Manchester Historian Issue 25

ISSUE 25 | NOVEMBER 2016

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History in the Headlines

Trump Wins Election Impacts of Brexit Behind every story… There is History

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ISSUE 25 | NOVEMBER 2016

What’s Inside HISTORY IN THE HEADLINES The US Presidential Election 2016...................................................... 4 Brexit: What does it mean for us?....................................................... 5 2014-2016 Venezuelan Protests......................................................... 6

DEFINING A NATION’S HISTORY

100 Years Since the Rising that Changed a Nation .............................7 The Qing Dynasty of China...................................................................8

HISTORY YOU SHOULD KNOW

The Battle of the Somme....................................................................9 Ides of March.......................................................................... ..........10 The Ancient Olympic Games..............................................................11 The Partitioning of the Middle East...................................................12 Oasis-20th Anniversary of Knebworth Show.....................................13 The Incas: Expansion and Decline.....................................................13 Shakespeare and His Legacy..............................................................14 Alfred, the Great?...............................................................................14

HISTORY UPDATES

What’s Going on Around Manchester............................................... 15 History at UoM ................................................................................. 16 Peer Mentors..................................................................................... 16 Netball Society.................................................................................. 17 Football Society.................................................................................17 Careers Update..................................................................................18

Follow our brand new Instagram account @manchesterhistorian for daily information about what happened #OnThisDay in history.

Editors

Araddhna Patel Will Bain

Head of Design

Olivia Mansfield

Head of Copy-Editing

Dan O’Byrne

Head of Marketing

Tom Denman

Head of Online

Orsolya Plesz

Design Team

Ollie Potter Lauren Dawes Ella Comben Rujing Guo Natalie Branca

Copy - Editing Team

Marketing Team Online Team

Shannon Winterbone Holly Hark Megan Cunliffe Tony Scott Caitlin Hughes Ben Ryan Steven Bennett Kate McCoubrey James Blower

Front Cover via Flickr

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www.manchesterhistorian.com

ISSUE 25 | NOVEMBER 2016

A Note from the Editors We are at that point in the semester where students are excited for the upcoming Christmas holidays but are bogged down with assignments. Nights are getting darker, deadlines are getting closer, library sessions are getting longer, and exam revision is looming. Why not take a break from all that stress and have a read of these articles that go through some of the most historically-significant events instead?

This issue will focus on uncovering, discussing and analysing such an eventful year, while our writers have been exploring other years in history that have changed a nation’s history and revealing the consequences which unfolded.

“The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.”

– H. Jackson Brown Jr.

In this issue we will consider years that have defined a nation’s history.

From Ireland in 1916 to China in 1644, we will reflect on these significant years as we also evaluate the year 2016 that has brought great change to modern day society.

With the US election, EU referendum, momentous anniversaries and on-going political disruptions continuing in Venezuela, the year 2016 has had it all.

A History Society update is included within this issue too, with the latest on both our football and netball teams.

Our ‘What’s Going On in Manchester’ section will keep you in-the-know with events leading up to Christmas, and there is also a section on careers if you’re wondering what the future holds like we are!

Finally, we would like to thank all our contributors who managed to write an article; if you did not get an opportunity but would like to write in the future, please email us at manchesterhistorian@gmail.com, or like our Facebook page ‘The Manchester Historian’.

We hope you enjoy our first issue of the academic year, and a Merry Christmas in advance!

Araddhna and Will

Photo via The University of Manchester @TheMcrHistorian

The Manchester Christmas Markets: Image Credit Manchester Evening News. © 2015 latimes.com

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ISSUE 25 | NOVEMBER 2016

HISTORY IN THE HEADLINES The US Presidential Election 2016 One of the first things to strike me after arriving in the US in June 2016 was the amount of coverage and publicity given to the then-almost Republican candidate in the upcoming Presidential election, Donald Trump. Both his breakthrough to the mainstream of U.S. politics and his eventual election to the White House were revolutionary and proved wrong many people who had laughed off his campaign months before.

Social media and news outlets, who gave him endless publicity in the build up to November’s election, pounced upon his seemingly discriminatory attitude to minority populations and often-controversial remarks. Kids at the camp where I was working were keen to bring up the subject of Trump following large exposure to his campaign and staff. Both Americans and Europeans struggled to debate issues other than his nomination, even following the recent British EU referendum results in late June.

