history – J.L. Jarvis

Bones under school playground could be pirate, say experts

Scotland, UK History / January 3, 2016

I love this. (And how adorable are these children?!) How appropriate their response is, as well, to take advantage of this as a learning experience. In the U.S., our children are completely losing touch with history, thanks to the Common Core, which has effectively cut history in favor of teaching only ELA and Math, with other subjects (in theory but not practice) embedded within the two core subjects. Not to mention the likelihood that if this had happened in a New York area school yard, hundreds of parents would be instructing the nannies to rush their special snowflakes to therapists for counseling. 😉

Laura Thomson, John Lawson and Victoria Primary pupils with a picture of the mystery man. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

(via The Scotsman)

“This new discovery is a really good learning opportunity for the children. It’s very interesting that things have had to be re-examined based on the new evidence.

“We are the oldest still-working primary school in Edinburgh and the children are all very proud of the history and heritage in Newhaven. They have a sense of the history all around them. This is another chapter in that.”
Read more: http://www.scotsman.com

This Day in History

Research / January 24, 2015

January 24, 76 AD, Roman Emperor Publius Aelius Hadrianus Augustus, known for his wall, was born on this day in history. But the History Channel’s lead story is: January 24, 1935, First Canned Beer Goes on Sale. Haha [amusement added].

According to Wikipedia:

In 122 he initiated the construction of Hadrian’s Wall. The wall was built, “to separate Romans from barbarians,” according to the Historia Augusta (Augustan Histories).^{[33]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadrian}

Scottish fact of the week: Black Agnes – The Scotsman

Uncategorized / May 24, 2014

WOMEN have tended to be bit-part players in the histories of Scotland. With exception to those of royal descent – Mary, Queen of Scots being a famous example – and the infamous witch trials of centuries past, it would be fair to say the roles of women have been underplayed.

Black Agnes is an exception. So-called because of her unusual olive complexion and dark hair, Agnes (or Agnes Randolph, Countess of Dunbar and March as she was formally known) defended her home, Castle Dunbar, from a siege led by the Earl of Salisbury in 1338.

Digital Library of America launched – Business – The Boston Globe

Uncategorized / April 19, 2013

Digital Library of America launched – Business – The Boston Globe

This is an exciting new resource!

Millions of digitized books, pictures, and manuscripts from the nation’s top public and academic libraries are now available in one spot. It isn’t Amazon or Google, and it’s free.

The privately funded Digital Public Library of America was launched Thursday and provides users with access to the digital archives of institutions ranging from national the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution to local historical societies.

Uncategorized / April 14, 2013

Vikings (History Channel) Episode 7 “A King’s Ransom” – Three Viking ships sail upriver towards the very heart of power in eastern England: the Royal Villa of King Aelle. Ragnar Lothbrok has come looking for ransom in exchange for peace. However, King Aelle has a different plan in mind for these northern heathens.

(via Vikings (History Channel) Episode 7 “A King’s Ransom” | TV Equals)

Uncategorized / May 18, 2012

Now THAT is a love story!

fuckyeahhistorycrushes:

Captain Robert Heriot Barclay fought valiantly with Admiral Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar, before losing his left arm in another engagement in 1809. This didn’t stop his naval career though. He went on to lead the British fleet on the Great Lakes during the War of 1812.

His greatest claim to fame was his loss at the Battle of Lake Erie to Captain Oliver Hazard Perry. But he lost valiantly, even becoming friends with Perry afterwards. Most importantly, in the conflict he lost a leg and sustained enough nerve damage in his right arm to render it useless.

He wrote to his fiancée after the battle, attempting to break their engagement for her sake because of his injuries. She wrote back that if he had enough of his body to house his soul, she would still take him.