American Institute of the Humanities

The impressive silver-plated Roman cavalry helmet found in Nijmegen, dating 2nd half of the 1st CE.

Miniature Skeleton, Roman, c. 25 BCE–CE 100. On view at Getty Villa, Gallery 211, The Roman Villa. (bronze)

Spanish map of Mexico City from the 16th century.

A skull still in chainmail from the Battle of Visby, 1361.

Yoruba Metal Art: There is well-documented evidence that iron smelting and forging technologies may have existed in West Africa as early as the 6th century BC among the Nok people of Nigeria. Iron technology appears to have played a critical role in the fundamental social assets that fuelled the growth of significant centralized civilizations in the West African region between 1400 and 1600.
The development of iron tools and weapons resulted in extensive mechanized agriculture, efficient hunting, and successful warfare, all of which contributed to the growth of large urban centers.
Iron was also important in the rise of Yoruba kingdoms, particularly the Ife and Oyo Empires. They had a lot of contact with one another, so they have similar beliefs about the properties of iron and the methods for smelting it. Ife metal castings appear to be some of the finest Sub-Saharan art; they are mostly hollow-cast heads used in ancestral rites and have a naturalistic appearance.
There are indications that the first caster originated in Ife around the 14th century, according to tradition. And the most common forms were heads of dead Benin kings, usually supported by a carved-out ivory tusk.
These were placed on altars alongside other figurative castings and bells and dedicated to early kings. Figured plaques were also used as architectural designs and decorations.
For example, among the Yorubas, Ogun, the god of iron, is a revered deity. It is widely regarded as the first warrior and hunter, as well as the inventor of iron. Furthermore, Ogun is known for opening roads, clearing fields, and establishing great dynasties.
The distinctive iron sword of Ogun, a Yoruba Metal Art that is often regarded as a symbolic cultural motif, is associated with both civilizing and aggressive actions.
The Bronze Head of Ife is one of the most well-known Yoruba metal works. The copper alloy sculpture, discovered in Ife in 1938, is thought to represent a king and was most likely made between the 13th and 14th centuries, long before European contact with the local population.
The sophisticated sculptures’ realism and authenticity challenged the western conceptualization of African art at the time. The Ife head was transported to the British Museum a year after its exhumation.
Because of their historical significance and as a testament to the Yorubas’ rich civilization, Ife heads are now widely used in logos and branding of Nigerian corporations and educational institutions, such as the one used for Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife.
Because of its symbolic importance, the British Museum’s Ife head was included in the major exhibition Kingdom of Ife: Sculptures from West Africa, which was organized in collaboration with Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments, the Museum for African Art in New York, and the British Museum. The entire exhibition was part of a series of events commemorating Nigeria’s 50th anniversary of independence.
All of this demonstrates that, long before European contact with West Africa, the Yorubas developed a highly sophisticated iron industry that reflected their civilization and ingenuity.

Aztec rain god: Tláloc. Detail from the Codex Borbonicus, Teotihuacán. The Codex Borbonicus is an Aztec codex written by Aztec priests shortly before or after the Spanish conquest of Mexico.

Depiction of an Iberian chieftain from pre-Roman Spain. The Iberians were known for their sophisticated weaponry and military prowess, from which Rome and Carthage benefited. His attire is faithfully based on archaeological finds.

The oldest artifacts in the world. Found in Kenya, scientists date to simple cutting tools to 3.3 million years ago.

Wonderful Australopithecus afarensis (Lucy) reconstruction by Elisabeth Daynès

Cosmetic dish in the shape of a dog. Date: New Kingdom, Egypt, ca. 1550–1295 BCE.

Figurine of a Woman Making Beer, Painted limestone, from Giza. Old Kingdom, 5th Dynasty, ca. 2494-2345 BCE. Egyptian Museum, Cairo.

Akkadian sculpture (24th-22nd cent. BCE) is considered the 'classical' sculpture of ancient Mesopotamia, its masterpieces among the most frequently reproduced and most intensively studied works from the entire ancient Near East.

JFK Jr. under JFK’s desk, 1963

The war god Huitzilopochtli’s weapon, the Xiuhcoatl (fire serpent). Aztec, c. 1300-1521 CE.

Pendant, eagle with lion’s head. Medium: gold, lapis lazuli, copper.
Syria, Early Dynastic Period, ca 2500 BCE.

Two enslaved boys, South Carolina, 1860.

Stamped Brick of the Sumerian King Šulgi of Ur. This stamped brick records nearly four lines of a royal inscription of the king Šulgi (2094-2047 BCE), written in Sumerian cuneiform.

