Tastes Of History4 hours ago4 minDispelling Some Myths: ‘Over and Out’In the big scheme of things today’s post is a very minor ‘gripe’. It does, however, reflect on the historical accuracy of television...
Tastes Of History2 days ago15 minRecording HistoryHistory is not only the study of past events, particularly in human affairs, but it is most uniquely, also a continuous, typically...
Tastes Of HistoryMay 912 minLudi: ancient Greek and Roman gamesContinuing the series 'Ludi', and following on from ancient Egypt, here are selection of games played by ancient Greeks and Romans. Pente...
Tastes Of HistoryApr 194 minA Brief History of Foods: PineappleThe pineapple (Latin: Ananas comosus) [1] is a tropical plant with an edible fruit indigenous to South America, where it has been...
Tastes Of HistoryApr 145 minWhat’s in a Name: ‘Barbarian’In April 2022 social media, specifically Twitter, was awash with criticism of the UK’s Conservative government’s plans to privatise...
Tastes Of HistoryApr 112 minLudi: the ancient Egyptian game of SenetSenet is one of the oldest games in the world and may be the ancestor of modern backgammon. The oldest known representation of Senet is a...
Tastes Of HistoryApr 66 minA Brief History of Foods: LeeksAccording to a BBC News tweet (see right), the ‘Welsh leek’ could be set for protected status [1], alongside foods including Cheddar...
Tastes Of HistoryMar 143 minLudi: the ancient Egyptian game of AsebAseb is the Egyptian version of the ancient Middle Eastern game called ‘The Game of 20 Squares’. Aseb is related to the ‘Royal Game of...
Tastes Of HistoryFeb 264 minOn This Day: 'Women and children first'February 26th, 1852: 450 perish as the troopship HMS Birkenhead is wreaked off Danger Point on the Western Cape of South Africa. HMS...
Tastes Of HistoryFeb 246 minOn This Day: Fishguard's women defend BritainThe last battle on British soil is commonly accepted as being the French invasion at Fishguard in 1797. Under the command of...
Tastes Of HistoryFeb 221 minOn This Day: The last invasion of BritainFebruary 22nd, 1797: ‘Britain invaded’ [1]. On February 22nd, 1797 over 1,200 French troops landed near Fishguard in Pembrokeshire, South...
Tastes Of HistoryFeb 142 minLudi: the ancient Egyptian game of MehenMehen is an ancient Egyptian game references to which have been found already in the predynastic period before 3100 BC. The gameboard is...
Tastes Of HistoryFeb 82 minOn This Day: Mary, Queen of Scots beheadedFebruary 8th, 1587: After 19 years of imprisonment, Mary Queen of Scots is beheaded at Fotheringhay Castle. Why? Fotheringhay Castle was...
Tastes Of HistoryFeb 16 minOn This Day: 'Crusoe' rescuedFebruary 1st, 1709: Alexander Selkirk, believed to be the inspiration for Daniel Defoe’s 1719 novel ‘Robinson Crusoe’, was rescued after...
Tastes Of HistoryJan 292 minOn This Day: The VC introducedJanuary 29th, 1856: The Victoria Cross is introduced. In 1854, after 39 years of peace, Britain found itself fighting a major war against...
Tastes Of HistoryJan 172 minLudi: ancient Mesopotamian gamesThe Royal Game of Ur, also known as the ‘Game of Twenty Squares’, is a two-player strategy race board game first played in ancient...
Tastes Of HistoryJan 133 minBeing Anglo-SaxonThe BBC’s series ‘Digging for Britain’ has returned to screens this month. Hosted by Prof Alice Roberts (pictured), the programme...
Tastes Of HistoryJan 122 minOn This Day: Agatha Christie's final chapterJanuary 12th, 1976: Crime writer Agatha Christie dies aged 85. In her posthumously published Autobiography, she briefly details her...
Tastes Of HistoryJan 72 minOn This Day: Catherine of Aragon diesJanuary 7th, 1536: Catherine of Aragon, first of Henry VIII’s six wives, dies. It is said that Henry dressed all in yellow, with a white...
Tastes Of HistoryJan 62 minOn This Day: Harold crowned KingJanuary 6th, 1066: Harold Godwinson, formerly Earl of Wessex, is crowned king of England in Westminster Abbey. Harold was born in the...