Category Archive: Early Modern History

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How Effective was the Forced Transportation of Criminals to Australia as a Legal Punishment?

In 1788, the First Fleet arrived in what would later be known as Sydney Harbour, marking the beginning of Australia’s history as a penal colony. Britain’s gaols were flooding with prisoners, causing a crisis with soaring rates of crime. This article delves into the forms of punishment within this period of Georgian British history, comparing these to the transportation of prisoners to Australia. Benjamin Fradley’s insightful piece uses this comparison to evaluate whether transportation was truly successful as a form of punishment, or whether it was simply a necessary alternative to other, more barbaric practices.
AUTHOR BENJAMIN FRADLEY

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Heart of the Forest: The Freeminers of the Royal Forest of Dean

In 1960, Dennis Potter identified something unique about his homeland of the Forest of Dean that made it so special: the sense of a small green world hemmed in by two rivers and two nations. This article by Joseph Lowen-Grey, the winner of our Local and Community History Writing Competition, explores this further by detailing the Forest’s enchanting history. Anchoring the article around the forest’s Freeminers, this piece foregrounds the intricate legacy of the group that makes the Forest of Dean as remarkable as it stands today.
AUTHOR JOSEPH LOWEN-GREY

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Illegitimacy and Infanticide in Early Modern England

The crime of infanticide was something closely associated with illegitimate births throughout Early Modern England and was a cause for public anxiety. However, this article explores how many women actually resorted to infanticide as a result of illegitimate pregnancies. Olivia Boyle compares the presence of infanticide in popular culture to real cases to see how far it truly was the fate for infants at the time, or if there was a more prevalent threat at play for them.
AUTHOR OLIVIA BOYLE

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Perpignan or Perpinyà? Exploring the Multicultural History of the Southwest French City

Perpignan, located in the south of France, is the last large city closest to the Franco-Spanish border. Much like its history, the city stands today ensnared between French and Catalan culture. This article delves into the multiculturalism within Perpignan, especially looking at its Catalan, but also French, culture and identity. By exploring the city’s history, linguistics, heritage, and gastronomy, Cassia Wydra carefully traces and appreciates the bicultural identity of Perpignan, or Perpinyà.
AUTHOR CASSIA WYDRA

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Should we retrospectively diagnose historical figures as autistic? 

“Eccentric,” “aloof,” “obsessive,” “shy” – these are all labels used to describe numerous notable historical figures, both by their contemporaries and by modern historians. The challenges to not reinforce stereotypes but also possible advantages of retrospective diagnose of historical figures long time dead as autistic are explored in this fundamental article, winner of the Disability History competition for 2024/2025 and which makes a starting contribution for this area of Disability History. Unmissable!
AUTHOR: OSCAR HILDER

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Wentworth Woodhouse: Mea Gloria Fides

Wentworth Woodhouse has undergone much expansion for decades, in terms of its architecture, owners, and history. In this article, Finlay Ratcliffe seeks to explore the history of the site, tracing it chronologically, using its fifteen owners as key historical checkpoints. By also foregrounding its rigid resistance to modern demolition attempts, as well as its current preservation plans, the reasons for why Wentworth Woodhouse is considered a great survivor are illuminated.
AUTHOR FINLAY RATCLIFFE

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Was Britain Ever Really a White Country?

War, empire, and nationhood have typically defined British history, with whiteness serving as a constant underlying motif. As a result, Black history has often been written out of this mainstream narrative. In this illuminating article, Sinead Bedward explores the deep-rooted presence of Black people in Britain, from ancient times to the Tudor period. By foregrounding their success and influence, the article challenges the misconception that Black history is separate from British history, instead exemplifying how Black individuals have shaped Britain for centuries.
AUTHOR SINEAD BEDWARD

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The End of the World as We Know It: Climate Change Throughout History

Climate change is an especially relevant issue, with the current global warming crisis needing urgent attention by world leaders. In this article, Leon Corneille-Cowell outlines the history of this phenomenon, reflecting its precedence over thousands of decades, and its devastating impacts upon a number of civilisations and groups throughout time.
AUTHOR: LEON CORNEILLE-COWELL

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A Comparison of the ‘An Allegory of the Tudor Succession’ Paintings

Depicting a powerful ruler through paintings, writing, music and statues has its roots in propaganda and shows a desire to be remembered once deceased. In this enthralling article, the symbolism behind the royal portraiture of the Tudor period, specifically through two almost identical paintings depicting Henry VIII and his children, all of which ruled England, is thoroughly analysed. The first is named ‘The Family of Henry VIII: An Allegory of the Tudor Succession’ by Lucas de Heere from 1572 and the second is ‘An Allegory of the Tudor Succession: The Family of Henry VIII’ by an unknown artist from 1590.
AUTHOR: ANNON FORD

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“Upon Which Order The Child Was Brought To Him Which He Refused To Take”: The Fathers and Grandparents of Illegitimate Children in Early Modern England

In early modern English society, illegitimate children were a recognisable feature, especially in parishes. Olivia Boyle explores the familial dynamics surrounding these children, especially highlighting the unique involvement of fathers and grandparents in the lives of their ‘bastard’ descendants.
AUTHOR OLIVIA BOYLE

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2024 in History

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

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Power or Pressure? Exploring whether Cosmetic Practices throughout History have Granted its Users Agency

Throughout history, women have utilised cosmetic practises to beautify themselves, adorning their appearances. Despite the tendency of historiography, as well as societies, to view these actions as a product of patriarchal influence, reducing cosmetic practices as being dictated by the male gaze, this has not always been the case. In this very interesting article, it is explored that the idea that cosmetics have actually been consistently used by women in particular to grant themselves with agency.
AUTHOR: PIPER HEDGES

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Angry, Fat and Cross – the Unmarried Woman in Early Modern England

Unmarried women in the Post-Mediaeval society occupied a unique position, since it meant to be partially socially and financially independent, but also to waiver certain social rights and privileges that were ordinarily only available to married women. The stereotype of the widow (elderly, destitute, lonely and haggard); superstitions around them and later, the satire found in both print and the wider media as well how historical archaeology can help unveil this preconceptions are explored in this excellent article.

