Throughout history, ideas have played a central role in shaping the world that we know and live in today. From looking outward to find solace in the deities that human beings have worshiped for millennia, to explaining something as inexplicable as love, the key ideas and movements that emerged in the past are likely to continue to echo throughout the remainder of human history. Here's an interactive guide to the history of ideas:
To enjoy a video from the history of ideas, simply left-click on one of the rectangles below. You can enlarge the video to full-screen by left-clicking on the bottom-right-hand icon that appears in the video's popup window. To close a video, simply click on the X in the top-right-hand corner of the video's popup window. Enjoy!
Cover image by Deposit Photos.
14:32
This Old Interview Sheds Light on 19th Century Living
This collection features rare, restored interviews with individuals born in the nineteenth century
All the Best TED Talks On Our Site Are Now In One Place!
TED is a source of plenty of wisdom, and this next collection of TED Talks is no exception. Are you ready for some serious knowledge? Come and take a look!
12 Vintage Items of the Past Found by Chance
There is a certain kind of fascination in seeing ordinary items of the past, especially when you come by them by complete chance...
11:51
Animal Spies: Fascinating Stories of Non-Human Agents
Who raises less suspicion than innocent animals? Learn of the incredible cases in which animals were trained and used for espionage.
7:05
A Walk Through the Destroyed City of Berlin in July 1945
In this absolutely fascinating restored footage, you get a glimpse of the partly destroyed streets of Berlin in July 1945, mere months after the German surrender.
12:17
What the Japanese Thought of the First European Explorers
This video shows how Japanese historians described the first contact with Europeans, and it’s curious to say the least!
3:18
These Magical Pets Will Make Your Gloomy Day Disappear
When it comes down to magic, David Blaine has nothing on these enchanted pets! Take a look! You won't regret it!
5:57
Irena Sendler - The Woman Who Saved Over 2000 Lives
Get to know the amazing story of Irena Sendler, a social worker who saved the lives of over 2000 Jewish children During World War II
15 Enchanting Tree Houses That You Would Love to Stay In
In this collection of pictures, we've featured some of the best and most charming treehouses from around the world.
13:02
Were You Aware of These English Language Mistakes?
Learn how to avoid some common English language mistakes by understanding some little-known truths.
27:39
5 Terribly Disastrous First Contact Stories from History
Each story is a lesson in misread intentions, power struggles, and the high stakes of meeting the unknown. Watch how these pivotal moments shaped the world.
These Clever Pictures Illustrate Common GRAMMAR Conundrums
The world of English grammar is a confusing place where words that mean different things may be spelled or pronounced the same... Here are 15 examples
17 Fascinating Facts About Anything and Everything
The world never ceases to surprise us. Here are 17 fascinating facts about history, nature, recent affairs, and anything in between.
19:20
You Won't Believe What This Man Built By Himself!
You won't believe what construction project got this man to work alone and complete the craziest underground cabin. Come and check it out...
8 Books That Predicted the Future With Strange Accuracy
It always feels eerie when the future is predicted correctly and it turns out literature is full of such accurate forecasts. These 8 novels were particularly spot on.
The True Scale of These Things Will Really Surprise You!
Did you know that there are actually a lot of things in our world that are far bigger in reality than most people would expect. Here of 20 of them.
10 Historical Facts That Are Really Hard to Believe
Here, we share 10 fascinating and unbelievable history facts and stories like the time when forks were sacrilegious and pineapples had a higher price than gold
23 Strange But Fascinating Facts You’ll Want to Know
Here are 23 extraordinary facts that will expand your understanding of the world we live in.
Fascinating History: Conspiracy of Lincoln's Assassination
These haunting portraits of men awaiting trial or execution after being accused of assassinating President Abraham Lincoln will move you. take a look.
5:10
The Art of War by Sun Tzu: A Beautiful Summary
Sun Tzu's the Art of War is still perhaps the greatest treatise on military strategy ever. This animated short explains the book in under 10 minutes.
