In the early 18th century many people rebelled against the formal gardens of the Renaissance and preferred a more ‘natural’ style. Two of the most famous gardeners of that time were William Kent (1685-1748) and Charles Bridgeman (1690-1738). In 1731 William Kent was employed to redesign a garden at Chiswick. He also created a garden… Continue reading Famous Gardeners
Category: Articles
A History of Sweets
By Tim Lambert Early Sweets People have always liked eating sweet food. The earliest sweet was, of course, honey, which people have eaten since prehistoric times. In the Middle Ages, rich people ate desserts like preserved fruits, jelly and dried fruit, and wafers made from batter. The Tudors were also fond of sweet foods (if… Continue reading A History of Sweets
A History of St Valentine’s Day
By Tim Lambert The Origins of St Valentine’s Day The Romans held a fertility festival called Lupercalia in mid-February. However, it’s not clear if there is any link between the Ancient festival and modern St Valentine’s Day. 14 February was not associated with romantic love until the late Middle Ages. In the 14th century, people… Continue reading A History of St Valentine’s Day
A History of The Inquisition
By Tim Lambert The Medieval Inquisition The Inquisition began in the 13th century as a way of dealing with heresy. The Cathars were a religious sect that flourished in Southern France and Northern Italy in the 12th and 13th centuries. In France, they were called Albigensians after the town of Albi. In 1184 Pope Lucius… Continue reading A History of The Inquisition
The Gunpowder Plot
By Tim Lambert The Background to the Plot The Gunpowder Plot was an attempt to kill King James I and the members of parliament. The plot was foiled and its failure is celebrated every year in England on 5 November when bonfires and fireworks are lit. In the late 16th century most people in England… Continue reading The Gunpowder Plot
The Katyn Massacre
By Tim Lambert In 1939 Stalin made a treaty with Hitler and they agreed to split Poland between them. Germany invaded Poland from the west on 1 September 1939. The Soviet Union invaded Poland from the east on 17 September. All Polish resistance ceased on 5 October 1939. Afterward, Germany occupied about 2/3 of Poland… Continue reading The Katyn Massacre
A History of the Tower of London
By Tim Lambert The Tower of London in The Middle Ages The Tower of London is one of the most famous buildings in London (although it is actually several towers and other buildings). It has stood guard over the city since Norman times. The first part of the Tower of London to be built was… Continue reading A History of the Tower of London
A History of the Witch Trials in Europe
By Tim Lambert The Background to the Witch Trials From the late 15th century to the late 18th century a wave of persecution washed across parts of Europe. Tens of thousands of people were executed for witchcraft. So what happened? Belief in magic was almost universal in the past. Almost all cultures believed that you… Continue reading A History of the Witch Trials in Europe
Roman Gladiators
By Tim Lambert Origins of the Gladiators In Rome and other major cities in the Roman Empire gladiators were men (or sometimes women) who fought, sometimes to the death, to provide entertainment. The first gladiators fought in 264 BC at a funeral. Six gladiators fought to entertain the guests. The word gladiator means a man… Continue reading Roman Gladiators
Children in the Ancient World
Children in Ancient Egypt Most children in Ancient 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. Some girls were also taught to read and write. Boys from wealthy families sometimes learned to be scribes. They learned by… Continue reading Children in the Ancient World