Why do the British drink beer?

Why do the British drink beer?

Beer has been the traditional drink of the English and Welsh since before those nations came into existence. The reason for its popularity lies in its flavour, alcoholic strength and the ease with which it can be brewed.

Quite when the British first brewed beer is unclear. Greek merchants writing in about 300bc spoke of a Celtic drink called curmi, which is similar to the modern Irish word for beer - cuirm. But beer was almost certainly being made in Britain long before that time. And beer has remained the staple alcoholic drink of the British ever since.

The reason for its huge popularity is simply that the ingredients for beer can be produced in Britain with ease. Water has rarely been a problem in islands where the rain falls so often and so steadily. Streams and rivers run everywhere, and wells can be sunk down to the water table with few problems. Some water is better for brewing that others, it is true. That of Burton upon Trent is particularly famous and has made that town a centre for the brewing industry. The soft, mineral-free water is ideal for producing a rich malt without impairing the flavour. The fame of the town’s beer began spreading in the middle ages, but was given a huge boost in 1777 when William Bass opened his famous brewery. The brewery still produces beer and is today equipped with a museum of brewing to attract the tourists.

The second principle ingredient of beer is grain, usually barley but sometimes wheat. Again, grain grows readily in Britain where the rich soils and gentle climate encourage a fairly soft grain, low in gluten, which is favoured by brewers. The grain is sprayed with water and allowed to germinate so that the starch which makes flour is converted into sugar which can be fermented.

The final ingredient of modern beer, hops, flourish in Kent and other warm areas, though the vast majority of hops used in British beers are now imported from abroad. In any case, hops are only the most recent of many flavourings added to beer over the years.

Reptile skin was the key to success

Reptile skin was the key to success
Reptile skin was waterproof. This meant that reptiles such as Varanosaruus (vah-rann-oh-saw-russ) could live in dry areas where amphibians would never survive

from "100 Things you need to know about Prehistoric Life" by Rupert Matthews.
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Some towns banned the gladiators

Some towns banned the gladiators
Not everyone enjoyed gladiatorial combats. Many Romans refused to go to the games. Some cities, particularly in Greece and the eastern provinces did not have an amphitheatre and refused to put on gladiatorial combats. Some people thought the fights were cruel, others that they were a waste of good slaves. 

from "100 Things You Need to Know About Gladiators" by Rupert Matthews
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Hoplites and Phalanxes

Hoplites and Phalanxes

In Ancient Greece, heavily armoured soldiers called hoplites formed up in formations called phalanxes. When going into battle hoplites stood shoulder to shoulder so that their shields overlapped. Then they held their spears so that they pointed forwards over the shields. A phalanx was made up of 6 or more ranks of hoplites one behind the other.

from "100 Things you Need to Know about Arms & Armour" by Rupert Matthews
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Monitor Warships

Monitor Warships

Meanwhile the idea of mounting guns in armored and revolving turrets had been developing. Ships with such features were often termed "monitors", after the USS Monitor of 1862. Ships with flat decks, low freeboards and revolving turrets proved to be effective as coastal harbor guards, but could not survive the heavy seas of the open ocean. A key drawback to this design was that the muzzle-loading guns then in use had to be withdrawn into the turret for reloading. This necessitated very large turrets that were not only cumbersome (several monitors capsized in only moderate seas) but also offered tempting targets to an enemy ship. Attempts to blend turrets with ocean-going hulls produced such freaks as the HMS Agamemnon, which had a turret, placed midway along each side either side of the funnel and superstructure. 

from "The Historical Atlas of the World at War" by Rupert Matthews

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Napoleon in Italy 1798/99

Napoleon in Italy 1798/99

In 1798 Napoleon Bonaparte left France to invade Egypt, a campaign that would prove to be abortive. Those countries that had lost territory to France in earlier wars decided to take advantage of the absence of the republic’s best general by forming a Second Coalition and declaring war on France.

Napoleon hurried back to France to organize a military coup that effectively made him dictator. Having failed to make peace, he spent the following year reforming the French army. He sent General Moreau to the Rhine, beyond which an Austrian army was massing. In spring 1800, Napoleon marched over the Alps into northern Italy where the French General Massena was heavily outnumbered by an Austrian army under Baron Melas. Napoleon captured Milan, thus threatening the Austrian supply lines. Late on the afternoon of 13 June Melas with 31,000 men and 100 cannon came across Napoleon’s army of 28,000 men and 15 cannon near Marengo.

The battle began at dawn next day.


from "The Historical Atlas of the World at War" by Rupert Matthews.
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http://www.amazon.co.uk/Historical-Atlas-World-War/dp/0785827455/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1405428100&sr=1-1&keywords=rupert+matthews+atlas+war 

Matthew Webb in Dover

Matthew Webb in Dover

3) From the Dover Marina, walk  along the seafront.

As you walk you will pass a statue of Matthew Webb, who on 24 August 1875 became the first man to swim the English Channel. He took a total of 21 hours and 45 minutes to get to France, after being stung by a jellyfish and caught in cross currents at Cap Gris Nez. There is also a statue of Charles Rolls (of Rolls-Royce fame) who in 1910 was the first man to fly across the Channel and back again without stopping.