Empress Wu Zetian was China’s first and only female ruler She was de facto ruler of the Tang dynasty from 665-705, ruling first through others as empress consort for her husband Emperor Gaozong and then their sons Emperors Zhongzong and Ruizong ,and then (from 690) as empress dowager in her own right. Under her 40 year reign China grew larger, becoming one of the great powers of the world, its culture and economy were revitalized and corruption in the court was reduced. She was removed from power in a coup and died a few months later. As a 14 year old the bright and beautiful Wu Zetian was noticed by Emperor Taizong and became his concubine…She soon had considerable political power After his death she married his ninth son and successor, Emperor Gaozong. After their wedding In 655 she became the empress consort- the highest ranking of the wives. She was a strong,charismatic , vengeful, ambitious and well-educated women who enjoyed the absolute affection of her husband. In 660 Gaozong suffered a stroke and in 665 she became administrator of the court a position equal to the emperors. (He died in 683) She was at the helm of the country for long years, her power is no different from that of the emperor. Sources Wikipedia Herstory by Katherine Halligan

Hugh was the Bishop of Worcester(1535-9) during the Reformation. He became the C of E chaplain to King Edward V1. In his middle 60s he faced a trial on 14th April 1554… He argued, in writing since he was hardly able to sustain a debate at his age, that the doctrines of the real presence of Christ in the mass, transubstantiation and the propitiatory merit of the mass were unbiblical. In 1555 under the Catholic Queen Mary 1 he was tried for his beliefs and teachings. He was burned with Nicholas Ridley at the stake. He became one of the three Oxford Martyrs -Thomas Cramner was the third. It may come in my days,as old as i am, or in my children’s days, the saints shall be taken up to meet Christ in the air, and so shall come down with him again. Hugh Latimer Source Wikipedia

Stephen was considered one of the greatest of the medieval Archbishops of Canterbury. Stephen was an English Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and Archbishop of Canterbury between 1207 and 1228. He was consecrated by the Pope at Viterbo on 17th June 1207. He supported the barons in the struggle with King John. At a council of churchmen at Westminster on 25th August 1213 certain barons were invited to read the charter of Henry 1 and called for its renewal. Stephen’s energetic leadership and the barons’ military strength forced John to grant his seal to Magna Carta -15 June 1215 on Runnymead in Windsor… Stephen is believed to be the one who divided the Bible into the standard modern arrangement of chapters.

Eight men who have done extraordinary feats. One walked extraordinary distances. One skied down K2. Several have climbed Everest and climbed other mountains over 8,000 without needing extra oxygen. Some of their firsts were done solo without using dogs or motorised transport. Together Mike Hearn and Borge Ousland walked for 2 months in total darkness, on paper thin ice, to the North Pole! Andrew Skurka - American backpacker -long distance hiker -7,778 miles Andrzej Leszek Bargiel - Polish dare devil skier who skied down K2 Borge Ousland -Norwegian explorer of North and South Poles Ed Stafford -UK first non-indigenous person to walk the entire Amazon River. Eric Larsen - American - North and South Pole plus Everest Leo Houlding- UK - rock climber - first to free climb El Capitan Mike Horn- South African - Poles explorer and climbed 8000+ without oxygen Nirmal Purja -Nepalese Mountaineer - climbed Everest, Lhotse & Makalu in 48hrs

