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1800 BCE
Judaism (Religion)
Judaism is one of the oldest religions in the world and its core beliefs are shared with Islam and Christianity. Believes in monotheism and teaches that God took special care of the Hebrews. The ethical guidelines of Judaism are found in the Torah and they emphasize ritual purity and the importance of remaining set apart from the surrounding polytheistic cultures. In Judaism, all days begin as sunset, so all holidays begin and end at sundown. -
500 BCE
Confucius (Philosophy)
Confucius remains the most important single philosopher in Eastern history. Confucius wrote his Analects that the best gov't is one that rules through rites and the peoples natural morality rather than by using bribery and coercion. His ideas focuses on actively helping others and having ethics. His teachings and ideas are still very relevant and because of that he is still very popular. -
400 BCE
Plato (Philosophy)
Plato lived from 428 to 348 BC. He founded the Western world's first school of higher education. He was taught by Socrates and through his own writings preserved some of Socrates ideas as well. His most enduring theory is that of The Forms and asserted that immaterial abstractions possess the highest kind of reality. These ideas and thoughts are still used in modern society and by looking at them we are able to understand that each of us has the desire to transform our world -
30 BCE
Christianity (Religion)
Christianity is based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. It has over 2 billion followers and is the largest religion in the world. Christianity's sacred text is the bible. Forgiveness as well as hope and love are the primary focus of Christianity. Christianity has many different branches, but most christians believe in life after death as well and eternal life. -
The Declaration of Independence (History)
The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress and summarized the colonists' motivations for seeking independence. This gave birth to what is known today as the United States of America. This document is a symbolic of American democracy and one of the free charters of freedom. This is recognized and celebrated every year on July 4th and it is also regarded as the best-written statement of individual rights in history. -
The Scarlet Letter (Literature)
This novel is written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and tells the story of Hester who conceives a daughter through an affair and is found guilty of adultery and is required to wear a scarlet A to shame her. Throughout the novel, Hester struggles with her recognition of the letter's symbolism just as people struggle with their moral choices, and that is what I think the author is trying to portray. This work is important because it shows that everyone makes wrong choices, but no one needs to be shamed. -
La Sagrada Familia (Visual Arts)
The Stained Glasses of La Sagrada Familia are a focal point of this basilica and is truly breathtaking and is located in Barcelona.The stained glasses are designed to draw the eye upwards and inspire meditation on the divine. The way the light beams through the glass and illuminates the entire interior allows you to see the beauty in anything. The author is trying to show that there is beauty even in the simplistic. -
The Starry Night (Visual Arts)
The Starry Night is created by Vincent Van Gogh. It is an oil-on-canvas painting dominated by a moon and a star filled night sky. The Starry Night is based on Van Gogh's direct observations as well as his imagination, memories and emotions. The colors and textures are very interesting and creates a very appealing picture. I think this work is important because it is an abstract piece that you have to think about to understand the meaning, which makes the piece more interesting. -
The Grapes of Wrath (Literature)
This novel is written by John Steinbeck, it portrays life during the Great Depression and follows a family of farmers traveling westward. In the novel, the author is trying to portray the strength and effort in the face of terrible circumstances and because of that, we are able to relate it to things that happen to us and are able to learn and grow from. This work is important because you are able to understand the struggle that was occurring during those times and have a better understanding. -
Chernobyl Disaster (History)
The Chernobyl accident was the result of a flawed reactor that was operated with inadequately trained personnel. This occurred in Ukraine and was a direct consequence of Cold War isolation and the resulting lack of safety. The Chernobyl disaster was the only accident in the history of commercial nuclear power where radiation related fatalities occurred. It caused 30 deaths of employees and fireman and brought the evacuation of about 116,000 people. -
Les Misérables: The Musical (Performing Arts)
Les Misérables is a musical based on the novel of the french poet and playwright Victor Hugo. The plot focuses on the stories of many characters as they struggle for redemption and revolution. The musical has been nominated for 12 Tony Awards and won 8 out of the 12. The entire idea of the musical is a narrative of redemption and mercy. -
The Phantom of the Opera (Performing Arts)
The Phantom of the Opera musical is one of the most successful pieces of entertainment of all time. The plot revolves around a soprano who becomes the obsession of a mysterious musical genius. This musical is the longest running show in Broadway history. This piece shows that you may think one thing of a person, but ideas of who you think someone is can be deceiving.
