Back in the Day: 101 Things Everyone Used to Know How to Do

by Michael Powell

Overview

Today's modern conveniences make life easier—but have they caused us to lose vital skills our ancestors took for granted? When was the last time you plucked a chicken for dinner? Dug a well to get fresh water? Defended a castle? The time has come to reacquaint ourselves with the past. Here, in a charmingly nostalgic volume, are 101 fascinating things that we've forgotten how to do, along with easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions to enlighten us. Some are practical, such as shearing a sheep. Others are fun, like playing hopscotch. And still more reveal how folks used to behave—would you know the rules of etiquette at a medieval banquet? You'll be captivated by the ancient tips, time-tested advice, and bygone suggestions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781454910701
Publisher:	Fall River Press
Publication date:	11/05/2013
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.10(h) x 0.70(d)

Table of Contents

How to...
Use A Bow And Arrow     8
Load And Fire A Musket     10
Duel With Pistols     12
Joust     14
Throw A Battleax     16
Forge A Sword     18
Fight With A Rapier And Dagger     20
Besiege A Castle     22
Defend A Castle     24
Make And Smoke A Peace Pipe     26
Make A Flint Cutting Tool     28
Brew Mead     30
Make Bread     32
Roast Chestnuts On An Open Fire     34
Make Hard Cheese     36
Make Butter     38
Make Ice Cream     40
Keep Bees And Harvest Honey     42
Tap And Make Maple Syrup     44
Find Berries In The Wild     46
Can Food     48
Archery Fish     50
Gut And Clean Fish     51
Keep Chickens     52
Pluck A Chicken     54
Roast A Wild Boar     56
Cook On A Range     57
Dig And Use A Pit Oven     58
Make A Fire Without Matches     60
Track Animals     62
Forecast The Weather     64
Tease, Card, & Spin Wool     66
Make Natural Dye From Plants     68
Weave A Chair Seat     70
Weave A Basket     72
Make Soap     74
Make A Broom     76
Sweep A Chimney     78
Chop Down A Tree With An Ax     80
Carve A Totem Pole     82
Carve A Canoe     84
Make A Barrel     86
Thatch A Roof     88
Build A Wall With Wattle And Daub     90
Build A Dry Stone Wall     92
Dig A Well     94
Plow A Field     96
Build A Log Bridge     97
Build A Log Cabin     98
Build A Pyramid     100
Embalm A Body     102
Treat A Battle Wound     104
Set Broken Bones     106
Groom A Horse     108
Shoe A Horse     110
Mount And Dismount A Horse     112
Make And Throw A Lasso     114
Milk A Cow     116
Hunt Deer Safely In Woodlands     117
Mount A Stag's Head     118
Shear A Sheep     120
Care For Rope     122
Tie A Hangman's Noose     124
Read Roman Numerals      125
Use An Abacus     126
Operate A Telegraph Machine     128
Send Smoke Signals     130
Cure People With Leeches And Maggots     131
Read Palms     133
Behave At A Medieval Banquet     136
Read A Coat Of Arms     138
Address Royalty     140
Grow Herbs     142
Use Herbs In Your Personal Grooming     144
Care For Leather Boots     146
Wear Opera Gloves     148
Wear A Roman Toga     149
Wash Clothes By Hand     150
Care For Your Period Wig     151
Play Hopscotch     152
Play Jacks     154
Use A Hula Hoop     156
Play Marbles     157
Play Real Tennis     158
Play Stickball     160
Make A Pair Of Shoes     162
Make A Hammock     164
Make A Quill Pen     166
Make Papyrus     167
Write A Sonnet     168
Write Calligraphy     170
Understand Opera     172
Make A Corn-Husk Doll     174
Make And Play A Didgeridoo     176
Ride A Penny-Farthing      178
Make A Cave Painting     180
Make A Roman Mosaic     182
Pan For Gold     184
Clean And Polish Silver     186
Blow Glass     188
Make A Stained-Glass Window     190