Archaeologists Hope Technology Provides Clues About Algonquian Village
Nearly 25 years before English colonists established their first permanent settlement in North America, Phillip Amadas and Arthur Barlowe explored the continent. They brought back to England stories of fruitful land and friendly people. In a detailed account, Amadas and Barlowe described their meetings with the Algonquian people. On Roanoke Island in present-day North Carolina, […]
A Profile of Julie Su
Have you heard of Julie Su? She is President Biden’s nominee to head the U.S. Labor Department, to replace Marty Walsh. Walsh stepped down as the Secretary of Labor in February 2023. Currently, Su is the Labor Department’s Deputy Secretary. Here, btw takes a closer look at her life and career. Who is Julie […]
Japanese Prime Minister Sympathizes over Korean Forced Labor
Japan occupied and governed Korea as a colony from 1910 through 1945, when World War II ended. As a result, Korean and Japanese leaders have had a tense relationship since this colonial history ended. On May 7, 2023, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida publicly expressed sympathy for Koreans forced to labor for Japan during these […]
New Encyclopedia Makes Indian Art History Accessible
On April 21, 2023, the Museum of Art and Photography (MAP) in Bengaluru, India, launched the first comprehensive online encyclopedia of Indian art. The Encyclopedia of Art includes over 2,000 entries that span 10,000 years of art history. It provides information about works dating from the Prehistoric Era) to today. The art represents all ten […]
California’s Asian American Community History
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month: a time to recognize and honor the many cultures, histories, and contributions of the AAPI community. This week btw examines the history of Asian American settlement and community growth in central and southern California. A Short History of AAPI Immigration California has long been a […]
Archaeologists Uncover Ancient Maya Game Scoreboard
The Maya civilization once played a game called pelota. Archaeologists have uncovered many artifacts related to the game. Now, archaeologists in Mexico have discovered what they believe is an ancient pelota scoreboard. The scientist who discovered the scoreboard hopes that it reveals more about daily life in Maya civilizations. Here, btw takes a closer look […]
Library of Congress Transcription Campaign for Post-Civil War Petition
The Library of Congress By the People program uses the power of the internet to make historical documents and historical research more accessible, readable, and searchable. In March 2023, the Library of Congress began a new campaign to learn more about a post-Civil War petition calling for equal rights for African Americans. A petition is […]
New Theory on the Vikings’ Disappearance from Greenland
In April 2023, scientists from Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania proposed a new theory for why the Vikings abandoned Greenland in the fifteenth century. The Vikings’ disappearance has puzzled scientists, historians, and archaeologists. The new research, which was published in a scientific journal, shows that sea-level rise and flooding may have contributed to […]
A History of Venice and its Flood Wall
Venice, Italy, is fighting a battle against the ocean that surrounds it. Rising sea levels and sinking land means that the city faces the constant threat of devastating floods. Luckily, Venice has developed a solution: the Experimental Electromechanical Module, or MOSE. But this system, which was fifty years in the making and cost five billion […]
Little-Known Writing System Highlights African Voices
Much of what we know about the African continent’s history has been shaped by foreign perspectives. Available records such as travel diaries and colonial archives are typically written in European languages and Arabic. However, a discovery of a little-known West African writing system, known as Ajami, is helping to bring African voices to the forefront. […]