Whereas Monty Python made a great gag out of asking what the Roman’s did for us in their hit film The Life of Brian, we decided to look back into the distant past to ask the same question of the ancient Egyptians.

 

Whereas Monty Python made a great gag out of asking what the Roman’s did for us in their hit film The Life of Brian, we decided to look back into the distant past to ask the same question of the ancient Egyptians.

The Egyptology diploma we offer covers the whole history of Egypt, from the foundations of the civilisation on the banks of the Nile through to the Roman occupation – to find out how Egyptian practices influence modern society.

Paper

Perhaps one of the ancient Egyptians greatest legacies was their use of the pith of the papyrus plant in order to craft writing material, often rolled up onto huge scrolls. These were used to record such important information as the Egyptian’s treatises on medicine and surgery, as well as mathematics and folk tales, providing us with a fascinating glimpse into the past.

Though many cultures refined and perfected the process for recording information on important documents, from the Chinese to the Arabs, the Egyptian use of papyrus remains and important starting point.

Irrigation

Thanks to the River Nile, the ancient Egyptians were one of the first societies to practice agriculture on a large scale. Utilising a form of basin irrigation, they could control the rise and fall of the Nile to suit whatever their agricultural needs were. When the river flooded, water was trapped in basins to ensure it stayed longer than it naturally would have. This allowed them to drain the basins depending on what was needed and where. This helped the Egyptians to build an empire based on the large wealth created from their agricultural spoils.

Hygiene

In the sweltering heat of Egypt, hair was considered unhygienic due to the constant threat of lice and nits, so routinely bathing, washing clothes and shaving their head and face was an important part of day to day life. Priests took the routine a step further and were known to shave their entire bodies every other day to ensure they remained clean and healthy in their worship.

This hygienic routine also led to the introduction of beauty products that continue to be used to this day including soap, toothpaste, perfumes, lipsticks, make-up palettes, creams, and face masks.

Calendar

Perhaps the most influential innovation of the ancient Egyptians was the formulation of the yearly calendar, an important concept that was adopted and refined by the Roman’s in later centuries.

Whereas we use calendar’s to keep track of where we’ve been and what we have to do, the Egyptian’s weren’t necessarily bothered about recording the minutiae of their lives and the calendar was used by them to mark when the annual flooding of the Nile would happen. Tying this into their farming, the calendar was split up into three sections – the inundation season, growing season, and harvest season. Each of these seasons had four months and each month was split into 30 days.

If you’ve recently signed up to either our Digital Photography diploma or our Photo Journalism course then you will no doubt be looking to get the most out of your camera.

 

If you’ve recently signed up to either our Digital Photography diploma or our Photo Journalism course then you will no doubt be looking to get the most out of your camera.

Whether you’re undertaking one of these courses in order to develop a career as a special occasion’s photographer or you wish to learn how to market your images to news outlets on a freelance basis, they teach you some of the core skills needed to kick-start your passion for photography. These include understanding the workings of your camera, learning how to control lighting and posing, and how to find your direction.

With many people setting off on their summer holidays over the next few months, one of the best ways to prepare for our courses is to take advantage of your vacation time to test out your current photography skills. This will allow you to look back on your work with a critical eye and test out any ideas you’ve had.

Below we’ve listed a selection of the best compact cameras for your summer holiday activities – these will allow you to take a variety of shots to add to your portfolio and capture some exciting memories to cherish.

Panasonic Lumix LX7

If you need something that fits in your pocket and is available quickly, without compromising image quality, then look no further.

The LX7 is a perfect supplement if you are used to using a digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR) but don’t want to be carrying it around all day. With 330 shots per battery charge, advanced features that create impressive soft-focus background effects, and an autofocus that produces images sharper than a knife, you’ll be hard pressed to find a more complete compact model.

Image resolution: 10.1 megapixels

Lens range: F1.4 – F2.3

LCD screen: 920k dot resolution

Continual shooting: 11 frames per second

Dimensions: 4.4 x 2.6 x 1.8”

Price: £270+

Olympus Stylus TG-4

If you’re more of an active photographer and love getting the perfect action shots in some of the most challenging circumstances, the TG-4 is the perfect camera for you.

