History & People

The world we live in has many different people with different histories and cultures. You can find out about some of them here.

Sub-headings:

Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

Inventions and Inventors

Women in History

Resources in this category:

Liberty! The American Revolution
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/chronicle.html

Test your knowledge of the American Revolution with this game. Learn about daily life in the Colonies, read headlines from six colonial cities, and discover a timeline of important events.

Biography of America
http://www.learner.org/biographyofamerica/

Discover U.S. history with interactive timelines and maps. You'll need the Flash plug-in.

Build a Medieval Castle
http://www.yourchildlearns.com/castle.htm

With this free downloadable software, you can "build your own medieval castle, complete with towers, gatehouse and keep." A printer is required.

Canadian Olympians
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/olympians/index-e.html

See pictures of Canadian Olympians from the mid-1900s through 2000. Search for pictures by sport, athlete, year, or medal.

Chris De Wiff's Berlin Wall Web Page
http://www.appropriatesoftware.com/BerlinWall/welcome.html

Chris De Witt's Berlin Wall Web Pages guides visitors on a virtual tour of Berlin's history. Here, visitors can view photos of Berlin's past and present. There are also several essays on the web site for students interested in the fall of Communism and Berlin's divided past.

Civil War for Kids
http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/civilwar/cwar.htm

This is a site put together by a Special Education class at Pontico Hills School in Sleepy Hollow, New York. Among its many resources, the site includes a timeline of the Civil War, biographies of the Civil War leaders, and activities for students. Very nicely done!

Columbus Navigation Page
http://www.columbusnavigation.com/

This site provides information about the voyages of Christopher Columbus: how he navigated his ships, what the crew was like, and where he first landed. It also has maps and a timeline.

Conquistadors
http://www.pbs.org/conquistadors/

A PBS overview of the conquistadors.

Discoverers Web
http://www.win.tue.nl/cs/fm/engels/discovery/index.html

Find out about all kinds of explorers from all over the world. This site provides links to information about discovers long ago and today. Learn more about the Vikings, Christopher Columbus, and much, much more.

The Earthwalker
http://home.earthlink.net/~earthwalker1/

Learn about the first man to walk around the world. It took four years, but he did it!

Edo Japan, A Virtual Tour
http://www.us-japan.org/edomatsu/

"Edo is the ancient name for Tokyo. During the reign of the Tokugawa Shoguns, Japan's emperor reigned in secluded majesty at the imperial capital in Kyoto; however, the true center of power, government, the economy and social life was Edo, where the Shogun lived and ruled the country. For most people in Japan, Edo is more than just a historical city. It also has a symbolic image and meaning. It represents nearly everything that they consider a part of their "traditional" culture. For the Japanese, Edo has a romantic image that one could compare to the Italian's image of Renaissance Venice, the British image of Victorian London and the American image of the Wild West, all rolled into one. This website is designed to take you exploring in Edo. Hopefully it will offer not only some enjoyment, but also some insights into the source of 'traditional Japan'."

Explorers of the World
http://www.bham.wednet.edu/BIO/explore.htm

This page provides links to biographies of explorers, inventors, and other famous people. Some of the material is written by students, but they state where they got their information.

EyeWitness - History through the eyes of those who lived it
http://www.ibiscom.com/

If you like games like Oregon Trail, you'll like this. Choose a time period and event, and then read personal stories of people who lived through it.

EyeWitness to History
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/

"Your ringside seat to history - from the Ancient World to the present. History through the eyes of those who lived it." This website highlights excerpts from primary source material, articles, and photographs about important people and events throughout history.

Food Timeline
http://www.foodtimeline.org/

Discover history and have fun cooking at the same time. The time line begins with 5000 B.C.

The Genealogy Guide
http://www.genealogy-guide.org.uk/

Find out how to trace your genealogy and make a family tree! Those with ancestors from England, Ireland, Scotland, or Wales will find this site especially interesting and helpful.

The History Channel
http://www.historychannel.com/

Want to know what happened on this day in history? Check here. You can also research a particular decade or hear famous speeches.

HyperHistory Online
http://www.hyperhistory.com/online_n2/History_n2/a.html

View 3000 years of history using interactive timelines for science, religion, the arts, and politics. Click to find biographies, maps, and links. Timelines for famous women and global warming are also included.

I Survived the Titanic
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/media/world/9607/titanic.h...

Read this true story of a twelve-year-old girl who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic.

Irish Potato Famine
http://www.irishpotatofamine.org/

Click your way through the animated village, workhouse, school, and dock to learn about life in Ireland during the potato famine, which occurred from 1845 – 1848.

Kids' Castles
http://www.kidsonthenet.org.uk/castle/

"The home page has an aerial view of the castle. Clicking on a part of the view takes you to that part of the castle. You will find out about the people that lived there and what they did. Sometimes there will also be more information about an aspect of castle life, a game to play or puzzle to solve, or something YOU can do to add to the fun of Kids' Castle."

Kids’ Zone – Royalty
http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page218.asp

Learn facts about members of the current Royal Family and past Kings and Queens on this site. You can also paint a picture and look at photos of the Royal Family.

The Learning Page: American Memory Timeline
http://learning.loc.gov/learn/features/timeline/

"A comprehensive look at America's history, through primary sources, brings the past to life in a personal way."

