Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Series on The Cold War Begins

This is the CNN/BBC television series that was aired years ago.  The complete series is no YouTube.  It is pretty overwhelming.  History Moments blog breaks it down episode by episode, day by day.  Episode 1 covers Communism until 1945. 

and

Don't forget The Basic History Library (free). ------------->

Friday, July 8, 2016

Henry VIII and His Bid for Absolute Monarchy

I have been watching The Tudors television series on Netflix.  It reminds me of how bad Henry was.  Isn't it something that the 16th. century brought one of the worst rulers in history (Henry) and then one of the best (Elizabeth).

For more information here is <i>Cromwell Takes Charge</i> an installment from Henry Makes Himself Head of the Church of England by John R. Green

and

Don't forget The Basic History Library (free). ------------->

Thursday, July 7, 2016

What Happened to the Star Chamber?

The ancient role of the Star Chamber to try special cases circumvented the jury trial process.  In the lead up to the English Civil War this became controversial.  It became a means of securing convictions rather than justice.

For more information on <i>The Star Chamber’s Power in Past Reigns</i> here is an installment from The End of the Star Chamber by Henry Hallam: http://dld.bz/eF88N

and

Don't forget The Basic History Library (free). ------------->

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

What Country Has Been in the Middle of Almost Every Major War Since Caesar?

The land now occupied by France was invaded by Julius Caesar.  Since then barbarians invaded, Charlemagne ruled, Vikings raided, Crusades were launched - and that's only to the early Medieval Age.  This is a work in progress.

Here's a list of some major wars France fought:   

and

Don't forget The Basic History Library (free). ------------->

Monday, July 4, 2016

Fourth of July and Slavery

Seemingly every time one wants to say something good about America, someone pushes back with, "What about slavery?"

Slavery was America's original sin.  On July Fourth the United States of America not only declared its independence but based its independence on basic principles of universal freedom.  Civil rights for all was not achieved after the Revolution; it was not achieved after the Civil War; indeed it was not even achieved in the 1960's but it was implicitly made a goal in the Declaration of Independence.


The goal was set.  We are still striving towards that goal.  That is why we should continue to celebrate July 4th. despite slavery.

Sunday, July 3, 2016

First Hot Air Balloon Flight

Time: 5 pm, August 27, 1783; Place: Paris
In the morning the Champ-de-Mars was lined with troops, every house to its very top, and every avenue, was crowded with anxious spectators. The discharge of a cannon at 5 P.M. was the signal for ascent, and the globe rose, to the great surprise of the spectators, to a height of three thousand one hundred twenty-three feet in two minutes, where it entered the clouds. 

For more information on <i> Going up in the Hot Air Balloon First Time Ever</i> here is an installment from First Balloon Ascension by Hatton Turner: http://dld.bz/eETg3

The series began today.

and

Don't forget The Basic History Library (free). ------------->

Saturday, July 2, 2016

After the American Revolution, Where Did the Loyalists Go?

Between 40,000 and 50,000 people reached British North America by 1786.  The peace negotiators spent a lot of time on this topic. American histories tend to ignore the fate of these people.  Great suffering and deprivation was part of one the great migrations in history.

For moreinformation on <i>Loyalists Move to Canada</i> here is an installment from Where Did the Loyalists Go by Sir John George Bourinot. 

and

Don't forget The Basic History Library (free). ------------->

Friday, July 1, 2016

From History Moments Semi-Annual Report

In the first half 2016 these topics were published in the blog.

Justinian Code Established in the Byzantine Empire
The Marines at Guadalcanal
The Peasants' War in Germany in the time of Martin Luther
The Reformation in Scotland
Life Sciences Discovery of Immortality of Tissues
John Knox Biography
Militarism Before World War I
Jimmu Becomes First Emperor of Japan
Frederick II Negotiates Treaty Ending Sixth Crusade
Last Days of the Confederacy (US Civil War)
Flight of the Irish Earls
Saint Bartholomew Day Massacre

These topics were covered at length in series of posts. Link to blog: http://historyweblog.com/

and

Don't forget The Basic History Library (free). ------------->