ON THE COVER: EDWARD TEACH AKA BLACKBEARD A NOTORIOUS PIRATE: AKG IMAGES. BACKGROUND: PIRATES BOARDING A LARGE MERCHANT SHIP. WOODCUT: GETTY IMAGES.ARMADA PORTRAIT BY GEORGE GOWER OF ELIZABETH I: GETTY IMAGES. THIS PAGE: GETTY IMAGES/ALAMY. GEOFFREY PARKER: JO MCCULTY
On a sunny day in early September, I took my five-year-old son to Bristol Zoo for the very last time. Two days later the site closed for good, in preparation for its forthcoming move to larger premises outside the city. Though most kids were primarily interested in the animals (and, lets be honest, the playground), Bristol Zoo was also an important part of the citys history, dating back to 1836 and embodying a long and complex story of public spectacle and our relationship with wildlife. On page 54, Joanne Cormac delves into these themes in her piece on the 19th-century British zoo craze, focusing on Surrey Zoological Gardens, which mixed exotic animals with classical music and volcanic eruptions.
One of the most significant events in the recent past was the Brexit referendum and Britains withdrawal from the EU. In this issue were exploring where it all began: 1 January 1973, when Britain joined the EEC (forerunner of the EU). On the 50th anniversary of Britain saying oui, Alwyn Turner examines the national mood as we embarked on this European adventure (page 20).
For our cover feature this month, were heading to the high seas and the golden age of piracy. Countless novels and movies revel in this thrilling period of violence and plunder, but few focus on the underlying causes of this surge in pirate activity. On page 28, Rebecca Simon fills in the gaps, revealing how trade, war and colonialism helped inspire the likes of Blackbeard and Henry Avery to take up their cutlasses.
Rob Attar
Editor
THREE THINGS I’VE LEARNED THIS MONTH
1. Battles against equality
I was interested to read, in our review of Women in White Coats (page 75), that a riot ensued when Sophia Jex-Blake (right) and other female students attempted to sit an anatomy exam in Edinburgh in 1870.
2. Hating Hitler
In this month’s Q&A section I was intrigued to discover that Adolf Hitler had a half-nephew (right) who denounced his uncle and went on to serve in the US navy (page 53).
3. Chest-nuts
Among many fascinating details in our piece on Second World War communal eating was the fact that the author GK Chesterton coined the
term “nutter” in protest against a nut-based energy bar he disapproved of (page 49).
THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS
Emran El-Badawi
“Long before Islam, Christianity spread throughout the Arabian peninsula because of a woman. Queen Mavia beat the Romans in battle, then installed a monk named Moses as bishop over Arabia.”
Emran profiles a powerful queen who took on the Romans and won on page 62
Susan Greaney
“Major new discoveries about the past are always thrilling. I’ve chosen eight archaeological finds that showcase the work of archaeologists in universities and the commercial sector.” Susan selects eight great archaeological digs that shaped our understanding of history on page 37
Geoffrey Parker
“The Spanish Armada was an almost miraculous concentration of 130 sailing ships all acting in concert. It was a very remarkable and terrifying prospect for the English to face – and yet they managed to defeat it.” Geoffrey revisits the maritime invasion that could have spelled disaster for England on page 66
Rebecca Simon
“As I began researching the history of the golden age of piracy, I realised that the best way for people to understand pirates was by witnessing their public executions. These events give us the direct picture of ”18th-century piracy.Rebecca explains why so many 18th-century sailors went rogue on page 28
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