Andrew Davies is a social historian, and senior lecturer at the University of Liverpool. His book, Gangs of Manchester, explores the underworld of the scuttler, violent youths who formed neighbourhood based gangs in working-class areas of Manchester. Following his lecture at the Manchester Art Gallery earlier in the year, we talked to Andrew about his […]
Upon visiting Phong Nah-Ke Bang – a national park located in the middle of the Annamite Mountains in Vietnam – I was stunned to observe that exploration was not advised without a map marking the unexploded bombs of the area. Despite the war in Vietnam culminating over 45 years ago, the subject of unexploded ordnance […]
The feminist movement began in the US at the end of the nineteenth century. It has persisted to this day, although the goals and rationalities behind the movement have changed radically since its inception; many factions have emerged with opposing ideas about what must be done to gain gender equality. While generally the movement has […]
The Reign of Terror is a haunting and unforgettable chapter in the annals of the French Revolution; characterised by political radicalisation led by Maximillien Robespierre, it saw the relentless blade of the guillotine and the infamous executions of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI. This tumultuous period prompts compelling questions about how the revolution transformed into […]
In April 2014, the kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls at Chibok brought global notoriety to the Nigerian Islamist organisation Boko Haram. The group has been active since at least 2002 and in many respects represents a continuation of Nigerian history. The usual translation of Boko Haram to “Western Education is Sin” obscures the fact that they […]
David Bowie morphed from character to character, challenging every norm along the way. In his most iconic stage persona, as Ziggy Stardust, he stated that he wanted “to tart rock up.” Aladdin Sane was his next, often remembered for his lightning bolt portrait on the album cover. In October 2023, when the cast of the […]
Ireland has often been described as England’s blueprint for colonialism. Since the 12th century, the kings of England have claimed dominion over Ireland and the Irish have been resisting British dominion ever since. If Ireland was England’s blueprint for colonialism, then Ireland has also served as a blueprint for anti-colonial resistance. After Henry II declared […]
On 18th September 2014 the Scottish National Party finally gets its referendum on independence. Arguments for and against this notion have been going on for months now, and it is difficult to tell whether or not it will be successful. However since the Act of Union in 1707, the notion of an independent Scotland is […]
NASA chemist James Lovelock was trying to seek a way to detect life on distant planets without physically visiting them. Analysing planetary atmospheres, he arrived at a profound realisation about our world. He proposed that life on Earth does not merely exist within its environment but actively shapes and sustains it. The totality of life […]
I’m really happy with how the Historian has progressed this term. The team’s been working incredibly hard at coming up with ways to incorporate a more contemporary angle and I’m really happy to announce that we’ll be launching our own website very soon. I’m delighted to see the Historian growing and hope by the end […]
This is the Manchester Historian team 2024/25. Email [email protected] to get in touch! ~ Agnes Parshall – Co-Editor Sam Richardson – Co-Editor Katia Moussallati – Co-Editor ~ Grace Ward – Head of Copyediting Lucy Markham – Head of Copyediting Alice Bull – Copyediting team Jonathan Little – Copyediting team Joe Parkin – Copyediting team Aashe […]
Reigning for an impressive sixty-four years, Queen Victoria ruled during a period that witnessed the invention of the telephone, Jack the Ripper roaming the streets and Thomas Hardy dominating book shelves; a period that became renowned in British history. Queen Victoria took to the throne in 1837 aged eighteen and remained there until her death […]
Welcome to our first issue of the 2013. I know that the start of the year feels a long time ago now. I hope you feel that you have achieved a lot since then: exams sat, new courses started, results back. We are well into the hard slog part of the year, what with the […]
Between 1930 and 1961, Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina ruled the Dominican Republic under a regime that has often been described as one of the bloodiest in Latin America. The dictator created a cult of personality in the Caribbean nation, awarding himself the titles of “Father of the New Nation” and “El Jefe”, holding excessive parades […]
