What is a mosaic? Examples from Aztec, Roman, Thai, Islamic, and Byzantine Art
This video focuses on understanding mosaics, both how they are made and the materials they are made from.
The Reduction Firing Process Behind Neolithic Blackware
The reduction firing process was one of the most innovative technological achievements in the history of ceramics.
The Earliest Dated Buddha Statue from China
The earliest visual images of the Buddha were transmitted to China by travelers along the ancient Silk Roads.
What is conflated narrative? | The Enlightenment relief at the Great Stupa at Sanchi
How does a single image show the passage of time?
Colima Dogs and West Mexican Ceramics
Dogs have been immortalized in art across the globe for thousands of years.
Teotihuacan Mastered City Planning 2,000 Years Ago with Apartments and Grid Planning
Explore the massive Mesoamerican city of Teotihuacan, an ancient site known for its incredible architecture.
What is Cuneiform? Mesopotamians and Ancient Writing Systems
This video explores cuneiform writing, one of the world's oldest writing systems, originating in Mesopotamia over 5,000 years ago.
What is continuous narrative? | The Great Departure relief at the Great Stupa at Sanchi
Because early Buddhist art is aniconic, we explain the symbols used to depict the Buddha’s presence in this scene and show how they repeat from right to left to illustrate how his story unfolds.
How to Do a Visual Analysis in Art History: An Ancient Chinese Bronze Vessel
This video explains how to do a visual analysis (formal analysis) of a 5th-century BCE Chinese bronze vessel.
The Terracotta Warriors and the Tomb of the First Emperor of China
The terracotta army in the tomb of the First Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huangdi, is one of the most fascinating discoveries in archaeology.
What is lacquer?
In this video, we dive into East Asian lacquer, featuring a gorgeous red-and-black lacquer plate dated to the 3rd century BCE.
Tlatilco culture and an ancient fish figurine in Mesoamerica
Dive into the captivating world of ancient Central Mexico with a vibrant figurine showing a fish!
Lady Dai's funeral banner and tomb
Did you know one of the earliest silk paintings in Chinese history came from an ancient tomb that was so well preserved that the woman’s body looked like it had been mummified?