SYMHC Classics: Catherine de' Medici, Italian...

George Stephenson started life in extremely humble circumstances, but his ingenuity and pursuit of education led him to an impressive legacy. He invented a miner’s lamp, but is most well known for his work on locomotives and railways. Research: “George Stephenson (1781-1848).” ht ...  Show more

Nutritional rickets is caused by a vitamin D deficiency, and people figured out two ways to treat it before we even knew what vitamin D was. Research: “Oldest UK case of rickets in Neolithic Tiree skeleton.” 9/10/2015. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-34208976 Ca ...  Show more

Catherine de' Medici from the powerful Italian family married the future King Henry II of France at 13. When he was impaled through the eye during a joust Catherine ruled France as regent for three of her sons during civil and religious wars. She was also a patron and devotee of ...  Show more

Catherine de Medici was Queen of France for nearly 30 years, during a time that was so volatile it makes the French Revolution feel like a street fair. In part one of this three-part series, Catherine is an Italian orphan who marries into French royalty. But keeping her new cu ...

Catherine the Great, Russia's most famous Empress, wasn't born in Russia—she was a minor German princess engaged to the future Emperor. But less than a year after her husband ascended to the Russian throne, Catherine overthrew him in a coup with the help of her lover in one of ...

In part one, Catherine de Medici married into French royalty and secured her spot in court by having a bajillion kids. But now her husband is dead, and his rivals are out to usurp Catherine’s power. If Catherine is going to keep control, she'll have to get creative – and ...