Progress: The World Advancing

  • 2600 BCE

    Great Pyramids of Giza

    Great Pyramids of Giza
    represent early advancements in engineering, mathematics, and organizational skills
  • 375 BCE

    Plato’s The Republic

    Plato’s The Republic
    He explores the progression of society through education, morality, and governance
  • 100 BCE

    Plutarch’s Parallel Lives

    Plutarch’s Parallel Lives
    Plutarch’s biographies of great Greeks and Romans explore the progress of individuals and societies through their virtues, achievements, and leadership
  • Period: 1400 to

    16th Century

  • 1490

    “Vitruvian Man” - Leonardo Da Vinci

    “Vitruvian Man” - Leonardo Da Vinci
    symbolizes the Renaissance ideal of progress through the integration of science, art, and the human form
  • 1516

    Titian

    Titian
    Made paintings that showed advancements in color, movement, and emotional expression, marking progress in Venetian art
  • Ben Jonson’s The Alchemist

    Ben Jonson’s The Alchemist
    addresses the pursuit of progress through science and alchemy
  • Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Woman

    Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
    emphasizing societal progress through education and reform
  • “Liberty Leading the People” by Eugène Delacroix

    A Romantic depiction of the 1830 French Revolution, it embodies the fight for political and social progress
  • Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass

    Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass
    Celebrates the progress of democracy, individuality, and the human spirit
  • Period: to

    Great Depression

  • “Let America Be America Again” poem by Langston Hughes

    “Let America Be America Again” poem by Langston Hughes
    This poem speaks to the hardships many faced during the Great Depression but also emphasizes the hope and struggle for a better, more equal America. It calls for progress in social and economic justice
  • “The People, Yes” poem By Carl Sandburg

    “The People, Yes” poem By Carl Sandburg
    Sandburg captures the resilience of ordinary people during the Great Depression. The poem reflects the strength, endurance, and optimism of the working class amidst economic hardships
  • “Broadway Boogie Woogie” by Piet Mondrian

    An abstract work inspired by the dynamism of New York City, symbolizing urban and cultural progress
  • “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor

    motivational anthem about perseverance and personal progress
  • “Man in the Mirror” by Michael Jackson

    Advocates for personal responsibility as a means to drive progress and change
  • The Eden Project by Nicholas Grimshaw

    The Eden Project by Nicholas Grimshaw
    represents environmental progress and innovative engineering
  • “Stronger” by Kanye West

    A personal anthem of growth and resilience, focusing on overcoming challenges to progress
  • The Burj Khalifa

    The Burj Khalifa
    The tallest building in the world symbolizes human ambition, technological advancements, and economic growth
  • Michelle Obama’s Becoming

    Michelle Obama’s Becoming
    Reflects on personal and societal progress
  • Level Up by Ciara

    a high energy song about self-improvement and progress