Lying some 20 miles outside of Edinburgh, the unassuming village of Athelstaneford is home to one of Scotland’s most legendary historical events; one that would see Scotland gain a new patron saint and a national emblem. As with many origin stories, how Scotland came to adopt its national symbol, the Saltire, is shrouded in myth … More Athelstaneford: Origins of the Saltire
John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, is one of the most iconic political figures of 20th century history. The modern, maverick president who would change the world for the better. Young, attractive and the quintessential American – he was the American Dream. Sadly for JFK, however, he is remembered largely for … More JFK: The Dawn of the Modern Politician
Nestled along the banks of the Tiber river, in its early years Rome can be considered as nothing more than inconspicuous; tidily hidden away from the prying eyes of the world. Sharing the Italian peninsula with a host of other small tribes and peoples, with the Etruscans to their north, it would be a long … More Rome: Origins of the Empire
On 28th January 1829, a sizeable crowd gathered in the Lawnmarket area of Edinburgh. Standing before them, one of the most infamous killers in Scottish history awaited execution. William Burke, an Irishman born in County Tyrone in 1792, was one of two boys born into a middle-class family. By all accounts, he had a comfortable … More Who Were Burke and Hare, Edinburgh’s Infamous Killer Duo?
Lying just outside of Edinburgh, the now picturesque town of North Berwick was the site of one of Scotland’s most infamous witch trials. … More The North Berwick Witch Trials
National Museums Scotland is set to lead a new research project into one of Britain’s most important archaeological sites, the Galloway Hoard. Funded through a grant by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), the three-year project will carried out in collaboration with the University of Glasgow. ‘Unwrapping the Galloway Hoard’ The Galloway Hoard is … More New Research to Unlock the Secrets of the Galloway Hoard
The arrival of Europeans in North America heralded a dark period for indigenous populations the length and breadth of the continent. Within the space of a few centuries, the patchwork of varied, independent tribal societies that littered the modern-day mainland United States was gradually destroyed; with peoples scattered and often subjected to brutal acts of … More Dreams of the Past: The Indian Barrier State
Much like the rest of Scotland, the Lothian region is steeped in history and renowned for its beauty. The area is also home to Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh. There are few who can say the focal point of their home town is a castle perched atop an extinct volcano – the ancient lava flow from which … More Fact or Fiction? The Murky History of Lothian
In 1937, before a shot was even fired in Europe, Imperial Japanese forces were engaged in a long, bloody conflict in China – and it is during this period that we catch a glimpse of the atrocities that would stain the 1940s. The event, or series of events, we are looking at today is the … More 83 Years On: Remembering the Nanjing Massacre
The Battle of Gettysburg epitomises the futility of war and offered people of the time a terrifying glimpse at the devastating future of conflict. It is a landmark moment not only in the American Civil War but in world history; a victory and tragedy in the same breath. Fought from the 1st of July through … More The Battle of Gettysburg: The Turning Point