T have started with the Vikings. By 870 AD there was a Norsemen/Viking settlement in Iceland. A 100 years later ErIk the Red, ventured across to Greenland. His son Leif Erikson, Leiv Eiriksson or Leif Ericson, also known as Leif the Lucky (c.970- c.1020) was born in Iceland, is thought to have been the first to set foot on continental North America around 1000 AD - he reached as far as Newfoundland, Canada. William of Rubruck, Willem van Ruysbroeck, Guillaume de Rubrouck or Willielmus de Rubruquis (c.1215-1295) was a Flemish Franciscan Missionary and explorer. He is best known for his travels to various parts of the Middle East and Central Asia in the 13th century,including the Mongol Empire. Marco Poplo (1254-1324) -nicknamed Milione a Venetian merchant,explorer and writer who travelled through Asia along the Silk Road between 1271 and 1295. In his book The Travels of Marco Polo (c. 1300) he gives us a comprehensive look at the mysterious culture and inner workings of the Eastern world of China, Persia, India, Japan and other Asian cities. (Map shows extent of his travels) Ibn Bayyuta (an abbeviation of his full name -See ‘His Name’) (1304-1368/9) was a Muslim Moroccan scholar and explorer who travelled extensively( 117,000 km) in the lands of Afro-Eurasia, largely in the lands of Dar al-islam.( see map). Travelling more than any other explorer in pre-modern history. Towards the end of his life he dictated an account of his journeys - The Rihla. Zheng He (1371-1433or5) originally born as Ma He -known as 'Sanbao during his service in the household of the Prince of Yan - was Chinese mariner, explore, diplomat, fleet admiral and court eunuch during China’s early Ming dynasty. He commanded expeditionary treasure voyages to South East Asia, the Indian subcontinent, Western Asia and east Africa form 1405 to 1433.

A brief look at the history of the Union Jack in colour with flags to colour… The Union Flag better known as the Union Jack is the flag of the United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is one of the most famous flags in the world. Today it still retains an official or semi-official status in some of the Commonwealth Countries. It is found on the canton (upper left quarter) of many of their national flags. It is part of many ensigns (flags flown by a ship or submarine). The whole flag, or as a canton, appears on British empire and overseas territories, crown dependencies, diplomatic, government, governors and a few miscellaneous flags. Illustrated by David Woodroffe Information from Tony Batchelor

Rowland Hill was an English teacher, inventor and social reformer. He campaigned for a comprehensive reform of the postal system… he is usually credited with originating the basic concepts of the modern postal service, including the invention of the postage stamp. He started to take an interest in postal reforms in 1835 Hill’s pamphlet Post Office Reform;Its importance and Practicability was submitted to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Thomas Spring Rice on 4th January 1817. It was then circulated privately. The postal service was mismanaged, wasteful, expensive and slow. It had become inadequate for the needs of an expanding commercial and industrial nation. It stated costs could be reduced if postage were prepaid by the sender. Proposing an adhesive stamp to indicate pre-payment of postage. 1840 was the first year of the Penny Post. In May 1840 the world’s first adhesive postage stamps were distributed. Rowland continued at the Post Office until the Conservative Party won the 1841 General Election . In July 1842, amid rancorous controversy, he was dismissed.

Ferdinand Magellan is recognised as being the first person to lead a sea voyage around the world. He started with 5 ships but only ‘Victoria’ returned to Spain. Ferdinand died during the attack on the Mactan island so he personally never completed the voyage - see notes.

Hugh Latimer and Hicholas Ridley were burnt at the stake in Oxford on 16th October 1555 during the reign of Queen Mary ( 1553-8). In 1534 the Act of Supremacy was passed in England. It made Henry V111 head of the English Church instead of the Roman Catholic Pope in Rome. It was the beginning of the English Reformation. There was a rapid advance towards Protestantism after the accession of King Edward V1 Henry V111 was followed by Edward V1 1547-53,and Lady Jane Grey 1553 both protestants. Mary (1553-1558) was Roman Catholic and wanted the church in England to return to Roman Catholicism. Those in high places who opposed her were arrested for treason and some were martyred for heresy - refusing to subscribe to certain articles of faith such as the existence of purgatory an the need to venerate saints. Hugh Latimer had become the bishop of Worcester in 1535. Forced to resign his see in 1539. He popularized the idea of the reformation Nicholas Ridley was appointed bishop of Rochester. In 1550 he became bishop of London. he denied the doctrine of transubstantiation - that Christ’s natural body is present in the bread of the Eucharist after consecration.blood. The trial happened at the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin. They were imprisoned at the former Bocardo Prison. They were burnt at the stake just outside the city walls to the north, where Broad Street is now located. Latimer , at the stake is said to have immortalized himself by exhorting his fellow victim Ridley with these words - we shall this day light a candle, by God’s grace, in England as I trust shall never be put out If you visit Oxford a cross on Oxford’s Broad Street marks the site of the execution. Thomas Cramner - see more information available under his name. Act of Supremacy - see more information under Henry V111 and Act of Supremacy Sources used Britannica Online Encyclopedia History Today Wikipedeia

