Blind History

The Chinese claim him, but all the world still refers to him - all the time. Confucius, the great philosopher and teacher continues to inspire and inform so many conversations and ideas in modern society. The Golden Rule, a criticism of crass materialism and so many wise sayings were the work of one man, thousands of years ago in ancient Han China. Find out more in this episode of Blind History - brought to you by Taylor Blinds & Shutters.

The Golden Age was named for Elizabeth I, the great virgin queen of England. During her reign, Shakespeare and Marlowe wrote masterpieces, Sir Francis Drake sailed across the world, the Spanish Armada was defeated, and England reached its apogee. At the centre of it all was Elizabeth, resplendent in jewels, makeup, finery and glory. Blind History brought to you by Taylor Blinds & Shutters.

His name is synonymous with gangsters, the mob, drugs, organised crime and flashy suits. John Gotti was the godfather and his life unfolded like a tragic movie script. His story starts with petty theft and ends with death in prison, but that’s just scratching the surface. Blind History brought to you by Taylor Blinds & Shutters.

She was variously called the 'Maid of Orleans', Saint Joan, and the heroine of France. Ultimately she was burnt at the stake and condemned by her enemies as a heretic and lunatic. Joan died before her 20th birthday, but in that short life she succeeded in bringing France together, beating back the English, and securing her young king on his throne. Blind History brought to you by Taylor Blinds & Shutters.

She is revered the world over as a saint, but is there more to her story? Mother Teresa devoted her life to the poorest of the poor in a country that wasn’t even the one of her birth. Intensely pious and dogmatic, she has been criticised in the years since for creating a cult of death and taking money from some unscrupulous characters. Find out more in this episode of Blind History - brought to you by Taylor Blinds & Shutters.

Most people think of Caesar when they think of Rome - whether that’s because of Asterix, the famous bust with the laurel wreath, or the story of Brutus’ ultimate betrayal. He has become more myth than man, and his actual story is as fascinating as the stories told in fiction. Anthony Mederer thinks he’s a reincarnation of Julius Caesar, and judging by how much he knows about him, it might be true. This is the Blind History of Julius Caesar... brought to you by Taylor Blinds & Shutters.

Stretch your understanding of time back 2000 years - to the time of Jesus and Augustus. Now go back another 1300 years. If you can even imagine such a vast expanse of history, then you might be able to see more than ruins, stones and statues in the reign of the great Pharaoh Ramesses II of Ancient Egypt. At that time, he was more ego than Trump, stronger than Arnold, more god than man - and yet, you can visit him, the actual shrunken, wizened, leathery body of this extremely old person, at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. This is the Blind History of Ramesses II… brought to you by Taylor Blinds & Shutters.