By Tim Lambert In the Middle Ages, the main pastime of the upper class was still hunting. Lords hunted deer with packs of dogs and killed them with arrows. They also hunted wild boars with spears. Both men and women went hawking. In the evenings they feasted, danced, and played board games such as chess… Continue reading Leisure in the Middle Ages
Category: Articles
A History of Religion in the 17th Century
By Tim Lambert In the early 17th century king and parliament clashed over the issue of religion. In the 17th century, religion was far more important than it is today. It was a vital part of everyday life. Furthermore, there was no tolerance in matters of religion. By law, everybody was supposed to belong to… Continue reading A History of Religion in the 17th Century
16th and 17th Century Technology
By Tim Lambert Technology in the 16th Century In the 16th century guns transformed warfare. Early guns were lit by a slow match (string was soaked in saltpeter and when it was lit it smoldered). The slow match was touched to the gunpowder to ignite it. However, in the early 16th century, the wheelock was… Continue reading 16th and 17th Century Technology
A Timeline of America
By Tim Lambert 1585 Walter Raleigh attempts to fund a colony in Virginia. An expedition is led by Richard Grenville. 1586 The colony is abandoned 1587 John White leads another attempt to establish a colony in Virginia. However the colonists mysteriously disappear. 1607 The Virginia Company founds a colony at Jamestown 1612 John Rolfe begins growing tobacco in Virginia 1619 The… Continue reading A Timeline of America
A History of Scotland in the 16th and 17th Century
By Tim Lambert Scotland in the 16th Century During the reign of James IV (1488-1513) Renaissance reached Scotland and it was a great age for literature. Also, the first printing press was set up in Edinburgh in 1507. Meanwhile, Aberdeen University was founded in 1495, and in 1496 a law was passed requiring all well-off… Continue reading A History of Scotland in the 16th and 17th Century
The Ashby Garrison in the Civil War
By Alan Roberts During the Civil War, the stronghold at Ashby-de-la-Zouch was the most troublesome royalist garrison in the county, a real thorn in the side of Parliament. This formidable stronghold was the seat of the Hastings family. Colonel Henry Hastings, the earl of Huntington, the leader of the East midlands forces, had executed the… Continue reading The Ashby Garrison in the Civil War
Life in the 1970s
By Tim Lambert There were two sides to the 1970s. On one hand, by 1973 a long period of economic prosperity was coming to an end. By the spring of 1975 unemployment had climbed to 1 million. It was over 5% of the workforce. By 1977 it had risen to 5.5% and in 1979 it… Continue reading Life in the 1970s
Life in the 1960s
By Tim Lambert In the 1960s there was a big rise in living standards in Britain. Consumer goods like cars and fridges became common. Washing machines and vacuum cleaners became near-universal. Meanwhile, plastic or PVC was first used in the 1940s. By the 1960s all kinds of household goods from drain pipes to combs were… Continue reading Life in the 1960s
The Druids
By Tim Lambert After about 650 BC a people called the Celts lived in England. The Celts had priests called Druids. The Druids were very important in Celtic society. As well as being priests they were scholars, judges, and advisers to the kings. The Celts were polytheists (they worshiped many gods and goddesses). They did… Continue reading The Druids
A Brief History of Egypt
By Tim Lambert Ancient Egypt By 5,000 BC the people of Egypt had begun farming. They also wove linen and made pottery. Later they learned to use bronze. About 3,200 BC the Egyptians invented writing. The first Egyptian in history was King Menes aka Narmer who lived shortly before 3,100 BC. At that time Egypt… Continue reading A Brief History of Egypt