The year is 1917. The world is embroiled in the devastating Great War, empires are teetering, and whispers of radical change echo across Europe. But nowhere did these whispers erupt into such a seismic roar as in Russia. The Russian Revolution, not just one but a series of tumultuous events, dramatically reshaped the political landscape, toppling a centuries-old Tsarist regime and giving birth to the world's first communist state. It’s a story of immense suffering, revolution

The Representation of Nationalism and Start of Revolution in Europe In 1848, Frédéric Sorrieu, a French artist, prepared a series of four prints visualizing his dream of a world made up of ‘democratic and social Republics’. His utopian vision where the peoples of the world are grouped as distinct nations, identified through their flags and national costume. Frédéric Sorrieu's first print - The Dream of Worldwide Democratic and Social Republics It shows the peoples of Europe a

Nationalism as a concept is associated with the formation of modern states. A nation-state is a place where a great majority of people share the same culture and are conscious of it. The treaty of Westphalia in 1648 brought an end to the religious wars in Europe and laid the foundation for the modern nation system. Nationalism and Colonialism Nationalism in most countries is associated with anticolonialism. The combined concerns, actions and identity of people of a nation re

Trade in Ancient Times All through history, human societies have become steadily more interlinked. From ancient times, travelers, traders, priests and pilgrims traveled vast distances for knowledge, opportunity and spiritual fulfillment, or to escape persecution. They carried goods, money, values, skills, ideas, inventions, and even germs and diseases. How Trade Happened in Ancient Times? As early as 3000 BCE an active coastal trade linked the Indus valley civilisations wit

Dawn of the New Century In 1900, a popular music publisher E.T. Paull produced a music book that had a picture on the cover page announcing the ‘Dawn of the Century’ At the center of the picture is a goddess-like figure, the angel of progress, bearing the flag of the new century. She is gently perched on a wheel with wings, symbolizing time. Her flight is taking her into the future. Floating about, behind her, are the signs of progress: railway, camera, machines, printing pre

The First Printed Books The earliest print technology was developed in China, Japan and Korea. Books in China were printed by rubbing paper against wood blocks. They could not print on both sides as the paper was thin and porous. The Chinese ‘Accordion Book’ was printed and stitched on one side. Before the books were printed, the text was copied by skilled craftsmen with accuracy. The art of writing beautifully is called Calligraphy. Why was China the major producer o