Historical Interest?

**BarnDoor** · 07-02-2007, 14:41

Just a thread for those of you who have been blessed with civilization. Everyone likes history (if they don't, they are clearly muffdivers), but what's your favourite era/aspect of it? And I'm not talking about the bullshit you learned in school - you only ever really got taught the same old stuff from the 16th century onwards (although the 17th century wars are always interesting) - but stuff you actually like and want to know more about, really interesting stuff.

I am highly versed in Ancient and Medieval Warfare, which broadly is my favourite area of history. Though it is hard to narrow this down, within this I am particularly fascinated by the following areas (and no, most of you won't know what most of these are, but that's what Wiki's for eh dumb cunts?):

Hundred Years War: All parties, English, French, Burgundians, etc. Some cracking battles and great characters and generals here.

The British Isles and Ireland 1000-1603: Obviously a goldmine here - Norman Conquest of Ireland, Anglo-Scottish Wars, Welsh Resistance, the O'Neill rebellion in Ireland, the Border Reivers, the Lordship/Kingdom of the Isles, Mann, Norse incursions into Scotland - if this doesn't interest you you are either a cunt or dead.

Byzantium 10-12th centuries: This era in particular since I've delved so deep into it for my Uni course. There's not a thing I couldn't tell you about the campaigns of Nikephoros Phokas, Tzimiskes and Basil II in the second half of the 10th/early 11th century. I am highly versed in the tactics, army composition, generalship and opponents of the Byzantine military of this era.

Crusades: Well an obvious one surely? But perhaps even more fascinating are the Baltic Crusades, involving the Teutonic Knights of Prussia, Denmark, the Pagan-Baltic tribes, Sweden, Novgorod, Lithuania and Poland in some sort of capacity. Not many people consider these, but it truly was a totally different theatre.

Spanish Conquest of the New World: Just a truly intriguing theatre of combat, made all the more intense by the contrasting manpower, fighting styles and of course technology between Spain and the MesoAmerican and South American cultures it extinguished.

North Atlantic Colonies: We should all be aware by now that the Vikings discovered North America, but are you aware that until around 1600 Viking-relic colonies persisted in Greenland and perhaps North America itself? Limited records show that regularly clashed with native Eskimo and eventually were forced out by a combination of their antagonism and a mini Ice Age.

Renaissance Warfare: Namely the Italian Wars and the Swiss-Burgundian Wars. The rivalry between the Landsknechts and Swiss Pikemen in the former of these conflicts is of especial interest.

Hussite Wars: Led by Jan Zizka and good old Prokop, the Hussite 'heretic' sect of Bohemia were targeted for suppression by the Bohemian state, Poland and Holy Roman Empire in the early 15th century

Ottoman Empire: Especially with regards to its wars in the Balkan and Mediterranean Theatre, including its wars against the Balkan principalities and the epic struggle with the Knights Hospitaller of Malta.

More broadly I'd also say Celtic peoples throughout history and Western European history from 1000-1600 in general. But I'm also very familiar with the warfare of the Hellenistic, Roman and Late Antique eras. And though not as much as Western Medieval Europe, I also enjoy reading about Medieval Russia, Asia and North Africa. Sub-Saharan Medieval Warfare I'd like to know a lot more about, though unfortunately there isn't much on the subject.

Yeah I think that's about it really, warfare from 500BC-1603AD will do if you want it simply.

**Dundon's** · 07-02-2007, 14:48

Someone's trying to plug his intelligence stats for his top trump card.

P.S. Only kidding man, refreshing thread.

Alvin · 07-02-2007, 14:49

I have little interest in history as I enjoy diving muff. I did very much enjoy reading the Illiad though which makes me one of the most civilized people in the world. Chemistry is much more interesting, I bet you don't even know what the polarizability of the hydrogen atom is.

First person to tell me what the polarizability of the hydrogen atom is gets to be an admin (no, not really, idiot).

**Dundon's** · 07-02-2007, 14:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alvin

I have little interest in history as I enjoy diving muff. I did very much enjoy reading the Illiad though which makes me one of the most civilized people in the world. Chemistry is much more interesting, I bet you don't even know what the polarizability of the hydrogen atom is.

First person to tell me what the polarizability of the hydrogen atom is gets to be an admin (no, not really, idiot)

Off the top of my head I'd say..

Abstract. The polarizability of the hydrogen molecule is calculated theoretically The energy of the molecule, under an external electrostatic field, is calculated by the variation method, using 11+10 terms and 11+9 terms James-Coolidge type wave functions, for the polarizability parallel to and perpendicular to the molecular axis respectively. By expanding the energy in powers of the field strength, the polarizability is determined. By using a Morse function for the adiabatic potential of the molecule, the 0-0 and 0-1 matrix elements of the polarizability between vibrational states are calculated, with the result: α00=7.89, γ00=2.78, α01=1.39, γ01=0.90 for ordinary hydrogen H2, and α00=7.75, γ00=2.68, α01=1.13, γ01=0.71 for heavy hydrogen D2 (in units of 10-25 cm3), where α is the mean polarizability and γ the anisotropy.

Barry · 07-02-2007, 14:54

The Huns, mainly with Attila and Bleda around, and the Mongolian Invasions always had my particular interest.

