I was born in Eastbourne on the south coast of England, which is the location of a Napoleonic fortifcation called the Redoubt. When I was growing up it was the home of an exceptionally kitsch model village and a rather charming aquarium called the Blue Grotto. This was an eccentric use for an historic monument,

Theodosius was both a good soldier, and just the kind of soldier the empire needed at the time.  He was decisive when the need arose, but was cautious generally. He was basically fighting defensively – the game plan was survival not conquest. Typical of his initiatives was improving the defences of Constantinople, adding the Golden Gate

“The ruin of Paganism, in the age of Theodosius, is perhaps the only example of the total extirpation of any ancient and popular superstition; and may therefore deserve to be considered as a singular event in the history of the human mind.”

Andrew Marr pointed out recently, that in the fourth century the Roman and Chinese empires were very similar.  They had roughly the same level of technology, had much the same form of government and were about the same size.  They were vaguely aware of each other, and traded through third parties.  They also had exactly the

Was the Catholic Church simply a new way for the Romans to rule their empire?  The trhttp://historybooksreview.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/multiethnic-team-using-green-screen-tablet-to-over-MVKF9J9.jpgional conquest model didn’t work any more, so was this another way to keep control in the same hands?  It is a thought that has occurred to more than one person over the centuries.  If you were looking for

Napoleon famously always asked if someone was lucky when considering promoting them.  It is certainly the case that luck plays a big part in what historical figures achieve and an even bigger part in determining their future reputations.  President Obama for instance was extremely lucky to be black at just the time this was no