Julius Caesar - "I Came, I Saw, I Conquered!"

"Veni, Vidi, Vici" - Caesar

Julius Caesar born in Rome 12th or 13th of July 100 BCE into the Julian clan. 

Caesar became a politician and general of the Late Roman Republic, who raised himself in the political system. Greatly expanding the Roman Empire in doing so.

Succeed in became a Quaestor in 69, Aedile in 65 and Praetor in 62. In 61-60 BCE he served as the governor of Spain. On his return to Rome in 60, Caesar, Pompey and Crassus joined together in a political pact, the Triumvirate.

Giving him the opportunity to gain the Consulship in 59 BCE. In the following year he was appointed as the governor of Gaul (France), staying for eight years. He reduced the possibility of a Gallic invasion and revolt. He also attempted two expeditions to Britain in 55 and 54 BCE.

He returned to Rome without disbanding his army and starting a civil war. After Caesar defeated the republican forces, Pompey, their leader, fled to Egypt where he was assassinated. 

Assassination of Caesar

Caesar then became the master of Rome and made himself consul and dictator. He used his newfound political powers to carry out some radical reforms. Although, a dictatorship is normally a temporary position. In 44 BCE, Caesar took it up for life, in doing so he alienated the Republican Senators. A group of the senate assassinated Caesar on the 15th March 44 BCE in the Theatre of Pompey. 

With his assassination, sparked another civil war that ends the Republic and started the imperial system with Caesar's nephew and adopted son Octavian, as Augustus on becoming the first Emperor of Roman Empire.

Richard III - "A horse, a kingdom for a horse!"

Lego Richard III (1483-1485)

Born on the 2nd October 1452 in Northamptonshire, son to Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York and Cecily Neville. 

His brother Edward gained the throne of England during the War of the Roses after killing Henry VI.

After his brothers death, Edward IV, in April 1483 Richard was named the Protector of the Realm for Edward's son, Edward V only 12 years old. Edward V was escorted to London by Richard and he took up residence in the Tower. Edward's brother Richard of Shrewsbury, later joined him.

Richard soon condemns Edward IV's marriage to the boy's mother, Elizabeth Woodville, as invalid and their children are illegitimate. On the 25th June, both the Houses of Lords and Commons supported his claims. The next day Richard became Richard III officially starting his reign. He was crowned in July. The 2 princes in the Tower suddenly disappeared in August and were rumoured to be murdered by their uncle, Richard.

A horse, a Kingdom for a horse!!!

In August 1485, Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, a Lancastrian can from exile in France to South Wale to take his claim to the throne of England. Henry engaged Richard in battle at Bosworth Field in Leicestershire on 22nd August.

Although Richard had the advantage of numbers, most of his advances were defected. Refusing to flee, Richard was cut off in a mash and was killed after falling from his horse and Henry Tudor took the throne as Henry VII. 

Revolution! The brick chronicle of the American Revolution and the inspiring fight for liberty and equality that shook the world - BOOK REVIEW

Revolution is a history book by Brendan Powell Smith, which looks at the both the American and French revolution. Published in 2014. You can purchase a copy from Amazon. 

Revolution! The brick chronicle of the
American Revolution and
the inspiring fight for Liberty
and equality that shook the World.

Brendan is a Lego photographer, who has undertaken many different Lego projects such as the Brick Bible, where he has done a similar thing with his history books but also famous scenes from the Bible. Such as Adam and Eve and the Last Supper. 

Brendan's Brick Bible push started his new historic projects including the Assassination! and Revolution!; hopeful there will be even more of this calibre in the near future.

A scene of a Continental army massacre.

Looking at Revolution, I can see how much in approvement Brendan has made from his previous book, Assassination. Using the same methods of putting the events across to the read, with step by step scenes along side the facts. Although, the book seems to be divided in quality and realism. As I have said before in may last review of Assassination, he has made history seem more palatable but he somehow makes a lot of his work as realistic as possible, no matter how shocking or gory he has made it work in the materials he has available, Lego.

George Washington,
Commander-in-Chief
of the Continental army. 

The construction of some characters do sometimes spoil the amazing representation of history using Lego. He tries to recreate the fashion of the time of long stocks and high boots. His portail of this makes them look like they are short and standing on stilts to make them taller. Shown here with Washington. This seems to be very unnecessary creativeness but sadly doesn't look too good as the rest of the illustrations throughout the book.

