Clearing the Western Trail

The Western Trail was the main route that Texas cattlemen drove north to markets. Between 1866 and 1890 as many as six million cattle made this trek. The town of Dodge City, Kansas was once known as “cowboy capital of the world.” The towns of Ogallala, Nebraska; Cheyenne, Wyoming; Miles City, Montana and Medora, North…

The Story of Western History

The traditional story of Western history emphasized how Western Civilization was both distinct from and superior to other branches of civilization. Its growth and influence accelerated after a technological leap: the Industrial Revolution, in which Europe discovered how to use fossil fuels that had been locked in the ground for thousands of years and unleashed…

Purchasing Life Insurance

Purchasing life insurance can seem complex, but it’s an important part of creating financial security for your family. It’s a contract between an insurer and a policyholder that provides a lump sum of money to designated beneficiaries after the death of the insured. The death benefit can help your loved ones pay off debts, meet…

History of Western Europe

Western Europe is small but densely populated, with a remarkable diversity of peoples and languages. In the early Middle Ages, kings and princes consolidated their power as feudal overlords in Europe’s northern and southern regions. This was a time of exploration, with the growth of the Ottoman Empire cutting off trade routes to the east…

A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn

Howard Zinn fundamentally changed the way millions of people think about history with his book A People’s History of the United States. He would be the first to acknowledge, however, that he didn’t do it alone. Many of the most significant struggles in American history — the fights for higher wages and workers’ rights, health…