Welcome to Res Historica (History Matters)! This site is dedicated to all history lovers everywhere who enjoy sharing discussion of their favourite topic with others in a relaxed and friendly forum - from the Stone Age to the Space Age, from Alexander the Great to Alexander Solzhenitsyn, from the Rome of Caesar to Cesar Romero. Why not register using the link above and join in the debate? Whether to brain-pick, speak your mind or simply shoot the historical breeze we look forward to your company!

Whether they set out to change history or, perhaps in the most modest of manners, have affected its course, even unwittingly. From the famous and infamous to the hitherto anonymous, this forum welcomes discussion on the impact and contribution individuals have made to the rich tapestry of our collective history.

This forum welcomes discussion on human aggression, humanity's capacity to organise itself when facilitating or defending against assault, the various methods and means employed both to prosecute and avoid open warfare, and the effects of aggression on individuals, societies and on the world throughout history

From the great civilisations of old to our modern nation states, from complex modern societies of hundreds of millions to small self-contained societies founded on nothing more than kinship or isolated circumstances, this forum welcomes discussion on how we have developed ourselves communally in our long and varied past.

Our day-to-day behaviour has always been influenced as much by social standards, customs and notions of correctness as by logic, philosophy or decree. From the way we dress to the way we greet one another, from local customs to globally accepted social norms, from what is deemed a peccadillo to what is condemned as perversion, this forum welcomes discussion on the many ways we have behaved throughout history and the rules by which we did and do.

If war is a continuation of politics by other means then surely sport has proven itself to be the continuation of both. From the dusty plains of classical Greece to ancient Mayan temple complexes, from the playing fields of Eton and village greens as far afield as Boston and Bangalore to side streets and alleys from London to Lagos, the compunction to kick, punch, throw, run, jump and shoot for amusement has closely paralleled human warfare in terms of the passion and tribalism it invokes, and of course the determination to compete and win which it engenders. Whether innocent game-playing or deadly gamesmanship, this is the forum to discuss our long and often, it must be said, not-so-sporting participation in these activities.

The human race's common struggle for survival has led to a tradition of healthcare which can be traced back to the very roots of the race's own existence. This forum welcomes topics related to how that care has been administered, how its need has been identified and how its importance has been recognised throughout our species' long tenure on this earth.

From specific inventions which changed the very function of society to humanity's often troubled relationship with its own technological ability, this forum welcomes discussion on any aspect to how people throughout history have contributed to our modern technological world

Classical, industrial, domestic, advanced or primitive. This forum welcomes discussion on how humanity has advanced from simply sheltering itself against the elements to being so adept at the reconstruction of its physical landscape that it has changed the face of the earth itself.

Human history has been played out within a physical landscape shaped as much by the topography of our own imaginations as by its geographical counterpart. We have imbued that landscape with identities (and indeed histories) which often parallel our own. Whether it be a city or an entire continent, our country or the house we live in, this forum welcomes discussion about all these manifestations of place and the rich and varied history they have acquired in their own right.

The dynamics of linguistic development mirror those of society's own development. This forum welcomes discussion on that process, from the archaeology of uncovering lost languages to the analysis of how language itself has impacted on our perception of the world throughout history

The human aspiration to inform and entertain with the written word has produced a record of humanity's desires from the sublime to the profane, its fears and follies, its hopes and its despairs. This forum welcomes all discussion of the topic, whether explicitly historical or not. And of course if you want to recommend or discuss a good read, then here's the spot.

Humanity's ability to create and appreciate visual, tactile and aural expression, often for no greater purpose than simply to celebrate and enjoy the fact that it can, has enriched our world and our sense of belonging to it for as long as we have existed. This forum welcomes discussion on all things artistic throughout our long history

Be it totalitarian or egalitarian in its design and ambition, this forum welcomes discussion on how humanity's attempts to organise itself politically has shaped the world we live in today

Our attempts to explain and describe our existence have been largely defined and developed through the concept of philosophical application. This forum welcomes discussion on how this application has itself developed throughout history and its role in the shaping of society

From the most primitive superstition to intricate and complex religious theology and doctrine, this forum welcomes discussion on how humanity's attempt to make sense of its universe has contributed to the commonly held faith-based beliefs which continue to shape our society today

Or historiography, to give it its posh title. Despite the increasingly forensic nature of historical research and the many similarities between the discipline and others of a scientific nature, history as a topic has itself undergone centuries of change in interpretation, method and relevance. This evolution merits study in its own right, and some would say that the term history itself is meaningless without at least a basic grasp of historiography with which to assess it. This topic welcomes discussion on this evolution, where it's been, where it's at, and where we think it might be headed

History, as a record of our past, is by no means a closed book. Seemingly intractable enigmas litter its pages, with "dirty deeds" prominent amongst them. From the "two princes in the tower" to a "grassy knoll" in downtown Dallas, this forum welcomes discussion on all such events - the what-, why-, how- and whodunits that have defied resolution throughout time.

From the construction of the pyramids in Egypt to the abandoned Mary Celeste, from the identity of the Sea Peoples to the Tunguskan event, our assumptions about what happened in our past are punctuated (and often punctured) by glaring gaps in our knowledge. This forum welcomes discussion on all such anomalies.

Sit back, relax and imbibe (if only the banter). Guests passing through and who want to say "hello" are welcome to partake of a refreshment or three here in the Tumbleweed Suite.

Our private refreshments area (meals not included). Anyone can have a peek but only members can contribute to the nefarious activities we get up to here!

My father's life (by Tim of Acleah)

The prologue and first chapters to a planned novel. Feedback welcome ...