Guy Fassler

Feeling the winter chill? ❄️

Ever wondered “Should royal monkeys wear sweaters” when it's cold out? You’re not alone! Let's take a look at a letter letter from Olof von Dalin to Carl Linnaeus, translated by @nataliesmith.bsky.social on the topic:

scilicet.org.uk/should-royal...

#Skystorians

Map showing Russia’s attack on Pirtmäki camp in Finland, by Barthold Anders Ennes, 1790.

To conclude our autumn series, @nataliesmith.bsky.social takes us through early modern descriptions of the Swedish landscape.
This article tells us what descriptions say about their authors, about empire, and so called 'objective' perspectives.

#Skystorians #Sweden

scilicet.org.uk/swedish-land...

Ashover’s parish church

Where would we be without Google? Before the age of the internet lots of questions went unanswered.

In this week's article @jamesafox.bsky.social takes us through a curious list of questions compiled by Leonard Wheatcroft, a 17th c. man from Derbyshire.
#Skystorians
scilicet.org.uk/where-would-...

Medieval manuscript

Making a medieval manuscript was an artful process that required many types of specialised knowledge.

Our latest article by @guyfassler.bsky.social is a catalogue of everything you need to know about making medieval books that would last a millennium.
scilicet.org.uk/everything-y... #skystorians

An etching of the Royal Fireworks display on the Thames, London, England 1749

🎆Happy #GuyFawkesDay!

Before and after the 1605 gunpowder plot, fireworks were an important part of celebrations. But what were they made of?

In our latest article, @jamesafox.bsky.social explores the fascinating book that taught the art of making fire

scilicet.org.uk/before-and-a... #Skystorians

This post by @nataliesmith.bsky.social was particularly interesting to read!

Navigating flu season is bad enough, but what are you meant to do when the Black Death strikes in your city? 💀In our latest article, @guyfassler.bsky.social looks at some lessons learned from #medieval Pistoia: scilicet.org.uk/the-black-de...
#Skystorians #historyofknowledge #MedievalHistory

What is the history of knowledge? | Scilicet Scilicet is a blog dedicated to the history of knowledge. In the broadest terms, we’re interested in what people in the past knew, what it meant to know things, and what we as historians can learn abo...

This week we have a special article in which we share our thoughts about the History of Knowledge and what it means to us.
It was great fun to write and we hope you will find it thought provoking!
#skystorians #historyofknowledge
scilicet.org.uk/what-is-the-...

Thomas Simpson (1710–1761)

In our latest article, @jamesafox.bsky.social charts the meteoric rise and eventual decline of #18thcentury mathematician 🧮 Thomas Simpson.

👉 Read more here: scilicet.org.uk/becoming-a-m...

#history #mathematics #skystorians

Leon Battista Alberti, (possibly) Self-Portrait, c. 1435

🤔 Is it better to learn from the wisdom of the ancients or from your experience gained over time?

📚 In our latest blog post, @guyfassler.bsky.social explores a 15th-century Tuscan dialogue debating that very question...
scilicet.org.uk/whats-the-po...

#bookhistory #medieval #knowledge

🐝 Beekeeping was a staple of early modern how-to books. A new blog post by @jamesafox.bsky.social explores the changing tone of English apicultural books...

#beekeeping #bookhistory

An early pamphlet printing of The World Turn’d Upside Down (1647).

What do beekeeping books tell us about changes in early modern science and society? @jamesafox.bsky.social has some suggestions, especially in relation to #17thCentury England scilicet.org.uk/the-hive-tur...
#Skystorians #EarlyModern #Bees #AnimalHistory

Very excited about our new series starting tomorrow!

Medieval Elections I: The Duke of Athens goes to parliament | Scilicet In celebration of the UK 2024 general election, we delve into some intriguing and intricate elections from medieval Italy. This first one comes from 14th C. Florence and involves the mysterious Duke o...

Everyone likes a good villain. One who is just waiting for a biopic about him is Gautier de Brienne (duke of Athens) who briefly became the autocratic ruler of Florence. If you want to learn more about him, give this post a read or explore others in our back catalogue!
#Skystorians #Florence

Royal Doodles: Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden’s childhood drawings of horses | Scilicet A curious set of drawings by the future king of Sweden, 10 year old Gustav IV Adolf, shed some light on a royal childhood.