Charles Martel's campaigns and the Carolingian Dynasty too, France on the whole has a very interesting history what with the Hundred Years of War, the Gauls, the Revolution and the Renaissance.

**tom pain** · 07-02-2007, 15:00

I don't really favour an particular era or civilization but I do enjoy reading some stuff.

I bought 'The Wallace' off Amazon a few days ago. I enjoyed the film 'Braveheart' but seeing as it's riddled with historical inaccuracies I decided to find out the truth about William Wallace, who seems to me to be a fascinating historical character. Looks to be a very interesting read.

**martin_cranie** · 07-02-2007, 15:02

Nice thread, Barndoor.

Broadly speaking, I'm very interested in the history of the three main monotheistic religions; Judaism, Islam and most of all, Christianity. I'm interested in their (supposed) beginnings, how they've interacted, how/why they've changed over time, etc. I don't have much cash to pour into books though, so I haven't got anywhere near as much knowledge as I would like.

Also, in a similar vein, I'm interested in religious fringe groups/fundamentalists like the Branch Davidian sect from the infamous shootout in Waco, Texas in the 1990s.

I'm also very interested in the evolution of strategy and intelligence studies, aspects of which I'm studying this year. I've just started a history of British intelligence module, which is really good so far, and I was studying nuclear strategy last semester, which was amazing. There's a good chance that I'll specify as best I can in one such area next year.

There's a load more areas, but I'd be typing for quite some time if I were to list them.

Alvin · 07-02-2007, 15:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dundon's

Off the top of my head I'd say..

Abstract. The polarizability of the hydrogen molecule is calculated theoretically The energy of the molecule, under an external electrostatic field, is calculated by the variation method, using 11+10 terms and 11+9 terms James-Coolidge type wave functions, for the polarizability parallel to and perpendicular to the molecular axis respectively. By expanding the energy in powers of the field strength, the polarizability is determined. By using a Morse function for the adiabatic potential of the molecule, the 0-0 and 0-1 matrix elements of the polarizability between vibrational states are calculated, with the result: α00=7.89, γ00=2.78, α01=1.39, γ01=0.90 for ordinary hydrogen H2, and α00=7.75, γ00=2.68, α01=1.13, γ01=0.71 for heavy hydrogen D2 (in units of 10-25 cm3), where α is the mean polarizability and γ the anisotropy.

Ah, but that's the molecule, I asked for the atom.

**Dundon's** · 07-02-2007, 15:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alvin

Ah, but that's the molecule, I asked for the atom.

You know what... Your dead right, just noticed that there myself. I'll update it in a while though.

**BarnDoor** · 07-02-2007, 15:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alvin

I have little interest in history as I enjoy diving muff. I did very much enjoy reading the Illiad though which makes me one of the most civilized people in the world. Chemistry is much more interesting, I bet you don't even know what the polarizability of the hydrogen atom is.

First person to tell me what the polarizability of the hydrogen atom is gets to be an admin (no, not really, idiot).

Chemistry is shit. You know this Alvin and i'm sick to death of telling you.

The atom in question is often lodged far up a males anal passage and as your a fan of diving head first into muff i'm sure you will never find the answer. I enjoy a fist to the elbow up a man's crack so I of course know the real answer. The solution is thus:

Y x speed of fist + anal battery= A load of shit

Alvin · 07-02-2007, 15:16

That's me told.

**Dundon's** · 07-02-2007, 15:18

I dunno dude, you might want to look into that theory, might open up new doors for you.

**Dragonfly** · 07-02-2007, 16:03

I've been slowly getting interested in history, recently. However, I've also been questioning the importance of history, tradition and culture, especially the last two.

I must say, the main reason for my sudden interest is the conversations amongst certain members on this site, with most of them having already posted on this thread. Before this, I haven't really seen the point in it, and I'm not sure if I do, but it can be interesting.

I guess I'm mainly interested in the history of religion, political history, history of the arms race(s) and, I guess, anything that involves corruption, murder, violence and other evils.

Due to my poor attention span, I get bored when reading, so I usually learn through TV or YouTube etc. I hated history at school and thought "what's the point in it, I prefer to look to the future and leave history in the past". And I still am more interested in the future then the past, mainly because you don't know exactly what will happen, but you can imagine. I think it's this uncertainty and dream weaving I prefer than something that's already known.

I'm sure once I've finnished my degree, I'll give myself time to read more "intellectual" books.

**Dundon's** · 07-02-2007, 16:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragonfly

I'm sure once I've finnished my degree, I'll give myself time to read more "intellectual" books.

A great alternative book is the 12th planet by Zecharia Sitchin.

Preki-USA · 07-02-2007, 16:59

Right now I am taking an American History class which is kind of a bore but in the late 1800s when the EuroAmericans just completely destroyed the western part of the US by killing millions of Bison and Native Americans. People had no realy moral values back then...its amazing to me that all that happened and no one batted an eye.

Another amazing period that I am reading about in Bill Bryson's lingustics book "mother tongue" talks about how the english language began and the effect of the rape-happy vikings on the fine citizens of what is now britain.

@ Alvin: