Some more historical myths debunked
Every nation has its favourite tales from the past, but how accurate are they? A lot of what we ‘know’ to be historically true can sometimes turn out to be no more than a : Who perpetuated historical myth. We look at a few here. Who really was the 1st US President? Did Mediaeval people really think the Earth was flat ?
How was the order of our alphabet determined?
Is there any particular reason why A comes before B or that Z is the last letter of the alphabet? We delve here into the origins of this and the system of writing.
The Spread of Christianity in the Ancient World
They were unlikely leaders. Most knew more about mending nets than winning converts. Yet 2,000 years later, all over the world, the apostles are still drawing people in.
When there were two Guernseys
There was a time when Guernsey consisted of 2 separate islands. It was military expendiency that drove the effort to re-unite the 2 parts of ‘Sarnia’ again.
Roman Alderney – Ruin Found to be Roman Fort
Up until 2011 virtually no trace of Roman occupation or influence had been found in Alderney. That all changed when one of the best-preserved Roman military structures in the world was found.
Some Historical Myths Debunked
Every nation has its favourite tales from the past, but how accurate are they? A lot of what we ‘know’ to be historically true can sometimes turn out to be no more than a perpetuated historical myth. We look at a few here. Did King Harold really die from an arrow in the eye? Did Slaves built the great pyramids in Eqypt ?
The Costa Rican Connection
On the other side of the World one of the sons of Guernsey is held in such high regard that he has appeared on bank notes and stamps, had statues raised to him and is credited with transforming that country from being the poorest to the wealthiest in Central America.
New Year in Different Cultures
News Year Eve in the West means December 31st. However for a large part of the World this isn’t the prelude to a new Year.
Who is Father Christmas ?
Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Santa Claus, Sinterklass … whatever you call him he has a rich set of folklore and traditions surrounding him. But are they even the same person ?
Thanksgiving – An American Tradition
Thanksgiving is a traditional feature of North American life. We explain the history and origins
Roman Guernsey – Lisia
Contrary to to popular belief the Romans didn’t call Guernsey Sarnia. It is likely that the name they gave it was Lisia.
Remember Remember the 5th of November
Remember, remember, the fifth of November, Gunpowder, treason and plot….. what lies behind this quintessentially British event ?
Anno Domini – Origin of the Western Calendar
Anno Domini or “the year of our Lord” is the dating system we use in the West and is all but the de-facto world standard for chronology. But when and how was it calculated and what was in use prior to this dating system in western Europe ?
1204 – The Birth of Guernsey’s Constitution
Guernsey today is an independent crown dependency. How did this state of affairs, common to all the Channel Islands, come about ?
The Bayeux Tapestry
The Bayeux Tapestry is a fascinating historical artifact. It depicts such a pivotal moment in British and Channel Island history, that of the invasion & conquest of England by William the Conqueror in 1066. It’s a beautiful artifact that’s nearly 1,000 years old!
