Laurel A. Rockefeller's Blog, page 4

Study Questions from Chapter four of “Empress Matilda of England: Student-Teacher edition.”

Empress Matilda of England is arguably my favorite biography subject. Born 7 February 1102, her grandparents included William I the Conqueror on her father’s side and Saint Margaret of Wessex on her mother’s side. Saxon, Pict, and Norman blood all made her one of the most royal of medieval nobles. Marriage to the final Salian dynasty Kaiser made her not only a German “empress” (Kaiserin), but a competent ruler.”

In this textbook edition, you are challenged to look at the wider aspects of Ma...

Study Questions from Chapter Two of “Margaret of Wessex: Student-Teacher edition.”

Margaret of Wessex was the last Saxon princess of England. Born in the Principality of Hungary as the daughter of Edward Ætheling, her status as great niece to Edward the Confessor made her a valuable tool to those ruling or wishing to rule England. Her religious views changed Alba (medieval Scotland) more than any battle or war between England and Scotland ever could.

Here are the study questions that follow and relate to chapter two of “Margaret of Wessex” entitled “Edward the Confess...

Excerpt from The Poisoned Ground: Nan-li City is Poisoned.

The Poisoned Ground (and its extended version: The Poisoned Ground and the Healer Consort) is chronologically the second book in the Peers of Beinan social science fiction series and is prequel to the main trilogy books, providing background to Ghosts of the Past in particular. In this set of scenes early in the novella, Lady Healer Cara explores a forest near the major city of Nan-li, taking water, soil, and vegetation samples along the way. Submitting her samples for detailed analysis, C...

Poem: The Land of the Flat Water Flows Through Me

The place of your birth burns in your memory, no matter how old you get or miles between. In the final poem from the recollections section of “Land of Flat Water: Poems and Recollections” I share with you cherished memories of Nebraska and what stirs most deeply in my heart about my beloved Land of Flat Water.

The Land of the Flat Water Flows Through Me

The Land of Flat Water flows through me.

The Platte is the water that gave me life.

The family farm beloved by generatio...

Top of the Class: Massachusetts, Harvard, and the Perception Education as Elitist

Americans have a problem with education. Talking to people on social media, I find it’s not a disdain for education, especially higher education per se. As a rule I find people like and generally support their local colleges and universities (especially those who perform well in American football and basketball). But rather the perception that educational excellence, especially in higher education, equals elitism which in turn equals disdain for those who pursue other career paths or do...

De moord op David Rizzio. Fragment: Maria koningin van Schotland: de vergeten regeerperiode

Koningin Mary Stuart is een van mijn favoriete biografie-onderwerpen. Van alle levens die ik in al mijn boeken heb verkend, blijft die van haar een van de meest fascinerende. Beschikbaar in digitale en paperbackversie. Vind dit boek bij Apple, Amazon en Everand

De moord op David Rizzio. Fragment uit hoofdstuk vier: Moord op Holyrood

Herfst ging over in winter. Aangemoedigd door secretaris Riccio werd koningin Maria steeds meer onafhankelijk van haar edelen, en gaf ze er de voo...

Persistent Plantation Culture: 400 years since Jamestown, bias against schooling prevails.

Higher education is in the news and not in a good way. Ivy league universities are under attack and funding pulled by the Trump administration’s policies towards Israel/Hamas war, international students, free speech, and beyond. The Trump administration has demanded universities change admissions criteria, research priorities, and DEI policies among the dozen + directives aimed at taking away university independence in favor of tight government control that serves presidential goals. That th...

Study Questions from Chapter Two “Prioress” of “Hildegard von Bingen: Student-Teacher edition.”

The next set of study questions I would like to share comes from chapter two of the textbook version of “Hildegard von Bingen.” That chapter is called “Prioress” and covers Hildegard’s elevation to leadership of the nuns at Kloster Disibodenberg.

Here are the study questions that follow and relate to chapter two of “Hildegard von Bingen” entitled “Prioress”

Soon after Jutta’s death Hildegard is quickly elected her successor. Does Hildegard want to be prioress?  Why/why not?Hi...

Een eervolle wedstrijd. Fragment uit “Keizerin Wu Zetian”.

Keizerin Wu Zetian brengt de legendarische vrouwen uit de wereldgeschiedenis terug naar mijn universitaire specialisatie in de Chinese/Oost-Aziatische geschiedenis. Voordat ik in 2012 voor het eerst zelf ging publiceren, schreef ik verschillende onderzoeksartikelen over keizerin Wu voor “The Mudpuppy”, de nieuwsbrief voor de noordelijke afdeling van New Jersey van de Vereniging voor Creatief Anachronisme. Bekijk die artikelen eens.

Misschien omdat ze in de 6e en 7e eeuw leefde, is keizerin Wu...

Arrivée des délégués. Extrait de « Au revoir A672E92 Quintus.»

Le monde d’origine des Beinariens, A672D92 Quintus, est en péril : son soleil commence à se transformer en nova et doit être abandonné. Seul problème : la société beinarien est profondément divisée, à tel point qu’aucun vaisseau ne peut assurer l’évacuation.

Embarquez pour un voyage dans les étoiles : la quête de paix transforme la société beinarien et fait de deux dirigeants improbables des sujets de légende.

Retrouvez ce livre chez Apple, Amazon, Everand et chez un détaillant près de...