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Category: History (Page 1 of 8)

The study of history involves examining past events, societies, and cultures to understand the development of human civilization over time. It seeks to reconstruct and interpret the past through the analysis of primary sources such as documents, artifacts, and oral traditions, as well as secondary sources like scholarly articles and books.

Historians aim to uncover the causes and effects of events, the lives of significant individuals, and the evolution of institutions and ideas. They analyze political, economic, social, and cultural developments to provide a comprehensive understanding of how and why changes occurred. This involves critical evaluation of sources to determine their reliability and bias, allowing historians to construct accurate and nuanced narratives.

History is divided into various branches, including political, which focuses on governance and power dynamics; social, which examines the experiences of everyday people; economic, which looks at the development of economies and trade; and cultural, which explores art, religion, and intellectual movements. Additionally, historiography, the study of how history is written and interpreted, is an essential component, as it reflects changing perspectives and methodologies over time.

The study of history is crucial for several reasons. It provides insights into present-day issues by contextualizing them within a broader temporal framework. Understanding history fosters a sense of identity and continuity, helping societies appreciate their heritage and learn from past successes and failures. It also encourages critical thinking and analytical skills, as historians must assess evidence, recognize multiple viewpoints, and construct coherent arguments.

Ultimately, history is about connecting the past with the present, offering lessons and perspectives that can inform future decisions and actions.

Assassination And A History Of Violence

“There is no place in America for this kind of violence.”

The words of President Biden yesterday following an attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump ring hollow to those whose lives have been torn apart by gun violence in the US in recent decades.

One only has to say the words “Sandy Hook” to understand how gun culture and gun violence leave a dark stain on an American society determined to cling to its guns no matter how many school children have to pay the price.

Indeed the conspiracies around that one event – Sandy Hook – are enough to sicken even the most questioning of individuals. It is something that it’s taken twelve years for political broadcaster and commentator Alex Jones to be held fully to account for peddling lies that the Sandy Hook shooting was staged and that the parents of the murdered children were, in reality, actors helping create a fake event, the aim of which was to extend further gun control throughout the United States.

There has always been a place for violence in American politics. Their relatively short history is dotted with assassinations and assassination attempts at both the highest levels of politics and the lowest. Here’s a look at some of the more notable ones over the last 200 years.

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St Etheldreda

Saint Æthelthryth, or Etheldreda. of Ely23rd June, marks the feast day of St Etheldreda, a saint associated with Ely Cathedral who died in 679AD. jon rosling

Etheldreda, also known as Æthelthryth, is particularly significant to the Anglican tradition due to her association with Ely Cathedral, which remains a key site of pilgrimage and historical importance within the Church of England.

St. Etheldreda, sometimes also known as Audrey, was an Anglo-Saxon princess, abbess, and saint who lived in the 7th century. She was born around 636AD in Exning, Suffolk and was one of the four saintly daughters of Continue reading

What’s In A Name? Thomas Rotherham … alias Scott? Pt II

This is part two of an article an article I wrote for  Blanc Sangliers, the quarterly journal of the Richard III Society Yorkshire Branch.

You can read part one here. jon rosling

Cover page of JR Scott's Memorials of the Family of Scott, of Scott's Hall. Image sourced by John Rosling

Cover page of JR Scott’s Memorials of the Family of Scott, of Scott’s Hall.

In his book Memorials of the Family Scott of Scott’s Hall in the County of Kent, JR Scott ascribes the parentage of Thomas Rotherham to Sir John Scott, the son of Sir William Scott of Scott’s Hall in Kent.

However, the providence of this is so dubious as to bring to question JR Scott’s reason for doing so in the first place. Although JR Scott gives no date of birth for Sir John, other historians do, having him born in or around 1423 – the same year that Thomas Rotherham himself was born.

That there is no record of Sir John holding any office until the late 1430s lends credence to the assumption that he was born around the same time as Thomas Rotherham and therefore

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What’s In A Name? Thomas Rotherham… alias Scott? Part I

This is the first part of a long article on the fifteenth-century Archbishop of York, Thomas Rotherham, which I recently wrote for  Blanc Sangliers, the quarterly journal of the Richard III Society Yorkshire Branchjon rosling

Lincoln College portrait of Thomas Rotherham

Thomas Rotherham (1423-1500), Bishop of Lincoln (1471-1500), Second Founder of Lincoln College; Lincoln College, University of Oxford

Hanging above the high table of Lincoln College Hall in Oxford is a portrait of a man regarded as the second founder of the college[i], Thomas Rotherham, one-time Bishop of Lincoln and at the end of his life, Archbishop of York.

With its pious gaze and prayerful hands, the portrait has looked down on generations of Lincoln College students, overseeing their daily affairs in much the same way the Archbishop himself oversaw the running of England during his time as Lord Chancellor and confidante to the kings and queens of the late fifteenth century.

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