Ichabod Alden being killed
by Iroquois outside
a fort at Cherry Valley.

It is also a shame that some of the scenes do look like that Brendan has used photo shopped for things that were hard to recreate out of Lego. Such as a scene of Ichabod Alden being killed with a tomahawk. Which is a shame as it destroys the idea of having all of it naturally made up of Lego. Although it does make it realistic.

On a happier note, in this book I could not find any typos, in comparison to in Assassination. Which is a great improvement.

Invasion of Quebec
by General John Burgoyne.

In Revolution, you will be able to see more hat and hair creations which make the scene so much more realistic. This technique can be seen in the recently released LEGO MOVIE. This is been portrayed in this book contrast to Brendan's other creations. Although this is a good thing, I have seen constantly inconsistency in the idea as well as the result of paint or colouring of the back of the heads to seem like there is hair. For example, the invasion of Quebec, General John Burgoyne has Lego hair and hat but the captured Continental soldiers have coloured in hair. Even though these are detailed in doing so, it doesn't look great with the inconsistence of Lego hair.

Brendan Powell Smith,
the Author of Revolution
and Brick Books. 

Moving past the mistakes and faults of the book, it is a great historic book to read and flick through. Has looked at both sides of the events of the revolutions which show bad and good events. Allowing the reader to gain all the facts to give their own judgement on the facts that are given to them. Making the book in some respects un-biased, which is rare in writing about history and past events. Most historians and writers seem to lavish themselves in putting their own point across but it seems that Brendan has skipped and ignored the idea. This makes a great read for history and Lego fans alike.

I can't wait to see if Brendan Smith publishes anymore books because I will love to read them and enjoy.

History of LEGO

The long story of one of the biggest toy companies started in 1916 when Ole Kirk Christiansen begun a woodworking business in Billund, Denmark. He made wooden toys at first, and in the 1930s he named it "LEGO" which derived from two Danish words "leg godt", meaning "play well".

In 1947 the company moved into the plastics, as that it was cheaper and quicker to make. Creating over 200 different plastic and wooden toys. In 1949, these included plastic interlocking bricks were introduced as "Automatic Binding Bricks". Later became known as the "LEGO Bricks" in 1953.

These bricks are far from the bricks we know and love today, but in 1954, Ole Kirk's son, Godtfred, had an addition of doors and windows, LEGO Bricks almost became limitless in creative building possibilities. 

In 1958, the LEGO Bricks took a design change to include a stud-and-tube interlocking system. This new system was the most important discovery as they lock into place and remain there. These bricks are in-fact almost recognizable to the one LEGO sells today. In this same year Ole Kirk died, so the business was passed to Godtfred. 

In 1960, Godtfred decided to stop the wooden toy production after a fire in a warehouse, which destroyed much of the remaining stock. Now mainly looking at the plastic brick and the huge potential they had in future years. Now the company had comprised over than 400 employees and poised to enter the US, Canada and Italy. 

Within a few years, it spread to other countries. By 1966, the toys were in 42 countries. Within this year the first LEGO electric train was introduced, running on a motor with four and half volts. 

In 1968, LEGOLAND Park was opened, in Billund, Denmark. Within the first day to the public it received 3,000 visitors and continuing to for the rest of the year, reviving about 625,000 visitors.

By the 70s LEGO produced many different themed sets, from spaceships to Castles, many of them had been incorporated with motors, magnet and sensors. In 1977, LEGO DUPLO - larger bricks for younger children, which was followed by miniature figurines (Minifigs) the next year. These are very recognizable from the minifigs that we see today in sets and in the LEGO landscapes. 

LEGO 6703 Space Minifigures 

from the 1988.

In 1995, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen passed away. Now owned by his son Kjeld Kirk Christiansen. As technology is always changing so does LEGO. In 1996, www.lego.com was launched. Once the CD-ROM came into use children could play computer games, such as LEGO chess that came out in 1998. As the mind set for children moved to more robotics, LEGO produced, LEGO MINDSTORM and LEGO TECHNIC that same year. 

Over years to come many new LEGOLAND Parks put up around the globe and the ideas for LEGO set and models still keep coming.

The LEGO flames has not died down, even today they have a huge fan base and still growing. Using new ideas to keep everyone of every gender and age enjoying the LEGO spirit.