After the American Civil War, and the abolition of slavery, America entered into a Reconstruction period, which was originally designed by Lincoln to improve the lives of former black American slaves. Andrew Johnson took over reforms upon Lincoln’s assassination on April 14th 1865, and following this Johnson and Ulysses Grant oversaw the remaining years ofContinue reading “Did the lives of Black Americans improve during the Reconstruction period of 1865-1877?”
Tag Archives: History
Magna Carta and Religious Change in the Tudor Era
Magna Carta was drawn up in 1215 with the intention of limiting the power of the crown and has since been used to defend individual liberties.[1] It was used frequently with the intention of affecting religious change during the Tudor period. Magna Carta was primarily used to aid the learning of young lawyers at theContinue reading “Magna Carta and Religious Change in the Tudor Era”
Henry VIII and Donald Trump: More alike than not?
Henry VIII and Donald Trump are probably two of the most famous men in history… but don’t tell them that or we’ll never hear the end of it. On the surface, I didn’t think they would have much in common, but there was more there than I thought. Beginnings Both are second sons, so wereContinue reading “Henry VIII and Donald Trump: More alike than not?”
Murder! Victorian Crime Firsts
The Victorians really would’ve loved all the crime channels we have nowadays. It was in this era that the thirst for all things crime really took off, and newspaper companies noticed this in their sales. Papers would see spikes in sales when reporting high profile crimes, which was bolstered by people’s belief in the CriminalContinue reading “Murder! Victorian Crime Firsts”
205 Years On: Why did Napoleon fail at Waterloo?
Napoleon was initially successful in his European campaign, which spanned from 1803 to 1815, but this changed for the worse overtime. It was Napoleon’s own poor decision making that led to the depletion of the Grand Armée over time, which allowed the Coalition to eventually defeat him at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. NapoleonContinue reading “205 Years On: Why did Napoleon fail at Waterloo?”
Lucrezia Borgia: Incest, Poison and Sexual Scandal?
Lucrezia Borgia’s reputation precedes her, as the debauched daughter of Rodrigo Borgia, more commonly known as Pope Alexander VI. The Borgia family dominated Renaissance Italy, and some describe them as Italy’s original crime family. What an iconic bunch. Lucrezia gets a lot of attention, especially in relation to her three marriages, and reputation as anContinue reading “Lucrezia Borgia: Incest, Poison and Sexual Scandal?”
Plutarch on the real Antony and Cleopatra
It’s difficult to separate the fact from the fiction, when dealing with Mark Antony and Cleopatra, as so little sources survive about their love affair. One that does and is fairly accessible, is that of Plutarch, a renowned Roman philosopher and biographer. Now, he was not alive to witness these events first-hand, but his accountContinue reading “Plutarch on the real Antony and Cleopatra”
The Changing Nature of Witchcraft in the 16th and 17th Centuries
Up to 40,000 people died during the early modern witch craze.[1] Throughout this time, peoples’ understanding of witches frequently changed, in relation to ‘maleficia’ and the nature of witches, their gender, the law, the Reformation and the scepticism that emerged during the Enlightenment. It was originally believed that witches practised magic, or ‘maleficia,’ on theirContinue reading “The Changing Nature of Witchcraft in the 16th and 17th Centuries”
Aurangzeb: Dispelling Myths about Religious Intolerance
Emperor Aurangzeb is frequently viewed as a discriminatory figure, unlike his great grandfather Emperor Akbar, who is celebrated for his religious policy of tolerance. However, if we look past this, it becomes clear that Aurangzeb’s main concern was the maintenance of the empire, and not religion. What people view as Aurangzeb’s botched and discriminatory religiousContinue reading “Aurangzeb: Dispelling Myths about Religious Intolerance”
Fact in Fiction: Anne Boleyn in ‘Wolf Hall’
An analysis of Anne Boleyn’s portrayal in Hilary Mantel’s acclaimed novel, ‘Wolf Hall’! Anne Boleyn is a central character in the book ‘Wolf Hall,’ by Hilary Mantel. Thomas Cromwell’s rise to power centred on the annulment of Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon, as Cromwell was proactive in speeding up the divorce, and ensuringContinue reading “Fact in Fiction: Anne Boleyn in ‘Wolf Hall’”
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