The two sides of Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon had two sides. It's possible to see him as a megalomaniac dictator whose arrogance and self-promoting egotism led to nearly 15 years of continual war and the deaths of millions of Europeans. From his rise to power in 1799 to his first abdication in 1814 he went to war with Britain, Austria, Prussia, Russia, the Ottoman empire, Spain, Portugal... need I go on? He won and lost a huge empire, repressed the rights millions and took apart the democracy and liberty of the French Revolution.

Making the First World War personal

The First World War. Eugh. What can you remember from studying the First World War? Probably Franz Ferdinand (the band?), alliances, the Kaiser, war, machine guns, blood, mud, the Somme, nasty Douglas Haig, poppies, Treaty of Versailles, The End.

Some people find this fascinating on its own and need no convincing about how interesting the First World War can be. This is good because in most schools we study it for at least a term (normally 20 or so lessons). However, I think that the personal stories of the First World War are probably the most interesting aspect of this piece of History.

I love History now...

As a History teacher, I often get into conversations with parents about their various historical passions. From the various exploits of the SAS to the post-war Nazi hunters and the foreign policy of emperor Titus, some people meet History teachers and use them as an excuse to share their passion for obscure History. If anyone has an image of an all-knowing History teacher this is quickly smashed as I quickly try to blag (my year 11s would be proud) my way out of the situation by saying something vague about a subject which I quite obviously know nothing about.