It was this exposure and hype that proved to be the backbone of Trump’s campaign. Through this he was able to push through his slogans time and time again – his promises to ‘Make America Great Again’. In contrast to his opponent, Hilary Clinton with her seemingly less passionate and more policy-focused approach, Trump’s strengths lay in being able to identify and connect with his white male target audience. He made them believe in him and eventually inspired them to go out and vote for him.

Trump’s campaign from the beginning of the party primaries was, of course, no smooth journey. The New-York businessman began fights with Fox News and their popular journalist Megyn Kelly. He delivered only a half-hearted apology to the surfacing of the horrifically vulgar video clip of his boasting about his sexual advances on women back in 2005. Policies and proposals concerning immigration and the threat of terrorism meant he alienated himself from ethnic and religious groups such as Hispanics, African-Americans and Muslims. His off-the-cuff performances in presidential debates saw him take further hits in the polls.

Will Bain

pack of Republican nominee hopefuls, including Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio. His promise to overthrow the current political establishment led to great eventual success with voters in America’s Midwest. Before the Democratic and Republican conventions, where parties nominate their respective election candidates, the media was already rife with the idea that November would see Trump face off against Clinton, who was facing her own primary battle against Bernie Sanders.

This, of course, proved to be the case in the fight for the White House. Four months of extensive campaigning, three presidential debates, and a barrage of insults and accusations from both sides later, Donald Trump’s long-winded campaign looked to be finally failing after one of the most bitter and ugly elections to date.

Polls suggested a four-point lead for Clinton in the days leading up to the election. However, a promising start in the gradual election results for Clinton turned into a huge problem for the Democratic Party as Trump followed up a decisive victory in key battleground Florida with wins in Ohio and North Carolina. After more critical states fell to Republicans, the result was confirmed in Trump’s favour at around 3:00AM (EST) on Wednesday 9th November, bringing an end to the campaign that had defied all expectations from the very beginning.

My time in the U.S., involving two months working at the camp and around four weeks travelling, ended in mid-September. The media attention in the U.S. had unsurprisingly gone hysterical following Clinton’s health concerns at a 9/11 memorial event.

Minimal coverage was given to other news stories on networks Fox News and CNN. Despite the slight narrowing of the polls in Trump’s favour, Clinton remained the front-runner, the figure who could finally stop the scandalous Trump. No one envisaged what would happen from then onwards. However, now America faces an unclear future under the guidance of the most controversial President in U.S. political history.

However, none of this seemed to matter. The Trump train just kept on coming back for more, with Clinton seemingly unable to make a killer blow. While critics often ridiculed his political approach, Trump stuck to his game plan. He focused on states that were seen as out of reach. Swing states including Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania were targeted; all of which he won in the Electoral College, proving crucial in the final election vote.

Early 2016 proved successful for the former ‘The Apprentice’ host. By March, Trump had managed to rise above the trailing

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The President-elect Donald Trump www.manchesterhistorian.com

ISSUE 25 | NOVEMBER 2016

Brexit: What does it mean for us?

Ollie Potter

Britain’s referendum on 23rd June, popularly known as ‘Brexit’, will have profound impact on the UK. The uncertainty created by the nature of such a referendum will affect the UK economy for years to come until a comprehensive deal with the 27 EU leaders is signed.

years to negotiate. It was almost blocked by a single Belgian region, Wallonia, which could prelude what awaits Britain if it leaves the single market. The EU has no intention of letting the UK off lightly when it comes to its EU exit deal, wanting to set an example to other states hoping to leave.

This can’t even take place until Article 50 of the Treaty of European Union (TEU) is invoked, an issue alone which has created infamous controversy in the recent Gina Miller vs. Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (David Davis) law case.

The constitutional crisis created by the UK High Court’s ruling that only Parliament is legally allowed to pass Article 50 is just one of numerous impacts that should be considered. The referendum question was intentionally worded by David Cameron’s government in the event of a Leave victory to reduce chances of Britain abandoning the single market. Brexit never explicitly set out the nature of the UK’s exit from the EU, meaning that despite its claims, the post-Brexit government has a mandate to extract the UK from the EU, but not necessarily to remove it from the European single market.

Possible major political impacts include the prospect of a second Scottish bid for independence, Northern Ireland’s UK status and immigration. 62% of the Scottish and 56% of the Northern Irish electorate backed Remain whilst England and Wales supported Leave. This had led to Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon calling for a second independence referendum in the future and threatening to block the Brexit vote if Scotland was removed from the EU against its wishes. The crisis deepened further when it became apparent that Northern Ireland being forcibly removed from the EU would be contrary to the landmark 1998 Good Friday Agreement that largely brought the Troubles to an end. Brexit sees the prospect of a closed border between Northern and Republican Ireland, which has worrying ramifications for the peace process.

