TED-Ed
Rhythm in a Box: The Story of the Cajon Drum
Discover the rich cultural traditions and remarkable ingenuity of indigenous people and African slaves by learning about one of the most popular percussion instruments in the world today.
Crash Course
Mansa Musa and Islam in Africa
Delve into the world of Malian ruler Mansa Musa, the development and culture of African kingdoms such as the Swahili civilization, the use of oral tradition, and the spread of Islam across trade routes. The narrator does an excellent job...
Crash Course
The Medieval Islamicate World: Crash Course History of Science #7
The Medieval Islamicate World was truly a world of wonders! Clocks with gears, armillary spheres ... and robots that played music? Journey to ancient Baghdad, the center of science and math with the seventh video in a History of Science...
Crash Course
2000 Years of Chinese History! The Mandate of Heaven and Confucius
John Green summarizes the ebb and flow of dynasties in 2000 years of ancient Chinese history up to the Chinese Revolution of 1911. He discusses the development and influence of the mandate of heaven, as well as an overview of...
PBS
Chinese New Year
Dancing dragons, fireworks, red envelopes, and loud music are the familiar images of Chinese New Year celebrations. The holiday, also know as Lunar New Year and/or the Spring festival is also a religious holiday that combines aspects of...
Crash Course
Buddha and Ashoka
For such a complex and lengthy topic, Mr. Green does a great job of introducing and/or quickly summarizing the major tenets of Indian cultural and religious history, as well as the origins of Buddhism. Topics covered in this episode...
Crash Course
Greeks and Persians
Considering the evolution of democracy and civilization to this day, is there any reason to believe the Persians should have defeated the Greeks in the Persian War? Why could the legacy of Ancient Greece be considered "profoundly...
Crash Course
Wait for It...The Mongols!
While many may imagine the Mongols stereotypically as a barbarian and brutal people, Mr. Green invites his audiences to consider the complexity and impact of this once great empire. This episode covers the benefits, consequences, and...
Be Smart
Why is the Sky Any Color?
Skin, the toughest part of the body, provides each person with multiple layers of protection from the outside world. Assist young scientists as they view the video segment and learn the differences in melanin production, leading to...
TED-Ed
Why Should You Read “Kafka on the Shore”?
Haruki Murakami's Kafka on the Shore was selected as one of the 10 Best Books of 2005. A short video provides insight into the many threads that form the tapestry of the prize-winning novel.
Be Smart
Why Are Some People Left-Handed?
Most animals that show a paw preference are split 50/50 with half of the population preferring one side and the other half preferring the other, yet in humans only 10 percent are left-handed. The video explains what part of the brain...
Crash Course
Pee Jokes, the Italian Renaissance, Commedia Dell'Arte: Crash Course Theater #12
Welcome to the Renaissance, known as one of the most vibrant periods in the world of theater. An informational video provides a thorough overview of the period, noting key changes that took place on the stage. After a lengthy discussion...
Be Smart
Why Do We Cook?
Are you hungry right now? If you are, it might be because your brain is so large. The video describes the shift from larger jaw to larger brain and the relationship of larger brains to cooking. Crushing, preserving, and drying also made...
Crash Course
Movies are Magic
Persistence of Vision? The Phi Phenomenon? Zoetropes? Camera Obscura? Kinetograph? What part do these concepts and inventions play in the history of movies? Find out with a short video that launches an informative playlist on film history.
The School of Life
Art/Architecture - Henri Matisse
The paintings of Henri Matisse are the focus of an episode from The School of Life "Art/Architecture" playlist that discusses the life and works of the famous French painter. The narrator points out how Matisse uses bright colors to...
Crash Course
The Presocratics: Crash Course History of Science #2
How did early scientists arrive at the notion that everything was made of atoms? Meet the Presocratics during the second installment in an engaging History of Science series. Viewers discover how these pioneers developed a model for...