Sommaire pour No. 124 de All About History

Q&A ALL ABOUT SWEETS Who were the first people in history to make sweets? There's a lot of controversy about that but really the first sweet was actually honeycomb that was discovered on a wall painting from about 8000 BCE. The painting showed a caveman who was hanging on a rope raiding a honeycomb in a cave near Valencia. That is the first image that represented someone coveting and eating sweets. That was followed, probably around about the same time but there's no real evidence for it, with the Arab nations who used almond lozenges laced with musk and amber. They're mentioned in the earliest cookbook that we know about, which comes from Persia (present-day Iran). After that, around 1350 we have evidence of something called sucket, which was a sweet…

“Albert, who is just as tall as Ernest [Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha], but stouter, is extremely handsome; his hair is about the same colour as mine; his eyes are large & blue, & he has a beautiful nose, & a very sweet mouth with fine teeth; but the charm of his countenance is his expression, which is most delightful; c'est a la fois [that is both], full of goodness & sweetness, & very clever & intelligent.” Wednesday, 18 May 1836, when Albert visited following their introduction in April “Albert really is quite charming, and so excessively handsome, such beautiful blue eyes, an exquisite nose, and such a pretty mouth, with delicate moustachios, and slight but very slight whiskers; a beautiful figure, broad in the shoulders and a fine…

Wollstonecraft's best friend, Fanny, whom she named as the person who opened up her mind, embodied the potentials of a pure, almost holy female utopia that could have been formed. They planned to live together but could not make this dream work under the financial constraints of their life. Fanny, whose health was always poor, moved to Lisbon with her new husband, and died there in childbirth in 1785, nursed by Wollstonecraft. This loss was devastating, and inspired Wollstonecraft's first novel Mary: A Fiction (1788). Later, Wollstonecraft named her first daughter Frances, or Fanny, for her dear friend. Before this, in 1784, Wollstonecraft's sister Eliza was suffering badly from postpartum depression. Wollstonecraft implored her, and eventually persuaded and helped Eliza to leave her husband and child, in what was a…

The Pertchen festival takes its name from the Pagan goddess Pertcha, also known as ‘Frau Pertcha', a deity once popular in the Alpine regions. As the goddess had two forms, one good and one evil, traditionally there would be both good and evil creatures present. For the festival, men would dress up as these creatures and parade through the streets in impressive masks, which are now known as ‘Pertchen'. The purpose of the Perchten is to ‘drive out the devils of winter', hence the parade through the town in which the demonic creatures are being driven out back into the wild. Traditionally they were held on Pertcha's night, 6 January, though in some cases it could be as late as Shrove Tuesday. Today these festivals still continue and are highly…

1929 ONWARDS SAME OLD COUNTRY Without the Wall Street Crash, or one of lesser magnitude, there may not have been a wake-up call for America and the rest of the world. President Herbert Hoover would have been free to continue to pursue his policies of non-intervention by government, leaving the free market to develop, but at the expense of the less well off. Social reform would have been reduced to a snail's pace, especially if he had achieved a second term, with such blinkered thinking being so embedded that protection of ordinary Americans, many of whom had suffered in the crash, would be set back decades. 1933 NO NAZI FOOTHOLD Surviving on loans from America to rebuild after WWI, the crash was a disastrous economic tidal wave for Germany. The…

Book Film TV Podcast Games Other Reviews by Jonathan Gordon, Callum McKelvie, Jules Stewart, Emily Staniforth Price: £10.99 Released: Out now The Battle of Brunanburh is a name that, unlike the Battle of Hastings, may not be immediately familiar to readers who are less versed in medieval military history. Nonetheless, this event, which saw the Anglo-Saxons led by King Athelstan take on an alliance of various rival kings in 937, was one of the most significant battles in the history of Britain. However, despite its importance the location of the battle has been lost to time. In Never Greater Slaughter, author Michael Livingston tells the story of Brunanburh and also of the incredible hunt to find the location of this epoch-defining confrontation. Livingston's research is impressive and at 192 pages…

Pez was originally created by Austrian inventor Eduard Haas III in 1927 as a possible alternative to smoking. At this point in their development Pez sweets were peppermint flavoured, round not square, and not sold alongside the cartoonish dispensers but in small tins. The first dispenser was introduced at the Vienna trade fair in 1949 and was invented by Oscar Uxa. The original dispensers lacked the now iconic character heads and designs that have made the brand popular among children. Instead their lighter-esque design continued the notion that Pez was an alternative to smoking. Pez began its American distribution in 1952, with the goods imported from Europe and distributed throughout the United States. It was here, following World War II when plastic production became increasingly more prominent, that Pez began…

