Human Interest

A copper awl dating to between 5100 and 4600 B.C. reveals metals were exchanged across hundreds of miles in the southern Levant more than 6,000 years ago, centuries earlier than previously thought, researchers say.

Explore 'prehistory,' including the last Ice Age and population migrations, as you start History 101: Western Civilization I, an online course from Education Portal. Successive video lessons address the history of ancient civilizations, including Greece and Rome, and introduce numerous historical figures, from Homer and Plato to William the Conqueror and Henry the VIII. You'll examine various myths and religions and see how art and technology influenced different societies. With so much information to absorb, the self-assessment quizzes that accompany each video will prove a valuable way to measure your mastery of each topic.