The historical exchange between civilizations unfolds at the Crossroads of Civilizations Museum. Due to its location at the intersection of global trade routes, the United Arab Emirates has witnessed the spectacular interaction of nearly all the world's civilizations. The Crossroads of Civilizations Museum in Dubai, UAE, honors this dynamic interplay of culture, art, and history. The collection includes rare artifacts, such as pearls, manuscripts, literature, and weaponry. When we think of Dubai, we think of skyscrapers, but old Dubai is considered a town housing the huts of Bedouin traders a ..read more

With it's Greek inspired architecture, the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois is one of the largest natural history museums in the world. Of the countless exhibits at the Field Museum, unquestionably the most famous is that of Sue the T. Rex. Sue is the largest T. Rex spicimen ever discovered and also the most complete. Fossil hunter Sue Henderson initially discovered Sue and is named after her. Cyrus Tang Hall of China covers over 5,000 years of Chinese history and society from an anthropological perspective, focusing on the agriculture and economy of early villages.  Inside Ancient Eg ..read more

The Adler Planetarium, in Chicago, Illinois, gives one not only the opportunity to learn about space but also the history of astronomy and astrology. The design of its structure is award-winning, with twelve panels containing a sculptural bas-relief depiction of each zodiac sign. Adler Planetarium houses an extensive number of historical artifacts including one of the largest astrolabe collections in the world! Astrolabes were early hand-held analog computers. Stargazers in Ancient Greece, the Middle East, and Western Europe used these tools to understand the universe and organize their daily ..read more

Designed by Pritzker winning French architect Jean Nouvel, Louvre Abu Dhabi is a dome shaped museum seemingly floating on the sea. The dome’s weaving web pattern filters the sun allowing a visual effect of a ‘rain of light.’ The shading effect makes it a tranquil place to sit to relax away from the hot Abu Dhabi sun. The museum tells the story of humanity in distinct chapters. The first hall is very spacious displaying similarities of various cultures. One example is the ancient practice of covering the dead in gold with funerary masks. It has captivated us for centuries. Could it be that i ..read more

As industrial farming has been irreparably harming the environment through carbon dioxide emissions, soil erosion, pesticide use, and rampant water use, the green switch is slowly turning on worldwide. Recently, many have been referring to ancient farmers who lived in harmony with the natural environment thousands of years ago for innovative and sustainable solutions. In particular, the earliest civilizations — Mesopotamia, the Indus River Valley, and ancient Egypt — have left a rich legacy in regards to farming techniques as well as agricultural technology. Mesopotamia: Irrigation in Mesopot ..read more

As a blend of popular music and styles originating in Korea, Africa, South America, and many other cultures have become global over the past years, a cultural revolution has occurred worldwide. But how did music even come about in the first place? Has music always been important in human society? When and where did the first instruments originate? When thinking about the beginnings of music, it can be assumed that early tunes echoed the sounds of nature and were known to be played at ceremonies in many indigenous cultures. As instruments developed over time, more complex and sophisticated rhyt ..read more

In ancient Egypt, beauty practices had spiritual and ritualistic significance. Men and women of all social classes enhanced their appearance with various cosmetics. Ancient Egyptians often are depicted wearing so-called 'head cones' in artwork depicting banquets and worship. Recently it has been found that the primary constituent of the cones was a plant or animal wax infused with perfume. The cones dripped oil which served to scent and cleanse the body, both literally and spiritually. The idea is that the cones would have "purified the individual, placing them in an appropriate state to part ..read more

Native Americans have always been ingenious when it came to their dwellings. Various native tribes developed homes depending on their environment, lifestyle, and available materials. Plains Indians moved across the Great Plains following migrating herds of buffalo and used buffalo hide coverings for their tipis. For these nomadic tribes, tipis were easy to put together and take down. Other tribes that were involved in farming built more permanent homes. Plankhouse The Chinook have resided along the Lower and Middle Columbia Rivers in what is now Washington and Oregon. They resided in plank h ..read more

America's true roots cannot be acknowledged without its earliest inhabitants. Visiting public lands can be a meaningful way to understand and appreciate these nations, along with their history, perspectives, and contributions. Mesa Verde Around 100 A.D., a civilization known as the Anasazi appeared in the southwestern part of the United States. As the Anasazi became increasingly sophisticated, their dwellings at Mesa Verde (present-day Colorado) evolved into elaborate towns built under overhanging cliffs. It is theorized the settlements were built in these locations for defense or protection ..read more

For over 1500 years, mastery of geometry and mathematics has been implemented in constructing and designing beautifully complex temples. Here are some magnificent ancient temples in South India: Virupaksha Temple Virupaksha Temple is a 7th-century temple in Karnataka, India noted for its architecture and intricate carvings. The temple grew and flourished into a huge temple complex at the time of the Vijayanagara Empire. The interior is decorated with sculptures and vivid murals depicting episodes of the life of Lord Shiva. Meenakshi Temple The Meenakshi Temple at Madurai was likely construct ..read more