History Education Articles for Teachers - Page 6

The culture of ancient India is incredibly rich and varied. It is the birthplace of two of the world’s greatest religions, Hinduism and Buddhism, and the culture we have to thank for a host of inventions and technological developments still used today. There are a number of distinct eras in India...

The history of Italy is long and rich.  It began with the settlement of the Italian peninsula by the Etruscans. The land was later occupied by the Romans, Barbarians, Byzantines, Lombards, and others. Italy has been home to composers Niccolo Paganini and Gaetano Donizetti, talented artists like M...

No history curriculum can be taught without giving some attention to the role that religion played in the development of cultures, nations or regions. It is important to explain to students that studying the origins of religion is in no way intended to serve as proselytizing; rather, it is meant ...

Born in 1853 in Holland, Vincent Van Gogh didn’t decide to become an artist until he was 27 years old. Among his first subjects were the people of the Dutch lower class. He was able to capture their suffering and hardships in dark tones and colors. Van Gogh moved to Paris in 1886 where his brothe...

Russian-born, French painter and stained glass artist Marc Chagall spent his early years in a small, Hasidic Jewish town in White Russia. His early experiences doubtlessly influenced his later work, as did the work of his Cubist and Surrealist contemporaries. Chagall painted prolifically before, ...

Pablo Picasso is viewed by many as a patriarch of modern art. Born in Spain in 1881, Picasso lived through both world wars and a host of other conflicts as the face of Europe changed throughout the twentieth century. Perhaps best known for his commentary on war in his mural "Guernica" and his rad...

Many students erroneously believe that the Constitution is not relevant to their daily lives. Researching current events as they relate to the Constitution is a great way for students to understand that it is a living document. There are many issues in the news about which students will have st...

In the middle of the nineteenth century, a small group of British artists made a decision to bring back a more pronounced “truth to nature” in their art. Ford Madox Brown, Edward Burne-Jones, William Holman Hunt, John Millais and Dante Gabriel Rossetti are the best-known artists of the pre-Raphae...

The Age of Exploration can be taught from a number of different perspectives, including those of the explorer, the crew members, the indigenous peoples, and the monarch. Not only should students understand the motives for exploration and conquest from the kings’ and queens’ points of view, but th...

The history of Great Britain is long and rich. It is intertwined with the development of most other European nations, as well as that of the United States. Beginning with the settlement of Britain by the Celtic people called the Britons, the land was later occupied by the Romans, the Anglo-Saxons...

The Middle Ages were an incredibly complex and important era in European history. Any western civilization class includes an exhaustive study of this period which connects the end of ancient history with the Renaissance. The era of castles, chivalry, plagues, knights and the Crusades is generally...

The work of Impressionist painters is among the most well-known and beloved of all of the artistic movements worldwide. Not only are Impressionist paintings aesthetically pleasing to look at, but they also represent a time and a place that is significant culturally and historically. The end of th...

The Surrealist art movement of the 1930's and 1940's is a fascinating era in the history of art. The artist’s subconscious was featured rather than a more conventional subject matter, such as a still life or a portrait. Hence, dreams became somewhat of a reality. Surrealism came about during a ti...

The Civil War is a tremendously important part of any American history course. Not only does it set the stage for an understanding of twentieth century history, but it also allows students to study a period of American history that was characterized by gross inequities, social injustice, and bloo...

The history and culture of Spain is fascinating. The geography, traditions and history of the country can be studied from a variety of perspectives and in several different disciplines. Certainly, geography teachers can teach about Spain as part of their study of Europe, but art teachers may choo...