There are many urban myths surrounding Manchester. It’s been said that Hitler had admired the Midlands Hotel in St Peter’s Square so much that he was willing to make it the headquarters for Nazi occupation in the North West. Equally, there are many myths surrounding the University of Manchester Museum. One of the first things […]
12 October 1492 marks an event which was to change life on both sides of the Atlantic forever; this date represents the discovery of America. In 1492, the navigator Christopher Columbus, funded by the Spanish Crown, sailed westward from Spain in hopes of finding a new sea route to South and Southeast Asia. Despite initially […]
In the middle ages, pilgrimages were the ‘holiday’ du jour. Many of the journeys, mainly taken on foot, are unimaginable for us today. Tom Oliver records the most noted pilgrimages alongside some of the more unusual routes. While we think of travel as a leisure activity, some take it to extremes. Lloyd Hammett looks at […]
‘I’ll show you who’s boss, Kate Moss’. Henry Holland was working on the teen magazine Bliss when he soared to fame with his tongue in cheek catchphrase T-shirts. Everyone whose anyone would recognise his rhyming slogan t-shirts, he’s best friends with supermodel Agyness Deyne, but what of the man behind the madness. Holland was born […]
Given that independence is one of the hottest topics of the year, Stephen Wears argues that there is an historical precedent for independence. Advertising gained new momentum in the Victorian era, not least because of the exotic trading afforded by the Empire. Katherine Almond analyse the effect of Empire on advertising, from the eugenics of […]
The French Revolution, renowned for its transformative revolutionary politics and societal impact, initiated substantial changes in the pursuit of liberty and equality. While the revolution is often celebrated for its achievements, like the abolition of the absolute monarchy and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in 1789, the same efforts […]
On May 28th 1453, when the Byzantine emperor Constantine XI entered the “Church of the Divine Wisdom”, Constantinople was under siege. Perhaps the emperor knelt to pray before the Apse Mosaic of the Virgin and Child. Looking up at the gloriously gilded icon of one of Christianity’s most famous images – a young mother sitting […]
The period of Barbarian Migration which marked the decline and fall of the Roman Empire covers quite a large period of history, ranging from the 4th century right up to the 9th. It is extremely hard to pinpoint exactly where each Barbarian tribe was at what time during the Migrations, as the written sources are […]
In the month since issue 9 was published the trees have lost their leaves, the nights have drawn in and the days keep getting colder. At this time of year many of us turn to all kinds of sources for comfort and in this issue we’ve focused on one of our favourites – baking. We’ve […]
Following the abolition of the Roman kingdom c. 509BC, the Roman Republic was created. This comprised of a system in which the government contained a variety of appointed officials from noble families, called senators. The main leading figures of the government were two consuls, with new consuls being appointed each year. Julius Caesar was elected […]
Monthly careers update! With deadlines for internships and grad schemes looming, keep up to date with our careers events to make sure you are as informed as possible! As for applications – do not panic! Feel free to drop in to the Careers Service or arrange a one on one appointment with a consultant to […]
Are you in Manchester next year? If you’re interested in taking over the Manchester Historian for 2013/14, please read below for information on how to apply and details regarding the available roles. The deadline for applications is Monday 5pm BST, 13th May. Good luck! Application Checklist Full Name Current year of study (1st or 2nd) Indicate a […]
A look at student protest throughout the ages. Dr. Max Jones is a senior lecturer in Modern History at the University of Manchester. His research and teaching focuses primarily on nineteenth- and twentieth-century British history, with particular interest, among others, in heroism, gender and masculinity; monarchy, empire and national identity; and exploration and technology. We […]
A few months ago, whilst watching an enthralling contest between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates stadium, I found myself in a position of some conflict. The man next to me, an Arsenal regular who’s been going for years, would occasionally hurl homophobic abuse at the referee or opposition when a decision particularly upset him. […]
