The Mighty Q’in’s Terracotta Army

The tomb to emperor Shi Huangdi of the Q’in Dynasty of China is world-famous. In the large underground tomb stands a life-size army of terracotta solders to protect the Emperor in the afterlife. Kneeling archers appear to be reloading their crossbows before standing up to fire. The Chinese were using crossbows as early as 400 B.C. Terracotta generals was created to stand taller than other soldiers in the army. Many other solders in various poses protect the Emperor as well.

The detail of these soldiers is amazing, and this photo essay allows you to get up close and examine the army.

Even though the soldiers are made from terracotta, a type of baked clay, their weapons are real — and dangerous! You can read here how historians have discovered how the ancient Chinese built so many weapons for the Mighty Q’in’s tomb.

Filial Piety: A Chinese Virtue is Now the Law

China has recently made filial piety, one of the hallmarks of Confucian philosophy, a law. What does the ancient value of respecting your parents and other elders look like in a modern society? What problems does this present for a young generation of Chinese citizens, faced with the prospect of supporting their parents or breaking the law? Read about the new law and how it will be implemented here.

Hinduism: Your Questions Answered

Why is the cow sacred to Hindus?

Excellent question! In ancient India, cows played two main roles: as a source of food and energy for families, and as sacrificial animals. The cow has been associated with many Hindu gods and goddesses, most notably Krishna, who was a cowherd as a young man, and Shiva, who rides a bull. Cows were and are seen as members of the family; they provide milk, curd, dung (used as fuel), butter, and urine — all five of which are used in puja (worship). Gupta kings made cow-killing a crime, and today, the cow is still a protected animal in India.


Above, a picture of Krishna with his beloved cows.

What is Diwali?
Diwali is generally known as the Hindu festival of lights, one of the most celebrated Hindu holidays of the year. The fireworks and candy involved with Diwali last for five days; Diwali celebrates the victory of good over evil. Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, is also celebrated, and Diwali gets its name from the lanterns that people hang in homes to invite the goddess in. Gifts are exchanged during Diwali, which is a joyous holiday for all.

Here’s a slideshow of pictures of Diwali Festivals from the London Telegraph.

What are some famous Hindus?There are many famous Hindus — some names you may recognize; some you may not. Here are some examples:

M. Night Shyamalan, film director
Amartya Sen, Nobel Prize-winning economist
JD Salinger, author
Aldous Huxley, author
Jhumpa Lahiri, author
Mohandas Ghandi
Mukesh Ambani, the fourth richest man in the world, who just moved into a 27 story home in Mumbai
Lakshmi Mittal, the fifth richest man in the world

"The Caste Buster"

For those of you who are interested in learning more about how the caste system plays out in modern India, here’s a look from the New York Times:

The Caste Buster

A Peek Inside Diocletian's Basement

We all know Diocletian, a Roman emperor probably most famous for two things: splitting the Roman empire into two to avoid its imminent collapse; and viciously persecuting Christians.

But Diocletian was not from the city of Rome or even the Italian Peninsula -- rather, he was born in the Balkans, in a port city now called Split on the Adriatic coast in Croatia. Diocletian loved the Adriatic coast and built a huge palace in Split. I was lucky enough to visit Croatia in the summer of 2013 and tour the ruins of Diocletian's Palace.

To give some context, below is a map showing two cities that I visited, Zadar and Split. See how close they are to Italy? The coastline of Croatia was part of the Roman Empire during its height.

And here is the man himself, Diocletian. This bust is inside the palace, where it's very dark and dank.

Diocletian's Palace is very large, and the modern city of Split has been built around it, so  that there are many shops and restaurants surrounding (and even inside) the palace. This is a shot of the palace from the outside. To anyone passing by, it looks just like an ordinary building in Split.

But look closer, and you can see many elements of Greek architecture that were adopted by the Romans and used in Diocletian's Palace. Check out these Corinthian columns!

The palace today is a huge tourist site, and men dressed up in Roman clothing roam the palace to give it an authentic feel. These Roman soldiers were texting, which is a bit of an anachronism.

One of the sections of the palace that's open to visitors is Diocletian's basement. Here's some extra moulding that's just waiting around to be used (2000 years after the palace was built!).

 Finally, I also visited another Croatian town that was part of the Roman Empire: Zadar. A much smaller town than Split, Zadar still has many Roman ruins, with more being excavated every day. Here are the columns that made up the Roman forum in Zadar.

Diocletian's Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you'd like to learn more, you can visit its website.

Crash Course: Rome

Here are a few "Crash Course: World History" videos to help you review for our upcoming test.

From Republic to Empire

Christianity

Fall of the Roman Empire

Life in Ancient Rome

Visit the British Museum’s collection of artifacts from ancient Rome. While there, choose two artifacts and write down what you can learn about the ancient Romans from looking at these artifacts. Think about the value we already know the ancient Romans held. How do these artifacts illuminate or add to those values? What do these artifacts tell us about everyday life in Rome?