History Matters

Thoughts, opinions and commentary on all things historical.

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Solving the Victorian Housing Crisis

The acute housing crisis of mid-Victorian Britain generated stormy opinions about the nature of state intervention and the need for ‘wholesome despotism’.

The Roman Catholic War on Wigs

The Catholic Church’s ban on wigs in the 18th century was as revealing of attitudes towards disability as vanity and sanctity.

An Ottoman Winter in Toulon

The unholy alliance between France and the Ottoman Empire in 1530 caused great concern but had little military success.