Teaching
History Online
Number
53: 29th September, 2002
Introduction
1.
Treasures
of Ancient Egypt
2.
British
Battles
3.
First
World War Open Directory
4.
Evacuation
5.
Internet
Women's History Sourcebook
6.
Oradour-sur-Glane
7.
History
of Germany
8.
Women Agents of SOE
Introduction
Spartacus Educational
publishes Teaching
History Online every week. The newsletter includes news, reviews
of websites and articles on using ICT in the history classroom. Members
of the mailing list are invited to submit information for inclusion
in future editions of Teaching
History Online. In this way we hope to create a community
of people involved in using the Internet to teach history. Currently
there are 20,160 subscribers to the newsletter.
John Simkin
spartacus@pavilion.co.uk
Treasures
of Ancient Egypt: From the earliest times, Egyptians denied the
physical impermanence of life. They formulated a remarkably complex
set of religious beliefs and funneled vast material resources into
the quest for immortality. This exhibition focuses on the understanding
of the afterlife among Egyptians some 3,000 years ago, in the period
of the New Kingdom (1550-1069 BC) through the Late Period (664-332
BC). The New Kingdom marked the beginning of an era of great wealth,
power, and stability for Egypt, and was accompanied by a burst of
cultural activity, much of which was devoted to the quest for eternal
life. This exhibition, sponsored by the Chevy Chase Bank, is divided
into six sections: Journey to the Afterworld, The New Kingdom, The
Royal Tomb, Tombs of Nobles, The Realm of the Gods, and The Tomb of
Thutmose III.
British
Battles: In this section of the Britain Express History Guide
there are accounts of some of the most influential battles fought
on British soil. Each battle profile contains "at a glance"
facts about the battle, including: who was involved and why, with
an account of the battle, and the results of the conflict. Battles
featured include Bannockburn (1314), Barnet (1471), Bosworth (1485),
Culloden (1746), Edgehill (1642), Edington (878), Evesham (1265),
Falkirk (1298), Flodden (1513), Hastings (1066), Lewes (1264), Marston
Moor (1644), Naseby (1645), Prestonpans (1745), Sedgemoor (1685),
St Albans (1461), Stamford Bridge (1066), Stirling (1298), Tewkesbury
(1471) and Towton (1461).
First
World War Open Directory: The Open Directory follows in the footsteps
of some of the most important contributor projects of the 20th century.
Just as the Oxford English Dictionary became the definitive word on
words through the efforts of a volunteers, the Open Directory follows
in its footsteps to become the definitive catalog of the Web. The
Open Directory was founded in the spirit of the Open Source movement,
and is the only major directory that is 100% free. Its directory of
the First World War contains 356 websites: General Accounts (29),
Armed Forces (12), Personalities (113), Theatres of Operation (51),
Regional (85), Aviation (25), Art and Literature (24) and Aftermath
(11).
Evacuation:
During World War II, children and those at risk were taken to places
of safety to protect them from bombs and war damage. The well-known
story of evacuation sees people evacuated from London to the countryside.
However, this doesn't tell the whole story. Some children were evacuated
to other British Dominions (countries that were part of the British
Empire) such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. In
this Public Record Office website students can investigate what happened
to a number of children who were evacuated to Canada by examining
official government documents and records.
Internet
Women's History Sourcebook:
This sourcebook attempts to present online documents and secondary
discussions which reflect the various ways of looking at the history
of women within broadly defined historical periods and areas. This
massive resource includes sections on Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia,
Greece, Rome, Medieval Europe, Early Modern Europe, Modern Europe,
North America, Latin America, China, Japan, India, South East Asia,
Australasia, Africa and the Islamic World.
Oradour-sur-Glane:
During the D-day landings in June, 1944, the Maquis
and other French Resistance groups rose up to help in the liberation
of their country. These
armed resistance groups were able to slow down the attempt by the
SS Panzer Division to get to the Normandy beaches. The German authorities
decided to carry out a revenge attack that would frighten the French
people into submission. On 10th June a group of SS soldiers led by
Major Adolf Diekmann entered Oradour-sur-Glane, a village in the Haute-Vienne
region of France. He ordered the execution of more than 600 men, women
and children before setting fire to the village. This website provides
a detailed account of this terrible war crime.
History
of Germany: This detailed history of Germany is taken from the
Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress. Chapters include Early
History, Medieval Germany, Protestant Reformation, Thirty Years' War,
1618-48, Age of Enlightened Absolutism, 1648-1789, French Revolution
and Germany, German Confederation, 1815-66, Bismarck and Unification,
Imperial Germany, Weimar Republic, 1918-33, Third Reich, 1933-45,
Postwar Occupation and Division, Birth of the Federal Republic of
Germany and the German Democratic Republic, West Germany and the Community
of Nations, Ulbricht Era, 1949-71, Social Democratic-Free Democratic
Coalition, 1969-82, Christian Democratic Christian Socialist-Free
Democratic Coalition, Honecker Era, 1971-89 and Opening of the Berlin
Wall and Unification.
Book
Section
Women
Agents of SOE:
The Special Operations Executive was formed by Winston Churchill in
1940 "to set Europe ablaze". Thirty-seven women were dropped
in occupied France to work as Special Operations Executive agents.
Thirteen were executed in Hitler's concentration camps. This is the
fascinating story of ten female agents, all from civilian life, who
were warned of the likelihood of arrest, torture and a brutal death
before they volunteered. In his book Marcus Binney tells of a life
of a life of Resistance work and uncover operations, clandestine activities,
extreme bravery and devotion to duty. (Hodder & Stoughton, ISBN
0 340 81839 5, £20.00)
Available from Amazon Books
(order below)
