(‘Downton Abbey’ castle and cast, created by See-ming Lee, via Creative Commons (CC 2.0))
Most people like to indulge in a little televised drama from time to time. We at The Historian’s Hut want to make sure that you have reasons to binge watch a good show when the desire next arises. Therefore, we have compiled a list of historical excuses you may use to defend your tuning into reruns of ‘Downton Abbey.’
Historical Topics In ‘Downton Abbey’:
- Late Ottoman Empire
- Reform of the system of nobility and monarchy
- World War I
- Fall of monarchies around WWI
- Trench warfare and new war technology
- Women’s rights
- Rise of socialism
- Russian Revolution
- Spread of Russian Revolution refugees
- English and Irish tensions (Fenian Movement)
- Catholic and Anglican religious tensions
- Spanish Flu
- Law reform
- Stock market crashes
- Childbirth dangers
- Rise of makeup and cosmetics
- New hairstyles
- Homosexual rights (or lack thereof)
- The ‘Roaring Twenties’ and the ‘flapper’ culture
- Jazz music
- Fertility medicine/treatments
- Rise of interracial relationships
- Abortions
- Rise of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany
- Rise of birth control
- Anti-Semitism
- Pranks of Horace de Vere Cole