The economic implications must be menAnother major issue is that of immigrationed first and foremost; the EU is primartion, which has been recognised as one of ily an economic union after all. The impact the key reasons behind the Leave victory.

Photo via Flickr @AlexWhite of Brexit on the UK economy was felt immediately EU freedom of movement rules means any citizen after the Leave campaign’s victory. The pound fell to a thirty-year of an EU member state has a right to live and work in the UK low against the dollar and euro, a level not seen since 1985, at and vice versa. High Eastern European immigration to poor, one-point trading at £1 - $1.22. This marks a decrease of 15% working-class areas of England like Lincolnshire and the impact compared to pre-referendum value. Whilst a weaker pound is of Conservative austerity on areas like Tyne & Wear helped good for British exporters, foreign tourists and foreign investors, explain anger towards the EU. This is despite London, with by it is bad news for British imports to the UK. Considering Britain far the highest level of foreign-born residents in the UK, voting had a trade deficit of £4.7 billion pounds in July 2016, this must 60-40% to Remain. For many working-class Britons EU immigrabe assessed as being considerably negative for the UK econotion has come to represent competition for jobs and a strain on my, in the short-term at least. Basic imported goods like petrol, housing, healthcare and schools. Many political analysts see the food and electrical goods have seen price increases following Brexit result as a vote against the establishment, globalisation the devaluation of the pound. This sustained weak pound has and immigration. Economically deprived areas of the UK like been the result of months of uncertainty following the Brexit south Wales and north-east England saw it as a protest against vote, and will continue to fluctuate, especially regarding any UK austerity and swung the vote in Leave’s favour. government reference to the European single market.

The potential impacts of Brexit are hard to ascertain, especialThe UK exiting both the single market and the EU currency ly with it being unclear whether the UK will leave the single union would be economically disastrous for Britain, with the market. The ongoing political instability in Westminster only prospect of years of negotiating for a trade deal with the EU. The heightens the uncertainty. As always, only time will tell.

Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the EU, a model for Brexit politicians, took seven @TheMcrHistorian

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ISSUE 25 | NOVEMBER 2016

2014-2016 Venezuelan Protests On 1st September 2016, 1,000,000 people marched on Caracas in the largest demonstration in Venezuelan history.

The protests started in February 2014 following the attempted rape of a student on a university campus in San Cristóbal. However, the roots of this civil conflict lie much deeper than these flash events. The failure of the social and economic policies of Nicolás Maduro’s government was the main issue. Low oil prices, urban violence and chronic shortages of basic goods ensured that the protests continued, resulting in more than 3,000 arrests and 43 deaths in the early months of 2014.

The cause of these protests started back in 1998 when Hugo Chávez was elected President presiding over an administration which was widely accused of corruption, intimidation of the media and widespread human rights violations. Following Chávez’s death in 2013, his Vice-President Maduro took over. Fears about the economy, increasing crime and corruption became more widespread.

A harsh police crack-down on initial protests sparked even more unrest. Some of the major sources of discontent were the huge levels of corruption within Venezuela and the government’s policies of strict price controls, which led to “sporadic hyperinflation” – inflation is expected to reach 1,200% this year.

Lucy Wickham

Incredible levels of violence throughout the country and a lack of police and government control also led to the protests. A person is murdered every 21 minutes in Venezuela and 91% of murderers go unpunished. The government blames this violence on capitalist evils, but those protesting see the government as corrupt and soft on crime.

The protests have continued because of the government’s failure to act to save the economy or combat corruption. This, along with alleged abuse and human rights violations against those detained, have ensured that the demonstrations have not stopped.

On September 1st 2016, 1,000,000 people, roughly 3% of the population, turned out calling for Mr Maduro’s removal from office. It was the largest demonstration in Venezuelan history, yet the government has not listened.

What, if anything, is next for Venezuela you may ask? The Vatican has become involved in trying to broker a peace deal within the country but the opposition parties are demanding an election and the release of activists. Opposition leaders have given the government until the 11th of November before they exit the talks and return to street tactics if required. The future for Venezuela looks uncertain, and a resolution may still be far off.

