East Asia

c. 1931–1941 CE

When Did the Second World War Begin? Europe, China and a Global Conflict

Manchuria in 1931, China in 1937, Poland in 1939 and Pearl Harbor in 1941 mark different stages in the growth of a global war. What does each starting…

5 min readLibradia Editorial

c. 1250–1050 BCE

Oracle Bones: What the Shang Asked Their Ancestors

Questions about illness, harvests, warfare and childbirth survive on Shang oracle bones. These inscriptions reveal a royal court seeking guidance from ancestors and divine powers.

5 min readLibradia Editorial

c. 1603–1868 CE

Edo Before Tokyo: Life in the Shogun’s City

A bridge, an actor’s portrait and a firefighter’s clothing open a view into Edo. Explore the trade, printmaking, entertainment and skilled work of the city that became Tokyo.

6 min readLibradia Editorial

c. 4000–3000 BCE

Beyond Mesopotamia: The World Around 3500 BCE

Look beyond Mesopotamia to communities along the Nile and across other regions, separating contemporary developments from famous monuments built later.

5 min readLibradia Editorial

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