Northumberland is positively dripping with medieval history, and every period of the thousand years following the departure of the Romans around 410 AD has left its mark on the land. Some of these historical legacies, however, are far less obvious…
History
HOW EASY IS IT TO “FAKE” HISTORY? by SEAN MUNGER
The malleable past: How easy is it to “fake” history? – Sean Munger Denial of certain historical facts involves a misconception of what history is and how it works. On the previous incarnation of my history blog, in December 2013,… Read More ›
NO ONE HAS HAD A DRINK SINCE 1920
Once upon a time so many years ago, Americans had national fit of self-righteousness. We decided alcohol was the root of all evil and to rectify this catastrophe, we rose up on our collective hind legs and passed the 18th… Read More ›
AFGHANISTAN: ANOTHER HISTORY LESSON FROM WHICH WE FAILED TO LEARN by SEAN MUNGER
We were doomed to fail in Afghanistan because we had no idea what we were really doing there. Yesterday, August 15, 2021, the Taliban recaptured Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, after a lightning offensive that followed the withdrawal of U.S…. Read More ›
THE FINAL DAYS OF REPUBLICAN ROME
It’s déjà vu all over again as we travel back with author Robert Harris to Republican Rome just before it became Imperial Rome. In America, we complain of corruption. Lying politicians. We fear the end of our Democracy, such as it isn’t…. Read More ›
HARD DAYS FOR A CONSCIENCE
There are a lot of things we don’t know about the people who came before us. We don’t know how or why they dressed and spoke and related to each other as people in their society. We are fuzzy about… Read More ›
HISTORY, BIOGRAPHY, AND TRUTH
I love history and I read a lot of it. My first reading choice is usually fantasy and/or time travel, but after that? History. Lately, I’ve been reading serious biographies of people I have always admired and in whom I… Read More ›
TRUMAN by DAVID McCULLOUGH
It’s almost embarrassing. I bought this book more nine years ago with every intention of reading it. It’s a very long book. Modern American history is not my favorite subject, but I feel compelled to read it anyway. At 1102… Read More ›
ELEANOR & FRANKLIN – NO ORDINARY TIME by DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN
If I ever have to answer the question again about which person I’d like to have come visit us that answer would absolutely be Doris Kearns Goodwin. It wouldn’t even be inconvenient since she lives in or around Boston and… Read More ›
A MINI HISTORY FOR NON-AMERICANS
Like most wars, our Revolutionary War was about money and land — pretty much like every war. The money part was about taxes — especially on tea, which was very big until America discovered coffee — and who should pay… Read More ›
A GOOD AMERICAN
Civics 101 by Rich Paschall Most of us are Americans because we were born here. We did not have to meet any special requirements. We did have to learn about our history and our government, however. When I was in… Read More ›
TIME AND REMEMBERANCE – MEMORIAL DAY 2021
Memorial Day (formerly Decoration Day) is observed on the last Monday of May. It commemorates the men and women who died in military service. In observance of the holiday, many people visit cemeteries and memorials, and volunteers place American flags… Read More ›
