Rupert Matthews's Blog, page 21
August 15, 2014
A Game from Ancient Egypt
Games of Ancient Egypt
The Jewel of Osiris
The evil god Set wanted to seize the jewel of Osiris, but the followers of Osiris kept it safe by throwing it to each other. To play the game “Jewel of Osiris” you will need a ball and three or more players. One of the players becomes Set, the others are the followers of Osiris. The followers stand around Set. One of the followers of Osiris has the ball, the jewel, and throws it to another follower of Osiris. If Set manages to touch the ball he changes places with the follower of Osiris who threw the ball. The game then continues with the new Set.
from "Action Files: Ancient Egypt" by Rupert Matthews
Get your copy HERE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Action-Files-...
The Jewel of Osiris
The evil god Set wanted to seize the jewel of Osiris, but the followers of Osiris kept it safe by throwing it to each other. To play the game “Jewel of Osiris” you will need a ball and three or more players. One of the players becomes Set, the others are the followers of Osiris. The followers stand around Set. One of the followers of Osiris has the ball, the jewel, and throws it to another follower of Osiris. If Set manages to touch the ball he changes places with the follower of Osiris who threw the ball. The game then continues with the new Set.
from "Action Files: Ancient Egypt" by Rupert Matthews
Get your copy HERE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Action-Files-...
August 13, 2014
A Continent of Empires
A Continent of Empires
Before World War I, Europe was dominated by three large empires that no longer exist today: The German Empire, the Russian Empire and the Hapsburg Empire, which is sometimes called Austria-Hungary.
A fourth Empire was the Turkish Ottoman Empire which had once ruled all of southeastern Europe, but was now confined to the Middle East.
All of these empires were governed by autocratic rulers who took little notice of democracy or the wishes of their peoples. They took decisions themselves based on what they thought was right for their empires or for themselves.
From "1000 Facts about World War I" by Rupert Matthews
Get your copy HERE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/World-War-100...
Before World War I, Europe was dominated by three large empires that no longer exist today: The German Empire, the Russian Empire and the Hapsburg Empire, which is sometimes called Austria-Hungary.
A fourth Empire was the Turkish Ottoman Empire which had once ruled all of southeastern Europe, but was now confined to the Middle East.
All of these empires were governed by autocratic rulers who took little notice of democracy or the wishes of their peoples. They took decisions themselves based on what they thought was right for their empires or for themselves.
From "1000 Facts about World War I" by Rupert Matthews
Get your copy HERE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/World-War-100...
August 8, 2014
The Powers of the King in Ancient Rome
The Powers of the King in Ancient Rome
The system of government under the kings of Rome is unclear. The Romans liked to claim that many features of government dated back to the time of the kings to make them appear older and more prestigious than they actually were.
The earliest kings – Romulus and Numa Pompilius – ruled over a small state. They probably ruled directly, issuing orders and ensuring that they were carried out themselves.
All the kings held the position of chief priest of Rome. He had to supervise the other priests to make sure that the correct rituals and sacrifices were carried out.
The kings were also the commanders of the army. They had to supervise the mustering of the citizens and the selection of those who would go on campaign and those who would stay in Rome.
On campaign the king was the general of the army. He decided what strategy would be followed, which tactics would be used and gave orders to the various units when battle was joined.
from "1000 Facts on Ancient Rome" by Rupert Matthews
Get your copy HERE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/1000-Facts-An...
The system of government under the kings of Rome is unclear. The Romans liked to claim that many features of government dated back to the time of the kings to make them appear older and more prestigious than they actually were.
The earliest kings – Romulus and Numa Pompilius – ruled over a small state. They probably ruled directly, issuing orders and ensuring that they were carried out themselves.
All the kings held the position of chief priest of Rome. He had to supervise the other priests to make sure that the correct rituals and sacrifices were carried out.
The kings were also the commanders of the army. They had to supervise the mustering of the citizens and the selection of those who would go on campaign and those who would stay in Rome.
On campaign the king was the general of the army. He decided what strategy would be followed, which tactics would be used and gave orders to the various units when battle was joined.
from "1000 Facts on Ancient Rome" by Rupert Matthews
Get your copy HERE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/1000-Facts-An...