2000-year-old green serpentine stone mask found at the base of the pyramid of the Sun, Teotihuacan, Mexico.

"Siege of Petersburg. The [African American] infantry bringing in captured guns and cheers of the Ohio troops. When the [African American] troops found themselves within the works of the enemy no words could paint their delight. Numbers of them kissed the guns they had captured with extravagant satisfaction, and a feverish anxiety was minfested to get ahead and charge some more of the Confederate works. A number of the [African American] troops were wounded and a few killed in the first charge. A large crowd congregated, with looks of unutterable admiration, about Sergeant Richardson and Corporal Wobey, of the Twenty-second United States [African American] regiment, who had carried the colors of their regiment and been the first men in the works. Our artist gives a sketch of this gallant action."— Frank Leslie, 1896.

Tenkamenin - The last King and ruler of the Ancient Ghana (1037 to 1076 AD)
The kingdom of Ghana reached the height of its greatness during the reign of Tenkamenin. Through his careful management of the gold trade across the Sahara desert into West Africa, Tenkamenin’s empire flourished economically.
Ghana reached great heights during the short reign of Tenkamenin. Through his tactful management of the gold trade across the Sahara desert in West Africa, Tenkamenin’s empire prospered economically.
Tenkamenin is known as the people’s king due to his empathy for his people. Each day he would ride out on horseback and listen to the problems and concerns of his people.
As a result it became clear that Tenkamenin’s most significant quality was in government. His ethos of democracy and tolerance makes him one of Africa’s greatest ever monarchs. Known as “the king of the people” or “the people’s king”, King Tenkamenin who ruled the kingdom around the 9th century is considered as one of the greatest African kings. During his reign, the kingdom flourished and became very wealthy reaching its peak in economic wealth and power.
But his greatest strength was in government. Each day he would ride out on horseback and listen to the problems and concerns of his people. He insisted that no one be denied an audience and that they be allowed to remain in his presence until satisfied that justice had been done.
His principles of democratic monarchy and religious tolerance make Tenkamenin’s reign one of the great models of African rule.
Manin successfully held off the Almoravid attacks on the Ghana Empire, and even expanded it farther. Al-Bakri noted that Manin controlled some 200,000 warriors. However, in 1076, the Almoravids succeeded in destroying the capitol of Kumbi Saleh absorbing the former Ghana empire.
We recognise and celebrate Tenkamenin because his reign was a peaceful and prosperous reign. Breaking the rules of divinity and higher worship of a ruler, he worked with his messengers. Every day, Tenkamenin made it a point to ride on a horse and speak with the people in the town.
He would spend long hours addressing their issues. He sent out his servants to seek the opinion of his people on issues that affected the kingdom before making decisions. He also allowed that the people remained in his presence, (which was not the done thing) when they came to him with their issues and made it a point that they stayed until there was some form of resolution.
Tenkamenin is also well regarded for the way he structured his leadership, He was very particular about taxes and made it a point to collect taxes which would be used to benefit the people of his kingdom. Tenkamenin was very concerned about the social well-being of his people. Although His reign was short, it was impactful and is considered as one of the best-structured monarchies of all time.

Many African Americans went to Mexico for sanctuary and when slave owners demanded that the Mexican government send them back, Mexico replied with "There are no Black slaves in Mexico only Black citizens."

A denarius of Julius Caesar with an Elephant trampling a serpent meaning the triumph of good (elephant) over evil (serpent)

This is the first coinage to bear Julius Caesar's name, commencing after Caesar crossed the Rubicon in January 49 BCE.

Sarcophagus of Prince Thutmose’s Cat Ta-Miu, detail (ca. 1400 BCE).

Silver statuette of the river god Achelous. Culture: Greek, ca. 400 BCE. Dimensions: H. 4.7 cm L: 7 cm. Credit & Collection: Shlomo Moussaieff Collection.

Mansa Musa, the 14th century African king of the Mali Empire, is widely considered the richest person to have ever lived. With an inflation adjusted fortune of $400 billion.

Today in 30BCE-- Cleopatra VII Philopator, the last ruler of the Egyptian Ptolemaic dynasty, commits su***de allegedly by inducing an asp (Egyptian cobra) to bite her.

Alabaster vases of monkeys holding their young. Dimensions: 18.6 cm high and 13.7 cm high. Date: Egyptian, Old Kingdom, Dynasty 6, Reign of Pepi I, 2289 - 2255 BCE