When most people think of science, they envision people cloistered away in labs working mostly with other scientists. This has never been the reality. Learning is a social activity the demands you communicate with others. In the 18th Century, this certainly took the form correspondence win notable journals and publications like the Proceedings of the …
Continue reading “Public Science – The Natural Philosopher as Entertainer”
The acquisition of indentured servants and slaves began with the earliest days of the settling of America. Before 1680, the most common form of bound labor was the white indentured servant. Up to two-thirds of the English migrants who came to Virginia between 1630 and 1680 arrived in servile status. In return for the cost …
When George Washington choose his uniform, he could have literally chosen any color scheme, so why buff (tan) and blue. The choice was not arbitrary. The Whig party in England (not to be confused with Andrew Jacksons divisive party in the 1830’s) had been standing against the abuses of the crown since 1688. Their rallying …
In the 8th Century BCE, King Hammurabi of Babylon codified the death penalty for 25 different crimes. The death penalty was also part of the 7th Century BCE Draconian Code of Athens and the 5th Century BCE Roman Law of the Twelve Tablets. Death sentences were carried out by such means as crucifixion, drowning, beating …
Continue reading “Judicial Death Penalties have always been Instruments of Terror.”
In the days before proper sanitation, drinking water could be very dangerous. There are many waterborne parasites (like the amoebas that cause dysentery) and pathogens (like cholera) and as people formed settlements and cities, these diseases were easily spread. Fear of drinking the water was so strong that in 1620 when Puritan settlers arrived in …
Continue reading “Beer Recipe: Act of Parliament — Small Beer”
I was recently taken aback by one of the reenactors at an event (who did not participate in the skirmish) told people in the crowd that portrayal was not realistic “because reenactors refuse to die in the mud….” Okay yeah, nobody wants to fall in the mud and then have to clean up afterwards. We …
When the British imposed the Stamp Act of 1765, John Hancock helped lead the opposition in urging a boycott of British-made goods. Far from an act of patriotism, Hancock, a smuggler of tea, rum, and wine, used these boycotts earn obscene profits. But the boycotts did impact the Crown and eventually lead to the repeal …
So, when I choose to represent a Continental Soldier, I carry my Brown Bess. My son has a Charleville and I could use that but I contend that the Brown Bess is the quintessential military weapon of the 18th Century British Empire. I enjoy working the crowd and explaining that men between 16 and 72 …
This is intended as satire, not advice…. I know many are frustrated and angry with today’s dysfunctional politics. Many are wont to engage in violence but as the Regimental Brewmeister, I would be remiss in not pointing out a solution (pun intended) from history — distilled spirits. Not only do these elixirs have the ability …
Continue reading “A Solution to MAGA: How Alcohol Could Defeat the Antichrist (AKA Trump)”
In my last post I talked about THAT GUY. You all know that type, the know-it-all who wants to show off by starting an argument with the presenter over something the presenter knows WAY more about. These guys come looking for a axe fight only to discover that … “wait, they all HAVE axes in …
Continue reading “Why would an American Soldier carry a Brown Bess Musket?”
Michael Carver -- Historical Interpreter/Reenactor 