August 6, 2014
The Greeks arrive in Greece
The Greeks arrive in Greece
About 5,000 years ago the peoples living in what is now Greece learned how to plant grain crops such as wheat and barley and how to grow fruits such as plums and grapes. They began to live as farmers.
About the year 2000bc a new type of people began to move into Greece from the north and northeast. These people were the Hellenes, the ancestors of the Greeks.
The early Greeks were pastoralists, meaning that they herded cattle, horses and sheep. As they settled in Greece they learned to stay in one place farming food crops.
The goats and sheep that the Greeks brought with them ate leaves and shoots from young trees and so stopped them growing. Slowly the forests were destroyed.
from "1000 Facts on Ancient Greece" by Rupert Matthews
Get your copy HERE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/1000-Facts-An...
About 5,000 years ago the peoples living in what is now Greece learned how to plant grain crops such as wheat and barley and how to grow fruits such as plums and grapes. They began to live as farmers.
About the year 2000bc a new type of people began to move into Greece from the north and northeast. These people were the Hellenes, the ancestors of the Greeks.
The early Greeks were pastoralists, meaning that they herded cattle, horses and sheep. As they settled in Greece they learned to stay in one place farming food crops.
The goats and sheep that the Greeks brought with them ate leaves and shoots from young trees and so stopped them growing. Slowly the forests were destroyed.
from "1000 Facts on Ancient Greece" by Rupert Matthews
Get your copy HERE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/1000-Facts-An...
August 5, 2014
NEW ebook - Myths and Mysteries of the First World War [Kindle Edition]
NEW ebook - Myths and Mysteries of the First World War [Kindle Edition]
My very good friend Leonard James has a new ebook out.
From the Angel of Mons to the sealed cargo on the torpedoed liner Lusitania, from the secret evidence in the Nurse Edith Cavell trial to the haunted U-boat, the First World War was a hotbed of mysteries and myths. This book explores the best known in the light of latest evidence from declassified documents.
The First World War had a massive impact on the peoples of the time. The wide scope of the fighting and enormous human tragedy marked the popular mind as no other war had. Part of the impact was made by the huge number of legends, myths and mysteries that circulated among the front line soldiers and among civilians or were reported in the media.
In this book military historian Leonard James goes back to the original sources, unearths obscure government records kept secret for decades and seeks to get back to the truth of what went on. He disentangles the confusion between the very real Angel of Mons and the fictional “Bowmen” story in the press. He reveals the evidence suppressed for so long about Edith Cavell, the nurse shot by the Germans. He finally solves the conundrum of who actually shot down the Red Baron. He seeks the truth behind the mysterious “sealed cargo” on board the British liner Lusitania when she was torpedoed with the loss of over 1,000 lives. He tracks down the story of the Phantom Piper of the Black Watch, seeks out the German eyewitness to the RFC “death flight” and tries to track down the elusive, but deadly Gurkha with the silver kukri. Be it the Ghost Plane of Calais, the Madonna of Albert, the Russian soldiers in London, the Lost Battalion, the fate of Captain Ball, the antics of the Mad Major or the mysterious airman known as “Ballooning Bertie” you will find it all in this fascinating, mystifying and at times amusing but carefully researched foray into the Myths and Mysteries of the First World War.
About the Author
Leonard James is the grand son or great nephew of three soildiers who fought in the trenches of the Western Front in France. His father served in RAF Bomber Command in World War II and he has written a number of books about the Second World War. This is his first book about the First World War, but is far from being the last.
Buy your copy HERE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Myths-Mysteri...
My very good friend Leonard James has a new ebook out.
From the Angel of Mons to the sealed cargo on the torpedoed liner Lusitania, from the secret evidence in the Nurse Edith Cavell trial to the haunted U-boat, the First World War was a hotbed of mysteries and myths. This book explores the best known in the light of latest evidence from declassified documents.
The First World War had a massive impact on the peoples of the time. The wide scope of the fighting and enormous human tragedy marked the popular mind as no other war had. Part of the impact was made by the huge number of legends, myths and mysteries that circulated among the front line soldiers and among civilians or were reported in the media.