Before becoming the king of Sweden, young Gustav Adolf showed remarkable aptitude for drawing. His doodles of horses and military scenes give a fascinating insight into the childhood of a future king. Read our post here, and why not explore our back catalogue!
#Skystorians #Sweden #AnimalHistory

#bookhistory people get your proposals in 📖

Animals | Scilicet

Last week we had a post about bees on @scilicetblog.bsky.social, but there's lots more #AnimalHistory to be found there! From Swedish royal monkeys to Italian dogs in churches, and from Medieval lions to 18th Century birds... Check it out!
scilicet.org.uk/animals

My latest post for Scilicet on why bees were considered the perfect society in the #AberdeenBestiary.

Rediscovering the Vikings | Scilicet After the collapse of the Swedish empire, Swedes found themselves turning to their ancient forebearers the Vikings for help. But how did it come about and how did it shape their understanding of the S...

After Sweden’s empire crumbled, Swedes looked to the Vikings for a new sense of identity. But why Vikings, and how did this reshape how they saw their own landscape? @nataliesmith.bsky.social explores in our latest post: scilicet.org.uk/rediscoverin... #Skystorians #Vikings"

Botanic drawing of Parsley. Pellegrino Artusi, La scienza in cucina e l’arte di mangiar bene, recipe no. 119:

Hungry for more historical recipes? 🌿 @guyfassler.bsky.social has found multiple Salsa Verde recipes spanning multiple centuries, offering a delicious insight into how tastes have changed over time. Why not give one a try? scilicet.org.uk/salsa-verde-... #Skystorians #History #SalsaVerde

Food for thought: Recipe books through history | Scilicet We all need to eat, but the way we do says much about our place in society. Looking at a range of recipe books through history shows this has long been the case.

We all need to eat, but the way we cook and share food says a lot about class, culture and identity. In our latest post, @guyfassler.bsky.social, @jamesafox.bsky.social and @nataliesmith.bsky.social dig in to some historical recipes from across Europe 🍽️
scilicet.org.uk/food-for-tho... #Skystorians

With a key: The extraordinary beginnings of the conclave | Scilicet The election of a Catholic pope is steeped in mystery, history, and political intrigue. But what are the origins of the conclave – the locked-room tradition that has was used in pontifical elections s...

As the next papal #conclave approaches, @guyfassler.bsky.social explores its dramatic and mysterious origins. How exactly did a deadlocked election and locked-in cardinals lead Gregory X to reform the process forever? ⛪ 🔐

scilicet.org.uk/with-a-key-t... #Vatican #skystorians #publichistory

Truths and alternative truths: Hearsay and gossip in the medieval court | Scilicet A court case from fourteenth-century Bologna raises interesting questions about truths and gossip in the medieval courtroom, and how the concept of hearsay could be weaponised by accusers and defendan...

A court case from 14th C. Bologna raises interesting questions about truths and gossip in the medieval courtroom ⚖️ How could the concept of hearsay be weaponised by accusers and defendants? @guyfassler.bsky.social tells us more #Skystorians #MedievalSky #Italy

scilicet.org.uk/truths-and-a...

On Wolf Catchers: an excerpt from the urban statutes of Pistoia | Scilicet It's wolves hunting season in Pistoia's countryside, and a 1346 law from the commune of Pistoia has more to say.

It's wolves hunting season in Pistoia's countryside! 🐺 In this archival post, @guyfassler.bsky.social tells us about a 1346 law from the commune of Pistoia, which has more to say about the topic... #SkyStorians #MedievalHistory #Italy #AnimalHistory scilicet.org.uk/on-wolf-catc...

Attitudes towards minorities in eighteenth-century Sweden | Scilicet A curious entry to an 18th century essay competition held by The Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities tells us some interesting things about the place of Roma people and other min...

New post 📜@nataliesmith.bsky.social introduces her podcast episode on a 1780 essay describing Roma people in the Swedish empire. This essay shows how people in Sweden were constructing an identity that excluded Roma and Sami people #SwHist #GRT #18thC #Sweden #empire scilicet.org.uk/attitudes-to...

Is it sometimes best not to know? Ignorance on the streets of medieval Bologna | Scilicet Knowledge is great, but for some people of fourteenth-century Bologna the best option was to say 'dunno' to the authorities.

Is it sometimes best not to know? In this next visit of our archive, @guyfassler.bsky.social walks us through ignorance on the streets of medieval Bologna #MedievalHistory #Bologna #ItalianHistory #LegalHistory scilicet.org.uk/is-it-someti...