12 Fascinating Stories About Some of the Giants of History

Writer George Spencer has published more than a dozen outstanding pieces on some amazing characters in history on his Substack site, "Courage 101: True Tales of Grit and Glory." They could be part of a gripping package for beginning students of history or anyone with an interest in the topic. "Hey Bulldog! His Destiny: Save …

Great Man Theory Applied to Prophet Mohammed + Context of Islamic Conquests in the 700s, from Khan Academy

Beginning with a quote from Scottish historian Thomas Carlyle's book on Heroes, Hero-Worship and the Heroic in History, the Khan Academy offers the example of the prophet Mohammed, who created a new religion and inspired the Islamic Conquests of the 700s, in examining the Great Men Theory of history. This clip is just 8 minutes, …

Civilization, Empires, Great Man Theory Gamified

This post has moved. It is here. I do think that games like Civilization may be one of the best ways to get students to relate or engage with long-ago empires like the Greco/Romans; Ottoman Turks; English/Brits; and Spanish Empire. Related: Greco/Byzantium/Roman Empire Charlemagne & Franks/French/Napoleonic Empire Ottoman/Turkish Empire English/British Empire Spanish Empire Russian Empire …

Reflecting on Memories of the Kennedy Assassination, 9/11 and Other Public Spectacles

The 60th anniversary of John F. Kennedy's assassination occurs on November 22, 2023. It is probably the last major anniversary in which those born in the 1940s and 1950s with sharp memories of the event will be able to express themselves before it fades into history with fewer living persons able to recall it. Obviously, …

Banker Turns Hobby of Reading Presidential Biographies Into Expertise and Creates An Online Community

Stephen Floyd, an investment banker, private pilot and avid fan of American history, has since January 2013 been on a journey or "great adventure" through "the best presidential biographies," which he has reviewed on a blog, bestpresidentialbios.com. In July, he announced that he has completed more than 250 biographies amounting to 125,000 pages read, posted …

James Garfield, 1880-81: Dramatic Shooting of a President, and Medical Malpractice Leading to Unnecessary Death

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h5bedYl2RA PBS American Experience: "President James Garfield was just four months into his presidency when he was shot by a deranged office-seeker named Charles Guiteau. After his death that September, Garfield became a symbol of lost opportunity...lost potential...for a nation in transition." He is easily forgotten because he only served as president for 200 days …

Lincoln Movies: Historically Accurate?

Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln" movie starring Daniel Day Lewis is worthy of study. First question: Is it historically accurate? Like so many motion-picture and theater dramas, it draws too heavily on the "great man" theory of history, as historian Eric Foner, author of The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery, points out in this clip: …

Coming to Terms with Military History: Civil War, WW1, WW2, Vietnam, Iraq

I have not posted much on this blog about the powerful military leaders, strategies and battles in history, when in fact there are whole courses, schools and museums devoted to military history. For some students, especially those who go on to serve in the military, that IS what history is mostly about, war games. For others, …

Age of Napoleon: How It Started, How It Ended, His Legacy, How It Shapes Us

Crash Course tries not to give "too much great man history, but we have to admit: Napoleon Bonaparte is a pretty big deal. Join us as we track the rise, further rise, fall, rise, fall, mortal fall, and posthumous rise of Napoleon. This guy changed France, he changed Europe, and in a lot of ways …

Who Was Most Important Person of 20th Century? Gavrilo Princip??

When pondering who was the most important person of the 20th century -- a great question for an essay in world history, btw -- Adolph Hitler, Winston Churchill, Josef Stalin, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Mao Tse Tung come initially to mind.  Most definitely NOT Gavrilo Princip. Who? You may ask. But if not for him, …