All About History preview: Battle for America, history of Lego, slavery in Rome

Plus forgotten female dragon slayers, regency fashion, the Viking battle for Scotland and much more!

This 4 July marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of the United States of America. Chances are you already knew that as there’s been plenty of talk about it as the date approaches. It’s a momentous anniversary for a nation that has hand a profound impact on the world ever since. But how did it all begin? And I don’t mean how did the Founding Fathers begin their deliberations (we’ve covered that before); how did the people of the colonies come to believe in the idea of an independent state? Was it a mass movement? Who opposed the move? And what did it the Revolutionary War mean in the end for the US, the British Empire and two of the other major world powers involved in the conflict, Spain and France?

The story of the War of Independence is so much more complicated than you might know and we wanted to dig deep into those questions in the latest issue of All About History, available now at a newsstand near you and available to order from MagazinesDirect. Here’s a closer look at our Battle for America feature and the other fascinating stories you can explore in All About History 170.

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Battle for America

We welcome back Alan Taylor as our guide as he delves into the origins of the Revolutionary War, how the concept of liberty and independence spread through the colonies and why it might have actually been the best result for both the US and Britain (but maybe not Spain and France).

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History of Lego

Lego has become one of the most beloved and universal toys in the world, but where did this incredible empire begin? In a shed with some wooden blocks, actually. We take a look at the fascinating story of this Danish company that managed to survive and thrive through disaster.

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Slavery in Rome

I was delighted to chat with historian Emma Southon this issue about the topic of her new book, the system of slavery that helped to build, enrich and empower ancient Rome. It’s a part of the Roman story that is too frequently overlooked and Emma has some excellent insights into its importance.

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female Dragon Slayers

Jasmine Elmer joins us to discuss the often lost or forgotten women who also slayed dragons in historical legends and what these stories tell us about the role of women in those societies. Was Saint Margaret of Antioch really even more popular than Saint George in medieval England?

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Viking Battle for Scotland

For a period of time Orkney and Shetland became the centre of the Viking world and some of the most important settlements of the Norse world. How and why did this happen and why was it that possibly the last Vikings to exist would be found there? Angus Konstam is here to tell us.

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Plus much more

Also in this issue of All About History:

• The United States has been around for 250 years, but before that came the 13 Colonies. Our All About section this issue is dedicated to this colonial period and the growing call for indepedence.
• What if America had lost the Revolutionary War? We spend a good amount of the issue discussing the founding of America, but could it have all collapsed and what would that have meant for the world?
• In the Regency era fashion could tell you a lot about a person and keeping up with the latest trends became both an obsession and a symbol of your importance. We break down the details this issue.

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