England and France It’s common knowledge that the French and English have been rivals for centuries. The roots of the conflict date back to the Norman Conquest in the 11th Century, but the rivalry has continued throughout history. From the Hundred Years War to the Battle of Waterloo, these two countries have conflicted for centuries. […]
Six Intense Rivalries That Changed The Course of History Read More »
King Henry VIII is one of the most famous English monarchs in history. He was known for his many wives and his tumultuous reign. Who were these six women, and what happened to them? Let’s explore the lives of Henry VIII’s wives and see what led to their downfall. Catherine of Aragon Henry VIII’s first
Who Were the Six Wives of Henry VIII? Read More »
The sixteenth century was when Europe made a huge transition from the medieval past towards a world that was noticeably more modern. Having arrived in the Americas in the 1490s, Spanish, Portuguese, English, and French colonists began attempting to settle various regions from Newfoundland south to Argentina. The roots of a proto-industrial, capitalist economy started
Grace O’Malley, the Pirate Queen of Ireland Read More »
Throughout human history, there have been many dark and difficult times that have tested the resilience of our species. From devastating wars and pandemics to natural disasters and economic crises, some periods have been particularly challenging for those who lived through them. Let’s look at ten of the most terrible years to be alive, examining
Ten of the Most Terrible Years to Be Alive Read More »
The Mona Lisa is one of the most famous paintings in the world, but her identity has remained a mystery for centuries. Some people believe that she was based on a historical figure, while others think she was entirely fictional. Let’s look at some of the theories about her identity and discuss what researchers have
The History and True Identity of the Mona Lisa Read More »
In the early spring of 1637, the madness surrounding tulips reached its height in cities like Amsterdam. For years there had been a growing obsession with the flowers, which are native to Central Asia and believed to have only been introduced to Europe through the Ottoman Empire in the mid-sixteenth century. However, by the mid-1630s,
How Did Tulips Create the World’s First Economic Bubble? Read More »
Unless you took a biology class a few centuries ago, you most likely didn’t learn about the dodo bird– an ostrich-like bird that died out. While this bird is extinct, you can still find preserved bones in museums. What did Dodos look like, where they lived, and why did they go extinct? Dods (Raphus Cucullatus)
How and Why Did The Dodo Bird Go Extinct? Read More »
Queen Elizabeth I is one of the most famed monarchs in European history. This woman led the English resistance to Spain during the Armada crisis of 1588 when the Spanish nearly conquered the country. Countless books and many films in recent times have been to be produced on the monarch. But one of the lesser-known
Did Makeup Cause the Death of Queen Elizabeth I of England? Read More »
Most of us are familiar with the guillotine. It’s a set of stocks into which a person’s head is placed and secured before an extremely sharp blade is released from a height to fall at speed on a person’s exposed neck severing the victim’s head clean from their body. The guillotine was used extensively in
The History of the Guillotine – Who Invented It and Why? Read More »
Politics can be cruel sometimes, that’s for sure. In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crash, for instance, many prime ministers and presidents were quickly removed from power in countries across North America and Europe by electorates furious at what had happened. Some of these same leaders had only just entered office before the crash
Why Was The Dutch Prime Minister Johan De Witt Murdered and Eaten? Read More »
