The Anglo-Saxons were warrior farmers originally from north western Europe. They rowed across the North Sea in wooden boats known as long boats and began to invade Britain during the time that the region was under the control of the Romans. They were easily identified by their tall stature, fair hair, swords, spears, and round…
The reason Ancient Greeks emphasized so many gods and deities can be attributed to the limited knowledge available to the people of the time. Natural phenomenon was typically credited to spirits and divinities. So many phenomena, so many gods. The family tree of Greek Gods extends far beyond the twelve famous gods of Olympus so…
Henry VIII, the infamous King of England, is known for many things, such as his multiple marriages and his role in forming the Church of England. His fame as a sportsman is also well-known. However, one lesser-known fact about Henry VIII is his love and talent for music. Henry VIII was considered a skilled musician…
The Tudors were deeply involved in celebrating Christmas, which was a time for communities to gather and friends and family to get together. The Christian celebrations the Tudors recognised, however, evolved largely from the pagan rituals and seasonal festivals that had been in place since long before the Tudors reigned. By the time Henry VIII…
Experience the rich and fascinating history of China through its 13 dynasties, each with its own unique stories and rulers. From the legendary Yu the Great, who founded the first dynasty in 2070 BC, to the last emperor, Puyi, who abdicated his throne in 1912 after the Xinhai Revolution, explore the rise and fall of…
In 27 BC, the first granting of the title of emperor was bestowed on Octavian, from whence he was known as Augustus Octavian. During Rome’s imperial period, the emperor ruled over the Roman Empire, known by many titles through the eras. : basileus, caesar, princeps civitatis (‘first citizen’). Emperors often accumulated republican titles, too, such…
Before the Norman Conquest in 1066, England was ruled by a series of powerful queens and queen consorts who left their mark on the country’s history. From Boudica, the warrior queen who led a rebellion against the Romans, to Æthelflæd, who retook the city of Derby from the Vikings, these women played an important role…
Lady Katherine Grey was born on 25 August 1540 to Lady Frances Brandon and Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Suffolk, at Bradgate Park near Leicester. She was one of three sisters. At various stages, all three of the Grey sisters could argue that they were the heir to the throne of England. Lady Katherine Grey’s…
Queen Nefertiti was somewhat of a controversial character in ancient Egypt, loathed and loved by her people. She was both an influential wife and queen during a remarkably polemical as well as wealthy period. She was a crucial player in the religious movement that saw ancient Egyptians worship just the sun god Aten rather than…
Alfred the Great is probably the most famous of the Anglo-Saxon Kings. He was King of Wessex between 871 and 899. Wessex was one of the seven Anglo Saxon Kingdoms. The others being East Anglia, Mercia, Northumbria, Essex, Kent and Sussex. He wasn’t King of England because there were Anglo Saxon Kings in all of…
