The History Blog
Catastrophe in 1666; The Great Fire of London
The Great Fire of London is an exciting topic for key stage one. Key stage one children love to learn about the buildings of London, how the fire started and the progress of the fire over those fateful days in September 1666. It is very important to ask ourselves how we know so much about
Three of the greatest explorers in history
In world history, there are hundreds of men and women who would qualify as the greatest explorers. Here are three stories of the most heroic explorers in history. We have chosen to focus in on these admirable for key stage two topic great explorers. They are exciting characters whom the children can associate themselves and
The Escape of Charles II
On the 3rd of September Oliver Cromwell’s New Model Army defeated the Royalist army at Worcester. The ambitions of King Charles II to regain his kingdom were thwarted and he returned to his lodging in the city. As he was planning his escape a troop of Parliamentary horsemen arrived at the front door to arrest
Paleo Art: a glimpse of the world 65 million years ago
Paleo Art is the practice of combining the disciplines of science and art to create the most realistic depictions of ancient life as possible. We cannot have photographs of real dinosaurs but need the artist to interpret the remains and use the skills an artist to create a realistic image. This type of art is
From swords to ploughs: Working the land in the second world war
Impact of the second world war During the second world war, the United Kingdom was forced to undertake a massive agricultural reform. Food rationing would be introduced in January of 1940 to alleviate the pressure on shipping from across the British Empire and the rest of the world. This specifically was to give the people
From out of the caves… the evolution of the creature called “human”
The Stone Age has three periods. These periods are the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic. It is important to understand that 95% of human history has been in the Palaeolithic. This is a huge period of time which in Britain covers huge climatic and geological change. Revolutions in the environment softened by the vast depth of
Have you heard of the ancient City of Ephesus?
Sometimes learning about the ancient world can feel detached and hard to relate to, no matter how much you love history, it can seem almost like a fantasy world of places and legends that have no relation to us in the 21st century. But those places were real, and those people were our ancestors and
Athelstan – the greatest King of England you may have never heard of
If you asked people to name the greatest monarch of the UK you would for sure be flooded out with Queen Victoria, Henry V, Henry VIII, Richard the Lionheart or even our present Queen to name just a few. But I doubt very much that you would get many who say Athelstan. Who was Athelstan?
The dinner party from hell in Ancient Rome
Ever been to a party or dinner party where every part of the evening was insufferable? Was it the food or the hosts or the fellow guests or the entertainment? Well, if you were invited to a dinner party in Ancient Rome, it would be all of them! It did not stop at the unpleasantries
Portals’ Historian works on brand new TV programme: Why do the Brits win every war?
Our historians are regularly asked to help out with television programmes, notably our very own Dan Shadrake recently working on series 3 of the ‘Britannia’ series, and another of our historians, Ian Weston, working on the set of archaeological documentary, “Raiders of the Lost Past with Janina Ramirez.” And recently Portals To The Past’s
Portals’ Historian on Britannia Series 3
Our historians are often contacted to provide their expertise and props for television, having appeared and worked on the likes of “Horrible Histories”and “Raiders of the Lost Past with Janina Ramirez“ Well we’re delighted to mention our latest appearance as part of the currently broadcasting Britannia Series 3! Britannia is a high profile historical
Happy Birthday Julius Caesar!
Once upon a time the year only had ten months and was simple. One day someone decided to add an extra month making it much more complicated, and you may rightly feel that they should be stabbed to death, which is interesting because today is Julius Caesar’s birthday. Modern day uses Julius is the most
Happy Birthday Henry VIII!
Today marks the birthday of one of the most influential men in history, influential beyond all expectations and potential. This man was the second son in a precarious dynasty that came to power after a long and wasteful period of dynastic struggle. In this turmoil the royal families had been largely destroyed allowing this man’s father,
The monstrous regiment? The woman who fought in the British Army disguised as a man
The 16th century Protestant leader and author of The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women, John Knox would not have enjoyed this article at all. His book was aimed against rule by females but nonetheless would be spinning in his grave at the escapades of Kit Cavanagh aka Mother Ross.
What’s so special about the 25th of December?
Well, that’s easy to answer…it’s Christmas! Birth of Jesus…three wise men and shepherds…presents…tree…drinks and dinner. Yes but why the 25th of December? Trickier to answer eh? Well yes because there is no mention of the 25th of December in the Bible at all or anywhere else really until 336CE when Pope Julius I set the date
Was Dracula real?
