The York Historian Meets: Michael Walkden
“The university historian doesn’t have to be the only gatekeeper of the truth of the past.”
The York Historian’s Paul Kerr meets PhD student, Michael Walkden.
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“High Ruler of the Storm-Tents”: The Christianization of Iceland
The Christianization of Iceland was not straightforward. It was distinctly Icelandic, as this article explores.
AUTHOR: VANIA BUSO
“And Our Enemies We’ll Scatter”: The Glorious Revolution and the Battle of the Boyne Considered
The Glorious Revolution marked one of the greatest periods of political change within early modern Britain and Ireland. This article assesses the decisive Battle of the Boyne in securing the new dynasty, as well as its lasting historical significance.
AUTHOR: VICTORIA BETTNEY
Martin McGuinness: A turbulent life
From Chief of Staff of the IRA to shaking hands with the Queen of England, Martin McGuinness embodies the changes within Northern Irish Republicanism in the late twentieth century. This article looks at key periods in McGuinness’s life, 1950-2017.
AUTHOR: VICTORIA BETTNEY
The European Witch Hunts: A Mass Murder of Women?
The witch trials have been described as a ‘mass murder of women’. This article considers why the gender element to witch hunts has been surprisingly neglected, and what theories are most compelling as to why women were accused of witchcraft than men.
AUTHOR: ENYA HOLLAND
The Devonshire MS: Women and Literature
The Devonshire MS is a collection of poetry; its significance lies in its authorship – historical women of import in the Henrician period. This article outlines how the folio changed hands and how it came to be.
AUTHOR: JESSICA AYRES
The Tudors before the Tudors
The Tudors were a defining dynasty and remain a popular topic in historical studies. This article instead follows the threads of the key Tudors that preceded the reigns of the Tudor monarchs.
AUTHOR: LAUREN MILLER
The Crown: monarchy on screen
Historical television is on the rise, ‘The Crown’ is a superb example of how television can evoke a sense of national heritage. This article provides an introduction in considering ‘The Crown’ as a historical work.
AUTHOR: LAURA FLANNIGAN
“How can life go on?” Reflections on the Holocaust and its Aftermath
Today, January 27th, is Holocaust Memorial Day. this article takes the opportunity to reflect on remembering the Holocaust, and what still needs to be done.
AUTHOR: SOPHIE TURBUTT
The Battle of the Somme film review
In early November, Professor Andrew Higson gave a talk at a screening of the film ‘The Battle of the Somme’. This article outlines the talk given, and discusses the film in that light.
AUTHOR: CATHERINE METCALF
Banners and Blazons: Introducing Heraldry to History.
A whistle-stop tour of Heraldry offers us an improved, clarified understanding of its usage and shows some of the common misconceptions.
AUTHOR: AZAM CAESAR
‘Anomalies in the Colony’: Irish Catholics and the Codification of Racial Slavery
Irish workers were seen to be lesser in the eyes of English planters. The Irish held a legal status above their slave peers whilst still sharing a commonality and practical status with them.
AUTHOR: ENYA HOLLAND
‘The settlement must be for an agreed and united Ireland.’ The British Labour Party and its view on the Constitutional Legitimacy of Northern Ireland, 1945 to the present.
Northern Ireland’s political structure was dependent on the stability of its political climate and was largely shaped by its relations with Britain.
WRITTEN BY VICTORIA BETTNEY
Does Life on Mars authentically recreate the 1970s?
10 years ago, the popular TV series Life on Mars ran. How authentically did it portray the 1970s?
AUTHOR: WILL LLOYD-REGAN
Henry Fitzroy: Bastard or Heir?
Henry VIII’s first son Henry Fitzroy has been sidelined in Tudor History. His story reveals a great deal about legitimacy, royal lineage and succession.
AUTHOR JESSICA AYRES
The Rise and Fall of Edmund Dudley: the “hawk” of Henry VII?
