McGill web gems

China's history and Montreal's past

By Mark Shainblum | Explore the hidden gems and secret places on the websites of McGill University and its affiliated institutions.

The Western Encounter with China 1600-1900: an exhibition

http://digital.library.mcgill.ca/westchina

A portrait of famed Chinese philosopher, Confucius

This is a truly beautiful site; a digital, museum-style exhibition that tells the story of how East met West and their uneasy relationship over 300 years. The exhibit is broken into a series of linked chapters, from Early Accounts to Trade and Gunboat Diplomacy to Christian Missionaries and the Boxer Uprising, among many other sections. Each section is beautifully illustrated with relevant graphics. Perhaps more than in Western nations, the past is still very much alive in China. This is a great way to understand this historical period in the life of a looming superpower.

Growing Up in Montreal

http://tinyurl.com/ytavmv

This is the website companion to a real-world exhibition at McGill's McCord Museum that runs through September 3. It's more of an appetizer than a full-course meal, but it still has dozens of wonderful images and overviews of growing up in Montreal then and now (many different "thens" and "nows" in fact). It covers everything from home life to school, street games and health care. More than just a nostalgic romp, the exhibit explores the behaviour and rituals, habits and games of Montreal children, from birth to adolescence—through the changes and discoveries of the 20th century that transformed children's lives.

Please note: Because the actual McCord Museum URL for this website is long and complicated, we have substituted a shortened address provided by tinyurl.com.