The reading room
Find your way through history. Explore 279 entries across places and centuries. Follow an event, compare its context, and examine the evidence.
Jump to the pictures and stories ↓ Africa Americas Asia Europe Middle East Oceania Global 1848–1849 CE
In-depth study A session of the Frankfurt National Assembly on 16 September 1848, in a contemporary lithograph by Fr. Wentzel. The printed scene is an artist-mediated interpretation, not a photograph or verbatim record of the debate.Picture source & rights Fr. Wentzel / Wien Museum, HMW 88579 · CC0 1.0 · Full frame retained; resized and converted to WebP · Licence terms Europe / Rights
Liberal, democratic and national movements challenged Europe’s established order. The Frankfurt Assembly attempted to create a constitutional German nation-state.
Read → 1911–1912 CE
In-depth study A 1911 color woodcut cataloged by the Library of Congress as “Marshal Li recovering Nanjing during the Xinhai Revolution of 1911.” It is a dramatic period artwork—not a photograph—and its artist is unknown.Picture source & rights Unknown artist / Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · Library JPEG converted to WebP · Licence terms Asia / Empire
Revolution ended the Qing dynasty, but establishing a republic did not settle how China would be governed or reunified.
Read → 1945–1949 CE
In-depth study Sukarno, accompanied by Mohammad Hatta, proclaims Indonesia’s independence in Jakarta on 17 August 1945. The photograph records the proclamation ceremony, not the subsequent independence war.Picture source & rights Frans Mendur / Indonesian Department of Information; National Library of Indonesia Presidential Documents collection / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · Touched-up archive derivative converted to WebP · Licence terms Asia / Empire
Indonesians proclaimed independence in 1945 and fought Dutch efforts to restore colonial rule. The transfer of sovereignty in 1949 was a later milestone.
Read → 1954–1962 CE
In-depth study Soldiers of Algeria’s National Liberation Army gathered beneath an Algerian flag during the War of Independence, 1958. The image provides an FLN military perspective, not the experiences of civilians, French forces or political negotiators.Picture source & rights Zdravko Pečar / Museum of African Art, Belgrade / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP; derivative under the same licence · Licence terms Africa / Empire
The war for independence ended French colonial rule in Algeria. Political sovereignty also raised questions about archives, art and who would control the cultural inheritance.
Read → 1959–1962 CE
In-depth study Fidel Castro speaks to reporters in Washington, D.C., on 15 April 1959, after the revolutionary victory. This post-victory diplomatic image centers Castro; it does not depict the overthrow of Batista, popular participation or early policy change.Picture source & rights Unidentified U.S. News & World Report photographer / Library of Congress, LC-DIG-ppmsc-03256 / Wikimedia Commons · Rights dedicated to the public upon collection donation · Resized and converted to WebP · Licence terms Americas / Rights
The overthrow of Batista opened a struggle over political power and property. Cuba’s relationship with the United States deteriorated as ties with the Soviet Union strengthened.
Read → 1966–1976 CE
In-depth study Performers stage the model ballet The Red Detachment of Women at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People during the Nixon visit, 22 February 1972. This official performance documents state-approved aesthetics, not daily life or political persecution.Picture source & rights Byron E. Schumaker / Nixon Presidential Materials / U.S. National Archives / Wikimedia Commons · U.S. federal work, public domain · Converted to WebP · Licence terms Asia / Rights
Mao’s Cultural Revolution mobilised students and other groups against supposed enemies, destabilised institutions and subjected people to persecution.
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