Showing results by author "Kelly Mass" in All Categories

In 1620, a group of English families, known now as the Pilgrims, were carried from England to the New World on the Mayflower. When the Mayflower finally showed up in America on November 21, 1620, it had 102 guests and a team of around 30 on board, and was anchored off Cape Cod. The Pilgrims, as opposed to their Puritan coworkers, chose to break away from the Church of England because of its Roman Catholic heritage and the church's hesitation to reform, requiring them to pray in private instead of in the church.

Here we have it: We may be looking at the years 2020-2021 and think a certain virus has been bad for the world population. However, what happened in these two years is nothing, proportionally, to the hundreds of millions of people who got wiped out by rat infestations spreading insanitary bacteria, resulting in the disease and death of huge parts of the European population in the mid-centuries.

You may have heard of Lourdes, a town in France where millions of people go every year, either as a tourist to take pictures or see what the hype is all about, or real believers who think that the town has a sanctity to it and can somehow cure them, help them, or inspire them through divine means. Whatever the reason for the many visitors is, it is undeniably an interesting historical heritage site, something worth exploring.

When we think of Venice, we think of masks, canals, murals and frescoes, and little “gondoliers” with picturesque boats. Venice, indeed, has an impressive artistic history. But did you know that Venice was also, for a while, a considerably sized empire? Although no enduring historic records associate with the creation of Venice, the Republic of Venice's history is typically said to start at 12 a.m. on Friday, March 25th, AD 421, when authorities from Padua established the city to develop a trading center in that area of northern Italy.

Most people have heard of Ludwig von Beethoven, one of the most famous composers of all time. His music had a certain aggression, passion, and beauty to it that still brings admirers to tears, more than 200 years later. His symphonies came from his creativity, the circumstances, and the trends in that time period in Germany and Austria. There is much to say about the historical context, the deep experiences, and the studies that Beethoven encountered during his life.

Undoubtedly, Napoleon, the French revolutionist and emperor, has left his mark on European history. His vast empire stretched all over the continent, and his unique image and posture have been emulated by many. In this comprehensive guide, we will take a look at some of the greatest achievements of Napoleon Bonaparte, as well as his virtues and vices, personal background, politics, exile, and death. You will gain a greater comprehension of his motives, the problems he faced, and how he solved said problems in his own way.

Perhaps you have heard of Edgar Allan Poe. Perhaps not. Either way, this 19th-century author has received quite some fame for his works and his unique style. His mystery and gruesome horror stories, comedy, and other genres have reached far into the depths of American literature. Edgar Allan Poe had a life, a background worth studying. His death, however, was and still is a mystery by itself. Find out more about this fascinating author, in a time we can hardly understand without knowing more about it.

Charles Dickens is often remembered for his novel, A Christmas Carol. And even though it is a very interesting novel, it wasn’t even his favorite! Charles Dickens had a fascinating life, in an entirely different era and age in world history. To understand what and why he wrote what he did, it will be useful to see his works in the light of his marriage, his financial hardships, his success, his children, his traumas, and his goals. Become acquainted with this genius writer and his true drive that led him to who he became to be.

Vincent van Gogh is undoubtedly one of the most influential painters of the end of the 19th century. An entire museum in Amsterdam is dedicated to the works of Vincent van Gogh. And even though his name is famous now, his life was tough, and he faced many fears, worries, and inner demons. The sad reality that this artist’s success wasn’t evident during his life but only after his death doesn’t change the fact that he is, nevertheless, a grand success. Let’s discuss the circumstances under which this Dutch painter lived, and what moved him to go in the direction he did.

The federal government of the UK, Great Britain, and Ireland segmented Ireland into two independent polities: Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland. The Government of Ireland Act 1920 was handed down on May 3, 1921. Both parts were to stay inside the UK, and the act included arrangements for supreme reunification. Northern Ireland was established with a devolved federal government and stayed a part of the UK. The area of Southern Ireland withdrew from the UK and ended up being the Irish Free State, which is today the Republic of Ireland, following the Anglo-Irish Treaty.

