For students of the humanities…
Mesopotamia gave civilization many of its firsts. It is the foundation of many of the things that people consider essential today. This article from the History Channel goes through many aspects of Mesopotamian civilization, and is a great place for any interested scholar to begin their study. link to Mesopotamia
The importance of Roman architecture cannot be overstated. This article from Architectural Digest gives a lot of great information about various aspects of this essential architecture. link to Roman Architecture: Everything You Need to Know
The art and architecture of Rome has been instrumental in the development of Western Art. This article by Oxford Art Online does a great job giving an overview of the art and architecture of Rome and what made it great. link to Roman Art and Architecture
French Gothic architecture created some amazing structures. This virtual tour, from Google Arts and Culture, of some of the most impressive examples gives an up-close look at the style. link to Gothic Treasures of France
French Gothic architecture (as well as the variations which followed) is proof that the people of the Middle Ages were capable of amazing things. The Gothic style allowed architects to build to untold heights and to accomodate thousands of people within a single structure. This article from the Victoria and Albert museum provides an interesting… Continue reading Article: The Gothic style – an introduction
France's Chartes Cathedral is thought by many to be the most beautiful of the French Gothic Cathedrals. Known for its amazingly detailed sculptures and impressive stained glass, it is certainly an excellent example of the form. This article from UNESCO provides more information and images. link to Chartes Cathedral
The Middle Ages may be long over, but that doesn't mean we aren't still discovering new things about that period. In this article from Smithsonian Magazine, the author explains new discoveries about both the Middle Ages and Ancien Rome that have been made during excavations at Exeter Cathedral in England. link to Archaeologists Discover 900-Year-Old English… Continue reading Article: Archaeologists Discover 900-Year-Old English Cathedral’s Hidden Medieval Crypt
As the February 2023 Turkey earthquake reminded us, there are many irreplaceable cultural treasures in earthquake zones (in addition to the even more precious and irreplaceable humans) around the world. The Hagia Sophia is one such treasure, located in Western Turkey. This article from Nature discusses Hagia Sophia's durability in the face of natural disasters… Continue reading Article: Hagia Sophia: Shaken, not stirred
Do you ever wonder how ancient Roman concrete buildings still look amazing, while our concrete sidewalks quickly crack? If so, then this article will help answer your questions. The Smithsonian talks about the innovations the Romans included that has allowed a number of their concrete structures to survive through to today. link to "Self Healing"… Continue reading Article: “Self Healing” Concrete May Have Preserved Ancient Roman Structures
Buildings are an integral part of our history, and the older the building is, the more it can tellus about our past. In Ireland, there is a pub that is currently called Sean's Bar, and it is believed that it was first built in 900AD. This article discusses its status as the oldest pub in… Continue reading Article: Sean’s Bar Is The Oldest Pub In Ireland, And Possibly The World
Unfortunately, not all art is valued all of the time. In Italy, the traditional villages and their traditional way of life were seen as old and tired in the first half of the twentieth century, and many people moved to the city for a faster-paced, hopefully more lucrative life. Things are changing now, and Italy… Continue reading Article: How Italy Is Bringing Its Rustic Villages Back to Life
In this article from 2017, ArtNet details the destruction (that was at that time still ongoing) of cultural heritage sites by ISIS. Stories like this show the destructive affect of war on art and culture (in addition to its painful consequences for people's lives and families). link to A Monumental Loss...
Are you researching an architectural topic (particularly a contemporary one)? If so, you may find something interesting on the website of Architectural Digest. Their search function can be a little awkward, so you may have to do a bit of a manual search. Their articles may be a little hard to find, but they are… Continue reading Website: Architectural Digest
The brave men and women of Ukraine have been in the news in ways they never could have imagined over the last few days, but how much do you know about their culture? For those who are interested in finding out more about these brave people, this article gives an excellent overview of their rich… Continue reading Article: Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine’s Featured Topics in Ukrainian Art and Architecture
I show this video to my Ancient to Medieval students, but I think it can be valuable and interesting for all students of the humanities, particularly if they are interested in Egypt and the Pyramids of Giza. There are a few issues with it (the sometimes invisible walls are a little weird), but I like… Continue reading Video: 360° Travel Inside the Great Pyramid of Giza
Humanities Scholars 