History for Inspiration

Where do you find inspiration for your latest book? One great tool is history.


There are hundreds of great events that leaves me speechless. For instance, Charles the Hammer. After Rome's fall, Europe scattered into small nations fighting with themselves. Sometime between 300-600 A.D, a Muslim invasion plunged into Europe. They left a trail of carnage behind as the "barbarians" fought poorly.


One man had seen the threat from the South. Charles knew only a well trained and disciplined army could defeat the Moors. He risked being excommunicated, rallied an army, and drilled discipline into the tribesmen.


The day came when Charles's infantry fought the Muslim Calvary, the best in the world. Who won? I'll let you find out yourself.


You can also use history to plan scenes. When Palatine overthrew the Republic in Star Wars, does that seem close to what happened in Rome?


Gandalf stabbed his staff downwards to stop the balrog from crossing in the Fellowship of the Ring. Does that seem like Moses at the Red Sea?

Also, notice something in The Lord of the Rings. Nazgul....Nazi.

There're thousands of opportunities in history books. The events you find there are because of people's actions. They drove history, and that's what characters in a good novel are supposed to do.

Does anyone have something to add?