A VIEW FROM THE TOP OF THE WORLD: FRANCESCO'S REVIEW OF THE NEW ALBUM BY DREAM THEATER

Today I’d like to share with you my musings on the latest album of one of my favourite bands, Dream Theater.

Let’s delve into the world of their  latest work,  released on 22^nd October 2021. I’m always excited when a new Dream Theater’s album comes out and so I am this time.

WE HAVE A FIGHT TO FIGHT

 

Hello everyone!  I’m Francesco G. and this is my new post. I’m happy to share it with you right today, on 2^nd June, when we celebrate the birth of the Italian Republic (2^nd June 1946). I usually speak about history, especially ancient history, but today I would like to tell you something about anti-fascism.  I will not speak about my political alignment because in order to discuss this topic it is not important to know if I’m a liberal, a leftist or a centrist.  I actually think it is a theme that should find anyone involved and interested. It is about our rights and our freedom.

INSIDE A KING'S MIND

 

Hi everyone. I’m Francesco G. and today I  have a new introspective story to share with you, again I imagined and wrote the inner struggle of a mythological / historical figure. Writing these stories, I like to think of  the people behind the deeds, especially in the moments which build literature and history. I’d like to know what you think and, if you feel like doing it, please share your thoughts in the comments below.

5 FAKE NEWS ABOUT THE MIDDLE AGES

Hi, I’m Francesco. As you may have noticed in my previous posts, I love history and today I will tell you about five fake news about a very long period of time which is considered a dark and desolate period: the Middle Age.

GUERRILLA

You must  have noticed I’m truly interested in history and among historical events, wars and conflicts have always fascinated me. Today  I would like to tell you about  a form of warfare used by small armies to destroy big ones:  Guerrilla.

Guerrilla is a kind of warfare consisting in small skirmishes between a big army and a small, mobile and often non-professional army which harass his opponent using his  knowledge of the territory  to make the other unable to fight. It is also called “hit and run” warfare.

THE COUNT OF TUSCANY, A STORY AND A SONG

 

Hi everyone, I’m Francesco G. and this is my new story for our blog. I decided to write one inspired to my favourite song lyrics.  I’m talking about “The Count of Tuscany” by Dream Theater, included in the album “Black clouds & silver linings”. The words in bold are quotations from the song.

This song does not only deal with the theme of fear, but also with stereotypes and easy cliches . Ready to read my story now? To create the right atmosphere, play the song while reading (CLICK HERE)

                 I saw a big smile on his face: <<You are a famous musician, aren’t you?>>. <<Yes, I am>>. Then I looked at him: he wore a really elegant suit, something you don’t expect to see in a bar in a small town in Tuscany.

THE FINAL DUEL

 

Hello, this is my new post, my first one in this school year. As I did before (for siege of Masada, for example), I tried to capture a specific moment in history,  or I’d better say classic literature,  in a short text, a short story full of tension and emotions.  I hope you’ll enjoy it.  

Francesco G., 4sc

UCHRONIA

Now everyone who’s reading this post would be thinking: “What does Uchronia mean?

                Uchronia is a parallel course of history different from the original one only for a single event which takes a different course.

                This word comes from the Greek words  “ou” (no) and “kronos” (time).

                There are a lot of examples of these parallel universes: the most famous is the one in which Nazi Germany wins the second World War. The famous novel “The Man in the High Castle” imagines this specific Uchronia.

END OF AN ERA: THE FALL OF THE WESTERN ROMAN EMPIRE

Hello everyone! I’m back with a new post about ancient history. Today I would like to tell you   about the  five reasons why the Western Roman Empire fell. 

            

The Roman Empire remained one of the most powerful in history, but it was first divided in Western and Eastern Roman Empire (395 A.D.), and then, in 476 A.D., the Western part ended (the Eastern one existed until 1453 A.D.), but why one of the most powerful Empire in history fell?

Here are five reasons:

THE SIEGE OF MASADA

Hi everybody, I’m Francesco G. ; I love history and you must have noticed from my previous posts. Now, today I will tell you a story, it’s set during the famous Siege of Masada. I’ve written the story from the eyes of Faustus Hortensius Laevinus, a Roman legionary.  Enjoy reading!

SABATON: THE LAST STAND OF METAL ROCK

Hello everybody I’m Francesco and today I will tell you about one of my favourite albums in the metal music world: “The last stand” by  Swedish band  Sabaton.

This album is about famous last stands in history; a last stand is for definition a battle where a small defensive force holds apposition against a much more powerful attacking force.

There are ten songs in this album, and I would like to talk about each one of them.

The first one is “Sparta”; it’s about the battle at the Hot Gates (“Thermopylae” in English and “Thermopylon” in ancient Greek). In this last stand there were about 5, 000 Greek hoplites led by king Leonidas of Sparta and his 300 Spartans against 500,000 Persians of Xerxes I. It took place in August 480 b.C. and lasted three days. The Greeks fought bravely but a traitor called Ephialtes showed to the Persians a way back to defenders. A lot of Greeks retreated covered by Leonidas and his 300 men, who fought until they were killed by the Persian horde.

THE HISTORY OF WEAPONS

I love ancient history. What about you?

Hi everyone! You know, I love history a lot and today I’d like to tell you about a side of history I find really fascinating: the evolution of weapons through the years, from the Prehistoric Era to the Middle Age. My interest in ancient history is also  due  to my favourite videogame, do you remember my previous post?

ANCIENT WORLDS AND FUTURE GOALS: ROME TOTAL WAR 2

Hello, I’m Francesco Giammei. Rome Total War 2 is my favourite computer game and today I’d like to share with you why I like it so much.

It’s about ancient civilizations and it is a strategy game. You can play it online or offline.

Each player has his own faction. I usually play as Sparta. I really admire this ancient Greek city because of its history and because its men were truly honourable. 

The cavalry isn’t very good in the game, but the infantry is the best. The heart of the Spartan infantry (and of the Spartan army) are the Hoplites. The Hoplites are strong Greek soldiers. Every old Greek “Poleis” had their own army made up of Hoplites, but Sparta’s soldiers were the best in Ancient Times.