Waterproof, shockproof, freeze-proof, even crushproof, this camera has you covered for any activity you want to capture from diving to rock climbing. With a solid metal casing and slip-proof rubber grips, the 16 megapixel camera can be on and ready to shoot in under two seconds and can capture pictures at 10 frames per second. If you want to leave the camera around to capture wildlife in its natural environment, it also comes complete with Wi-Fi connectivity allowing you to control the camera from your smartphone.

Image resolution: 16 megapixels

Lens range: F2.0 – F8.0

LCD screen: 460k dot resolution

Continual shooting: 5 frames per second

Dimensions: 4.4 x 2.6 x 1.2”

Price: £299+

Fuji X30

If you want a retro aesthetic to your choice of compact that also blends power, performance, and reliability, then Fuji’s latest offering might be your ideal camera.

Whereas some digital compact cameras can feel almost toy like, little touches to the X30 such as the lens and zoom ring, give the photographer the satisfying feel that they’re holding a ‘real’ camera. With the viewfinder added to the mix, it completes the package.

Though it doesn’t have the highest image resolution and struggles with the sharpness of images at a distance, the X30 suits most needs for a photographer and is a comfortable option if you’re used to solely handling a DSLR.

Image resolution: 12 megapixels

Lens range: F2.0 – F2.8

LCD screen: 920k dot resolution

Continual shooting: 12 frames per second

Dimensions: 4.6 x 2.8 x 2.3”

Price: £320+

Canon PowerShot SX60 HS

Featuring the world’s first 65x fixed-lens zoom, if you’re looking for a point and shoot camera ideal for capturing nature and wildlife at its most intimate moments, you can do a lot worse than this.

One of the problems with the superzoom industry is that often the zoom size is at the expense of the things you want your camera to actually do (such as autofocus and take a good picture). With the SX60 this isn’t the case, and with large, textured grips for optimum handling, a great viewfinder feature, and a wide angle lens, Canon’s superzoom is a solid choice for the long distance photographer.

Image resolution: 16 megapixels

Lens range: F3.4 – F6.5

LCD screen: 460k dot resolution

Continual shooting: 2.2 frames per second

Dimensions: 4.8 x 3.4 x 4.1”

Price: £339+

These are just a few compacts that achieve everything the semi-pro photographer wants from a holiday camera. We’d love to see some of your snaps on our Twitter or Facebook page.

Throughout the turmoil of political upheaval and social change, certain names have emerged as shining lights of hope and promise to their fellow countrymen.

 

Throughout the turmoil of political upheaval and social change, certain names have emerged as shining lights of hope and promise to their fellow countrymen.

In conjunction with our course looking at Social and Political History in the UK, we’ve picked out five of the biggest names to have emerged in the period between the Industrial Revolution and the Labour victory of the mid-90s. Though not a comprehensive list, it gives you a brief look at some of the most important people and actions to happen in the 19th and 20th century.

Clement Attlee

As the first politician to command a Labour majority in Parliament, Clement Attlee came to power with a landslide victory after World War II on the belief that maintenance of full employment could allow an enlarged system of social services to be created. On the back of this policy, Attlee nationalised public utilities and major industries and presided over the creation of the National Health Service, heralding Britain’s post-war recovery and uplifting society.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel

A mechanical and civil engineer, Brunel is considered one of the most ingenious and prolific engineers in history. Masterminding the building of dockyards, the Great Western Railway, steamships, and various bridges and tunnels, Brunel’s designs revolutionised transport and engineering during the Industrial Revolution and many remain in use to this day.

Winston Churchill

Regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders in history, Churchill is remembered for his attitude, refusal to surrender, and inspirational speeches. All of these helped inspire the British people to never give up and ensured that we got through the darkest days of the war with grit and integrity – attitudes that remain ingrained in the country to this day.

Charles Dickens

Through the popularity and power of his literature, Charles Dickens used his position to raise awareness of many of the social plights suffered by the lower class in Victorian England. As one of the most important and influential social commentators of the time, Dickens used fiction to criticise abuses of the lower class, giving birth to the term ‘Dickensian’ in modern parlance to describe poor social conditions.

Emmeline Pankhurst

As leader of the Suffragette movement, Pankhurst was a political activist whose unflinching beliefs helped British women gain the right to vote. From arrests and hunger strikes to breaking windows and night-time arson, Pankhurst’s Suffragette movement employed a variety of militant tactics to raise awareness to their beliefs and had a dramatic mobilisation effect for the movement.