DEFINING A NATION’S HISTORY 1994: The Year of Change South Africans will never forget the year of 1994, during which there was great cathartic change in the nation. Within a period of 12 months apartheid was abolished, the African National Congress (ANC), a social democratic political party, was introduced and the first ever black head of state was elected.

Prior to 1994, the country was heavily characterised by the apartheid, white supremacist laws and routine violence against people of colour. However, the political climate of the rainbow nation underwent significant change in 1994. It was then that 22 million South Africans chose a popular black man, Nelson Mandela, to lead them.

Aiswarya Kishor

Robben Island Prison. In 1964, he was yet again convicted, but this time he was given a life sentence. In prison and was subjected to brutal living conditions.

Through it all, Mandela’s resolve remained unbroken. Whilst in prison, he led a movement of civil disobedience, coercing officials into improving the living conditions for prisoners. For 27 years, Mandela lived in Robben Island prison and he was later moved into another location and kept under house arrest.

“Know your enemy - and learn about his favourite sport.” – Nelson Mandela

The ANC was the nation’s oldest black political party and it was extremely vocal against apartheid and white supremacy. After serving as the leader of the ANC Johannesburg youth wing, Mandela rose to the rank of deputy national president in 1952.

In 1961, he was discovered engaging in guerilla warfare against the white minority and arrested for treason. Although the court ruled him innocent, he was illegally sentenced to 5 years at

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After his release, he led the ANC’s negotiation with the government to end apartheid and established a multiracial government. In 1993, Mandela (along with de Klerk) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. When the ANC won an electoral majority in the 1994 elections, Mandela was elected president, a position he held until 1999.

To this day, Mandela is remembered as a celebrated freedom fighter and a champion for sports enthusiasts. Under his presidency, South Africa was allowed to participate in major sporting events.

Residents remember as they sat together to cheer on their national rugby team, the Springboks. During the final, Mr. Mandela famously said, “Know your enemy – and learn about his favorite sport.” www.manchesterhistorian.com

ISSUE 25 | NOVEMBER 2016

100 Years Since the Rising that Changed a Nation

Luke Maguire

As Patrick Pearse stood outside the General Post Office (GPO) in Dublin and read out the proclamation of the Irish Republic, those who listened knew this marked what was to be the beginning of the end of the British occupation 26 counties of Ireland (in all but the northern counties). The Easter Rising of 1916 was one of the most significant events in both Irish and British history because although militarily it was a failure, in the aftermath there was a wave of nationalism and increased fervour for independence amongst the Irish population. This was instrumental in eventually leading to the end of British rule, after the signing of the Anglo Irish Treaty in December 1921.

The Easter Rising was an armed insurrection by Irish republicans launched in an attempt to end British rule in Ireland and to form an independent Irish Republic. The events leading up to the rising were marred by global conflict, with Britain occupied with the Great War. In September of that year the council of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) met and planned to stage a rebellion before the war was over, with help from Germany. This aid was sent in April 1916 in the form of a ship loaded with rifles, ammunition and explosives. However the British discovered the arms shipment and intercepted it. This was a major setback as the rising was only intended to go ahead if there was a reasonable chance of success; victory almost certainly required the armaments on that ship. Without them, the Irish Volunteers were split as to whether the rising should still go ahead or not. This indecisiveness and lack of leadership proved to be key elements in the failure of the volunteers to achieve military success.

On Easter Sunday, 23rd April 1916, the military council decided to go ahead with the rising the next day on Easter Monday. The chief of staff, Eoin MacNeill, had actually issued a countermanding order days earlier cancelling all operations. He felt that resistance would be futile without the German weaponry. MacNeill’s order was ignored. This confusion and inconsistency in the leadership of the IRB resulted in far fewer volunteers taking part in the rising than was originally expected. It also meant the revolt was mainly confined to Dublin.

On the morning of 24th April, around 1,250 members of the Irish volunteers seized key areas across Dublin. These included Clanwilliam House, Watkins Brewery, the Four Courts Building, College of Surgeons, Boland’s Mill and the GPO, which was chosen as the rebels’ headquarters. They held out until 29th April, but the British brought in additional reinforcements and heavy artillery. The gunship HMY Helga was particularly formidable.