Saint Gregory is best remembered for looking at some English slaves at the Forum in Rome, in the sixth century, and referring to them as angles. He became a prefect of Rome when he was only 30. He decided to become a monk and had his family home changed into a monastery. Later he became Abbot of St.Andrew’s monastery - his former home. When he saw the slaves he decided that he wanted to go on a mission to England to convert them to Christianity. The Pope Pelaguis II refused his request. Twenty years later, when Gregory became Pope, he sent St, Augustine to fulfill his dream. I have included a brief history, some information from Wikipdedia, pictures and a brief crossword and word search with answers

Over the years I have encouraged children to write about fires with a different emphasis at times. The first two sheets were created following a strike by the fireman and the army were using their green goddess fire engines - current event. The short story was written by me. Six of the sheets have a strong history connection - the Fire of London and the Gun Powder plot during the reign of the Stuarts. The two sheets on fire in the countryside deal with the every day problem of fires which can occur on very hot days in the summer. Three poem aids are included. The first two deal with fires the third deals with fireworks. Over the years I had a number of interesting poems to read.

I have put together a mixture of material about the Tudors. There is a maths sheet about the Tudors. A gap sheet on Henry VII and Henry VIII and his wives Information and picture on the Mary Rose. Some of Elizabeth I’s sailors were regarded by the French as pirates so there is a phrase/ vocabulary sheet plus a Poetry Aid. There is information and a map explaining the Spanish Armada of 1588 . There are several sheets about haunted houses with two example sheets plus a Poetry aid on Fear. All illustrations/map are drawn by David Woodroffe.

Whilst browsing in TKMax I came across three excellent books about the Medieval England. Chronicles of the Middle Ages ISBN 978 1 908177 89 6 price £11.99. pub 2015 The book has been created by Book House. book -house.co.uk There are 96+pages to this colourful, interesting informative book . Certain pages open up to give you a 4 page display. I have included the index and a picture of a knight. How to be a knight by Sir Geoffrey de Lance ISBN 9781840119282 price 12.99 pub 2006 The book has been created by Templaf templatco.co.uk It is a 3D book with 12 beautifully illustrated double pages packed with information. Knights by Simon Adams ISBN 9781844420117 price £14.99 pub The book has been created by Carlton books It is a strong 3D book with 14 double pages beautifully illustrated packed with information. A number of years ago, whilst teaching in a Middle school, I created some work sheets -list shown - see Medieval England.

The first Stuart sheet is a Maths sheet. I then look at November the 5th the Gunpowder Plot, and there is a list of Fireworks and a Poetry Aid. There is a sheet about the Pilgrim Fathers 1620 . I have given four pages to the 1642-9 English Civil War. The first sheet is Events and Dates, the second is the trial and execution of Charles I, the map on the third page shows the positions of the king/parliament. The fourth sheet is a very clear picture of a Roundhead and Cavalier There are information sheets about the Plague and the Fire of London. There are poetry aids on both of these plus a Poetry Aid for the Stuart monarchs. Illustrations are by DavidWoodroffe.

