Category: Articles of the key ‘dark’ historical events across the world

By Tim Lambert Ivan the Terrible is remembered as a cruel tyrant although he also strengthened Russia. (When Ivan was born Russia was much smaller than it is now and much less powerful). Ivan was born on 25 August 1530. His father was Grand Prince Vasily III of Moscow. However, the Grand Prince died in… Continue reading A Biography of Ivan the Terrible

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… Continue reading A Biography of Jack The Ripper

By Tim Lambert Pol Pot was one of the worst tyrants of the 20th century. Pol Pot was born in Cambodia in 1925. His family was not poor. Instead, his father was a well-off farmer. However, Pol Pot became a Marxist. Marxism was the creation of Karl Marx (1818-1883). According to him, society went through… Continue reading A Biography of Pol Pot

By Tim Lambert Early Epidemics At different times in history, terrible pandemics have swept parts of the world killing millions of people. The best known is the Black Death of the 14th century but epidemics were nothing new in Europe. In 430 BC Athens was struck by an epidemic of an unknown disease, which devastated… Continue reading A Brief History of Epidemics

By Tim Lambert Banishment Since Ancient Times forcing an offender to leave his home and go abroad or to another region either permanently or for a fixed period has been used as a punishment. Bastinado Bastinado was beating a person on the soles of their feet with a stick. Because the soles of the feet… Continue reading A Brief History of Punishments

By Tim Lambert Slavery in the Ancient World Slavery is the ownership of one human being by another. It has existed throughout history in many cultures and is by no means extinct today. In the distant past, people often slaughtered their enemies but sometimes they were taken prisoner and used as slaves. In the Ancient… Continue reading A Brief History of Slavery

By Tim Lambert Auschwitz was a concentration camp where more than a million innocent people were murdered. During the First World War, a camp for immigrant workers was built near the Polish town of Oswiecim, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After the war, Oswiecim became part of the new state of Poland.… Continue reading A History of Auschwitz

By Tim Lambert Beheading is an ancient method of punishment. St Alban was the first recorded British martyr. He was beheaded circa 305 AD in the Roman town of Verulamium, which is now called St Albans. In the Middle Ages, William the Conqueror introduced beading as a punishment for the upper class in England. Beheading… Continue reading A History of Beheading in England

By Tim Lambert Hanging was the most common method of execution in England from Saxon times until the 20th century. At first, the criminal stood on a ladder, which was pulled away, or on a cart, which was moved. From the 18th century, he stood on a trapdoor. Sometimes the hanged man broke his neck… Continue reading A History of Capital Punishment

By Tim Lambert Early Corporal Punishment Corporal punishment is derived from a Latin word meaning body. It meant physical punishment and in the past, it was common. In the past corporal punishment was by no means limited to children. It was used on adults as well. Whipping has been a common punishment since ancient times.… Continue reading A History of Corporal Punishment