East India: The Story of the Richest Company in History
How did the East Indian Company gain and consolidate its power and profit? All is revealed here.
Amazing! 7 Facts That Have Changed Since Your School Days!
Over time, facts we consider to be completely true can change. Here are 7 facts that have changed since your school days.
14:52
What Are the Odds?! - 20 Creepy Historical Coincidences
These are some of the creepiest, and most spine-chilling coincidental occurrences in history...
11 Clever Contronyms - Same Word, Opposite Meanings
Have you ever heard of contronyms? Here’s a hint - these are words that contradict themselves.
How 10 Ordinary English Idioms and Phrases Began...
Many English phrases and idioms have fascinating histories behind them, here is a selection of 10 astounding examples.
These 15 Interesting Facts Really Surprised Me!
Our world is full of surprises, amazing stories, funny coincidences and events you've never heard of - so we've collected 16 of them to share with you ...
22 Old Photos That Really Make History Come Alive
Looking through these old black and white photos you can really learn a lot about history and the world. These 22 photos generates that mind-blowing spark and teaches you something new.
Do You Remember the Things that Defined the 1950s?
The 1950s marked the beginning of the postwar era, increased prosperity and drastic changes to everyday life. Here are 10 things that defined the 1950s.
Improve Your Critical Thinking Skills with These Great Tips
If you want to improve your critical thinking skills then you should take a look at these fantastic tips.
3:37
This Famous Speech is Still Amazing Today!
One of the greatest speeches ever made, for the love of freedom, the love of human beings.
Archeologists Are Dumbfounded By These Discoveries
These archelogical sites have been proven to be difficult to explain.
4:13
This is What Happened to the Man Who Didn't Salute Hitler!
Nearly eight decades have passed since a camera captured the moment a man refused to give Hitler a Nazi salute. Here's what happened to him.
The Best Movies That Lost Best Picture at the Oscars
Here’s a look at some of the most memorable films that missed out on Best Picture at the Oscars.
14:18
10 of the Longest Reigning Monarchs in World History
If you're judging a monarch's success by the number of years they reign, these 10 monarchs are the absolute best!
Welcome the Summer Season with These Beautiful Quotes
Welcome the balmy summer season with these beautiful warm-weather quotes.
25:05
It Took This Man a Year to Replicate Coca-Cola's Secrets
What if one person could crack one of the world's most guarded secrets using pure science?
12 Roman Quotes and Proverbs Well-Worth Remembering
Each of these 12 Roman phrase offers a glimpse into the mindset of a civilization that shaped the Western world.
6:28
Discover Similarities Between Ancient & Modern Math
Did you know that the ancient Egyptians used the same system of math as the supercomputers of today do? Find out more in this informative video.
We Bet You Never Knew the Origins of These Common Idioms!
We bet you use the following 8 common idioms all the time, but have you ever stopped to take the time to think about where they came from?
15 Latin Phrases We Use to This Day Without Even Realizing
As an English, speaker you likely know more Latin than you ever thought you did. Just look at these 15 Latin phrases and see if you know what they mean...
10 Words that Mean the Opposite of What They Used to Mean
These meaning of words we know today used to have an opposite meaning when they were first used.
Facts from History You’ve Likely Never Heard Before
If you’re someone who loves uncovering the lesser-known corners of the past, you’ll find something special here.
12:48
The Most Unbelievable Land Boom in US History
Miami Beach started as a swampy island, and that is just one bit of Florida's fascinating history.
These 11 Quotes Don’t Belong to Those You Think They Do
Surprising quotations that were completely miscredited. Some have commonalities with the supposed authors, while others are completely off...
4:11
Nostalgia: 50 Beautiful Faces We'll Never Forget...
Nostalgic faces from the golden ages to the modern ages.
12 Love Stories of Couples that Grew Better with Age
12 couples share their stories of growing old together, alongside a dose of worldly wisdom.
20:44
Of the Transformative Power of Classical Music...
A fascinating TED talk by Benjamin Zander.
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