History and Architecture

The programme consists of a number of self-contained lectures, which introduce people to building works that have contributed significantly to History.  This would be of interest for those who have seen or would like to see these buildings and seek to understand the background to their construction; or to just have a greater appreciation of some of the world’s most famous landmarks. The talks provide additional interest for cruises that are due to visit the locations by providing information on the places that can be visited. Each lecture covers the historical background to the site or project and the people that built it; the geographical location and facts about its construction:  It also covers the effect that it has had on its people and its relevance to history generally.

I have started to upload videos of my visit to a number of the places listed, indicated by *; to access these, click on “See Videos Shows”.

At the end of this page is a programme dealing specifically with the types of Architecture.

Europe & the Baltic	Africa & the Middle East	Americas	Australasia
England	Egypt	USA	China
Italy	Morocco	Central America	India
France	Tunisia	Mexico	Thailand
Spain	Jordan	Peru	Cambodia
Greece	Israel		Austrailia
Turkey	Dubai		Japan
Czech Republic			Malaysia
Russia			Tibet

EUROPE AND THE BALTIC

ENGLAND
		Buckingham Palace - London   Came into Royal ownership when it was acquired by George III in 1762 and has been the home and office of the British Monarch since 1837. In this talk Ron looks at the history, architecture and the design of the palace and takes you inside to look around the State Rooms.
		Windsor Castle - Windsor   Dating back over 1000 years, it is the largest inhabited castle in the world. In this talk Ron looks at the requirements of a castle and some of the events that occurred here to shape the course of British history.
		Tower of London   In its 1000 years history it has been a citadel, palace, prison and treasury. Ron guides you round the site, traces its development and looks at some of the historical events that have happened there.
		Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament) - London   Dating back to the middle of the 11th century it served as the residence of the British Monarch until the 16th century. Destroyed by fire in 1834 it was rebuilt with over 1000 rooms. It has been the seat of the two houses of the British Parliament since 1512.  In this talk Ron looks at its history and architecture and the traditions that have been built up over the years.
		St Pauls Cathedral  - London   Built by Sir Christopher Wren to replace the cathedral destroyed by the Great Fire of London in 1666. It was inspired by the Duomo of Florence and St Peters Basilica in Rome. Today it is one of London’s most popular tourist attractions and in this talk Ron looks at the history of this and previous cathedrals on the site and the current ones design and construction.
		Blenheim Palace - Oxfordshire   Presented to John Churchill, the First Duke of Marlborough in the early 1700’s as a gift from the Nation for his military triumph against the French and Bavarians at the battle of Blenheim; it is one of England’s largest houses and the birth place of Winston Churchill. In this talk Ron looks at the Palace and the lives of some of the people who lived there and their influence on history.
		Lincoln Cathedral   Built on the orders of William the Conqueror in 1072, it has been destroyed by fire and earthquake to be rebuilt to become one of the finest Gothic buildings in Europe.  In 1300 it became the tallest building in the world until the collapse of its central spire in 1549. In this talk Ron guides you round the building and it’s architecture and looks at its history and the conservation work that is needed to maintain it.
		Hadrian’s Wall - North of England   Build by the Emperor Hadrian in 122AD, it marked the edge of the Roman Empire. Build from stone and turf, the stone sections measured over 9ft wide and up to 20 ft high and it stretched for 74 miles with forts along its length. In this talk Ron looks at the background to its construction and what life would have been like for those who built and manned it.
		Channel Tunnel - England/France   Opened for use in 1994 it joins England and France with a high speed rail link. Stretching 50km it has 23 km 45m below sea level. In this talk Ron will explain the way it was constructed and the problems that were overcome in order to create one of the greatest feats of engineering.

