The Annual Replastering of the Great Mosque of Djenné
The city of Djenné is located in the Inland Niger River Delta of West Africa. This small city is one of the most culturally significant locations in the nation of Mali. It has long been a center of trade and Islamic learning, closely connected to the famous city of Timbuktu. At the heart of Djenné […]
Japan’s New Currency
For the first time in 20 years, Japan has new banknotes (paper currency). On July 3, 2024, the Bank of Japan introduced new 10,000-yen, 5,000-yen, and 1,000-yen bills. They showcase three important figures in Japan’s history. They also include new features to limit counterfeiting, or illegally making fake money. Another new feature of the banknotes […]
Students Rewarded for Using Artificial Intelligence in Archaeology
When the Italian volcano Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 C.E., molten rock and ash buried nearby cities and everything in them. About 16,000 people may have died in the explosion, though the exact number of casualties is unknown. Since the 1700s, archaeologists have been uncovering and exploring the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum that were […]
An Englishman in Genghis Khan’s Empire
Stories of people leading glamorous lives full of adventure are not just for movies: there are real-life examples throughout history, including this one from the 1200s about an English citizen who served as a diplomat for the Mongol Empire. Background During the early 1200s, Genghis Khan formed an empire in the area of present-day Mongolia. […]
Women in Afghanistan Being Erased from Public Life
Women in Afghanistan no longer have a voice or a public presence. In the two years since the Taliban seized control in Afghanistan, women’s rights have been disappearing. The Taliban is a fundamentalist group that follows a strict conservative and religious set of Islamic principles. It has banned girls from attending school beyond the sixth […]
Discovery of Nero’s Theater
Archeologists in Rome believe they have discovered the theater of Roman Emperor Nero. Nero ruled between 54 C.E. and 68 C.E. While Nero’s theater is mentioned by writers of his time, its location was a modern mystery. The discovery came as part of a reconstruction project. A portion of the Palazzo Della Rovere, a Renaissance-era […]
The Great Wall of China
Many people think the Great Wall of China is one continuous wall built at one time. This isn’t accurate. The Great Wall of China is a collection of numerous walls built over a span of two thousand years! It stretches across northern China and southern Mongolia. Most sections of the wall are now ruins and […]
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 Discoveries at Pompeii and Preservation Efforts
The ancient Italian city of Pompeii was buried under volcanic ash when nearby Mount Vesuvius erupted in the year 79 C.E. Since then, the city has sparked the imagination of people worldwide. Generations of archaeologists continue to make discoveries that reveal new clues about what life was like in the city. Today, while the digging, or […]
Stuff YOU Should Know
Trapped Canadian Coal Miners Climb to Safety On September 26, 2021, 39 Canadian coal miners were trapped deep underground in a northern Ontario mine. The elevator system failed when a heavy scoop bucket crashed into it. The miners immediately sought shelter in “refuge stations” inside the mine. These stations provided a store of water and […]