I’ve had a hard time learning about the Silk Road in China. I’m not great at geography. I’m not great at timelines. (For example, I don’t remember years of historical events well.) But I am better at learning about individual important people, animals, and goods like sugar. Anything I’m highly interested in.

Aside from sugar, another example is classic 1950’s women’s wear in America. My love of the style it helps me remember it’s association with the nuclear family. After seeing the movie Pleasantville(such an incredible film) with a ton of American 50’s wear, I can remember the 50’s were a time of segregation too.

Speaking of art helping me learn about history, through watching about this remodeled clock face with breathing holes, I learned how underground railroads that helped people escape slavery would sometimes have hiding places under floorboards. Holes were made in the floor of this church to help them breathe, and they were in patterns made to camouflage them as “decorations.”

This is the sort of stuff I like learning with.