This November, American families will gather around the dinner table to feast on stuffed turkey before celebrating a timeless Thanksgiving tradition: Thursday Night Football. Thanksgiving as we know it bears little resemblance to historical events. Once upon a time, Native Americans shared stores of food with English settlers—strangers from across the Atlantic—who would have starved…
Currently Viewing: Humanities
“I am looking for someone to share in an adventure …” — Gandalf in “The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien Adventure calls and a hero answers. Along the way, they encounter unlikely allies, formidable foes, and trials that will test their resolve. Against all odds, they prevail, and the world will never be the same. Sound…
The Boston Tea Party is one of those historical events that most Americans know about, though for many the details are somewhat sketchy. (Spoiler alert: It wasn’t a party, and no tea was consumed, though it was the focus of the event.) The Boston Tea Party was actually a revolutionary statement to Parliament and the…
Remember when Roman numerals were taught in school? Or when knowing how to read an analog clock was a necessity? These skills may seem trivial today, but there was a time when they were critical. Let’s explore five life skills that have nearly disappeared, and why learning the skills that last is more important than…
We’re back with five more feminist writers who changed history. If you didn’t catch our first list, you can find it here. History is replete with authors and poets who turned pain into prose, giving voice to the women of their time. There are so many feminist writers worth mentioning (and reading); we couldn’t possibly…
If you’ve ever texted ‘LOL’ or used the word ‘selfie,’ you’ve participated in history. The English language has never stood still. Every generation leaves its mark, from Shakespeare’s coinages to social media slang. Language is ever-changing, and nowhere is that clearer than in the evolution of the English language. Additions like “blousette,” “gatekeep,” and “pumpkin…
The American continent before European contact was home to around 60 million people, with up to 18 million living in North America and divided into more than 500 diverse nations and tribes. The westward expansion of incoming European settlers who coveted the rich resources and fertile land in North America resulted in a purge of…
The Harlem Renaissance wasn’t just an artistic movement: It was a cultural revolution that redefined Black identity in America. In the 1920s, Harlem became the epicenter of a creative explosion in literature, music, and art, as Black Americans sought new opportunities and self-expression. The movement gave rise to legendary figures like Langston Hughes, Zora Neale…
More than 21 million dead, most of them civilians. The map of Europe redrawn. World War I—a conflict associated with the introduction of tanks, bombers, advanced artillery, chemical weapons, and trench warfare—left an indelible mark on civilization and the collective human psyche. History might’ve played out very differently, however, had a driver not made a…
If you’re considering a degree program as an entry point to a rewarding new career or greater earning potential, you have many choices. One path to higher earning potential may surprise you, however. You may have heard from well-intentioned family members or advisors that English is a degree to avoid if future employability and earning…
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