Category: History
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Queen Victoria: A Captivating Guide to the Queen of the United Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland along with Her Impact on the Victorian Era
People all over the world are fascinated with royalty. And Queen Victoria herself, despite being gone for over 120 years, still holds us spellbound when we consider her life and legacy. She came to power during a time of great change. Technological change in the form of new inventions and rapid industrialization were taking place,…
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History of Austria: A Captivating Guide to Austrian History
When Austrian President Franz Jonas visited the Vatican in 1971, Pope Paul VI named Austria “the Island of the Blessed.” He did so to emphasize Austria’s steep recovery. Only twenty-five years had passed since the end of the Second World War, and Austria was already one of the most prosperous European countries. One might argue…
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Welsh Gold: Mrogi-Rixs Yr Riketo
Most people are lucky if they can trace their families back more than five or six generations. Tom Jaeger needed to search forwards in time and find the descendants of eight people who lived in the 7th century. To be traceable and appear in the historical record, their relatives would need to have been wealthy,…
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The First Battle of Manassas: A Captivating Guide to the First Battle of Bull Run That Took Place at the Start of the American Civil War
The causes of the American Civil War, which lasted from April 1861 to May 1865, were many and complex. At the heart of the disagreement, however, was slavery. The Southern states of the newly formed but illegal Confederacy were prepared to fight the US federal government to the death to retain their right to keep…
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The Mayflower: A Captivating Guide to a Cultural Icon in the History of the United States of America and the Pilgrims’ Journey from England to the Establishment of Plymouth Colony
In fact, of the 102 passengers on the Mayflower, only about 40 were fleeing England for religious reasons. The Reformation brought sweeping changes across Europe. In England, that led to the formation of a small congregation of radicals known as the Separatists. These were ordinary farmers and craftsmen who simply didn’t believe in the Anglican…
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The Battle of Shiloh: A Captivating Guide to the One of the Bloodiest Battles of the American Civil War
The Battle of Shiloh was fought along the Tennessee River near the border with Mississippi when the Confederates attempted to prevent the Union forces, who were led by future US president Ulysses S. Grant, from seizing the vital railroad junction at Corinth, Mississippi. When the battle began, the forces of the North and the South…
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Pompeii: A Captivating Guide to the City in Ancient Rome That Was Buried Because of the Eruption of Mount Vesuvius during the Rule of the Roman Empire
Pompeii was destroyed by the horrific eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE, which buried at least two thousand unlucky people. Pompeii became a mysterious tomb, hiding secrets of Rome and other civilizations that influenced the life and culture of the city and its people. Who were the Pompeiians, and how did they live before…
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History of Virginia: A Captivating Guide to the History of the Mother of States, Starting from Jamestown through the American Revolution and the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House to the Present
From being the home of some of the first people in America to being the birthplace of the United States, Virginia has had an incredibly rich and interesting history even before its inauguration as a state. Virginia was once the most populous and affluent state in the country and the birthplace of many of the…
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The Suburban Grower: Sustainable DIY Raised Bed Gardening That Produces Thriving Fruit and Vegetables From the First Harvest
Growing your own food isn’t as time-consuming as you think: all you need to do is learn the simple secrets of the raised bed. With just a weekend set aside to build and prepare your beds, you can set your family up for an easy and successful garden. Say goodbye to droopy grocery store veg:…
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Hindu Myths: Captivating Indian Myths and Legends from the Bhagavata Purana and Mahabharata
The Hindu epic poem Mahabharata by itself is ten times longer than both the Iliad and Odyssey combined. Not only does the Mahabharata have tales of heroic exploits and derring-do, but it also contains complex and sophisticated philosophical writings. In fact, the Bhagavad Gita, one of the most important Hindu religious texts, is itself a…