The Cold War became chillier in 1949 when the communists won the Chinese Civil War, giving the Soviet Union a major new ally. During the reign of Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin, “Red China” was a loyal friend to Soviet communism. To help their mostly agrarian ally develop more quickly, the Soviets sent aid, equipment, […]

The allure of Indian textiles during the Victorian era was more than just fashion—it was a symbol of status, culture, and imperial dominance. As the British Empire crept at the edges of its borders, growing larger and ever stronger, so too did the fascination with the luxurious fabrics produced by Indian weavers and embroiderers. […]

Gobekli Tepe is an ancient site that changed how people view early human history. The site is believed to have been built between 9600 BCE and 8200 BCE. For many years, the common consensus among historians and archeologists was that the rise of agriculture marked the beginning of humans creating large structures, buildings, and […]

Between 1512, when the Sistine ceiling was unveiled, and 1533, the year Pope Clement commissioned the artist to work on The Last Judgment, Michelangelo’s life was eventful and, at times, in peril. Michelangelo had returned to Florence to resume work for the Medicis. In the years that followed, galvanized by the Sack of Rome, […]

The story of how Singapore became a nation with an economy worth nearly one trillion dollars is marked by a number of key events. From Sir Stamford Raffles’s establishment of a trading post on the island of Singapore to the Japanese occupation in World War II, every event has shown the vision and resilience […]