ITALY
		Colosseum - Rome   Built by the Roman Emperor Vespasian in 70 AD on the site of Nero’s Golden Palace it became known as Rome's arena of death, where for four and a half centuries animals and people were sacrificed in the name of entertainment. In this talk Ron will look at the building and the events that led up to its’ construction.
		Forum - Rome    The Roman Forum is located between the Palatine and Capitoline hill and was the centre of political and social activity. It included temples, the senate house and law courts.  In this talk Ron looks at the buildings, their use and the history connected to them.
		Pompeii    Rediscovered in 1748 from under many meters of ash and pumice, Pompeii provides an insight into the lives of the ancient Romans preserved by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79AD. Ron will take you on a guided tour to look at some of the buildings and learn about the lives of its’ citizens, how they lived and how they died.
		Leaning Tower of Pisa   The campanile (Bell Tower) of the cathedral of Pisa. Intended to stand vertically, the tower began leaning soon after construction began in 1173.  In this talk Ron will look at the tower and discuss why it leans and the work that has been needed to prevent it from toppling.
		Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo) – Florence   The cathedral church notable for its dome and one of the lasting symbols of the Italian Renaissance. Ron looks at the events that caused it to be built; the rivalry of its builders and at its construction. He takes you up into the dome to see the marvels of its design and how it defied gravity.
		St Peters Basilica - Rome   Located within the Vatican City it the greatest of all the churches of Christendom and the burial site of St Peter. In this talk Ron looks at the Basilica and why it is such a major draw to tourists.
		Doge’s Palace - Venice   The building, which marked the foundation of Venice as a city, was largely constructed between 1309 to 1424, to replace earlier fortified buildings on the site. As well as being the ducal residence, the palace housed the government of the Republic of Venice.  Badly damaged by fire in 1574 it was rebuilt in the original gothic style though incorporates the  classical Bridge of Sighs which links the palace to the prison. In this talk Ron takes a look at the Palace, its history, design and some of its treasures.
		Pantheon - Rome    Built as a Temple by the Emperor Hadrian and dedicated to all the Roman gods, it is the best preserved of all Roman buildings and is now used as a Christian church. It is the oldest standing domed structure in Rome and has a height to the oculus of 142 ft, the same as the diameter of the interior circle, and was for many years the largest domed building. Ron will explain its history and how it was constructed without the use of modern building methods.

FRANCE
		Eiffel Tower - Paris   Since its completion in 1889 it has become the most visited paid monument in the world. Standing 1,063 ft high it is one of the most recognizable structures in the world and has become the icon of a city and nation. In this talk Ron looks at how it was constructed and key events in its history.
		Palace of Versailles - Paris From 1682, when King Louis XIV moved from Paris, until the return to the capital in 1789, the Court of Versailles was the centre of power in France as well as the home of the French Royal Family. In this talk Ron looks at the palace and the events in history for which it is famous.

SPAIN
		Sagrada Familia - Barcelona    The surrealist architecture of Gaudi’s unfinished church. Started in 1882, work is expected to continue until 2026. In this talk Ron will look at the design and the designer and track the progress of the work that is being done today.
		Alhambra Palace - Granada The Alhambra Palace and fortress complex dates back to the 9th century though started to take its’ present form under Yusuf I and Mohammed V during the 14th century when the Moors ruled North Africa and Spain. Despite being partly destroyed in the 18th century it is one of Spain's finest examples of Islamic architecture. In this talk Ron looks at its' history and architecture.

GREECE
		Acropolis - Athens   The Acropolis marked the highlight of Greek achievement and is seen as the symbol of a civilization which gave us democracy. Its magnificent buildings and architecture has had an influence throughout the ages and is still imitated today. In this talk Ron will look at the history behind the building, its construction and its use.
		Olympia    Renowned as the site of the ancient Olympic Games celebrated every four years by the Greeks starting in 776 BC and ran up to the end of the 4th century AD, an event which resulted in the cessation of all hostilities for the duration of the games. Olympia was purely a venue for the games with the buildings associated with their functioning and the worship of the gods. In this talk Ron will look at the site and the games themselves and the findings that the excavations carried out here since 1829 have found.
		Delphi    Believed by the ancient Greeks to be the centre of the world it was the location of the eternal flame. It was here that the most important oracle of the classical Greek world resided and where city states would consult to receive the prophesies of the Gods. In this talk Ron looks at the site as it is today and what it would have been like in antiquity.
		Palace of Knossos – Crete   The magnificent palace complex constructed around 1,900BC, it was the administrative and religious centre of the Minoan kingdom. Under King Minos it became famed in mythology when his wife gave birth to the Minotaur,  a half-man, half-bull creature that was imprisoned in the labyrinth to which virgins from Athens were delivered as sacrifices until it was slain by Theseus. In this talk Ron explores the mythology and history of the site and looks at it as it is today.

