Category: Daily Life in the Past

A History of Clothes

By Tim Lambert Egyptian Clothes Not surprisingly, given the hot climate, Egyptians wore only light clothing. Men wore a loincloth and a kind of kilt. Women wore dresses with shoulder straps. Clothes were made of linen or cotton. Later in Egyptian history, clothes became more elaborate and colorful. Egyptians shaved their hair and wore wigs.… Continue reading A History of Clothes

A History of Condiments

By Tim Lambert Early Condiments Since ancient times people have used condiments to enhance their food. The first condiment was salt. Salt has always been used both as a preservative and to enhance the flavor of food. Vinegar has also been used since ancient times. Its name is probably derived from the French words vin… Continue reading A History of Condiments

A History of Desserts

By Tim Lambert Dedicated to Jane Hummerstone Early Desserts In the Middle Ages, rich people ate desserts like preserved fruits, jelly, and wafers made from batter. Furthermore, the Italians have been eating panettone since at least the 15th century, but its origins are lost in legend. The Romans knew that eggs could be used for… Continue reading A History of Desserts

A History of Disability

By Tim Lambert Dedicated to Jonathan David Collins In the Middle Ages and the 16th century, if they could not work, disabled people relied on relatives and neighbours. There were also almshouses, but only a small number of disabled people lived in them. Often, they became beggars. In 1530, a law in England allowed disabled… Continue reading A History of Disability

A History of Dolls

By Tim Lambert Early Dolls Girls have played with dolls for thousands of years. Pottery dolls have been found in Ancient Egyptian tombs. Girls in Ancient Greece played with dolls made of baked clay or wood. Some of them had movable limbs. However, when Greek girls grew up they dedicated their dolls to a goddess.… Continue reading A History of Dolls

A History of Drinks

By Tim Lambert Early Drinks The original drink was, of course, water or Adam’s ale as it is sometimes called. However, when people invented farming they invented other drinks. It is believed that beer was invented before writing. Certainly in Egypt, beer was a common drink. People drank it from large containers through straws (to… Continue reading A History of Drinks

A History of Eating Birds

By Tim Lambert For thousands of years, people have eaten birds. Many different types of birds were hunted or raised for food. Birds’ feathers were, of course, useful. Chickens Chickens were domesticated in Southeast Asia about 6,000 BC. Later, chickens spread to India, then to the Middle East and Europe. The Romans liked eating chickens… Continue reading A History of Eating Birds

A History of Education

By Tim Lambert Education in Ancient Egypt Most children in Egypt did not go to school. Instead, boys learned farming or other trades from their fathers. Girls learned sewing, cooking, and other skills from their mothers. Boys from wealthy families sometimes learned to be scribes. They learned by copying and memorising, and discipline was strict.… Continue reading A History of Education

A History of Electricity

By Tim Lambert Who Invented Electricity? No single person invented electricity. Many people made discoveries and inventions. However, in 1819, a Dane, Hans Christian Oersted discovered that an electric current in a wire caused a nearby compass needle to move. The Englishman Michael Faraday (1791-1867) showed that a magnet can produce electricity. In 1831 Faraday… Continue reading A History of Electricity