Should we take the negative reputation of infamous Henrician minister Edmund Dudley at face value? This article outlines his life and career in order to explore the realities of his representation.
AUTHOR: LAURA FLANNIGAN
The Fall of the Ancien Régime
The role of literacy, the rising middle class, and the decline of the Church were all factors in the Ancien Régime’s steady demise, this article shows.
AUTHOR: LAUREN MILLER
The problems with Scottish history: anglo-centrism and national identities
Scottish history is sorely neglected – British history often means anglo-centric or English history. This article charters out how Scottish history has been overlooked.
AUTHOR: EMILY DUNN
‘The Wolf of the Seas’: Thomas Cochrane, Britain’s Forgotten Hero
The British MP and admiral Thomas Cochrane has been somewhat overlooked in history. This article reconsiders his place in continental naval disputes, British history and the wider world.
AUTHOR: JATIN MAPARA
The Medieval Museum Musée de Cluny: the value of museums in history.
The Musée de Cluny in Paris is a rare example of a museum that strives to more authentically look back at the Medieval period.
AUTHOR: ELSA ROBINSON
Magic and Science in Early Modern Europe – Are They Really So Different?
An examination of Early Modern science and the practice of magic – how the two are more intertwined than it would seem.
AUTHOR: MARTHA BAILEY
The EU and the EEC referendum: how much has changed?
A little Déjà vu? Four decades on and the same question lingers…
This article explores the similarities and discontinuity between the 1975 and 2016 Europe referendums.
AUTHOR WILL LLOYD-REGAN
Doing the Dissertation: Tips for researching and writing an undergraduate History dissertation
Writing and researching for a dissertation is no easy task. Here, tips and tricks for making the challenge more achievable are considered.
AUTHOR: LAURA FLANNIGAN and others.
Native American Women in the European Atlantic World
This article considers the shifting dynamics of gender roles for Native American women during the cultural exchange with European colonialism.
AUTHOR: LAUREN MILLER
Shakespeare’s Life
400 years after Shakespeare’s death, this article seeks to briefly layout the life of this revered, literary genius. AUTHOR: LAUREN MILLER
Did World War Two cause the end of the British Empire?
Analysing the causes for the decolonisation of the British Empire, this article finds that World War Two was a catalyst amongst a number of other coincidental factors.
AUTHOR: CLAIRE SWEETLAND
The Queen’s Birthday: Development, Forms, and Functions of the celebrations for Elizabeth I and Elizabeth II
On this day, the Queen’s 90th birthday, this article looks back at the development of this national holiday.
AUTHOR: LAURA FLANNIGAN
In Defence of Empire
The British Empire often conjures some terrible national memories. This article instead explores the positive, constructive impact of the Empire.
AUTHOR: JATIN MAPARA
‘This is the beginning, not the end.’ Just why was the Good Friday Agreement signed?
A look back at the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. This article looks at which political players were involved and what their agendas were.
AUTHOR: VICTORIA BETTNEY
Margaret Thatcher and Gender
An exploration of Margaret Thatcher’s place in gender politics and feminism. Thatcher was unique as both a force for and against feminism.
AUTHOR: VICTORIA BETTNEY
A Letter From The Editor-in-Chief
With the elections for a new administration coming up, the Editor-in-Chief talks about how The York Historian has grown since its establishment.
AUTHOR: AILA BICER
John Dee: Science, Occult and Empire
Inspired by a recent exhibition at the Royal Society of Physicians, this article explore the life and achievements of polymath John Dee, with a focus on his progressive views on navigation and empire.
AUTHOR: LAUREN MILLER
Late Medieval England: A Man’s World?
Examining the lives of women in late medieval England, this article demonstrates that a patriarchal society didn’t necessarily mean that women were excluded from popular culture. AUTHOR: MARTHA BAILEY
Tudor Royal Palaces – More Than Just Hampton Court?
