History Hound Travels

Did you know that this historian is also a knitter? It’s true, I am. And that’s what I’ve been doing a lot of this past week. And then, I realized that it had been quite a while since I checked in here, and I hadn’t done any research, so what in the world could I possibly talk about? Well, knitting of course!

It is thought that knitting as we know it today evolved from Nålebinding, and the earliest things actually knitting using current techniques were socks. No one knows for sure exactly where or when people started knitting, but relics have been found that date between the 3rd and 6th centuries AD.

Knitting used to be taught in schools, and in Scotland, whole families were involved in the production of knitted goods. Fair Isle, anyone? It’s not just a place on the map, it’s also a knitting technique invented in that place that involves knitting with two colors at once.

And did you know that Queen Elizabeth wore thigh high silk stockings back in the day? They had to be knit by hand, because there were no knitting machines back then.

So much for a leisurely on orderly wandering through the annals of history. My mind just doesn’t work like that, as I think you have discovered with me, LOL. I thought I could do it, but it’s just not working out that way, is it?

So, lets jump to Napoleon, shall we? I’ve been fascinated by this historical figure since I found out he was just my size. Something about such a small person wielding such incredible influence appeals to my narcissistic side, LOL! Do you remember that he was exiled to the island of Elba in 1814? After looking over the island, I’m thinking he actually got a pretty good deal. And the first thing he did was to change the government!

Elba Hotel & Travel Information has a page devoted to the history of Elba from the times of the Etruscans forward. Elba today is a beautiful place, and a popular tourist destination, with activities available ranging from outdoor sports such as scuba diving and hiking to museums and art galleries. And don’t forget the delightful possibly of just wandering around enjoying the scenery and exploring sites of historical significance.

Technorati Tags: Napoleon, Elba

I said we would discuss Babylon soon, and here we are. It’s interesting that this entry follows the one on the ancient calendar site, because the Babylonians were great astronomers, and were able to predict eclipses, and of course the first calendars were lunar based.

The two most famous kings of Ancient Babylon were Sargon and Hammurabi. Sargon is the first one that we know very much about, and he reigned about the time the pyramids were being built in Egypt. Hammurabi, of course, is remembered for his laws, and he ruled about 1750 BC.

Of course, there is no better time to mention the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. And let’s bring this back to the present by mentioning that ancient Babylon was located near what is now Baghdad, Iraq.

Technorati Tags: Babylon, Sargon, Hammurabi

Webexhibits.org has many fine exhibits, but this one, Ancient Calendars, is just superb. There is an absolute wealth of information here, and rather than regurgitate it for you, I’m just going to send you to read it. After you read the articles on the linked page, check out the links in the sidebar. Totally worth your time. Haha–calendar/time. I slay myself.

According to this CNN article there is new speculation about the identity of jack the Ripper. Author Charles van Onselen believes it could be Joseph Silver, the subject of his recent biography. These are some of the oldest unsolved serial murders in history, and investigation into the identity of the killer has been ongoing for well over a century now. Go read the article, and let me know your thoughts.