1 PEZ VISITOR CENTER ORANGE, CONNECTICUT, USA At the Pez Visitor Center, fans can not only learn about the history of Pez and see a vast collection of vintage dispensers, but also take a sneak peak into the factory facility and see how Pez is made. The visitor centre is perfect for children and contains many interactive elements that will be sure to grab their attention. For example, it contains the world's largest Pez dispenser, which holds game cards so children can play the trivia game of the month and win a prize. There is also an interactive timeline showcasing the history of Pez and exploring how the company has changed and grown since its initial conception in 1927. The visitor centre is huge, occupying a site that's over 300…

PRINCE GEORGE (LATER GEORGE V OF HANOVER) The future King of Hanover had grown up in England and was one of the earliest young princes to be introduced to Victoria, from around 1828. when both were still children. But they never appeared to hit it off. ERNEST,PRINCE OF SAXE-COBURG AND GOTHA Introduced to Victoria in 1836 alongside his brother Albert, Ernest seems to have made the greater impression on the young princess at first. Later meetings saw her affections swing toward Albert, although Ernest frequently accompanied them and shared outings with the fledgling couple in the following years. GRAND DUKE ALEXANDER NIKOLAEVICH (LATER ALEXANDER II OF RUSSIA) Entertaining the future tsar of Russia in 1839 was the first time the recently crowned Victoria entertained foreign royalty and she seems to…

Mary Wollstonecraft Emotionally tumultuous, the life of Mary Wollstonecraft was shaped by the people that came in and out of it, and her relationships to the people and world around her. Wollstonecraft's life may have been tragically short, but she ensured an enduring legacy. In 37 years she travelled, wrote on a wealth of topics across a number of genres and for all kinds of audiences, and today she is still remembered as a pioneer of the movement to ensure women's rights; the 'mother of feminism'. She is best remembered for writing A Vindication of the Rights of Woman: with Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects (1792). Wollstonecraft was born in 1759 in London, one of seven siblings. When she died on the 10 September 1797 of septicaemia, only 11…

For all the Apollo missions, it was important that the astronauts participated in an intense training programme. This was not only to prepare them for space but also for the specifics of the mission on which they were to embark. However, as the three astronauts had each been reserve crew for previous missions they had already undergone much of the standard space training. This meant that they had more time to train for the geological aspects of the mission. This training included wearing the Extravehicular Mobility Units (or space suits as we commonly call them) and simulating collecting samples. This training took place in Cinder Lake, Arizona, which due to being formed by a volcanic eruption was a similar landscape to Mare Tranquillitatis on the Moon. The astronauts also went…

Price: £25 Released: Out now Mark Urban's meticulously researched account of the formation of one of the first airborne units, the 2nd Battalion, provides the main focus for weaving together a series of personal tales. The narrative links the stories of men who served in this unit, allowing the reader to follow the trajectory of those who were carried to different places by the tides of war. The wartime founders were volunteers from a highly diverse range of professional backgrounds and beliefs, from circus performers to solicitors, policemen and grave-diggers, from Christians and Jews to communists. The author follows the exploits of a handful of these trailblazers of the Parachute Regiment who shed blood for their country, of whom two would not survive the conflict. Their individual fates span the…

c.350 CE KHANDA MANUFACTURED Sugar cane is processed in India and solid blocks of sugar are formed. These blocks are called ‘khanda', an ancient Sanskrit word which eventually becomes the origin of the word ‘candy'. The Sanskrit word 'sarkara' also gives us the word 'sugar'. c.1770 TURKISH DELIGHT INVENTED The sweet treat known as 'lokum' in Turkish is invented by Haci Bekir Effendi in Istanbul. More commonly known as Turkish Delight, the sugared jelly cubes become so popular that Bekir Effendi is appointed as the sultan's confectioner. CAVEMEN EAT HONEY c.8000 BCE Ancient man tries to get their fix of sweetness by taking honeycomb from beehives, as shown by this cave painting in Valencia. ALMOND LOZENGES MADE c.1000 The Arab nations begin making lozenges from almonds, musk and amber. The…

