By Tim Lambert Leather has been used by humans since Prehistoric Times. People preserved animal skins by smoking them or rubbing animal brains on them. In Ancient Iraq vegetable oils were used to treat skins. In Europe in the Middle Ages animal skins were dried then tanned. They were soaked in water with oak tree… Continue reading A History of Leather
Category: Articles
A History of Trondheim, Norway
By Tim Lambert Early Trondheim Trondheim was founded as a trading settlement in 997. However, before then, it was an assembly point where people met to discuss important issues. There may have been some merchants living there. However, it was formally founded as a town by the Norwegian king Olaf Tryggvason (995-c.1000). Originally, Trondheim was… Continue reading A History of Trondheim, Norway
A Biography of Jack the Ripper
By Tim Lambert Jack the Ripper was a serial killer of women in the East End of London in 1888. The murderer was never caught and the case remains a mystery. The Victims Martha Tabram? Nobody is certain how many women Jack the Ripper killed. Most people think there were 5 victims but there may… Continue reading A Biography of Jack the Ripper
Heat Related History Facts
By Tim Lambert In July 1911 Britain, and other parts of the world were struck by a heatwave. The temperature in Cambridge reached 36.7 degrees centigrade. On 10 July 1913, in Death Valley, California, a temperature of 56.7 degrees centigrade (134 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded. It was the highest temperature ever recorded on Earth. On… Continue reading Heat Related History Facts
Did Jack the Ripper Strike in Havant?
By Tim Lambert Havant has a connection with Jack the Ripper. At the time of the murders, in 1888 a letter with a Portsmouth postmark was sent to a magistrate claiming to be from Jack the Ripper. The writer said not to look for him in London because ‘I’m not there’. Shortly afterwards a boy… Continue reading Did Jack the Ripper Strike in Havant?
A Brief History of Flowers
By Tim Lambert Flowers have, of course, given people pleasure for thousands of years. However, they were not only beautiful but also food and medicine. For centuries, flowers were symbols. Each one had a different meaning. The ‘language’ of flowers is called floriography. The Ancient Greeks had a goddess of flowers called Chloris. The Romans… Continue reading A Brief History of Flowers
A Brief Biography of William Booth
By Tim Lambert William Booth founded the Salvation Army with his wife, Catherine. William was born in Nottingham on 10 April 1829. He was one of five children of Samuel and Mary Booth. At first, Samuel Booth was a wealthy builder, and his son William was sent to school. Unfortunately, Samuel Booth lost his money,… Continue reading A Brief Biography of William Booth
A History of Ketchikan, Alaska
By Tim Lambert For centuries, the Tlingit people fished on the site of Ketchikan. The name Ketchikan comes from Kitschk-hin, the Tlingit word for Ketchikan Creek. In 1883, a man named John Snow started a saltery in the area. In 1885, a man named Mike Martin bought 160 acres from Chief Kyan, and in 1886,… Continue reading A History of Ketchikan, Alaska
A History of British Trade Unions
By Tim Lambert Trade unions originated in Britain in the late 18th century. As the country underwent the Industrial Revolution, working men began to unite to press for better wages and conditions. However, for decades, trade unions had to fight for their rights. The British upper class was alarmed by the French Revolution, and in… Continue reading A History of British Trade Unions
A History of the Arctic
By Tim Lambert The Early Arctic The first people in Alaska and Canada crossed the Bering Strait from Asia. The Inuit lived by hunting seals, walruses, caribou, and whales. The first inhabitants of Greenland were also Inuit. The Vikings arrived in Greenland at the end of the 10th century. They were led by Erik Thorvaldsson… Continue reading A History of the Arctic