With summer here (in theory) and the holiday countdown well under way, people have gone into overdrive to achieve their ideal figure. Despite all the hours being put in at the gym, some people could be overlooking a few dietary changes that could help give their body aspirations a boost.

 

With summer here (in theory) and the holiday countdown well under way, people have gone into overdrive to achieve their ideal figure.

Despite all the hours being put in at the gym, some people could be overlooking a few dietary changes that could help give their body aspirations a boost.

It often helps to make little adjustments here and there rather than completely overhauling your regular eating habits, so in this article we’ll provide you with 10 of the best superfoods you can add to your diet from our healthy eating courses:

Blueberries

These little berries are detox gold, in fact many nutritionists believe that if you make only one change to your diet it should be the addition of blueberries.

With age defying and disease fighting antioxidants, on top of a heroic amount of vitamin C, this fruit will keep you on form to hitting your fitness goals.

Beetroot

Naturally sweet, this is the Swiss army penknife of vegetables and is a great addition to salads, soups, crisps, and even cakes if you’re feeling adventurous!

With serious antioxidants, the beet has proven to purify the bloodstream, lower cholesterol and can be used to treat fatigue, ensuring you get more out of your day.

Garlic

The small and humble vegetable that makes everything taste just that little bit nicer can also give you a huge health boost.

From combating disease due to its antibacterial properties to boosting your sex drive due to improving your blood circulation, this little ingredient will keep you on your feet and fighting fit.

Lemon

We wouldn’t recommend eating it whole, but just one of these bad boys has more than 100 per cent of your Vitamin C intake!

Adding a lemon to your diet requires a bit of ingenuity but you’ll soon find it’s one of the more versatile fruits out there – for example you could add it to your water to pep it up or drizzle it on your chicken to get the anti-inflammatory and bone strengthening goodness from the fruit.

Seaweed

One of the major problems we see with adding seaweed to a diet is confusion over what to do with it – outside of sushi and Chinese buffet’s chances are you won’t even think of regularly eating the vegetable.

Packed with vitamins such as calcium, iron and zinc, one simple way of using the vegetable as an active part of your diet is to buy sheets of Nori (the kind used for sushi) – this makes a great alternative to a wrap or bread and you can then fill it with lean meat.

Cacao

The main selling point with raw cacao is that it provides all the flavour of chocolate without the guilt, containing just 15 calories per tablespoon with hardly any of the fat inherent in dairy chocolate.

If you’re slimming down but have a sweet tooth, this chocolate-alternative is your saving grace and there are plenty of recipes available for brownies and cakes. Not only that but the powder helps with blood circulation too!

Eggs

A staple of any fridge, not only are eggs one of the most versatile foodstuff you can own but they come packed with health benefits too.

High in protein, as well as A and B vitamins, they can be used as an accompaniment to almost any meal. Whether you boil, scramble, or poach, eggs are a simple way of getting the optimum amount of protein.

Green Tea

From speeding up your metabolism and ensuring your body burns fat quicker to helping glucose regulation, green tea is a great alternative to regular tea and coffee if you find yourself craving a cuppa.

Not to everyone’s taste, to counteract some of the bitterness you can add a hint of our other superfood, lemon, to make it more palatable.

Avocado

The instinct with healthy eating is to avoid anything containing the word ‘fat’, but ask any dietician or nutritionist and they will tell you that specific types of fat are a must in any diet.

Not just happy with being packed with fibre and protein, Avocado’s contain monounsaturated fats which reduce inflammation and actually quiet your hunger throughout the day via slow digestion. That means the fat content effectively helps you lose weight!

Grapefruit

A great addition to your morning breakfast plate, this tangy fruit can help lower insulin and prevents the body from storing as much sugar as fat therefore increasing weight loss.

Not only that but the fruit is high in fibre and even has anti-pain properties due to its salicylic acid content, leaving you to gain in the gym without the pain.

So there you have it, 10 superfoods to add to your diet to take your beach body progress into overdrive. By adding these here and there into your everyday food consumption you’ll soon find yourself with boundless energy, ready for all the fun in the sun you can handle.