By Tim Lambert Early Cold According to English folklore if it’s mild in January, it will be cold between February and May. So if it’s cold in January, never mind, it might be a good thing! 13 January is St Hilary’s Day. Traditionally, it’s the coldest day of the year. Between the 14th century and… Continue reading Cold Related History Facts
Category: Articles
A History of Satellites
By Tim Lambert The First Satellites Artificial satellites have had a huge impact on daily life since the first one was launched in 1957. They have helped science, communications, navigation, and spying!. The idea of launching an artificial satellite around the Earth occurred as early as the 19th century. In 1869, Edward Everett Hale wrote… Continue reading A History of Satellites
A History of Colours
By Tim Lambert Black In the 13th century, Dominican friars arrived in England. They were called Blackfriars because they wore black cloaks. The Black Death of 1348-49 killed about one-third of the population of England. In the West, black is the colour of mourning. However, in many Asian cultures, white is the colour of mourning. Writer Anna… Continue reading A History of Colours
A History of Anaesthesia
By Tim Lambert Early Anaesthesia The word anaesthesia is derived from Greek words meaning without feeling or sensation. The word was used in England by the early 18th century. However, it wasn’t used to mean lack of pain during an operation until 1846. Before the advent of modern anaesthesia, there were ways of dulling pain.… Continue reading A History of Anaesthesia
A History of Light
By Tim Lambert Human beings have always needed artificial light. Today, we take it for granted. You press a switch, and it appears. However, for our ancestors, providing light after dark was far more difficult. At first, a fire provided the only light at night. Oil Lamps However, Prehistoric people used stones with natural depressions… Continue reading A History of Light
Pictures of Banff, Alberta
By Tim Lambert These are some pictures I took on a trip to the town of Banff, Alberta and the Canadian Rockies. Banff is a beautiful town and the Rockies are breathtaking. Banff, Alberta Another view of Banff Looking down on Banff The view from a hotel room in Banff The Canadian Rockies seen from… Continue reading Pictures of Banff, Alberta
A Brief History of Benin
By Tim Lambert Early Benin The African country of Benin is named after the Empire of Benin, which once existed in what is now Nigeria. Before the 19th century, what is now Benin was divided into different states. The Portuguese began trading with the region in the 16th century. In the 17th century, the British,… Continue reading A Brief History of Benin
A Brief History of Mauritania
By Tim Lambert Early Mauritania In the 3rd century, Berbers arrived in what is now Mauritania. In the 7th century, the Arabs arrived. In the 15th century, the Portuguese arrived in Mauritania. They were followed by other Europeans who traded with the local people for gum arabic and slaves. In 1817, the French took control… Continue reading A Brief History of Mauritania
A History of Comets
By Tim Lambert Comets are balls of ice and organic material ‘leftover’ from when the Solar System formed. They originate on the outer limits of the Solar System, past the orbit of Neptune. However, most comets have highly elliptical orbits, so for part of their orbits, they approach the Sun more closely. As they approach… Continue reading A History of Comets
A History of Radio
By Tim Lambert The Invention of Radio The radio was a great invention. It allowed people to communicate over long distances, including ship crews. It also allowed entertainment. It is debatable who invented radio. As with many inventions, there were several men working on the same idea around the same time. However, on 2 June… Continue reading A History of Radio