Wednesday 30 November 2022

The Wall

 Pink Floyd's album The Wall was released on 30 November 1979 Hey teacher leave them kids alone!

The Right to Vote

 I found this interesting article about the history of suffrage https://www.sociostudies.org/almanac/articles/global_struggle/#_ftn1

Monday 28 November 2022

Friday 25 November 2022

Raining Cats and Dogs

I came across the claim that the phrase 'raining cats and dogs' comes because when it rained hard cats and dogs fell off the roof. Complete twaddle, of course. (Dogs live on the roof?). A phrase like it was used in 1653. Someone wrote 'it shall rain dogs and polecats'. The modern phrase was first used in 1738 when Jonathan Swift wrote: 'he was sure it would rain cats and dogs'. The truth is nobody knows why this odd phrase began. Maybe it was just a joke.

Thursday 24 November 2022

Charles Darwin

On 24 November 1859, Charles Darwin published his famous book, On The Origin of Species https://localhistories.org/a-brief-biography-of-charles-darwin/ 

Monday 21 November 2022

Women in Nabatea

The Nabatean Kingdom existed in what is now Jordan and northwest Saudi Arabia in the period 168 BC-106 AD. In Nabatea women were equal to men. They could inherit and sell their property and bring lawsuits. Some Nabatean queens ruled jointly with their husbands and appeared on coins. One famous Nabatean queen was Chuldu. She ruled jointly with her husband in the years 9 AD-16 AD.

Saturday 19 November 2022

International Men's Day

19 November is International Men's Day. Happy International Men's Day! 

Friday 18 November 2022

Monday 7 November 2022

Lise Meitner

 The great Austrian-Swedish physicist Lise Meitner was born on 7 November 1878. We don't hear much about her but she made many important contributions to science. She even has an element, meitnerium named after her.

Sunday 6 November 2022

Sherborne

 I wrote a history of the small but charming town of Sherborne 

Friday 4 November 2022

The Tomb of Tutankhamun

 On 4 November 1922 archaeologist Howard Carter discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun. When you read about Tutankhamun you inevitably hear mumbo jumbo about curses. In fact, most of those involved in excavating the tomb lived for a long time afterward and died in old age. Indeed their average age at death was slightly longer than the average lifespan for the time. It seems that Ancient Egyptian curses are good for your health. 

Tuesday 1 November 2022

20th century women

 Six years ago I made this video about women in the 20th century https://youtu.be/MlnOZNhGQ7A