2024 in History

A look at historical anniversaries and commemorations that occurred this year by the 2023-2024 York Historian Committee.

35 years: The Tiananmen Square Massacre

2024 marks 35 years since the Chinese Communist Party decided to retaliate against student protests in Tiananmen Square in Beijing with military force and brutality, leading to the deaths of many, coined as the Tiananmen Square Massacre. Student-led pro-democracy demonstrations had developed as a response to the death of CCP general secretary Hu Yaobang, with worries and anxieties increasing, surrounding the country’s current state and its future. Protesting against the government’s corruption, the protests eventually transformed into a hunger strike in May 1989, leading to a state response of violence and destruction. Although the event remains a heavily censored topic in China, the need to remember and commemorate the immense amount of young lives lost and hurt is still paramount today.

Written by Piper Hedges

50 years: ABBA’s Eurovision Win

2024 marks the anniversary of ABBA’s famous win at the 1974 Eurovision in Brighton. The band sang ‘Waterloo’, a now beloved song by many fans worldwide. The song itself references the famous Battle of Waterloo which will mark its 210th anniversary next year; despite the incredible vocals and staging, ABBA had no idea what they were singing as none of them spoke any English at the time of the event. This moment was etched into the minds of fans around the world and is still hailed as an event of the century and propelled ABBA to international stardom. As a longtime ABBA fan it has been wonderful to see the celebrations of such an iconic group. The world around us is embroiled in chaos and tragedy and so during these uncertain times, it has been nice to celebrate the little moments.

Written by Ellie-Mae Britton

30 years: The Rwandan Genocide

This year marks the 30th anniversary since the genocide committed by armed Hutu militias in the central African country of Rwanda. Between 500,000 and 800,000 people, predominantly of the ethnic Tutsi minority, lost their lives. The genocide took place between 7th of April and 19th July 1994 in the context of a civil war fought between the Tutsi-led Rwandan patriotic front and the Hutu government. The catalyst of the genocide was the assassination of the president Habyarimana. The scale and nature of the violence that followed shocked the world, although no foreign government intervened. Many victims were killed by their own neighbours and horrific acts of sexual violence were perpetrated. The ethnic genocide ended with the seizure of power by the​ Tutsi troops of the Rwandan Patriotic Front led by Paul Kagame, who has been president of Rwanda for the last 24 years. The path to reconciliation and rebuilding trust has been difficult and the country has struggled to make the transition to a democracy with free and fair elections.

Written by Sacha Brozel

20 years: The Creation of Facebook

Created in 2004, 2024 marks the twentieth anniversary of the creation of Facebook. Originally called “Facemash,” Facebook was designed by Harvard University students Mark Zuckerberg, Eduardo Saverin, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes. Intended to be an internal, membership-platform for Harvard students, Facebook’s popularity soon grew to include other universities, and eventually the public (over 13) by 2006. While not the first social media platform to blossom online, Facebook quickly took over, becoming the most downloaded app of the 2010s and boasting over three billion active users in 2022. Facebook has weathered serious controversies over the course of its history, coming up against criticisms about the psychological effects of social media, the proliferation of hate speech online, and the reach of advertisers to Facebook users. Despite this, Facebook and its parent company Meta Platforms continues to grow and dominate our online social spheres.

Written by Kaylie Bergeson

200 years: The National Gallery

The National Gallery was established in 1824, following a trend of bringing significant artworks under public ownership. It moved to its current location in Trafalgar Square in 1838 with the aim to give people a lasting and significant enjoyment of artworks. This emphasis on wide public access has always been at the heart of the National Gallery, and it has brought people of different social classes together for (two) centuries, allowing everyone to be inspired by its contents. An exhibition titled ‘Bringing People and Paintings Together’ has been installed in London marking the anniversary and many ‘National Treasures’ are currently touring the country, bringing art to different communities across the UK and sharing cultural masterpieces with those who may not so easily access them. This includes the display of Claude Monet’s The Water-Lily Pond in York Art Gallery, bringing a stunning, transcendent and foundational piece to our doorstep.

Written by Hollie Tilling

700 years: The Death of Marco Polo

Born in the Republic of Venice in 1254, Marco Polo is known as a merchant and traveller who made Asia more known during the Medieval period. He is known as being a diplomat on behalf of Kublai Khan (it is said that his father sold him to the Yuan dynasty Mongol emperor, grandson of Genghis Khan). He also accompanied the Mongolian princess Kököchin to her future husband in Persia and was a diplomat on behalf of the Pope. When he was finally released after 24 years and returned to Venice, he was to be caught by the Genoese in a naval battle. He dictated his memories to Rustichello from Pisa (the original manuscript is lost unfortunately and what we can read is the copy kept at the National Library in France) and passed away on January 9th in 1324 in Venice where he was buried in the church of San Lorenzo. But, for sure the most striking document is his last will, permanently displayed in the Marciana National Library in St Mark’s square (the original will is kept in the State Archive of Venice, dated 12 July 1366).

Written by Ariane Palmas