So what is the origin of this simple, circular object that has brought joy, and a few scuffed knees, to many? Well, let?s begin with the theories before the fact. Just for fun?

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The symbolism of the Olympic Rings dates back to 1913 when the symbol of Olympias appeared on a letter written by Pierre de Coubertin…

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There are quite a number of legends surrounding the inception of this sought after beverage. The mythical Flemish king Gambrinus is sometimes credited with the invention of beer; but according to Czech legend, it was the god of hospitality, Radegast…

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This is the long form for the word “wig”, and appeared in English around 1675. Its use can be traced back to the Ancient Egyptians who wore them to protect their shaved heads from the sun.

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So, there are quite a few theories floating around as to why this particular number is so strongly associated with misfortune and dire consequences. But they are just that: theories ? largely based on unproven superstition.

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The history and origin of the Japanese language has been debated by scholars for centuries. What?s known is that it is a relative of the Altaic language family, which includes Mongolian, Turkish, and Korean…

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This castle was built near Cape Town, South Africa. And is actually one of the oldest buildings in the country…

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This landmark in British history was built in 1599 by Sir William Shakespeare’s playing company, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. Though located near the river Thames, Shakespeare?s playhouse was not in fact in central London…

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This very special bun, derived from several traditions, but historically known in Christian countries because its baked and eaten on Good Friday, is typically made from a sweet spiced bun made with currants or raisins and leavened with yeast.

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Antonio Stradivari, born in 1644 in Italy, became a part of the family business of instrument makers, but then went on to put his own creative mark of impeccable design and construction, producing what is now dubbed the Stradivarius violin.

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This a French term that refers to “The New Art? ? derived from “La Maison de l’Art Nouveau”, a gallery for interior design that opened in Paris in 1896.

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The famous Channel Tunnel, known to locals as the Chunnel, is an undersea rail tunnel that links Britain to France.

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The Stiletto shoe has a pretty long history dating back to the Egyptians; murals, actually depict an early version of these shoes, at the time worn by most of the higher classes. These were leather pieces held together with lacing that was often arranged to look like the symbol of the ?Ankh,? representing Life.

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The word Bidet was originally used by French royalty to refer to their pet ponies, and was constructed on a stand which the user would then straddle as though they were mounting a horse.

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The earliest known graphic design, would have been the cave paintings of the prehistoric periods. These markings, or designs, were made on cave walls, boulders, bone, ivory, and even antlers.

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In its day, the construction of Stonehenge was an impressive feat of engineering, requiring commitment, time and vast amounts of manual labour. The best guess seems to be that it was built by people of the late Neolithic period (around 3000 BC) and then carried forward over time.

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The Hopeful Historian is a light-hearted trip through design history. Whether we choose to admit it or not, modern day design is the sum of all that has gone before ? a paradox, to be sure; but why not look back at history to appreciate those moments in time (some more comical than others) that made [...]

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