Hero image

Batshead's Shop

I've been a student of history for at least five decades now, and I've come to realise that most people's idea of history is something bordering on the mega boring. That's why I began writing these history books and offering them as an important resource to schools and teachers. From what teachers are telling me about the books, their pupils are beginning to take a greater interest in the subject and starting to learn so much more than they would do from standard text books alone.

I've been a student of history for at least five decades now, and I've come to realise that most people's idea of history is something bordering on the mega boring. That's why I began writing these history books and offering them as an important resource to schools and teachers. From what teachers are telling me about the books, their pupils are beginning to take a greater interest in the subject and starting to learn so much more than they would do from standard text books alone.
The Tudors (PowerPoint)
BatsheadBatshead

The Tudors (PowerPoint)

(0)
The Tudor dynasty lasted from 1485 until 1603, and few kings and queens have had such an impact on the nation or been so well remembered. Having their roots in Wales, they changed the British Isles, for better or worse, through religion, trade and military force. Their impact on Europe and the world was also dramatic, getting involved in religious wars, high seas piracy and alliances that threw the ambitions of Spain and France into disarray. When Henry VII first took the throne from Richard III, England was seen as something of a backwater, a nuisance to France and a constant threat to her design on being the major power on the mainland. Yet, during the course of his, and his descendant’s reigns, England emerged as a formidable force to be reckoned with, and whose opinion and friendship mattered. This is a visual presentation of that era which will enhance any lesson of the period, which can be used as a stand alone resource or in conjunction with the book.
The Romans-PowerPoint Presentation
BatsheadBatshead

The Romans-PowerPoint Presentation

(0)
This is a really useful Power Point presentation which covers the leaders of Rome, from the days of the late republic, to the mid third century crisis. This will definitely enhance any lessons on the Roman period, and it will certainly help to fire the imagination of any student.
World War One
BatsheadBatshead

World War One

(0)
World War One, The Great War, the war to end all wars, are names which are synonymous with death and suffering on an industrial scale. The war saw the end of one era, and the beginning of a new one, our modern world, as nations fought for ultimate supremacy. Indeed, whole empires threw everything they had against their opponents in a life and death struggle that would change the world for ever and which would see some of those empires collapse and new ways of life, new beliefs, rise up from the disaster. Very few leaders at the time saw what a full scale war against other industrialized empires would lead to. Many leaders were found to be too enthusiastic at the thought of crushing what they perceived to be a threat to their national pride and existence. As the war dragged on, and the slaughter increased, some did make half hearted attempts to call an end to it, but those they approached were opposed to anything other than complete victory, irrespective of the cost it seemed. When the war did end, the world was a much different place. Disillusionment, shock, anger and a desire for change now prevailed, whilst the old imperial leaders of the British Empire did their best to hide the cracks and carry on with business as usual. The Golden Age of empire, and the confidence that came with it, had gone forever, lost on the fields of Flanders and the Somme, but it would take a few more decades, and an even more destructive war, to finally topple it completely, ushering in our own modern age. This is an ideal resource to help pupils come to grips with the events leading up to the war, the terrible battles that followed, and the consequences of it all. Told using the medium of verse, the events and characters will come to life again ion the classroom. This book is ideal for curriculum work as well as course work, projects and revision.
World War Two
BatsheadBatshead

World War Two

(0)
World War Two truly was a global conflict, a total war which destroyed the lives of tens of millions of people, both soldiers and civilians alike. Russia suffered the most, and the exact figure of how many died in what is known as The Great Patriotic War is still unknown to this day. One could argue that Germany was the second worst off, as she not only lost and had her nation carved up and divided, but the retribution meted out by the Soviets was bitter and calculated. At one point, it looked as if Germany might actually win this war, as they were victorious everywhere, their enemies on the point of collapse, and the threat of a Nazi Europe looked very real. Yet, the Nazis overreached, spreading their effort to too many fronts which led to their armies always having to perform near impossible tasks against ever increasing odds. With America entering the war in 1941, her strength and industrial output began to tell against the Axis powers, and their failure to decisively deal with the Soviet threat in the east meant it was only a matter of time before numbers told, despite German tactical skill and fighting spirit. On an operational scale, the German army was flawed. Strategically, the army was hamstrung by Hitler’s continued interference even down to battalion level. Tactically, they knew their trade very well. As for Japan, she missed her chance when she failed to decisively destroy the American aircraft carriers at Pearl Harbour and didn’t count on American resolve and indignation at being attacked. As with the Russian people, once they saw themselves as the aggrieved and set upon, the people rallied and began to see their struggle as a righteous one against an evil aggressor. Their consequent treatment of prisoners of war and civilians alike reflected their imagined righteousness and sense of justice in treating their enemies the way they did. This resource is ideal for enhancing the curriculum, for giving pupils a project and for helping with their revision. Told using the medium of verse, pupils will find this resource far more easier to use and far more helpful than standard text books.
Middle Ages-Faith, War & Disease
BatsheadBatshead

Middle Ages-Faith, War & Disease

(0)
Middle Ages-Faith War & Disease. For many, this era is seen as both obscure and irrelevant, tainted by those images in artwork of people in strange clothes who often look badly painted or out of proportion to their surroundings, but this is unfair, and the period does deserve our attention. Hopefully, this history poem will help bring the era and people to life, giving the reader a better appreciation of it. Also, I hope the book gives you a greater desire to look deeper into the period and gives you an interest in studying it in more detail. I think you will find the effort well worth it. There are many different books written by many great historians which cover lots of historical periods, but few, if any, have been written using the medium of poetry, traditional rhyming verse, which brings the story to life once more. The rhyme and the tempo is like a song without the music and appeals to people, young and old, as it makes the characters within the story both believable and real again. From what teachers are saying about the history poems they’ve used, their pupils are beginning to have a whole new appreciation and liking for history, and the same format even works well in the English departments too. Each history poem book is broken down into manageable chapters which enables the teacher to easily present their classes with the relevant facts whilst at the same time maintaining the interest of each pupil. What’s more, because this is a new and exciting way of presenting history, each pupil will show far more enthusiasm for learning it.
The Tudors
BatsheadBatshead

The Tudors

(0)
The Tudor dynasty lasted from 1485 until 1603, and few kings and queens have had such an impact on the nation or been so well remembered. Having their roots in Wales, they changed the British Isles, for better or worse, through religion, trade and military force. Their impact on Europe and the world was also dramatic, getting involved in religious wars, high seas piracy and alliances that threw the ambitions of Spain and France into disarray. When Henry VII first took the throne from Richard III, England was seen as something of a backwater, a nuisance to France and a constant threat to her design on being the major power on the mainland. Yet, during the course of his, and his descendants reigns, England emerged as a formidable force to be reckoned with, and whose opinion and friendship mattered. At the end of the book you will find the lesson construction plan which will enable you to plan and implement lessons covering this period. Also, there is a list of potential questions to put to the class which will complement the lesson structure.