The Royal Navy sailed her up the river Liffy and bombarded rebel positions with two 12-pounder naval guns. In the face of overwhelming manpower and weaponry, and the rising number of civilian deaths, the volunteers had no choice but to surrender. The rising lasted only 5 days but resulted in around 485 deaths and around 2700 wounded. Most of these were innocent civilians. @TheMcrHistorian

Due to the large amount of civilian deaths, the rising initially received condemnation from the majority of ordinary Irish citizens. This changed when the British executed many of the prisoners. Justifiably, these executions were seen as being unduly harsh, particularly since the trials were held in secret and prisoners were not given a defence. This tough stance adopted by the British government undoubtedly swayed many Irish citizens towards support for the 1916 Easter rebels and the cause which they fought and died for.

Today the Easter Rising is still remembered by the Republican community as a brave uprising against an empire that had dominated Ireland for centuries. It has helped inspire uprisings against imperialism all over the world such as the Chittagong raid in India, the 1917 Russian Revolution and Ho Chi Minh’s August Revolution. However, remembrance of it is still regarded as controversial by some communities in Ireland today particularly the Unionist community in Northern Ireland who regard it as symbolism for the fight to achieve a united Ireland, which they vehemently oppose.

As the centenary year of the Easter Rising passes, regardless of our personal views on it, we can accept that because of the rising, Britain and Ireland were never the same again.

Photo via Irish Centenary

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ISSUE 25 | NOVEMBER 2016

The Qing Dynasty of China

Bria Cotton

The Qing dynasty was China’s last dynasty, and it lasted from 1644-1912. This period under the Qing dynasty constructed and built upon the foundations for modern China, and its coming to power in 1644 marked the beginning of modern China.

However, its demise in 1912 also saw the start of a turbulent modern history.

The Qing dynasty’s eventual rise to power in 1644 was a gradual process that lasted over eighty years.

It began with a coalition of peoples called the Manchus (a combination of the Jurchen and the Mongols) who were led by Nurhaci. The taking of Ming cities by the Manchus from 1625 onwards allowed them to gain a foothold into the empire, and would make the transition from Ming to Qing much easier.

Furthermore, it also gave them a stable base of power within China, particularly through the capture of Shenyang. Officers and government workers were implemented into the Ming territories which the Manchus had taken over, thereby making it easier to subdue any discontent felt by the Ming cities. This gradual process of taking over Ming cities and gaining power in Ming territory would become instrumental in making the process of uniting the Ming empire under Qing rule.

The eventual takeover of the Ming dynasty by the Manchus can be argued to have been influenced by external factors. Like previous dynasties, the Ming had fallen due to increased public discontent. A poor economy and various environmental disasters (such as famine) at the end of its reign lead to a people’s revolt. This discontent, plus the invasion of rival forces, led to the storming of Beijing in 1644 which quickly fell to the rebel forces.

There was a struggle between the major Chinese factions, such as the Han and the Manchus, as to whom would take over from the Ming dynasty. This began when the Chongzen Emperor committed suicide due to the fall of Beijing, thus ending the Ming dynasty. There is dispute over the exact details of the rise of the Qing; some accounts state that the Ming themselves asked the Manchus to come to their aid whereas others state that the Manchus defeated Li Zicheng and the rebels took over from him.

The main features of the Qing’s reign at its peak was the lead to a period of stability and prosperity. Under the Qing there was the establishment of modern China’s territorial space, including the territories of Mongolia, Taiwan, and Tibet. Furthermore, the Qing dynasty established another characteristic of modern China: its population size. Over the course of the Qing dynasty, the population nearly tripled in size from over 150,000,000 to over 450,000,000.

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Photo via The Qing Dynasty

There was also a resurgence in the arts and sciences; new inventions such as printing productions were made, a new philosophical movement emerged called legalism, and there was an increase in the production of literature (the most famous text would be The Dream of the Red Chamber, published in 1791).

Overall, the Qing dynasty saw a rebirth in Chinese culture, and contributed to developing China’s most recognisable geographical characteristics.

Therefore, the overwhelming achievements of the Qing dynasty certainly left an impact on modern China, and even Western perceptions of early modern China.

For example, the Qing dynasty suppressed discontent by making all men wear the ‘Jurchen queue’ and those not wearing this hairstyle would have been executed. This was a long braided ponytail that has come to symbolise the Western perception of the ‘Chinaman’. Moreover, the Qing dynasty’s achievements cemented the geopolitical foundations of modern China.

However, it can also be argued that the Qing dynasty’s failings and its eventual collapse made more of a profound impact on China’s history. The Qing dynasty failed in foreign relations with the West (Opium Wars 1839-1860) and the Japanese (Sino-Japanese War 1834-5) and its economy eventually became unstable. Most notably, it failed to enact substantial political reform.

