Sommaire pour Issue 166 de All About History

Where did the power of Rome originate? Was it in its laws? In its innovations? Was it in its culture? I suspect most of us would say that it came from the tip of its swords and that the Roman legion was the true force behind the empire. This ancient army is often one of the first things we learn about in school, with its gladius blades, large shields and turtle formations, but this issue we wanted to break that down a little more. How did this dominant fighting force evolve and develop over time? How was it actually composed and why do its units have so many confusing and repeating names? We’re delighted to have Dr Simon Elliott as our guide to answer these and many more questions as…

On 15 October 1951, American television history was made when the first episode of I Love Lucy, one of the most popular sitcoms of all time, was broadcast to the nation. The programme stars Lucille Ball and real-life husband Desi Arnaz as fictional couple the Ricardos. The titular Lucy frequently attempts to enter the world of showbusiness, concocting a variety of outlandish and hilarious plans. The show was a huge hit and frequently topped the ratings; one particular episode, in which Lucy gives birth to her son ‘Little Ricky’, was watched by 44 million. I Love Lucy was also technically groundbreaking, with the innovations introduced during its six-year 181-episode run quickly becoming the standard for American sitcoms. These included the use of a live studio audience and a filming style…

What was the process of filming early television dramas like? In both Great Britain and the United States almost all television drama up until the 1960s was produced live with three or four electronic cameras in a studio. The cast, cameras and other technical processes such as lighting, sound effects and the inclusion of short film sequences were rehearsed in advance and then transmitted live with no opportunities to pause or do a retake. Repeating a play on a later day involved assembling the cast and crew and having them run through everything again. Early studio cameras also required very bright artificial light, and the lamps generated a great deal of heat in studios with invariably inadequate ventilation. Actors who recalled these days frequently spoke of having to mop their…

From 1526 to 1858, the mighty Mughal Empire ruled over large swathes of the Indian subcontinent. The emperors were some of the most powerful and wealthy rulers in history, controlling a huge population and enjoying an extremely lavish lifestyle. Traditionally, the emperors had a number of wives and concubines who lived in the royal harem, and while many of these women had little to no power over their own lives, a few held influence over the decision-making of the emperor himself. Some royal wives and mothers were known to have a hand in politics and governance, but they pale in comparison to the most powerful woman in Mughal history: Nur Jahan. As the wife of Emperor Jahangir, she was de facto ruler of the empire for years, stepping into her…

The United States of America was a nation founded in rejection of an empire. In 1776, the colonies of the British Empire in North America banded together to break from their mother country and declare themselves independent. And from that fledgling seed and the promise that “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” would be the right of all people who called it home, a great power in the world was gradually forged. But in rejecting empire, did America then build its own? And how deliberate was that journey? Depending on your perspective and, perhaps, where in the world you’re from, the answer may seem obvious. The USA has largely maintained its rhetorical stance against empires and the subjugation of peoples around the world, but for anyone growing up in…

United Kingdom, 1985 The Daleks are one of the most iconic creations of British television. These petrifying pepperpots first trundled onto TV screens in 1963 in the BBC science-fiction series Doctor Who and were the creation of Welsh writer Terry Nation. Born in 1930, Nation initially spurned the offer to work on the fledgling series. But suddenly finding himself in need of funds he decided, in his own words, to “take the money and fly like a thief,” accepting the commission to write seven episodes. The result was the story of the planet Skaro and its sinister inhabitants the Daleks – the hideously mutated survivors of a neutronic war. Unable to leave their city, they are confined to their ‘travel machines’. The task of designing these strange creatures fell to Raymond…

1 PORTMEIRION GWYNEDD, NORTH WALES One of the most unique towns in Great Britain, Portmeirion is admired for its incongruous but beautiful Italianate architecture. The village is the brainchild of architect Clough Williams-Ellis, who bought the land upon which Portmeirion now stands in 1925 and developed the area to include a colonnade, pavilion and houses with terracotta roofs around a central piazza. The village also features a magnificent woodland full of exotic plants. But tourists from all over the world don’t just flock to Portmeirion for its unusual architecture. Between 1966 and 1968 the television show The Prisoner, created by and starring Irish-American actor Patrick McGoohan, was filmed here. It follows the story of Number Six, an anonymous intelligence agent who is imprisoned in a strange village where inmates are…

For nearly 1,000 years, samurai warriors played a significant role in the history and culture of Japan. Initially a warrior class from the 1100s known as bushi, the samurai rose in prominence and power to become governmental leaders from the 17th century. By the late 19th century, the samurai way of life began to be ‘idealised and adapted’, creating the chivalrous, self-sacrificing image that we’re familiar with today. Now, a new exhibition questions what we really know about the samurai and explores how the myths about them were created. Samurai at the British Museum brings together around 280 artefacts and pieces of digital media to chart the mythologising of Japan’s warrior class. Many of these objects, including a magnificent suit of samurai armour, are being displayed for the first time.…

1926 JOHN LOGIE BAIRD DEMONSTRATES TELEVISION From his laboratory on 22 Frith Street in Soho, London, Scottish inventor John Logie Baird gives a demonstration to members of The Royal Institution and a journalist from Time magazine of his device that can transmit and receive pictures. 1936 BBC STARTS BROADCASTING TELEVISION The BBC begins transmitting TV programmes from its studio at Alexandra Palace in London, starting with a 30-minute variety show. Broadcasting at a picture resolution of 240 lines, it’s considered the world’s first high-definition service. 1953 TELEVISED BROADCAST OF ELIZABETH II’S CORONATION Elizabeth II’s coronation is the first to be broadcast live to the nation, attracting 20 million viewers. The coronation is also a major event around the globe, with 85 million viewers in the United States tuning in to…

David Attenborough British 1926 – present A British national treasure, broadcaster and naturalist, David Attenborough has enjoyed a lengthy and illustrious career presenting and producing award-winning documentaries for over 70 years. He began his television career as a producer for the BBC in the early 1950s and also presented a variety of programmes that ranged from current affairs to gardening. In 1965, Attenborough was made controller of BBC2 and worked as a director of programming until 1972, when he started writing and directing hugely popular television shows about nature and anthropology. His broadcasting and conservation work has contributed to Attenborough’s status as an icon of British television. JIM HENSON AMERICAN, 1936-90 Puppeteer Jim Henson was the creative mastermind behind the Muppets, a hugely popular cast of puppets who have become…