January 2024 – Page 2 – Manchester Historian

The Wars of the Roses were a series of wars fought in 15th century England between two rival factions of the royal Plantagenet house until the ascension of the Tudor house with Henry VII in 1485. It was during the Wars of the Roses that the bloodiest and biggest battle on English soil was fought: the Battle of Towton. Although some see the Wars of the Roses as beginning in 1455, this fails to factor in the many issues leading up to the first battle in 1455. It was these issues which set the necessary pre-conditions for Cade’s rebellion in 1450 and sowed the seeds of war within England.

Once home to the flourishing Indus Valley Civilisation and encompassing one of the most fertile regions on Earth, Punjab in South Asia is home to over 140 million people. Punjabis also make up one of the largest ethnic groups in the world and have large diaspora communities in Britain, the USA and Canada. Punjab has seen the armies of Alexander the Great, Ghaznavid garrisons, Mughal militaries and the British Raj. It is this complex history that has created a distinct Punjabi culture: it is a fusion of Indian, Arab and Persian traditions and religions.

Oftentimes provincialism prevents one from diligently searching for clues to past, present, and future human behaviour. Resistance and revolts are not exclusive to the most recent past; instead, over 2,300 years ago they were being documented…

Films are a highly impactful form of media, transporting the viewer into a new world and returning us to our rightful place in time minutely altered. Films inspire and provoke emotions and dreams in the audience through their complex themes and real-world understanding. This is even more true when films are based on true stories like that of Mel Gibson’s 2016 film Hacksaw Ridge. The true story of the American war hero Desmond Doss is brought to life through an incredible cast and an accurate portrayal of Desmond’s heroics. Doss is an unlikely war hero, however, because he is a ‘CO’.

The role of a queen for most of English history had, up until the Tudor period, been non-existent. No queen had ruled in her own right, their role was to serve as a woman should and be subservient to their husband. When Mary ascends in 1553, a new type of monarch is forged, and a new question arises. Does a queen gain an independence never before seen and serve her country as ruler, or remain within patriarchal values and place her country second to her husband? Since Mary’s reign was too short for her to truly answer this question on her own, it is her sister Elizabeth who truly defines what it means to be a queen.