Browse

Early Modern (1450 CE - 1800 CE)

The top of a healing scroll; the paper is brown and there is a drawing of a saint riding a horse and using a spear to destroy a demon. There is a hole with a rope through the top of the scroll.
Source

Ethiopian Healing Scrolls

Ethiopian healing scrolls are believed to eliminate sickness by ridding spirits and demons from an ill person. Originating sometime between the 1st and 8th century CE in the Axum empire, the scrolls are still used to this day, and still written in the Ge’ez script of the Axum empire.

A tan colored tunic stretched to show the height and width. The tunic has a simple slit for the neck, a red and brown geometric design along the chest, and red embroidery along the hem.
Source

Inca Miniature Tunic

This cotton and camelid hair tunic dates from the 14th-16th century CE in Peru, and was simply constructed from a rectangle of fabric, with a slit for the neck and open sides for the arms.

Islands under the sphere of Tongan influence in Oceania. The islands are green and the background is blue to represent the water. The screenshot is cropped to focus on the islands in the northwest of the empire.
Source

Tu'i Tonga Empire Map

The Tu’i Tonga Empire was an Oceanic maritime chiefdom centered on the island of Tongatapu, the main island of Tonga, and flourished between 1200-1500 CE.

A map featured on the website. Displayed are regions in the United State with mound sites, and featured in purple are the mound sites in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Missouri, and Illinois. Featured in yellow are mound sites in Wisconsin and Iowa.
Review

The Moundbuilders' Art: A Confluence of 'Ingenuity, Industry, and Elegance'

The amount of information and resources included in the exhibit are targeted and would likely not overwhelm a high school student. Alternatively, the site is full of resources that could be used separately, especially for younger students.
A large canoe with wooden rows and red detailing. The canoe sits amidst a museum with items from the collection surrounding it.
Source

Te Paranihi, or Maori War Canoe

Te Paranihi is a 17-meter (55 feet) war canoe, or waka taua, from the Maori culture indigenous to New Zealand.

A map centered on Oceania with the three dominant cultures highlighted. The Micronesia in the top left is pink, Melanesia is under Micronesia and labeled blue.
Source

Pacific Culture Areas Map

This map illustrates the three dominant cultures in Oceania, Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia, and which islands occupy each region. This map successfully highlights the number of island nations/cultures and the overall size of Oceania.

A blue, circular icon with an image of a document in the center. Underneath are the words "view document"
Source

Polynesian Oral Traditions

This collection compiled by Rawiri Taonui, a professor of Indigenous Studies, includes creation myths and stories about gods, the origin of humanity, and cultural heroes for several Polynesian cultures, such as Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti, and numerous others.

The edge of a counter with a man's shoulder and lettering in detail.
Source

Early Modern Counter

An early modern counter of the "Reichenmaster" style, with one side showing a picture of a man using a counting board and the other side showing the alphabet. These counters were used in classrooms to teach students both to read and perform basic arithmetic.

A green background with counters on a counting board and pen and paper math.
Source

Division with an Early Modern Counting Board

Before the rise of literacy rates, counting boards such as the one featured in the video were the most common way to perform arithmetic. After pen-and-paper arithmetic replaced counting boards, Arabic numerals also became dominant throughout Europe. 

A green background with counters on a counter board.
Source

Multiplication with an Early Modern Counting Board

Before the rise of literacy rates, counting boards such as the one featured in the video were the most common way to perform arithmetic. After pen-and-paper arithmetic replaced counting boards, Arabic numerals also became dominant throughout Europe.