The Library Ghost

    The Neolithic, or New Stone Age, began in Europe around 7,000 BCE with early farmers in the Balkans.  It spread across the continent, and lasted until about 2,000 BCE, when the European Bronze Age began.  Agriculture arrived in southeastern Europe from the Levant, along with new technologies, including pottery and domestication of animals.  One common change was the move from flaked stone tools to ground or pecked stone tools, which take longer to make.  Typical Neolithic artifacts of this type include spindle whorls, net weights, mace heads, and hoes or adzes. General information      The Benaki Museum. " Greek history - Neolithic period (6800-3200 BC) ." YouTube . April 4, 2017.     NOVA PBS Official. " Ötzi the Iceman: A 5,000-Year-Old True Crime Murder Mystery | Full Documentary | NOVA | PBS ." YouTube . January 24, 2024. Architecture and engineering     Archaeology Now. " Tiny Lectures: Mysterious G...

    The Victorian era lasted through most of the 19th century, from Queen Victoria's ascension to the throne in 1837 to her death in 1901.  This is the period that saw the introduction of the telegraph, the electric light bulb, the pasteurization process, aniline dyes, photography, the sewing machine, the typewriter, and association football (called "soccer" in the USA).  Fashions and technology were greatly changed by the end of Victoria's reign, and the British Empire claimed some 400 million people on six continents as its subjects. General information      Draper, Jenny. " A Deep Dive Into Victorian Servants ." YouTube . May 9, 2022.      Kellgren-Fozard, Jessica. " Victorian Lesbians?! // Queer History ." YouTube . June 29, 2022.      Rudolph, Nicole. " Why Victorian Etiquette was so ✨Extra✨ ." YouTube . August 10, 2024. Arts and architecture      Draper, Jenny. " The Largest Building In The World ...

     This was originally intended to be the first in its series... until I discovered that there was a lot more material on the Regency and Victorian eras than on the 18th century :/  It's still rather scanty on artistic and religious movements, so if anyone knows of a good art history site, please let me know! General information     Draper, Jenny. " Answering White People's Questions About Slavery: The London History Show ." YouTube . March 3, 2021.     Johnson, James. " There Were No Slaves in Britain? " YouTube . June 28, 2020.     Thane, Anna M. " Travelling in the 18th century? Don’t forget your passport! " Regency Explorer . March 1, 2022.     Townsend, Jon. " Do You Know the Difference? Shilling, Sixpence, Halfpenny? " YouTube . July 27, 2021. Arts and architecture      Thane, Anna M. " Shades of Blue: Discovering new colours in the 18th Century ." Regency Explorer . April 10, 2022. ...

    Conservation of wildlife, especially native pollinators, is critical for the future of our planet—including the future of humanity.  After all, no bees means no fruit, which makes up a huge proportion of the human diet.  Pollution, invasive species, deforestation, and climate change are all threats to our native species that must be combated, starting today.  We  can't rely only on individual action; we need to combine it with strong legal protection to save the environment before we lose it forever. General information      BBC Newsround. " Is Light Pollution Getting Worse? 🌃 | Newsround ." YouTube . March 6, 2023.      DwrCymruWelshWater. " Top 10 water saving tips ." YouTube . June 28, 2018.      Eco Sapien. " What is Citizen Science? " YouTube . March 30, 2015.     Natural Resources Wales / Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru . " What are invasive non-native species? " YouTube . July 26, 2023. ...

    The Victorian era in Britain and Ireland covers the reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1901.  During that time, fashions changed dramatically as Britain became a global empire, with control of Egypt, India, Canada, Hong Kong, and parts of the Caribbean.  As immigration soared and London became the largest city in the world, anxiety about non-English "colonials" polluting English culture or bloodlines was at an all-time high.  Industry moved from small family businesses run out of the home to mass manufacturing in urban factories.  Handcrafts waned during the middle of Victoria's reign, only to return in romanticized "vintage" or "authentic" forms at the end of the century. General information      BBC Archive. " 1970: VICTORIAN TEENAGERS reminisce | Yesterday's Witness | Voice of the People | BBC Archive ." YouTube . Posted April 30, 2022.     HistoryExtra. " Child labour and BREADWINNERS | Ruth Goodman on family lif...

    Here it is!  The 1890s list of cook books!  I'm finally free!      I think... I think I need a little time before I work on another cookery post. Baked goods and sandwiches Cakes, meat pies, fruit tarts, breads, sandwiches.      Braun, Emil. Perfection in Baking (4th ed.) . New York, NY: Emil Braun, 1899.      Hérissé, Emile. The Art of Pastry Making . London, UK: Ward, Lock, Bowden and Co., 1893.      Schurr, Eugene, comp. The Baker's Hand Book . Chicago, IL: Robbins Brothers, 1895.      Wells, Robert. The Bread and Biscuit Baker's and Sugar-Boiler's Assistant (3rd ed.) . London, UK: Crosby Lockwood and Son, 1895.      Willis, Leida A., comp. The Rumford Bread and Pastry Cook . Providence, RI: Rumford Chemical Works, c.1895.      —. The Baker, Including Bread and Fancy Baking . London, UK: Houlston and Sons, c.1890. Cocktails and punches Mixed drinks, ho...

    Once again, my sources are fairly limited for this period, but I think the videos here are pretty comprehensive!  I'd love more sources for Dublin, the Kingdom of the Isles, Kievan Rus', and the Danelaw, particularly when it comes to music, poetry, and games.  Let me know if you have any! General information     Draper, Jenny. " The Collapse of the Roman Empire, or, Why were medieval people more primitive than the Romans? " YouTube . May 30, 2024.      Johnson, James. " What was Medieval Wales really like? " YouTube . August 30, 2020.      Johnson, James. " When Was The Viking Age? " YouTube . November 9, 2021. Arts and architecture      Draper, Jenny. " Why You Can't Find Vikings In London: The London History Show ." YouTube . January 18, 2021.      Johnson, James. " Viking Age Tools and the Mighty Mästermyr Tool Chest ." YouTube . August 30, 2023.      Johnson, James....

    This post is meant to round out the "Young Person's Introduction" series with additional material that might be less engaging for a first-time viewer/reader.  It has lots of museum videos and articles, like Colonial Williamsburg and the Met, including some fun case studies (a banyan made from a dragon robe, a handkerchief celebrating the first hot air balloon launch, etc.).  It's a bit scanty now, but I wanted to get it out of the drafts folder before I forgot it existed! As always, the post will be expanded as I come across more information. Edit 11/24 : Now with an excellent video on cold-weather clothing! General information     Colonial Williamsburg. " Children's Clothing ." YouTube . Posted May 13, 2022.     Cullen, Oriole. “ Eighteenth-Century European Dress .” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History . New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2004.     English Heritage. " Fashion Through History: Episode 2 – G...