This valuable deal contains multiple titles in one book. The topics are the following: Florence, once a major center of Middle Ages European trade and banking, and one of the most affluent cities in the world; Naples, one of the world's oldest constantly occupied cities; St. Catherine of Siena, a Dominican laywoman, mystic, activist, and writer who impacted Italian literature and the Catholic Church significantly; the Vatican, a landlocked, independent city-state and enclave in Rome, Italy; and the Venetian Empire.

Knowing everything we do about siege warfare and the medieval way of conquering and being conquered, this book sheds more light on the series of wars that formed the initiative to become independent as a Scottish nation. There is much confusion about the Scottish wars of independence, and in this book, we will clarify some of that. In the late 13th and early 14th centuries, the Wars of Scottish Independence were a series of army fights performed between the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England. These are significant events in Scottish history.

Macau is known as the Las Vegas of China. It attracts many tourists every year, and it has a unique set of laws and history behind it. How did it become this way? Well, one of the reasons is that it used to be part of the Portuguese Empire. We have probably all heard about the British in China, the Opium Wars, and the tea export, but you might not have heard about the Portuguese settlers who went there. Macau still shows signs of Portuguese influence, even when you go there to visit. So, let’s take a look at what happened and how the area evolved into what it is today.

It doesn’t seem like Enver Pasha was a good man. His war crimes caused the deaths of millions of innocent citizens. Sure, during a war and a collapsing empire, you try to do what you can to stop losing, but I doubt anyone in their right mind can justify his actions, which included the slaughter of minorities in the Ottoman Empire during World War One, and even the Armenian Genocide. And to this day, the Turkish government is still somewhat reluctant to acknowledge the severity of that historical atrocity.

The Inuit of Eastern Siberia and Alaska are described as Eskimo or Eskimos. The Aleut, who live on the Aleutian Islands, are a comparable third group that's usually omitted from the categorization of Eskimo. The three groups have a current typical forefather and speak Eskimo-Aleut languages, which are related. The introduction of Europeans marks the start of Alaskan Indians' contemporary history. Russians cruising from Siberia in the 18th century were the first to make contact. In this book, you will learn more about Eskimos, the Aleut people, and much, much more.

The painting of her on the battlefield with only one breast covered and holding a flag is probably one of the most famous paintings from European history. Many people have heard of Joan of Arc, but only a few know what she did or how her life was. Joan of Arc is a French heroine who was venerated as a saint for her role in the Lancastrian part of the Hundred Years' War. Joan said she saw visions of archangels and saints telling her to support Charles VII and free France from English supremacy late in the Hundred Years' War. She is one of France's nine secondary tutelary saints.

The Industrial Revolution was a period of shift in Britain, continental Europe, and the USA from around 1760 until at some point between 1820 and 1840, when new production innovations were introduced. The shift from hand to device production, new chemical and iron production strategies, increased use of steam and waterpower, the development of device tools, and the rise of the mechanized factory system were all part of this change. The Industrial Revolution also introduced a period of remarkable population growth.

Whether you have played a Prince of Persia video game, seen the movie, or just heard about it in history class, it is hard to ignore the Persian Empire, which was among the greatest empires of the world for some time. The typical area for the Persian Empire was what is now Iran. The Persians had a vast influence on surrounding countries and regions. Their style, art, music, rule, and culture have had an influence on the development of science and the forming of nations. Learn more in this audiobook about this empire of old.

As King Henry VIII's second marriage partner, Anne Boleyn ruled as Queen of England from 1533 till 1536. Her marriage and execution by beheading for treason and other criminal offenses made her an essential player in the political and religious chaos that defined the start of the English Reformation. Henry VIII started his courtship of Anne in the month of February or March 1526, and quickly focused on having his marriage annulled so that he could wed her. When it became apparent that Pope Clement VII wouldn't do so, Henry and his advisors shuttered abbeys and nunneries in England.

When you think of the Aztecs, you might think of certain movies you have seen or what you've been taught in history class. And although some of those images and descriptions fit the main narrative, there is still much left to be discovered. This brief book will take you on a journey and kidnap your imagination to a faraway place in time.