In this book military historian Leonard James goes back to the original sources, unearths obscure government records kept secret for decades and seeks to get back to the truth of what went on. He disentangles the confusion between the very real Angel of Mons and the fictional “Bowmen” story in the press. He reveals the evidence suppressed for so long about Edith Cavell, the nurse shot by the Germans. He finally solves the conundrum of who actually shot down the Red Baron. He seeks the truth behind the mysterious “sealed cargo” on board the British liner Lusitania when she was torpedoed with the loss of over 1,000 lives. He tracks down the story of the Phantom Piper of the Black Watch, seeks out the German eyewitness to the RFC “death flight” and tries to track down the elusive, but deadly Gurkha with the silver kukri. Be it the Ghost Plane of Calais, the Madonna of Albert, the Russian soldiers in London, the Lost Battalion, the fate of Captain Ball, the antics of the Mad Major or the mysterious airman known as “Ballooning Bertie” you will find it all in this fascinating, mystifying and at times amusing but carefully researched foray into the Myths and Mysteries of the First World War.
About the Author
Leonard James is the grand son or great nephew of three soildiers who fought in the trenches of the Western Front in France. His father served in RAF Bomber Command in World War II and he has written a number of books about the Second World War. This is his first book about the First World War, but is far from being the last.
Buy your copy HERE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Myths-Mysteri...
August 1, 2014
The Scots invade Britain from Ireland
The Scots invade Britain from Ireland
As Roman Britain stood on the edge of collapse raiders from Ireland pillaged western areas. Known as Scotti, these men eventually turned from raiding to settlement and farming. In some areas they were absorbed, in others driven out, but in northern Britain they stayed and founded the kingdom that later became Scotland.
The arrival of the Scots in northern Britain was a major turning point in history. The language of the people had been Pictish beyond modern Stirling and British further south. But the Scots changed the language to the Gaelic form of Celtic spoken in Ireland. Strangely there is no known tribe in Ireland called the Scots. The word seems to derived from a Gaelic word meaning ‘to rob’ or ‘to plunder’, appropriate for a band of sea-borne raiders.
The Scots themselves preserved an oral tradition that they arrived in Argyll from northern Ireland in three ships, each carrying fifty men. No date is given for this invasion, but anytime between about 390 and 420 is likely. The ships involved were probably large open rowing boats, about 17 metres long. Within a few years many more Scots must have arrived for, in about 450, they could field an army 1500 strong and send 20 ships to sea.
In contrast to their military might, the Scots who settled in Argyll left almost no trace in the archaeological record. It is known that they took over the great British fortress of Dunadd soon after landing, but digs on the site have shown no sign of them. The pottery, stonework and other finds are effectively identical to those of a British tribe. It is possible that the invaders were made up only of a chief and his warriors. The lack of women and children would explain the lack of Irish domestic utensils. But the men must have been formidable indeed to create a nation by themselves.
As Roman Britain stood on the edge of collapse raiders from Ireland pillaged western areas. Known as Scotti, these men eventually turned from raiding to settlement and farming. In some areas they were absorbed, in others driven out, but in northern Britain they stayed and founded the kingdom that later became Scotland.
The arrival of the Scots in northern Britain was a major turning point in history. The language of the people had been Pictish beyond modern Stirling and British further south. But the Scots changed the language to the Gaelic form of Celtic spoken in Ireland. Strangely there is no known tribe in Ireland called the Scots. The word seems to derived from a Gaelic word meaning ‘to rob’ or ‘to plunder’, appropriate for a band of sea-borne raiders.
The Scots themselves preserved an oral tradition that they arrived in Argyll from northern Ireland in three ships, each carrying fifty men. No date is given for this invasion, but anytime between about 390 and 420 is likely. The ships involved were probably large open rowing boats, about 17 metres long. Within a few years many more Scots must have arrived for, in about 450, they could field an army 1500 strong and send 20 ships to sea.
In contrast to their military might, the Scots who settled in Argyll left almost no trace in the archaeological record. It is known that they took over the great British fortress of Dunadd soon after landing, but digs on the site have shown no sign of them. The pottery, stonework and other finds are effectively identical to those of a British tribe. It is possible that the invaders were made up only of a chief and his warriors. The lack of women and children would explain the lack of Irish domestic utensils. But the men must have been formidable indeed to create a nation by themselves.