CHRISTMAS TREE A popular 1848 engraving of Victoria and Albert decorating a Christmas may well have helped to popularise the tradition, originally from Germany, in Britain, but they weren't the first royals to do it. Victoria's mother had started doing the same from 1800. Still, the new royal family kept it up and insisted on decorating their Christmas tree themselves. A BIG CHRISTMAS MEAL A big family dinner was also common for Victoria on Christmas day with turkey a possibility, but roast beef was apparently the favourite for the royals. For other families in Britain, a goose might also have been more likely than turkey. Royal Christmas meals could be quite elaborate with multiple courses, sometimes up to 20 dishes, and rich desserts to finish. GIFT GIVING Victoria and Albert…

Wollstonecraft went to France in 1792 “partly to be able to write about what is happening,” says Tomaselli. “It's partly because she's curious – she has political curiosity. She's not the only woman to report to live in Paris and report back to England. Nonetheless it's very much part of her character… just pack up and go. And when there she meets the father of her first child, Gilbert Imlay.” He is an American businessman, and together they have a child out of wedlock. This reframes her life almost completely. She passes as his wife and lives with him, which increases her safety as a woman living in revolutionary France, as well as their child's, who had a ‘legitimate' father. “While she still has hope of continuing a relationship with…

The Easter Bilby Due to rabbits not being native to Australia, when they were introduced in 1788 they caused vast amounts of environmental damage. So it seems unlikely that the country would promote a rabbit as a cute creature who delivers chocolate eggs to children. The Bilby on the other hand is an endangered marsupial, unique to Australia, and in the early 1990s began to be promoted as an Easter alternative. It is hoped this will increase awareness of this endangered creature. Ded Moroz While we in the West are familiar with Father Christmas as the giver of gifts, in Russia this duty is given to Ded Moroz and his granddaughter Snegurochka (translating as 'snow maiden'). He originated in Slavic mythology but disappeared during the early years of the Soviet…

The Japanese tea ceremony, known as cha-no-yu. is inextricably linked to Buddhism. The first reference to the ceremony comes from the 9th century when a monk called Eichū brought tea to Japan from China. After preparing tea for Emperor Saga, it was ordered that tea plantations should be set up. Other Buddhist monks refined both the cultivation and serving of tea. Tea remained a luxury available only to the court and samurai classes, and the ceremony surrounding it became complex. In the Letter of the Heart, written in 1488. Murata Juko codified the philosophy and actions performed at the tea ceremony. The tea was to be central to the event, and gaudy or gilded vessels were abandoned for simple pottery. The 16th-century Zen tea master Sen no Rikyū used the…

TRUE TO THEIR SALT RRP £25 www.amberley-books.com This important new book looks at the crucial role played by Indian soldiers in the foundation, control and expansion of the British Empire. It also argues that this group played a vital role in securing Indian independence from the British. The first comprehensive single-volume history of India's pre-partition military from Indian soldiers' perspective, written with flair and rich in detail, this book offers a vital new perspective to mark the 75th anniversary of Indian independence. An essential addition to the study of Indian and British history. THE GREAT BRITISH HISTORY DIARY 2023 RRP£12 plus £3 p&p www.howmanbooks.com The Great British History Diary 2023 is an A6 wire-bound diary featuring 30 pages of original articles and data relating to Great Britain (including monarchs, icons,…

25 MARCH 1929 WARNING SIGNS Following concerns by the US Federal Reserve about a frenzy of speculation and market trading, trading hit a bump in the road as investors sold off stock in rapid succession, causing a minor crash. For a time, productivity slowed across a number of sectors. There had been a good harvest of wheat leading to a glut in the market, pushing prices down. Credit for the ordinary American had become easy to come by and individual debt was on the rise. In spite of this, signs were ignored, the market recovered and sleepwalked towards a fateful end. 24-28 OCTOBER 1929 BLACK DAYS In September 1929 British investor Charles Hatry was jailed for fraud and his companies suspended, reducing confidence in the markets and perhaps assisting the…

Price: £75 Released: Out now “Europe could not have existed without the inspiration of the Byzantines” The Byzantine Empire tends to be remembered as the Eastern half of the Roman Empire that continued to exist long after the fall of the Western half in 476 CE. However, even this notion causes confusion among many who know little about the history of the Byzantines. In the extraordinary book Byzantium: The Surprising Life of a Medieval Empire, written by the British archaeologist and academic Judith Herrin and first published in 2007, she aims to make the history of the Byzantine Empire not only accessible to all but also interesting to all. There isn't, as Herrin puts it, “a modern heir” to the Byzantine world, and therefore it feels out of the grasp…