Saint Edmund, King of East Anglia, also known as Edmund the Martyr was England’s original Patron Saint. Aged just 15 in 856 Edmund became king of East Anglia. He rules his kingdom well and spent times restoring churches and monasteries destroyed in previous wars. In 870 the Danes invaded his kingdom, marching on Mercia. Edmund fought them at Hoxne, about 20 miles from Thetford, and was defeated. After the battle the Danish leader, Hingwar, demanded the king to hand over his treasure and accept the position of vassal. The king accepted the terms on the condition Hingwar would become a Christian. What happened next is uncertain. The Danes/Vikings destroyed any contemporary evidence of his reign. Writers later then produced fictional accounts of his life. Fact or Fiction? Edmund may have been killed in battle. It is uncertain where he actually died. OR, according to pictures depicting his death, this angered Hingwar so much that he had him tied up to a tree, shot at with arrows and was then beheaded. King Edmund became Edmund the Martyr. Taking the story even further Edmund’s head was thrown into the forest. The searchers hearing the sound of ethereal wolves calling out in Latin ’ Hic Hic Hic’ - in English ’ Here ,here ,here ’ found his head. Hingwar is referred elsewhere as Ivar the Boneless. Fact - Edmund’s bones in 902/3 remains were moved to Beodricsworth - modern Bury St. Edmunds where King Athelstan founded a religious community to care for his shrine aaaaand it beacame a place of national pilgrimage. ( read ‘Beodericworth’ paragraph) Where are the remains now ? ( read Where is St. Edmund?) King Edmund was a Christian king. He sacrificed his life because he refused to renounce Jesus Christ as his saviour.

Martin Luther King was a gifted African- American Preacher and civil rights leader. His sermonic appeals for justice and personal activism helped change the course of American life. His most famous appeal was* I have a dream* speech - a dream for freedom and equality for black people. ( Read I had a dream speech). I have included a brief bibliography of his life written by History . It highlights all the important events of his public life - from his birth to his assassination ( page 1, of 4, lists the highlights). As a preacher his sermons became more Christ centred with a growing emphasis on the cross. He was one of the most compelling speakers of the twentieth century. Michael Duduit in his list of top 10 twentieth preachers in the world ranked Martin 4th. ( Read 4. Martin Luther King, Jr) Martin considered himself a preacher of the gospel rather than a civil rights leader. Fundamentally he was clergyman, a Baptist preacher. He was tragically assassinated in 1968. May his dream one day be fulfilled. I have also included 2 large print pages I used when teaching. Sources History The 10 greatest preachers of the 20th century

Thomas Cranmer was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1533- 1556. He was the archbishop responsible for successfully getting HenryV111 's divorce from his first wife , Catherine of Aragon. (He also married his next 5 wives.)Henry then declared himself Supreme head of the English church- Thomas became the first Protestant Archbishop of England. (For this piece of work iI have used two main sources Great Leaders of the Christian Church (GL of CC) Britannica Online Encyclopedia (B.O.E) Thomas was born on 2nd July 1489 in Nottinghamshire. He went to Jesus college, Cambridge and received a fellowship in 1523. Early on he rejected the claims that the Pope had supremacy over the ruler of each country. (read Cranmer the Erastian - GL of CC). In August 1529 a plague known as the sweating sickness swept the country and Thomas went to stay at his father’s house in Waltham, Essex. HenryV111 was visiting the area and two of the king’s councillors met Thomas - they discussed the future divorce. The king called Thomas for an interview. Thomas agreed to create a treatise. (Read* Entry into Royal Service* - B.O.E.) When William Warham, the aged archbishop of Canterbury died in August 1532, a replacement was needed. Stephen Gardiner, the obvious candidate was out of favour. Thomas, now chief adviser on ecclesiastical matters, was chosen. In March 1533 he was consecrated and instituted at Canterbury. In May he declared the marriage to Catherine of Argon void and pronounced the marriage to Anne Boleyn valid. He did as he was told with regards to the other marriages that followed. With regard to church matters he created the Book of Common Prayer in the language of the people - English replaced Latin. He provided the church with one book containing all services for daily, Sunday and occasional use, as well as a Book of Psalms. In the year Henry V111 died, 1517, and Edward V1 became king,Thomas published a Book Of Homilies which was designed to meet the notorious grievance that the unreformed clergy did not preach enough. He was also influential in fixing the doctrinal anchors of the reformed Church of England. The 42 articles of !553 became the 39 articles in 1571. These articles anchor the church in the scriptures , the creeds and Reformed catholicity. On the death of Edward V! and the short 9 day ‘reign’ of Lady Jane Grey - who Thomas had supported Mary1 became queen. Mary was Roman Catholic and wanted Thomas to recant his beliefs on oath. Refusal meant he would be martyred. He briefly agreed but was still burnt at the stake- March 21st 1556 - he made sure his right hand which had signed the paper was first in the fire. Thomas was the leader of the English Reformation and was responsible for establishing the basic structures of the Church of England. He died as a martyr for the English form of R The Britannica Online Encyclopedia article on Thomas Cramner is excellent. .