July 31, 2014
NEW EBOOK - The Battle of Mons 1914
NEW EBOOK - The Battle of Mons 1914
My very good friend Leonard James has a new ebook out. An ebook containing contemporary accounts of the first major battle fought by British troops in the First World War at Mons in 1914. Complete with explanatory glossary and background.
Britain had not fought a major war for 99 years when its army went into action in Belgium in 1914. Nobody was certain how well the British army would fare in the face of the professional German Army that had fought recent several wars, nor how the British would compare with their French Allies. At the little town of Mons the answer would come in bloody, violent and emphatic fashion.
Here contemporary accounts of the British deployment and of the fighting is given in its full original condition, along with an introductory note and an explanatory glossary by historian Leonard James.
This ebook is a must for anyone seeking to understand more about the First World War.
Contents
Introductory note by Leonard James
Chapter 1 Moltke's Strategy
Chapter 2 The British Arrive at Mons
Chapter 3 The German Tidal Wave
Glossary
About the Author
Leonard James has written dozens of books, mostly on history or military subjects for a wide audience. He is uniquely placed to analyse and comment upon the accounts used in the “Eyewitness World War 1” series.
Get your copy HERE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Battle-Annota...
My very good friend Leonard James has a new ebook out. An ebook containing contemporary accounts of the first major battle fought by British troops in the First World War at Mons in 1914. Complete with explanatory glossary and background.
Britain had not fought a major war for 99 years when its army went into action in Belgium in 1914. Nobody was certain how well the British army would fare in the face of the professional German Army that had fought recent several wars, nor how the British would compare with their French Allies. At the little town of Mons the answer would come in bloody, violent and emphatic fashion.
Here contemporary accounts of the British deployment and of the fighting is given in its full original condition, along with an introductory note and an explanatory glossary by historian Leonard James.
This ebook is a must for anyone seeking to understand more about the First World War.
Contents
Introductory note by Leonard James
Chapter 1 Moltke's Strategy
Chapter 2 The British Arrive at Mons
Chapter 3 The German Tidal Wave
Glossary
About the Author
Leonard James has written dozens of books, mostly on history or military subjects for a wide audience. He is uniquely placed to analyse and comment upon the accounts used in the “Eyewitness World War 1” series.
Get your copy HERE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Battle-Annota...
July 28, 2014
NEW EBOOK - First Battles 1914
NEW EBOOK - First Battles 1914
My good friend Leonard James has a new ebook out.
An ebook containing contemporary accounts of the first battles of the war, fought when the Austro-Hungarian Empire invade Serbia in August 1914. Complete with explanatory glossary and background.
The First World War broke out in the Balkans. When a Serb terrorist murdered Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Imperial Austro-Hungarian throne, the Austrians saw it as an ideal opportunity to crush the Kingdom of Serbia. The Austrian invasion would spark the outbreak of a general European war, but is itself usually ignored by historians. Here contemporary accounts of the Austrian invasion are reproduced, along with an introductory note and an explanatory glossary by historian Leonard James.
This ebook is a must for anyone seeking to understand more about the First World War.
Contents
Introductory note by Leonard James
Chapter 1 Background
Chapter 2 The Austrian Offensive
Glossary
About the Author
Leonard James has written dozens of books, mostly on history or military subjects for a wide audience. He is uniquely placed to analyse and comment upon the accounts used in the “Eyewitness World War 1” series.
Get your copy HERE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/First-Battles...
My good friend Leonard James has a new ebook out.
An ebook containing contemporary accounts of the first battles of the war, fought when the Austro-Hungarian Empire invade Serbia in August 1914. Complete with explanatory glossary and background.
The First World War broke out in the Balkans. When a Serb terrorist murdered Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Imperial Austro-Hungarian throne, the Austrians saw it as an ideal opportunity to crush the Kingdom of Serbia. The Austrian invasion would spark the outbreak of a general European war, but is itself usually ignored by historians. Here contemporary accounts of the Austrian invasion are reproduced, along with an introductory note and an explanatory glossary by historian Leonard James.
This ebook is a must for anyone seeking to understand more about the First World War.
