A history lesson

[Spoked Wheels]

I have been looking for a hobby and I think I want to learn about Britain's history. Everytime I see, read, watch or visit a historic place I feel an overwhelming sense of privilege to live here and a desire to learn more. I want to do something about it now.

I thought I would start with the Roman Britain period.

Since I didn't grow up in this country I have a huge gap to fill.

I have found this webside to start with http://www.britainexpress.com/History/index.htm it looks quite easy to read and not too much detail. The idea is that when I find something that I find more interesting then find other sources and even buy books that can help build my own library on the subject.

Has anybody got any good suggestion that can help me.

 

[Globalti]

Wikipedia is your friend; as you read an article you can click on the blue links and nip off to another page to read up on more specific stuff.

I share your fascination with history and I wish it had been taught better at school. For me the Vicorian era and the Industrial Revolution are Britain's greatest times; we are stll heavily reliant on the infrastructure the Victorians built.

 

[simon.r]

I lived in a 'progressive' local authority area during my school days (70's) and never had a history lesson. Social Studies was the replacement (for geography as well) and all I can remember from that was learning about Eskimos.

As an adult wanting to learn the basics, I found this book - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/British-H...rated-Hardback-Edition-New-Book-/320969277912 - to be a good starting point.

 

[Profpointy]

I have been looking for a hobby and I think I want to learn about Britain's history. Everytime I see, read, watch or visit a historic place I feel an overwhelming sense of privilege to live here and a desire to learn more. I want to do something about it now.

I thought I would start with the Roman Britain period.

Since I didn't grow up in this country I have a huge gap to fill.

I have found this webside to start with http://www.britainexpress.com/History/index.htm it looks quite easy to read and not too much detail. The idea is that when I find something that I find more interesting then find other sources and even buy books that can help build my own library on the subject.

Has anybody got any good suggestion that can help me.

i can recommend Norman Davies "the isles" which goes from stone age to tony blair in one very thick volume. Very readible and entertaining account from a serious academic historian. I was initially put off by him coining whimsical place names to refer to locations before they got modern (or historic) names. luckily i soldiered on, and overall a great book. That said, I enjoyed his earlier book "europe" slightly more - that one was a real joy.

 

[ScotiaLass]

I have been looking for a hobby and I think I want to learn about Britain's history. Everytime I see, read, watch or visit a historic place I feel an overwhelming sense of privilege to live here and a desire to learn more. I want to do something about it now.

I thought I would start with the Roman Britain period.

Since I didn't grow up in this country I have a huge gap to fill.

I have found this webside to start with http://www.britainexpress.com/History/index.htm it looks quite easy to read and not too much detail. The idea is that when I find something that I find more interesting then find other sources and even buy books that can help build my own library on the subject.

Has anybody got any good suggestion that can help me.

You can get a general picture online through websites etc and once you have found what interests you the most, then why not join your local library (if you haven't already).
It gives you a good idea of what books are really good and that you may want to own

 

[slowmotion]

I don't have it, but some friends say that The History Channel is a good taster for a vast number of subjects.
http://www.history.co.uk/study-topics

 

[ASC1951]

.... I thought I would start with the Roman Britain period..

I would start before that. The latest stone version of Stonehenge had been up for 500 years by the time the Egyptians were unrolling the drawings for the Great Pyramid, and New Grange in Ireland is even older.

 

[stephec]

Not being born here is no handicap, I don't remember the Roman period either, and I was born in Salford.

 

[growingvegetables]

This is probably a bit off the wall - but exploring Roman roads? http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer...neering/roads/Britain/_Texts/CODROM/home.html; and http://www.brrp.bham.ac.uk/ - nice thing is it gets you out. And when you get back home, you do some research on the Roman connections to different places/placenames. Piecemeal - but fun.

But then - we're pretty spoiled for Roman roads around east Leeds

 

[Spoked Wheels]

Lots of good advice. Some book titles there to check out at the library.
I have the history channel and have seen some good stuff there. I think it is best to have a basic knowledge and a clear idea of the time line to fully appreciate those programmes. The Spanish channel TVE international has been showing Isabel ( the story of her life) I knew quite a bit from my childhood but I have enjoyed every series so far. It's also being shown in the UK, channel 129.