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One or WW's sites reminded me of a possible alternative explanation for the abandonment of the settlement at Skara Brae. A couple thousand years earlier, the sudden massive subsidence of steep banks of sediment off the Norwegian coast created a tsunami that would surely have sent a high wave over Skara Brae a couple thousand years before it became inhabited. Another tsunami whose traces have not been identified could have killed all the inhabitants far more readily than a storm, and thus ended human occupancy.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Umm, I think "1066 and All That" must have been published in the 1950s rather than the 1930s, Dr. Bill. It mentions the end of WWII, when "America became top nation and history came to a full stop." or words to that effect.
Bingley
Bingley
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Hi Bill & Bingley:
Unfortunately I don't have a copy to hand, but our State Library's online catalogue lists it as:
Sellar[s], Walter Carruthers & Yeatman, Robert Julian
1066 and all that: a memorable history of England comprising all the parts you can remember, including 103 Good Things, 5 Bad Kings, and 2 Genuine Dates
Note: First published in 1930 [and still in print, but apparently updated]
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Carpal Tunnel
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So nice when it turns out everyone is correct!
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Carpal Tunnel
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Great theory, Dr Bill, but would you stop to take bearings when the sea is racing up the shallow sands at a speed of 30 - 40 mph ? (as I believe it does, round there.)
Rhub's right, of course. And there were other limiting issues as well - one is that there is a complete dearth of landmarks around those parts even during the day, and I believe this happened in the evening. Also, the royal party on shore wouldn't have had a clear view - it's dead flat. They may not even have realised what was happening until it was all over bar the shouting - and, no doubt, the summary executions. John was a typical Angevin king - short of everything, like height, temper and real intelligence. He did have a certain level of low cunning, however.
His older brother Richard was really no better. He just managed to do his worst direct damage in the Middle East rather than England. "Good King Richard", indeed! He bled England dry through taxes (which John had to collect, hence people's dislike of him) to pay for his crusading. And that ransom. And he would have been the first to string Robin Hood up on principle, if Robin Hood had really existed. Unless, of course, Robin was really attractive ...
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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Carpal Tunnel
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Probably didn't exist. After all it'sauna a paper moon.
TEd
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That Peaches was quite a gal!!
TEd
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Carpal Tunnel
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But he didn't die in the saddle. That's the way to go.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Commentary on King John by Mike Ibeji on the BBC History Website - worth a look if you have a couple of spare hours:
"To his contemporaries and to later historians, Richard was a superstar. By comparison, John was a weedy little tick."
John has had bad press; he wasn't so bad, especially in the light of his times. Still, he was all washed up in 1215. Died the next year. It may have been peaches and new cider or it may have been poison administered by a monk. On the other hand he wasn't young and he could easily just have died from a heart attack or a stroke.
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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