Culture
Map of Poverty in Mexico
Maps are often designed to visualize more than just space and distance. This map, for instance, visualizes how poverty is distributed throughout the various Mexican states in hopes of identifying those areas most in need.
The Song Dynasty in China
What makes this module particularly interesting is its usage of a 12th century picture scroll as a means to explore various facets of Chinese life during this period.
Res Obscura
Functioning primarily as the personal blog of historian Benjamin Breen, Res Obscura stays true to its by-line by being ‘a catalogue of obscure things’.
Japanese Illustrated Books from the Edo and Meiji Periods
Spanning over three hundred years of Japanese book history, the collection includes famous Edo period (1603-1868) artists such as Andō Hiroshige (1797-1858) and Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849).
Iceland Saga Map
Ultimately, the purpose of this map is to encourage and aid new readings of the sagas.
The Half-Male, Half-Female Form of Shiva (Shiva Ardhanarishvara)
This sculpture is of Shiva, originally found in Kerala, southwestern India, shows the importance of religious symbols in Hinduism. Shiva is a major Hindu god who is associated with the opposing ideas of destruction and regeneration.
Excerpt from the Memoirs of Ma Huan
This excerpt is from the memoir of Ma Huan (1380-1460), a Chinese Muslim voyager and translator, who accompanied Admiral Zheng He on three of his seven voyages.
Excerpt from Ibn Battuta's Travels in Asia and Africa 1325-1354
This source comes from the travel book of Ibn Battuta (1304-1369), a Moroccan Berber scholar and explorer.
Long Teaching Module: Trade and Religion in the Indian Ocean Network, 1100-1500
Global trade is a central aspect of the contemporary world, but trade was also important in pre-modern eras.
