History aspect of culture
What’s it about? Times article: “Hallyu! How Korean culture conquered the world” In recent years, the Republic of Korea (as opposed to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea also known as North Korea), the country in the southern part of the Korean peninsula, has risen…
Continue reading The modern history of South Korea behind the “Korean Wave”
What’s it about? In 1981, Mike found an old photographic negative of a woman shucking (opening and cleaning) oysters. It led him to work as Production Manager on a film about two Victorian photographers, David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson. In the 1840s, Hill and…
Continue reading A Story of Photographic Time Travel in Edinburgh
What’s it about? The V&A Museum in London holds the national collection of textiles and fashion, which includes more than 75,000 individual objects or sets of objects that span a period of more than 5,000 years, from Predynastic Egypt to the present day. Join us…
Continue reading Ann’s favourite textiles from the V&A Museum
What’s it about? If you had lived in the 6th century, the Persian Empire was probably the best place to do it. The Empire was progressive, a melting pot of cultures with freedom of religion. Slavery was forbidden and women enjoyed liberty and could attain…
Continue reading Ancient Engineering in Persian Empire
What’s it about? Josephine Lang (1815-80) was one of the most gifted, respected, prolific, and widely published song composers of the nineteenth century, yet her life and works have remained virtually unknown in our time. Almost thirty years ago, Harald and Sharon Krebs, who live…
Continue reading 30 Years’ Adventure Tracking the Music of Josephine Lang (1815-80)
What’s it about? A little over 500 years ago, in June 1520, two Kings met in northern France. King Henry VIII of England and Francois I of France had decided to ratify a peace treaty by holding an extraordinary 18-day get-together in the middle of…
Continue reading The Field of the Cloth of Gold
What’s it about? What do you know about Scotland? It exports world-famous whisky; it’s where Harry Potter was written and it’s where inventors of the steam engine, the telephone, and the penicillin were born. Every year on 25 January, Scotland and many people around the world celebrate…
Continue reading Robert Burns, Scotland’s Favourite Son
What’s it about? What have the Mesopotamians ever done for us? How can you carry a 5ft slide rule? Why didn’t Kodak like disposable cameras? Who invented the multimedia smartphone? We live in a mobile world. This past year has reminded us all how much…
Continue reading A History of the Mobile World in 10 Objects
What’s it about? Everybody goes to the bathroom. But have you ever wondered what happens after the shit is done? And how did our ancestors deal with the poop issue before toilet paper was invented? During the 19th century, London saw a mysterious pandemic called…
Continue reading The London Poop Story
What is it about? Tourism is not a new phenomenon. In the 18th century many wealthy young men spent a ‘gap year’ touring Europe, seeing the sights and enjoying themselves in a variety of ways. Their exploration of the ancient ruins of Italy and the…
Continue reading Women of the Grand Tour