Mormons in search of Promised Land, 1846-69
The Mormons have been described as the most systematic, organised, disciplined and successful pioneers in American history. For over 20...
11/12/2016
CULTURAL AND SOCIAL HISTORY
‘Alien’ citizens in the Medieval England
Thousands of foreigners poured into England in the Middle Ages. Similar like today, they have been attracted to England by...
25/08/2016
In the Medieval peasant house
There are as many different sorts of peasant houses as there are peasant families, and there are huge variations across...
30/11/2015
The entertainment in Tudor England
Apart from eating and drinking (and smoking), the Tudors were enthusiastic merrymakers: they liked to entertain and to be entertained....
20/05/2015
First portrait of a criminal published in a British newspaper
On 27th June 1881, 64-years-old coin dealer Isaac Gold was brutally murdered on the 14:00 London to Brighton express train....
16/05/2015
The changing faces of Santa Claus
On 23 December 1951, the Catholic clergy at Dijon organised an execution of Santa Claus. An image of him was...
24/12/2014
The short history of banishment
Even in primitive societies, the threat of exile struck terror into people’s hearts and minds. A savage punishment, it snatched...
18/12/2014
Oldest children rarely succeed
Monarchy is very much a family business. According to the law of primogeniture, the eldest son should follow his father...
23/10/2014
Egyptomania
The fashion for “Egyptian” design that swept Europe after Bonaparte’s expedition was actually a revival of sorts. Europeans had drawn...
28/05/2014
Medieval sense of humour
The passions of a violent society spill over into the sense of humour you will encounter. Yes, there is humour,...
20/04/2014