Other
Researching Historic Buildings in the British Isles
Learn all about life in the cities of England in 1775. The site also contains links to transportation and entertainment information.
Other
Voltaire by Clarence Darrow
An extensive biography of Voltaire written by Clarence Darrow. Use links to view other material on Voltaire
Authors Calendar
Author's Calendar: Denis Diderot
Encyclopedia entry about the French philosopher and writer. Features biographical information, including Diderot's education, philosophy, and major literary works.
University of Georgia
University of Georgia: Lexis Complexes: Restless Wrestling: Johnson's Rasselas
Discussion of Rasselas and how Johnson's personal experiences shaped the book.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Political Experience
Read about how the state governments in the new American nation served as the laboratory to try out new ideas of governing and treating citizens. See how remarkably similar the ideas put forth in state constitutions were to each other.
Other
Inf Ed Encyclopedia: Jean Jaques Rousseau on Education
An extensive biography of Rousseau with lots of detail on his views on education, especially informal education.
Children's Museum
Children's Museum: Field Guide to the Universe: Astronomers
Read brief biographies of astronomers who are grouped by time period.
Other
School Wires: The Commerical North [Pdf]
The Northern colonies developed a predominantly urban society, based on commerce and trade.
Lumen Learning
Lumen: Boundless Communication: History of Public Speaking
This instructional activity offers a brief history of public speaking drawing upon the Western thought from Greece and Rome with Aristotle and Cicero. It lists and discusses the periods and the major speakers of each period.
Other
Secular Humanism: Thomas Paine
The Secular Humanism site looks at Thomas Paine and his political philosophy based in deist thought.
Other
American revolution.org: Sins of the Fathers: Religion and Revolution
An academic essay describing the ways in which "religion is an active if not a determinative" cause for the American Revolution. The essay describes three influential areas: (1) religion and liberty, (2) religion and community, and (3)...
Digital History
Digital History: Pre Civil War Reform: Introduction
A good introduction to the topic of reform movements in Pre-Civil War America. What were the reasons that encouraged reform of many social ills?
Other
Bristol University: The Spirit of the Laws [Pdf]
This resource presents the complete text by the famous 18th century French economist (in English). In it, he advanced theories of democracy for the French monarchy. It is in PDF format and is a large file.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: In Old Pompeii
Use this lesson plan to take learners on a virtual field trip to the ruins of Pompeii to explore everyday life, art and culture in ancient Roman times. Students will then use what they learned about the history and destruction of Pompeii...
Rutgers University
Rutgers University: Who Is This Johnson Guy?
Brief introduction to the life and impact of Samuel Johnson. Contains links to additional information.
iCivics
I Civics: John Locke Mini Lesson
Introduce learners to the ideas and writings of John Locke that influenced the likes of Thomas Jefferson and other Founding Fathers.
iCivics
I Civics: Montesquieu Mini Lesson
Meet the Baron de Montesquieu, one of the great thinkers of the 18th century. He spent a lot of time thinking about how governments should be created and maintained. These ideas guided the Founding Fathers when they wrote the...
British Library
British Library: Discovering Literature: Language and Ideas
From Johnson's Dictionary to letter-writing, newspapers and coffee-house culture: explore how different forms and mediums helped to develop and circulate language and ideas during the long 18th century.
Ohio State University
Osu History Teaching Institute: The Trial of Galileo
Young scholars will become familiar with the Trial of Galileo Galilei, will understand who Galileo was, and how the controversy around his ideas about the solar system reflected the conflict of ideas in a time of change.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Borobudur
The idea of path is an important concept in Buddhism, and is essential in understanding the meaning and purpose of one of the most remarkable and impressive monuments in the world: Borobudur. View pictures and read the history behind...
Curated OER
Photographic Print Showing Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World
Collection of historic photographs of the Statue of Liberty.
PBS
Pbs: Benjamin Franklin: An Extraordinary Life, an Electric Mind
To appreciate the contributions Benjamin Franklin made both to his own time and to ours, it is necessary to see all aspects of his public life, not just his role as a revolutionary, a diplomat, or a scientist. Each of the four sections...
PBS
Pbs: The Story of India: Buddha
Boxed inset describes the Buddha's life story, his quest for religious enlightenment, and his life of preaching his doctrine.
Royal Botanic Gardens
Plant Cultures: Themes: Sacred and Spirtual: Buddhism
An overview of Buddhism that considers the role of the pipal tree, among other things, in the establishment of the faith. The tree is sacred to Buddhists as the tree under which the meditating Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment.