres (37 mi) off the coast of Western Australia, just before dawn on 4 June 1629. It was the flagship of a fleet of seven vessels that set sail for the Dutch East Indies in October 1628.
Jan is the Founder and CEO of World History Encyclopedia, leading the non-profit organization on its mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. He has worked in the field of history-related digital media since 2006 and holds an MA in War Studies from King's College London as well as a BA in Journalism from the University of East London. LEARN MORE --> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzIjTMynKNc
Battleship Bismarck
The Bismarck was a German battleship, the largest and most powerful capital ship in the Kriegsmarine. For all its weaponry and armour, the ship was involved in only one major operation which, after the sinking of the British battlecruiser Hood, ended in the Bismarck's destruction in the North Atlantic by a large British force on 27 May 1941.