Well obviously not is the answer – he is just a fictional character created by Bram Stoker at the end of the 19th century and beloved by horror fans and film and TV producers and directors ever since. Unfortunately though the correct answer to the above question is YES HE WAS! Bram Stoker named his infamous
Panic in the shops… we’ve been here before!
People think that the panic buying (and the recent need to limit what we can individually buy from shops), during the Covid-19 pandemic is a new thing. It’s not! In times of crisis, many kind and generous people do what they can to help others, however sadly, some people do panic and act irrationally. But
Can COVID-19 be compared to the Black Death?
The answer to this is by and large – NO! However in some aspects there are similarities… Pandemic Like the Black Death it is a pandemic that has spread across the world. In the Black Death, it was spread from the Far East via the well-trodden trade routes – the Silk Road – to Europe.
NEW: Free KS2 worksheets
Perfect for parents and teachers looking to inspire and teach history in the coming weeks or months. Social distancing, quarantine and isolation can take its toll and teaching from home can quickly become like the barbarians at the gates of Rome. So, to help us all stay in, we have released these fantastic fact sheets and
How to be a Samurai
So you want to be a samurai? First look at the following list and tick which ones you think you will need to master to become a Samurai… 1. Ritual suicide 2. Never surrender 3. Obedience 4. Flower arranging 5. Zen Buddhism 6. Calligraphy 7. Sword skills 8. Making tea 9. Having black teeth 10.
Warding off the ‘evil eye’ in style – a Roman’s guide to coral
At a recent trip to the British Museum I noticed a few Iron Age British items that had been decorated with red coral. (One lovely shield boss in particular caught my eye and I took a picture, 300B.C. River Witham near Lincoln). Recently I decided to purchase a small piece for discussion in my Roman school
The Thirty Years’ War: Europe’s deadliest forgotten war?
If you ask anyone to name Europe’s top three deadliest wars – in terms of total casualties/deaths – most people will correctly identify World War II at number one and World War I in second place. Then there will be a long pause while they try to guess which one is number three! Estimates are
Our Historian on BBC Four
Our historians are often called upon to provide their expertise and props for television, having previously participated in the likes of “Horrible Histories”and “Hannibal’s Elephant Army” to name a few. And we’re delighted to say that we still haven’t scared off any television executives just yet, with our historian Ian Weston taking part in the
An historically accurate superhero? The remarkable story of Mithridates VI
There are plenty of superhero films about at the moment, it seems to be a popular subject and the franchises built around these superhuman characters like The Avengers, X-Men, Wonderwoman and Superman have a huge following. Well if you like stories about people with superhuman ability, consider the life of King Mithridates Eupator VI of Pontus.
Why Game Of Thrones has nothing on the life of Cleopatra
If you think stories about power-plays, treachery and family feuds on dramas like Game of Thrones or even something closer to our present-day lives, like Eastenders, are a bit of an exaggeration, think again! Let’s consider the awful final years of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt. Cleopatra’s family They were Macedonian Greeks that ruled Egypt for
Did dinosaurs have feathers?
The traditional perception of dinosaurs is of large, dominant reptilian creatures who roamed the earth at will for millions of years. It seems like a slightly unusual question to ask, “Did dinosaurs have feathers?” Although, on closer inspection, it is perhaps not quite as far-fetched as it first appears… ‘Terrible lizard’ In 1842, a Victorian
Some rather unusual Christmas traditions
Christmas here in the UK is a very traditional time of year. Many of our seasonal traditions have their origins in folklore, legend and pastimes that took place many years ago. Traditions such as decorated Christmas trees, Boxing Day, Roast Turkey, Christmas Pudding, Crackers and many more are considered normal activities and behaviour during the
The best fossil finding beaches in the UK
Strolling along a beach searching for fossils can be a hugely satisfying and thought provoking experience. The anticipation of searching for, and finding the fossilised remains of animals and creatures that were alive millions of years ago can conjure an active imagination. Fossils are the remains or impression of prehistoric animals or plants embedded in
History uncovered by the recent drought!
Some love it, some hate it but the hot weather is here and for historians it’s throwing up some glimpses of buried treasures… People are likening this year’s drought to the long hot summer of 1976 and while we stifle and can’t sleep, the hot weather is doing a terrific job in giving us a
Who are European History’s most interesting women?
Women have shaped Europe’s history just as much as men, some might argue even more so, with some going it alone when it was not even thought about. Here we look at five women who are very different, from different times but who have left their mark: Joan of Arc (1412-31) From humble beginnings as