See Monkey Do

In excess of 30 middle age castles still stand in the southeast district of England as a reminder of the days when Great britain was a land separated by ruling families who crafted powerful fortresses to secure their lands from invaders, both international and local. Current castle excursions enable tourists to gain an idea of how crucial these superbly safeguarded complexes are to the rich history and culture of Great britain.

Exploring the the royal collections of noteworthy aristocrats such as Mary Queen of Scots throughout guided tours of the Arundel Castle in West Sussex present visitors an idea of the splendour and elegance that were all around the British aristocracy in medieval times. The specialized guides tell tales that bring the past alive as they recount famed battles and stories that encompass this exciting castle.

At the majestic Guildford Castle, visitors can safely ascend to high atop of the Great Tower to see the wide ranging viewpoint that was utilized by the castle’s defenders to see nearing opposing troops. Within are shows that let tourists examine models of the castle as it was initially built in the 1300s. Informative videos explain the function that Guildford Castle played out in British history.

The moment the magnificent Herstmonceux castle comes into view, tourists are amazed by the moat that highlights how sturdy defenses were essential to dissuade invaders when this castle was made in the turbulent times of 15th century England. Even though once in ruins, the castle has been superbly restored and is now home of the Queen’s Bader Institute. Encompassing the castle next to the moat are public grounds that represent the Elizabethan time when gardens were stylish playgrounds for the aristocracy. Right after the turning forest trails that steer to forest sculptures that are shown in the Shakesphere garden, Rose Garden and the Herb Garden present visitors an idea of how the charm of valiance was once performed amongst these impressive spaces.

High atop the famous white cliffs of Kent, the Dover Castle’s breath-taking views over the English channel make it obvious why this historical site has been used for centuries to defend the south eastern shores of Britain. Dover Castle was developed by William the Conqueror in 1066 after his triumph at the Battle of Hastings, however there are ruins encircling the castle that date back much further, and evidence of enhancements through the years. Viewing the many editions of this strategic site, which includes a hall once referred to as Arthur’s Hall, gives present day visitors an idea of Britain’s rich history.

When you come into Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boylen, the homely ambiance is quite different from other southeastern English castles. The displays of personal items and recreations of the dresses worn by the six wives of Henry the VIII echos the wealth of 16th century Tudor life style. But the selection of weapons, armor and instruments of torture and execution in the Council Chamber talk of a much darker side of life full of high intrigue and genuine danger that lurked in the medieval courts.

Find out more info about some of the many Castles in England

Have you ever daydreamed about what it would be like to be a king or a queen in the ancient world, with slaves and servants at your beck and call? Their palaces and their clothes seemed so fine and expensive compared to what their subjects had to live with, but truth be told you can buy more exotic things at your local Wal-Mart or K-Mart than even the greatest conquerors of history like Genghis Khan, Napoleon, and Julius Caesar could have obtained with all the resources available to them. Alexander the Great had to rumble across the landscape in a chariot that had no cushions, no air conditioning, and no satellite radio.

Some Fortune 100 CEOs command more wealth and more employees than all the treasures and armies led by many of the great conquerors of history. When you look at ancient history through the eyes of modern conveniences, the romance of the past doesn’t look so romantic, does it? After all, would you really want to give up your CDs, your DvDs, your coffee maker? Would you want to live without peanut butter and jelly? Okay, maybe you could give up the sandwiches. But there are so many things that even people living below the poverty level can do today that some of the greatest men of the 20th century could not do. Albert Einstein never had a cell phone, did he?

To put things into a more relevant perspective, we take modern conveniences and technology for granted. We quickly forget the struggles that brought those conveniences to our command. Barely 100 years ago the Wright brothers managed to make the first powered air flight. Today we can use the Internet to book a trip around the world. We can pick our own seats on airplanes, ask for special meals, and even pay luggage fees online. It was not so long ago that only travel agents and airline representatives could do these things for us.

Software engineers and consultants like Nicholas Bredimus helped to revolutionize air travel by building the ticketing and scheduling technologies that enabled airlines to service more passengers’ needs than ever before. Those systems have evolved into today’s online services. And the price of such growth has not been cheap. Nicholas Bredimus once noted (along with other experts) how the airlines struggled to close the gap between the revenues they booked and the revenues they collected.

These innovations and others helped spur competition, which sometimes proved more challenging to consumers as well as to airlines. For example, Nicholas Bredimus and other consultants were asked to discussed the process of “poaching” when the Sabre syste was criticized for sharing consumers’ private information with the airlines. It could be said that these kinds of issues are the prices that we must pay for the modern conveniences that make our lives more luxurious and comfortable than those of the richest emperors in the past. At least we can enjoy air conditioning in the summer. Guys like Augustus Caesar had to sweat it out in their expensive marble palaces/