Life in the Middle Ages
http://www.kyrene.k12.az.us/schools/Brisas/sunda/ma/mahome.h...

"Join us as we step back in time to the days of imposing castles high on the bluffs, knights in armor defending the kingdom, and noblemen ruling over the serfs. This was life in the Middle Ages. Read all about the various aspects of life during these exciting times!"

The Middle Ages
http://www.learner.org/exhibits/middleages/

"Take a journey back to the mystical days of yore and learn about the daily lives of lords and peasants." This site will show you how people in the Middle ages worked and lived.

Peace Corps: Kids World
http://www.peacecorps.gov/kids/

Learn about Peace Corps activites around the world, about countries where volunteers have made a difference, about what its like to live in a different country, and about storytelling from about the world.

PeaceKidz.com
http://members.aol.com/kidz4peace/index.htm

Are you a kid who cares about our world? Are you concerned about the environment or the homeless? Do you want to do something about it? Kids can make a difference. Thanks to the People for Peace organizaton, you can find out how. This page has all kind of activities related to peace--including posters to color!

Pirates!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/97/pirates/

"Glimpse the 'golden age' of piracy through the eyes of those who shared the sea with the saltiest of salty dogs."

Powys: A Day in the Life
http://a-day-in-the-life.powys.org.uk/eng/eindex.html

This website organizes a digital history project in Powys, Wales, comparing life in Powys in 1891 to contemporary times. The Powys information and material was gathered from collections throughout the county. The contemporary information came from diaries kept on September 24, 2002. The site looks at such issues as communications, community and civic life, culture and entertainment, education, health care, home life, law and order, social conditions, transport and work. The project is funded jointly by New Opportunities Fund and Powys County Council.

Renaissance
http://www.learner.org/exhibits/renaissance/

Learn about the Renaissance at this site filled with articles and fun interactive activities.

Renaissance Connection
http://www.renaissanceconnection.org/

Explore Renaissance art and history at this entertaining and colorful site created for middle school students. Find out about innovation, art, architecture, trade, exploration, patrons, science, technology, and everyday life.

Rosa Parks Bus at the Henry Ford Museum
http://www.hfmgv.org/exhibits/rosaparks/default.asp

See photos of the bus where Rosa Parks ignited the Civil Rights Movement. Learn the story behind the bus and find a chronology of Rosa Parks and the Civil Rights Movement from 1900 – 2000.

Say Hello to the World
http://www.ipl.org/div/kidspace/hello/

Are you interested in learning to speak another language? Here you can learn over 30 and you can learn about the people who speak that language, too!

Sheppard Software - Online Games and More
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games_menu.htm

Learn about world continents, countries and oceans at this fun website. Free web games also include vocabulary, United States geography, chemistry and trivia. Fun, educational games for all levels!

Six Billion and Beyond
http://www.pbs.org/sixbillion/index.html

"On October 12, 1999, Earth's population reached 6 billion. PBS travelled the globe talking to people about the population issues affecting their lives and countries." This site provides a in-depth exploration of population concerns around the world with a special focus on China, India, Mexico, Kenya, Italy, and the United States. The site also includes discussion questions and activities for teachers.

Tenement Museum
http://www.thirteen.org/tenement/

See an actual tenement building from New York's Lower East Side and learn about tenement life from 1864 to 1935.

This Day in History
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do

Find out what historical events took place today, or any day of the year. Also has links to more specific areas of history like Cold War History, Entertainment History, and more!

The Time of the Lincolns
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/lincolns/

This is a companion site to the PBS television special "Abraham and Mary Lincoln: A House Divided." Among its many resources: a description of the politics of Lincoln's time, an interactive map which explores the state of the nation on the eve of the war, and a virtual tour of a slave cabin. The site also includes a teacher's guide with activities that correspond to various sections of the web site.

Time Warp Trio
http://www.timewarptrio.com/

This site features information and games associated with the kid’s television show, "Time Warp Trio" featured on Discovery Kids Channel. Kids can learn history and play games at the same time.

Titanic
http://search.eb.com/titanic/

Learn the true story behind the sinking of the famous ship through words and pictures in this exhibit from the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Understanding Slavery
http://school.discovery.com/schooladventures/slavery/

"Learn about the history of slavery around the world. Follow thejourney of one man who was enslaved in both Africa and the United States. Then, travel back in time to Richmond, Virginia in 1845 to witness a slave auction. Along the way, you'll learn just how pervasive the institution of slavery was in the United States and how it differed from slavery abroad."

Walk Through Time (BBC Education)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/walk/index.shtml

What belongs in a Roman village, a Viking house, a Tudor street, a Victorian street, and a 1950s living room? Play a game to find out! A timeline, printouts, and suggestions for gathering living history are included.

World War II: An American Scrapbook
http://tqjunior.thinkquest.org/4616/

This site, created by a team of fifth grade students at McRoberts Elementary School in Texas, features students telling stories about their family and World War II. You are invited to read the stories, find out how World War II affected your family, and add your stories to the site.

Zoom Explorers
http://www.ZoomSchool.com/explorers/

Learn all about world explorers throughout history in many areas, such as space and undersea. Explorers and their explorations in each continent are covered here.