Henry V111 wish to divorce Catherine of Aragon. He decided to remove the Church of England from the authority of Rome. The 1534 Act of supremacy recognized Henry as 'the only Supreme Head on earth of the Church of England.

Thomas Becket is one of the most famous men in English History. Henry11 asked, ‘Who will rid me of this traitor?’ Four of his knights took at his word and went to Canterbury Cathedral and in front of the high altar murdered Thomas. Henry 11 and Thomas had been friends. Henry 11 had appointed him to be his royal chancellor. He performed his duties very capably and became the king’s trusted servant and friend. On the death of of Archbishop Theobald of Canterbury Henry11 appointed Thomas his successor. He believed Thomas would serve the state as well as the church. On appointment Thomas changed his allegiance and his life style. He abandoned his worldly materialistic ways and became a saintly soul living a disciplined , pious and austere life. He steadfastly resisted all efforts to impose the royal will on the church. Discord developed over how the church and state dealt with clerics convicted of crimes. Following a quarrel Thomas, the Archbishop of Canterbury, was forced into exile in France (1164-1170). On his return to England in 1170 he met with his death. Henry11 when he heard the news was distraught - what he had said in anger he now regretted. Henry was forced to do penance because there was such an outpouring of rage from the public Thomas was sainted in 1173 and became the most popular saint in English History. His Legacy is enormous. In the ‘Canterbury Tales’ by Chaucer a group of pilgrims are on their way to worship at his shrine. (Read Legacy) Sources used Great Leaders of the Christian Church - Woodbridge contribution from Robert G. Clouse wipedia BBC History

Edward the Confessor was a king who later became recognized as a saint He lived in the eleventh century . He died shortly before the Battle of Hasting between King Harold, his successor and William 1, William the conqueror. There are differences of opinion as to whether he was a weak or a strong king. Confessor reflects his reputation as a saint who did not suffer martyrdom. Wikipedia uses the work ’ nickname ’ to reflect the traditional image of him as unworldly and pious. He did reign for 24 years It is said because he was unable to fulfill a vow to go to Rome that he built a monastery. The monastery we call Westminster Abbey. He re-established the Abbey of Westminster on a site of a church built 400 years earlier. It was the first Norman Romanesque church in England. Building began in 1042 and consecrated on 28th December 1065. Edward unfortunately was too ill to attend the ceremony and died the following week - 5th January 1066. Edward was buried at Westminster Abbey. His body was exhumed a number of times and was finally given a centerpiece, in a magnificent tomb, in the new thirteenth century ( present day )Abbey. Edward can be seen on the famous Bayeux Tapestry. Edward the Confessor was for many years the patron saint of England until Saint George, during the time of the Crusades, replaced him. HIs feast day is 13th October. Westminster Abbey was finally completed in 1090 some 25 years after his death. In 1245, during the reign of Henry111, it was demolished and replaced by today’s present building.