Credit Card

This credit card exemplifies the global nature of modern finance. Money has become power. The credit card also displays the vast increase of techology over the centuries. Everything can be done electronically and you can own objects now with the swipe of a card rather then the old fashioned trade off of a goat and cash money.

Early Victorian Tea Set

Historically this set has been associated with Queen Adelaide (1792 - 1849), wife of William IV. During the Victorian era, the wealthy and the polite were considered powerful. Tea was initially a luxury product but by 1830 it was increasingly drunk by everyone in Britain using mass-produced pottery and porcelain. Although simple and originally moderately-priced, the pieces have been ornamented with silver to make them more prestigious and desirable.

Pieces of Eight

The Pieces of eight were the world's first global currency. They were used across the Spanish Emipre as well as out side of it. The front of the coin is decorated with the coat of arms of the Habsburgs, the rulers of Spain and the most powerful family in Europe.

Taino Ritual Seat

This wooden seat known as a duho was sculpted by a Taino artisan.The Taino were one of the pre-European, native peoples of the Caribbean. It is carved in the shape of an ancestor spirit known as a cemi.
These were used to communicate with the spirit world. The Tainos were ruled by both male and female chiefs. The chief or an important visitor could sit in the chair and ask the spirts for advice on war and such.

Maya Relief of Royal Blood-letting

The Maya ruled much of Mexico and Central America between AD 250 and 100. Bloodletting and human sacrifice was used to mark significant events in the lives of Maya rulers, such as the birth of an heir, accession to the throne and death.

Hinton St Mary Mosaic

This mosaic is probably one of the oldest surviving depictions of Christ. It comes from a Roman villa in Dorset. Christ is portrayed as a fair-haired and clean-shaven man wearing a tunic and cloak.

In AD 312 the Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity and the religion began to spread freely throughout the Roman Empire. Here we first see religion and power come into play. For years and years, Christianity had held power. Priest became corrupted as did the followes at the time. This mosaic shows on of the first starts to many of religious/worship art pieces dedicated to Christianity.

Head of Augustus

This head  if of the emperor, Augustus. Statues were created and used to remind the people the power of the emperor. Augustus is always shown you to display his strength. The Roman Empire enjoyed a period of long-lasting peace under Augustus' reign. When he died he was declared a god by the Roman Senate.