Stories about History from January, 2016
Coldplay's New Video Featuring Beyonce Faces Backlash for Alleged Stereotyping of Indian Culture
"Beyonce's video is a problem because it's reductive, and uses India as a prop for capitalist gain. A land and culture she has no right to."
The Nazi Plan to Relocate Jews to Madagascar, One of World War II's Forgotten ‘What Ifs’
Madagascar is not known for its role in World War II. Yet it was a central part of one of the darkest events of the war.
The Lebanese ‘Christian Marriage’ Between Aoun and Geagea Leaves Many Skeptical
When one former warlord endorsed another former warlord, ordinary Lebanese started sharing stories of their suffering during the civil war. Abir Ghattas and Joey Ayoub share some of those stories.
Old Postcards Reveal Forgotten World War I Memories in Macedonia
Made between 1914 and 1918, these photos not only document military aspects of World War I, but also provide views of places and people caught within its maelstrom.
Thanks to the New York Public Library, India’s Bygone Days Are Just a Click Away
The New York Public Library has released more than 180,000 digitized items in the public domain. Readers can now access and download these archived materials from the library for free.
Ugandans Take a Dig at President Museveni With 30-Year-Old Photos
As President Museveni seeks to be re-elected for a sixth term, Ugandans are using the hashtag #1986pictures to share their memories of that time -- and their political discontent.
Get a Glimpse of Life in ‘Fair Japan’
Japanophiles, rejoice! Many amazing images of the country can be found in the New York Public Library's digital image archive, now in the public domain.
Photos of a Misty Morning Sun Rising Over Myanmar's Last Royal Capital
Photographer Zaw Zaw captured the beauty of Mandalay during one morning above Myanmar's last royal capital.
Venezuela's Indigenous Pemón Community Waits for the Day Germany Returns Their Grandmother Kueka
Grandmother Kueka is the genesis, the first mother in the Pemon culture, but the huge jasper stone was never returned after it was taken for an art exhibit.
Vintage Postcards Show Life in Vietnam in the Early 20th Century
The postcards are part of the digital collection of The New York Public Library, which recently released more than 180,000 digitized items into the public domain.
Warlords to the Lebanese People: Let’s Forgive and Forget!
25 years after the end of the civil war Lebanon remains a deeply divided country, and attempts by former warlords to paper over the past can only worsen the situation.
ISIS Destroys Dair Mar Elia, Iraq's Oldest Christian Monastery
Iraq's oldest Christian monastery, Dair Mar Elia, has been destroyed by the ISIS. The monastery, built in 595, is located in Ninawa, just south of Mosul.
How a Weapons Trafficking Case Brought Puerto Rico's Political Status Before the US Supreme Court
The US attorney general's position on Puerto Rico's status has probably turned the issue into fodder for the upcoming election season.
Will Lebanon Finally Have a New President After Geagea Endorsed Aoun?
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has endorsed his war time rival Michel Aoun's candidacy for presidency today. Will Lebanon finally have a new president after 20 months without one?
The Conflict in the Middle East Is Not Between Sunnis and Shias and Doesn't ‘Date Back Millennia’
"Has the region been sectarianized? Yes. Are the differences real? Yes. Is the current war posturing an ancient theological dispute? No," tweets Iyad El-Baghdadi about the so-called Sunni-Shia rift.
This Group Exposes Social Woes and Promotes Philippine Culture Through Street Art
"Doing street art is our way of bringing 'ART' closer to the masses. It is special for us because it's where the purest intention of an artist can be seen."
Japan and South Korea's Historic ‘Comfort Women’ Deal Angers Surviving Victims
The Imperial Japanese Army forced women from across Asia forced into sexual slavery during WWII. The surviving victims and some right-wing Japanese politicians weren't on board with this agreement.
ISIS is Alive and Well in Pakistan Despite Persistent Government Denials
As the world was gearing up to celebrate New Year, news broke in Pakistan that twenty people from Lahore, including women and children, had travelled to Syria to join ISIS.
A Young American Architect Helps Brazil Memorialize the Slave Trade
The wharf where slaves landed in Rio was recently unearthed and Sara Zewde has designed a memorial to the neighborhood’s tragic past.