AUTHOR: TOMO OLLIVIER

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Print and Popularity in the Tolerationist Debates of the English Revolution

The English Civil War and Revolution in the 1600s acted to destabilise and polarise the country. Jack Crosswaite explores the impact this had upon the control over the press, focusing on the changing print culture. The notion of the public sphere is reshaped through this article, through an analysis of pamphlet debates and concepts of popularity.
AUTHOR JACK CROSSWAITE

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Depictions of Cleopatra from Shakespeare to Netflix

Cleopatra VII, the last queen of Egypt proper, has gripped popular media and its creative imagination throughout history. In this article, Leon Corneille-Cowell and Isabel Davies explore various depictions of the ruler, for example, using her medieval depictions and modern television portrayals.
AUTHOR LEON CORNEILLE-COWELL AND ISABEL DAVIES

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The Ming Dynasty, Porcelain, Builders and Travellers

The Ming dynasty, known widely as the ‘Great Ming,’ oversaw the building of some of China’s most iconic monuments and contained many other unique features. In this article, Leon Corneille-Cowell explores these, as well as key individuals within the dynasty, such as the Hongwu Emperor and Zhang He.
AUTHOR LEON CORNEILLE-COWELL

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The Qing: China’s Last Imperial Dynasty

Retelling the history of the Qing dynasty, Leon Corneille-Cowell discusses the range of factors that led to its eventual decline. This article gives an overview by detailing events such as the Taiping Rebellion while also looking at typical Qing fashion.
AUTHOR LEON CORNEILLE-COWELL

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The Mythology of Punkie Night

Kate Maybury discusses the mythology and local history surrounding Punkie Night. Inspired by her own links to the tradition, this article sheds a new light on the origins and stories behind Punkie Night and Halloween.
AUTHOR KATE MAYBURY

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The Celtic Origins of Halloween

Runner up of our 2023 Halloween Writing Competition, Seren Davies-Jones outlines the Celtic influences behind the celebration of Halloween. By looking at the common human fascination with all things dark and mysterious, clear connections are drawn between Samhain and Halloween.
AUTHOR SEREN DAVIES-JONES

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A TownMouse Christmas: A Review of Fairfax House’s new Festive exhibition

In our latest article Katie Wilkinson and Ariane S. Palmas review the new festive exhibition at Fairfax House, a Georgian town house, with influences of neo-classical architecture in its standing building.

AUTHORS: KATIE WILKINSON AND ARIANE S. PALMAS

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2020 in History

As we enter into the new year of 2021, we take a look at some of the historical anniversaries we saw in 2020, from literature to international legislation
AUTHOR: VARIOUS

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Blanke History: The untold story of the Black Tudors

Charlotte Small explores the often overlooked story of the Black Tudors through an analysis of John Blanke, a Black Tudor Musician.

AUTHOR: CHARLOTTE SMALL

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An Introduction to the History of Emotions

A brief introduction to the History of Emotions

AUTHOR: LIAM GREENACRE

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Histories and Stories: Narration in Historiography

An insightful examination of the multifaceted role of narration in history.
AUTHOR: VERA RATNIKOVA

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The ‘Popish Plot’: Titus Oates and ‘Alternative Facts’ in Seventeenth-Century Britain

In 1681, a fictional Popish Plot went too far. Perhaps ‘alternative facts’ are not unique to the twenty-first century…
AUTHOR: SOPHIE TURBUTT

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1666: Plague, War and Hellfire, by Rebecca Rideal (2016)

A Review of 1666: Plague, War and Hellfire, by Rebecca Rideal (2016).
AUTHOR: JESS AYRES

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‘The Norman Yoke’: Uses of the Past During the English Civil War

In this article, Liam Greenacre considers the use of the Norman Conquest of 1066 during the 17th century English Civil War, contrasting the perceived utopian age with the realities of living under foreign rule.
AUTHOR: LIAM GREENACRE

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“Be the Heroine of your Life”: Five Inspirational Women From History Assessed

This article looks five women from across history from vastly different backgrounds. The background of each woman is assessed, and a judgement made on their lasting contributions to society.
AUTHOR: VICTORIA BETTNEY AND OTHERS

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Anti-Irish Sentiment in Early Modern Britain

Modern attitudes towards the Irish have a complex history, beginning in the Early Modern period. This article explores the evolution of Anti-Irish sentiment in this period, charting its changes and various forms.
AUTHOR: ENYA HOLLAND

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“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

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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

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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

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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

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‘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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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“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

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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

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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

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“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

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The Myth of Marie Antoinette

This interesting article discusses the ‘true’ nature of Marie Antoinette with insight from analyses of pamphlets.
AUTHOR: LAUREN MILLER

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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

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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