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Greece

Tales about the cradle of Western civilisation, from Socrates and the first democracies to the fall of the Roman Empire, the Ottoman yoke, and Britain’s part in the fight for independence.

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37

The Spy

In 1910, Constantine Zervakos, a young monk from the Greek island of Paros, found himself charged with espionage.

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Picture: © Leandro Neumann Ciuffo, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.. Source.

Posted November 1 2016

38

The Greeks, the Governor and the Potatoes

John Kapodistrias had an instinct for how a long-oppressed people might think.

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Picture: Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0.. Source.

Posted September 24 2016

39

Xerxes Scourges the Hellespont

By Herodotus

The Persian King felt that a lord of his majesty should not have to take any nonsense from an overgrown river.

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Picture: © Jorge Láscar, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.. Source.

Posted July 20 2016

40

The Fall of Constantinople

Hospitality and sympathy, but no help - the Byzantine Emperor learns a bitter lesson about western diplomacy.

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Picture: © MEH Bergmann, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 4.0.. Source.

Posted May 30 2016

41

The Bishop’s Gambit

The mayor and bishop of Zakynthos went to extraordinary lengths to protect the most vulnerable people of their island.

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Picture: Photo by Maesi64, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 1.0 Universal public domain dedication.. Source.

Posted May 27 2016

42

‘Stand out of my Sunshine!’

By Plutarch

Alexander the Great dropped a hint to his sycophantic entourage.

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Picture: Via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.

Posted April 22 2016

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★ Ranulf’s Tooth As he sat in his guest room at Durham Abbey, Ranulf de Capella could think of nothing but finding someone to rid him of his painful toothache.

For Today • March 20 • The Feast of St Cuthbert

★ ‘Really, I do not see the signal!’ During the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801, Horatio Nelson decided it was time to turn a blind eye.

For Today • April 2 • The Battle of Copenhagen

In This Sign Conquer Bishop Eusebius recalls what Constantine told him about the vision that brought him the crown.

Posted February 26 • The Copy Book

Phrases Use phrases such as ‘to the town’ in sentences, with nouns or with verbs.

Posted February 26

The Marks of a Tyrant Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle explains what it is that defines a tyranny.

Posted February 25 • The Copy Book

Keep It Short Plutarch argues that it when it comes to strong speech, less is always more.

Posted February 24 • The Copy Book

Anagrams Shuffle the letters of each of these words to make new ones. See if you can match the number indicated.

Posted February 23 • Think and Speak

Polyword: Mere Make as many words as you can using the letters of one nine-letter word. Can you beat our score?

Posted February 21 • Think and Speak

Go to the Ant Solomon recommends taking lessons from one of God’s smallest but most hard-working creatures.

Posted February 20 • The Copy Book

Chariots of Steam Erasmus Darwin imagines how steam power will change the world.

Posted February 16 • The Copy Book

Music Video Modest Mussorgsky: Sorochinsky Fair: Gopak

Posted February 16

Fragments Develop these short phrases into complete sentences.

Posted February 15 • Think and Speak

The Moral Case for Family Farms Richard Cobden called on Parliament to support small, family-owned farms.

Posted February 14 • The Copy Book

Hiawatha Takes a Photograph Lewis Carroll records a suburban photoshoot in the style of Longfellow.

Posted February 13 • The Copy Book

Nouns of Number William Cobbett gives his son James some helpful examples of collective nouns.

Posted February 13 • The Copy Book

Hiawatha’s Inspiration Henry Longfellow tells us how his tale of a heroic Native American warrior came to him.

Posted February 12 • The Copy Book

Near Synonyms These words have very similar meaning but they are not the same — can you show the difference?

Posted February 12

Music Video Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: Hiawatha: And They Said Farewell Forever

Posted February 12

Music Video Leroy Anderson: Irish Suite: II. The Minstrel Boy

Posted February 11

The Travellers and the Axe Two men find an axe, and then find some trouble, but they aren’t keen on sharing either of them.

Posted February 11 • The Copy Book

Train

Posted February 9 • Think and Speak

The Prophecy of Peter of Pomfret Peter foretold that King John would cease to be England’s sovereign, and he was right, though John still wore his crown.

Posted February 9 • The Copy Book