Hampton Court Palace is the most famous of the Tudor dynasty. However, it was but one of a repertoire of many architectural marvels. This article explores the construction and use of other grand palaces used by the Tudors.
AUTHOR: JESS AYRES
“The King is Dead: The Last Will and Testament of Henry VIII” by Suzannah Libscomb (2015)
An interesting review of Suzannah Libscomb’s “The King is Dead” book, published last year.
AUTHOR: MAISY SZABO
I Need A Hero: Why Medieval England Needed Robin Hood
Robin Hood is no doubt a famous outlaw, with stories of him popular across the ages. This article explores the romantic imagery in ballads and tales about outlaws and their historical contexts, providing an insight into popular opinion and the fantasies of medieval townspeople,
AUTHOR: JESSICA HARRIS
An Analysis of Slave Hierarchies in Django Unchained
To what extent are the slave hierarchies portrayed in the popular film, Django Unchained, realistic? Are representations historically accurate or merely dramatised?
AUTHOR: AILA BICER
Katherine Swynford: Her Life and Legacy
Though she has a brief mention in history as the lover and eventual wife of John of Gaunt, who was Katherine Swynford? This piece studies her personal and political life, mapping out her rise in status.
AUTHOR: LAUREN MILLER
Lady Jane Grey: The Most Overlooked Tudor Monarch
An insight into the life of Lady Jane Grey, a Tudor monarch who held the throne for nine days in 1553.
AUTHOR: EMILY DUNN
What was the significance of the 95 Theses?
There is no doubt among historians that Martin Luther’s ’95 Theses’ document was central to the Reformation in the 16th century. This article explores the 95 theses in detail, analysing what they were, why they were written and their impact.
AUTHOR: VICTORIA BETTNEY
“Close the wall up with our English dead”: does Shakespeare’s Henry V actually problematise Agincourt?
A contextualisation of Shakespeare’s play, Henry V, which allows for exploration of the portrayal of Henry V and the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.
AUTHOR: LAURA FLANNIGAN
The Myth of Marie Antoinette
This interesting article discusses the ‘true’ nature of Marie Antoinette with insight from analyses of pamphlets.
AUTHOR: LAUREN MILLER
Why Did Elizabeth I Never Marry?
Elizabeth I is known as the Virgin Queen. This article surveys the potential reasons behind why she never married, a decision that caused the death of the Tudor dynasty.
AUTHOR: JESSICA AYRES
Jinnah: Hero or Villian?
This piece questions historiographical opinions on Muhammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan, and re-assesses his role in one of the most turbulent periods in South Asian history.
AUTHOR: ANEESA YASIN
Anne Boleyn: A Romantic Heroine?
This article examines the romanticised representations of Anne Boleyn portrayed by historians and artists centuries after her death, with particular focus on Victorian perspectives on her character and execution.
AUTHOR: LAUREN MILLER
‘An heir and a spare’: a brief history of the royal succession in British history
The problem of succession to the British throne has consistently reared its head throughout history. This article explores different situations where trouble ensued regarding claims to the throne – with some more legitimate than others.
AUTHOR: LAURA FLANNIGAN
Stalin’s Cult of Personality: Its Origins and Progression
Stalin established a cult of personality that ensured a secure foundation for his autocratic regime, but how did he do it?
AUTHOR: JULIA KENNY
Eleanor of Aquitaine: Why we should not forget the medieval era when searching for our most powerful queens.
The intriguing life of Eleanor of Aquitaine, a queen to be remembered. AUTHOR: JESSICA HARRIS-EDWARDS
Mass Communication during the Great Leap Forward, 1958 – 1962
This article explores the various mediums the Chinese Communist Party used to communicate state visions and messages during the Great Leap Forward under Mao Zedong.
AUTHOR: AILA BICER
The Forgotten German History
A microcosmic study of the German town of Prichsenstadt followed by a deeper analysis into ways German history is studied today.
AUTHOR: CAITLIN BURGE