TURKEY
		Ephesus   Its strategic location ensured it thrived as a port and important commercial centre and it played a major role in ancient times, dating back 1000 years BC. One of the ancient wonders of the world was located at Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis, built in 356BC and the first church dedicated to the Virgin Mary was also there.  In this talk Ron looks at its history and the type of place you would have known if you had lived there at the height of its power.
		Blue Mosque - Istanbul   Built between 1609 and 1616 it incorporates Byzantine and traditional Islamic architecture. Still a functional building it has a capacity of approximately 10,000 people.  In this talk Ron traces its history and looks at the elements of the architecture.
		Topkapi Palace - Istanbul   Constructed in 1459 after the defeat of Byzantine Constantinople  it was he official residence of the Ottoman Sultans from 1465 to 1853. At the height of the Ottoman Empire it accommodated 4,000 people. Ron’s talk looks at the palace and the empire which was responsible for its development.
		Hagia Sophia - Istanbul   Originally constructed between 532 and 537 AD as a church for the Byzantine Emperor Justinian. In 1453 it was converted to a mosque when Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Turks. It remained as a mosque until 1935, when it became a museum. In this talk Ron looks at its history and at the building and exhibits.

CZECH REPUBLIC
		Prague Castle - Prague   With a history stretching back to the 9th century, Prague castle is the largest castle complex in the world and includes palaces and churches including the beautiful St Vitus Cathedral the burial place of St Wenceslas patron saint of the Czech state and the subject of the Christmas carol "Good King Wenceslas". In this talk Ron will take you round the castle and introduce you to the buildings and their history.

RUSSIA
		Hermitage - St Petersburg   In this talk Ron looks at one of the worlds greatest museums, a collection of buildings started in 1754 by Empress Elizabeth as the Royal residence. The most famous of the ensemble being the Winter Palace, the storming of which led to the fall of the Tsars and the rise of the Soviet Union.
		Catherine’s Palace - Near St. Petersburg   Acquired by Peter the Great for his mistress in 1712 the once humble manor grew into one of the finest palaces in the world. Destroyed during World War II it was rebuilt and typifies the opulence that was the Russian Tsars. In this talk Ron takes a tour of the palace explaining the rooms and the people behind their design and construction.
		Peter & Paul’s Fortress - St Petersburg   Built by Peter the Great in 1700’s to defend St Petersburg, it includes St Peter & Paul’s Cathedral the burial place for most of the Tsars. In this talk Ron takes you on a look around the fortress learning of its history, its beauty and its more sinister side.
		Peterhof - Near St. Petersburg   The magnificent palace famed for its gardens laid out on the orders of Peter the Great. It contains some of the most beautiful fountains in the world. Destroyed during World War II it is currently being renovated and Ron will take you round the palace and its gardens to see the beauty and to explain its history.
		Kremlin - Moscow    Kremlin is the Russian word for "fortress", "citadel", or "castle",  the one in Moscow has been the seat of Russian Power since the 15th century and includes Palaces and Cathedrals. In this talk Ron guides you through the buildings and looks at the people who constructed them and who created the Russian empire.

AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST

EGYPT
		Pyramids - Giza   Built between 2589-2504 BC it is the single remaining wonder of the ancient world. The Great Pyramid of Giza was, until 1300 A.D., the tallest building in the world; with a base area of over 52,600 square metres it is accurate to a few millimetres.  In this talk Ron will look at the way it was constructed and the people and times in which it was built.
		Valley of the Kings – Luxor   For a period of nearly 500 years from the 16th to 11th century BC, tombs were excavated from the rocks in the desert for the burial of the Pharaohs and the Egyptian elite. In this talk Ron explains how they were constructed and looks at some of the most famous including the tomb of Tutankhamen found intact in 1922.
		Temples of the Nile   In this talk Ron takes you on a journey along the Nile and looks are some of the temples which are situated along its banks. The symbols of a once mighty civilisation and the worship of their Gods, the temples provide a good insight into the lives and beliefs of the ancient Egyptians.
		Karnak Temple - Luxor   The religious complex which developed over a thousand years where 25,000 people lived and worked for the glorification of the Gods. Now a vast open-air museum and the largest ancient religious site in the world Ron discusses its development and influence on history and architecture.
		The Temple of Hatshepsut - Luxor   Hatshepsut is best known as the only woman who actually reigned as a pharaoh even portraying herself as a man. Her temple at Deir el-Bahri near Luxor is one of the finest examples of a mortuary temple. In this talk Ron looks at the temple and the life of Hatshepsut.
		Temple of Rameses the Great - Abu Simbel   One of the great engineering projects of ancient Egypt the temple built by Rameses the Great was cut into the solid rock. In 1950 it was cut up, moved to its current location and reassembled in order to prevent it from being submerged by the construction of the Aswan High Dam. In this talk Ron looks at the temple and the life of Rameses and the work involved in its re-citing.
		St Catherine’s Monastery - Sharm el Sheikh  The oldest continuously functioning Christian monasteries in the world it was built on the order of the Roman emperor Justinian between 527 – 565 to enclose the chapel built by the mother of Constantine, reputably at the site of the burning bush on Mt Sinai where Moses received the Ten Commandments. In this talk Ron looks at the monastery and questions the theory that this is not the true location of the burning bush.

MOROCCO
		Hassan II Mosque - Casablanca   Built in 1993 to become the second largest mosque in the world, almost half of its surface area lies over the waters of Atlantic Ocean. Able to accommodate 25,000 worshippers inside the mosque, it has the capacity for a further 80,000 in the courtyard.  In this talk Ron will introduce the principles of Islamic architecture and show how that is displayed in the mosque.

TUNISIA
		Carthage   Founded by the Phoenicians it became a major power of the Mediterranean and a rival to the Roman Empire until its destruction in 146 BC by the Romans in the Third Punic War. In this talk Ron will look at the city, its rise and fall and at Hannibal, one of its most famous sons.

JORDAN
		Petra   The rose-red city cut from the rock it was lost and forgotten for centuries until its rediscovery in 1812. In this talk Ron looks at the architecture and background to this World Heritage Site.

ISRAEL
		Jerusalem   Dating back to 4th century BC Jerusalem  is one of the oldest cities in the world and sacred to three major world religions. In this talk Ron looks at some of the major tourist and religious sites and discusses their history and importance.
		Masada   In 70 AD a group of 1000 Jewish Zealots captured King Herod’s cliff top fortress and held out against the might of Rome for three years before  choosing mass suicide rather than submit to Roman captivity.  In this talk Ron uncovers the history of this most dramatic and symbolic act in Jewish history explaining the events and looking at the fortress itself.

DUBAI
		Dubai City    Since the discovery of oil in 1971 Dubai has been aware of the need to diversify before the oil runs out, resulting in the staggering speed of its development. Its innovative real estate projects have resulted in it having the tallest building in the world and a ski centre making artificial snow attracting commerce and tourism. In this talk Ron looks at its development and at some of its world renowned projects.

AMERICAS

UNITED STATES
		Statue of Liberty - New York   One of the most recognizable icons of the USA. With an overall height of 305ft it is made of copper sheet on a framework of steel. The most recognizable icon of the USA it was presented by the people of France in 1886.  In this talk Ron looks at its construction and takes a look inside the statue.
		Golden Gate Bridge - San Francisco    The suspension bridge opened in 1937 is one of the most famous bridges in the world. In this s talk Ron explains the principles of bridges and looks at why this design was chosen and how it was constructed.
		Alcatraz - San Francisco   Situated 1.5 miles offshore from San Francisco it has served as the base for a lighthouse and a military fortification before being used as a federal prison to house the United States most dangerous and notorious prisoners. During its 29 years as it prison it is claimed that no prisoner ever escaped from it. In this talk Ron looks at its location, history and some of its most famous inmates and at the prison itself.
		Las Vegas - Nevada    In this talk Ron looks at the development from a watering hole for the railway on its way to Califonia in the 1880s to becoming the entertainment centre of the world showing the attractions and architecture of one of the most exciting cities of the world.
		Hoover Dam - Nevada/Arizona   Built in the great depression of the 1930's as a concrete arch-gravity dam to provide irrigation and power for the Western USA it was named after President Herbert Hoover. In this talk Ron looks at its design and construction and some of the facts that marked it out as a great piece of civil engineering.