Contents
Introductory note by Leonard James
Chapter 1 Background
Chapter 2 The Austrian Offensive
Glossary
About the Author
Leonard James has written dozens of books, mostly on history or military subjects for a wide audience. He is uniquely placed to analyse and comment upon the accounts used in the “Eyewitness World War 1” series.
Get your copy HERE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/First-Battles...
July 27, 2014
Why do the British drink beer?
Why do the British drink beer?
Beer has been the traditional drink of the English and Welsh since before those nations came into existence. The reason for its popularity lies in its flavour, alcoholic strength and the ease with which it can be brewed.
Quite when the British first brewed beer is unclear. Greek merchants writing in about 300bc spoke of a Celtic drink called curmi, which is similar to the modern Irish word for beer - cuirm. But beer was almost certainly being made in Britain long before that time. And beer has remained the staple alcoholic drink of the British ever since.
The reason for its huge popularity is simply that the ingredients for beer can be produced in Britain with ease. Water has rarely been a problem in islands where the rain falls so often and so steadily. Streams and rivers run everywhere, and wells can be sunk down to the water table with few problems. Some water is better for brewing that others, it is true. That of Burton upon Trent is particularly famous and has made that town a centre for the brewing industry. The soft, mineral-free water is ideal for producing a rich malt without impairing the flavour. The fame of the town’s beer began spreading in the middle ages, but was given a huge boost in 1777 when William Bass opened his famous brewery. The brewery still produces beer and is today equipped with a museum of brewing to attract the tourists.
The second principle ingredient of beer is grain, usually barley but sometimes wheat. Again, grain grows readily in Britain where the rich soils and gentle climate encourage a fairly soft grain, low in gluten, which is favoured by brewers. The grain is sprayed with water and allowed to germinate so that the starch which makes flour is converted into sugar which can be fermented.
The final ingredient of modern beer, hops, flourish in Kent and other warm areas, though the vast majority of hops used in British beers are now imported from abroad. In any case, hops are only the most recent of many flavourings added to beer over the years.
Beer has been the traditional drink of the English and Welsh since before those nations came into existence. The reason for its popularity lies in its flavour, alcoholic strength and the ease with which it can be brewed.
Quite when the British first brewed beer is unclear. Greek merchants writing in about 300bc spoke of a Celtic drink called curmi, which is similar to the modern Irish word for beer - cuirm. But beer was almost certainly being made in Britain long before that time. And beer has remained the staple alcoholic drink of the British ever since.
The reason for its huge popularity is simply that the ingredients for beer can be produced in Britain with ease. Water has rarely been a problem in islands where the rain falls so often and so steadily. Streams and rivers run everywhere, and wells can be sunk down to the water table with few problems. Some water is better for brewing that others, it is true. That of Burton upon Trent is particularly famous and has made that town a centre for the brewing industry. The soft, mineral-free water is ideal for producing a rich malt without impairing the flavour. The fame of the town’s beer began spreading in the middle ages, but was given a huge boost in 1777 when William Bass opened his famous brewery. The brewery still produces beer and is today equipped with a museum of brewing to attract the tourists.
The second principle ingredient of beer is grain, usually barley but sometimes wheat. Again, grain grows readily in Britain where the rich soils and gentle climate encourage a fairly soft grain, low in gluten, which is favoured by brewers. The grain is sprayed with water and allowed to germinate so that the starch which makes flour is converted into sugar which can be fermented.
The final ingredient of modern beer, hops, flourish in Kent and other warm areas, though the vast majority of hops used in British beers are now imported from abroad. In any case, hops are only the most recent of many flavourings added to beer over the years.
July 25, 2014
Reptile skin was the key to success
Reptile skin was the key to success
Reptile skin was waterproof. This meant that reptiles such as Varanosaruus (vah-rann-oh-saw-russ) could live in dry areas where amphibians would never survive
from "100 Things you need to know about Prehistoric Life" by Rupert Matthews.
Get your copy HERE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Prehistoric-L...
Reptile skin was waterproof. This meant that reptiles such as Varanosaruus (vah-rann-oh-saw-russ) could live in dry areas where amphibians would never survive
from "100 Things you need to know about Prehistoric Life" by Rupert Matthews.
Get your copy HERE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Prehistoric-L...
