This site contains a huge variety of maps plus useful facts including demographics, economic data, and the history behind the subject of each map. Great tool for teachers and students.
"A Aztec Account of the Conquest of Mexico
In 1519 Hernan Cortés sailed from Cuba, landed in
Mexico and made his way to the Aztec capital. Miguel LeonPortilla, a
Mexican anthropologist, gathered accounts by the Aztecs, some of which were
written shortly after the conquest.
Speeches of Motecuhzoma and
Cortés
When Motecuhzoma [Montezuma] had given necklaces to each one,
Cortés asked him: "Are you Motecuhzoma? Are you the king? Is it true that you
are the king Motecuhzoma?"
And the king said: "Yes, I am Motecuhzoma." Then
he stood up to welcome Cortés; he came forward, bowed his head low and addressed
him in these words: "Our lord, you are weary. The journey has tired you, but now
you have arrived on the earth. You have come to your city, Mexico. You have come
here to sit on your throne, to sit under its canopy.
"The kings who have gone
before, your representatives, guarded it and preserved it for your coming. The
kings Itzcoatl, Motecuhzoma the Elder, Axayacatl, Tizoc and Ahuitzol ruled for
you in the City of Mexico. The people were protected by their swords and
sheltered by their shields.
"Do the kings know the destiny of those they left
behind, their posterity? If only they are watching! If only they can see what I
see!
"No, it is not a dream. I am not walking in my sleep. I am not seeing
you in my dreams.... I have seen you at last! I have met you face to face! I was
in agony for five days, for ten days, with my eyes fixed on the Region of the
Mystery. And now you have come out of the clouds and mists to sit on your throne
again.
"This was foretold by the kings who governed your city, and now it
has taken place. You have come back to us; you have come down from the sky. Rest
now, and take possession of your royal houses. Welcome to your land, my lords!
"
When Motecuhzoma had finished, La Malinche translated his address into
Spanish so that the Captain could understand it. Cortés replied in his str
"Lookbackmaps is a network of neighborhood historians, historical photo enthusiasts, historians, book publishers and others who collaborate to map history.
Through the online digitization of high-resolution public photo collections and geotagging technology, Lookbackmaps creates collaborative, standardized views into the past.
There's something in being human that wonders what was here before us-who occupied this space, how did they live, what did they leave behind? By mapping the millions of historical photos available through public libraries and private collections on the web, we start to piece together the puzzle."
"Millions of Americans fought and died during the Civil War, and the legacy of the Civil War remains in the poetry and music left behind. Music was used extensively during the Civil War as a means of inspiring loyalty among the troops, and as a source of inspiration and motivation during marching. Poetry was written to encourage unity, to document the experiences of soldiers, and to share women's place in the war.
Bands on both sides would frequently borrow songs and lyrics from the other side, using them as parodies. One such tune was "Dixie", though the song was created some period of time before the Civil War, it gained in popularity during this time. "Dixie" originally tells the story of a freed black slave yearning to return home to the simple life of the plantation, both the North and South however, created their own wartime versions. "The Battle Cry of Freedom" and "Home Sweet Home" also featured both Union and Confederate versions. "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "The Southern Cross," were poems that were later set to music."
Scholars of ancient history and IT experts at Stanford University have collaborated to create a novel way to study Ancient Rome. ORBIS, a geospatial network model, allows visitors to experience the strategy behind travel in antiquity. (Find a handy tutorial for using the system on the Web and YouTube). The ORBIS map includes about 750 mostly urban settlements of the Roman period
Two weeks ago I heard a conference by Peter Seixas (the Canadian who is behind these benchmarks) and it was absolutely inspiring... if ever you have the opportunity, go and see and hear him talking about history teaching!
This online exhibition of letters and audio, created by the Gilder Lehrman Institute and the Legacy Project, features correspondence from over 200 years of American conflicts, ranging from the Revolution to the war in Iraq. This exhibition uses the words of famous generals and lesser-known troops, as well as parents, sweethearts, and children, to explore such themes as leaving home, life in the military, the pride and worries of those left behind, and ultimate sacrifice.