The reforms that were made eventually lead to the creation of political parties, and thus the rise in political discontent against the dynasty itself. This all culminated in its collapse by the forced abdication of Emperor Xuantong in 1912, thus leading to the creation of a republic headed by the revolutionary Sun Yat Sen. To conclude, the year 1644 is an important date for modern Chinese history. It saw the beginning of modern China in terms of culture, geography, and politics, and the beginnings of a unified China in its territory and culture. www.manchesterhistorian.com

ISSUE 25 | NOVEMBER 2016

HISTORY YOU SHOULD KNOW

The Battle of the Somme For the French it is Verdun, for the British, it is the Somme. How do we think of the biggest battle of the First World War after 100 years?

During one of the biggest battles of the First World War the British Empire and the French Empire tried to break through the lines of their German foe. This battle lasted for one hundred and f days between 1st July and 18th November 1916. The Somme itself is so strongly intertwined with the concept of WW1 as an example of meaningless bloodshed that this perception of the battle is unlikely to change.

The Somme offensive was originally meant to be almost solely executed by the French army, but French resources had to be diverted to the key Battle of Verdun. The task was therefore reassigned to a combined force of French and British troops. The British contingent was made up of the Territorial Force and Kitchener’s Army. Kitchener’s army was a force of volunteers, mostly consisting of the so-called ‘Pals Battalions’ – in principle, each battalion was made up of men from similar geographical areas and mostly the same occupations. The allies’ main aim was to relieve the pressure on the French at Verdun.

The infamous first day of the battle, 1st July ended in terrible bloodshed. The Allies had fired around 1,700 000 artillery shells in order to destroy the German trench defenses. In the belief that the bombardment was successful (it wasn’t), the army advanced. Some accounts say that the men were ordered to move at walking speed. Sadly, the British high command was completely unaware that the German line was very much intact, and that machine guns were still there, waiting. There were a staggering 57,470 casualties, out of which 19,240 died. 60% of the British officers involved in the advance were killed. Seemingly despite all reason and in spite of the heavy casualties, the offensive continued.

Although the first day of the battle was the worst, there were continuous efforts to break through the line. These attacks were sometimes successful, but usually they only ended up advancing mere meters. 49 Victoria Crosses were awarded during the battle. There was no lack of bravery or heroism, but the general view is that the new mode of warfare was more terrible than heroic. @TheMcrHistorian

Karoly Gergely

The numbers involved are horrific. More than 419,000 casualties for Britain and the Commonwealth, more than 204,000 for the French and between 450,000-600,000 Germans fell. Over one in four casualties died. It is no surprise that the first cases of ‘Shellshock’ (PTSD) were reported after the battle. Once the fighting stopped in November, the allies had only advanced 5 miles.

The battle is also notable as this was the first case of tanks engaging in combat – although, on their first deployment, only a quarter of the tanks made it to the frontline. The Somme was also among the first instances where aerial warfare played a significant role. Although this might have increased their efficiency in exterminating the enemy, it did not stop the generals sending their men ‘over the top’ again and again.

The fate of the ‘Pals Battalions’ was heart-breaking. As people from the same place served together, a fatal action might mean the devastation of whole communities. The example of the ‘Accrington Pals’ clearly demonstrates this – 585 casualties out of 700 in less than 20 minutes. The figures are truly soul-wrenching.

The Battle of Somme also brought together people of a very different kind. Adolf Hitler fought in the battle and was wounded in the fighting. JRR Tolkien also fought there, and it is said that The Hobbit’s first line were written in the trenches. And one must not forget about Siegfried Sassoon and Ralph Vaughan Williams either. They experienced the trenches and immortalised the horror and futility of the First World War through their artistic works.

Since 1916, the most prevailing narrative has been that the battle was a futile exercise of terrible destruction; Peter Barton even argued that it should be regarded as German defensive victory.

Another view is that it was inevitable and even considering the immense casualties, the offensive was a success in as much as it was able to relieve the pressure on the French forces at Verdun.

However, no strategic success can make up for the terrible experiences of so many men, vividly described by Edward Lynch: ‘We live in a world of Somme mud. We sleep in it, work in it, fight in it, wade in it and many of us die in it. We see it, feel it, eat it and curse it, but we can’t escape it, not even by dying.’

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ISSUE 25 | NOVEMBER 2016

Ides of March 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 as consul in 59BC, serving for one year, and was then re-elected as consul in 48BC, 46BC, 45BC and again in 44BC, allowing him to accrue a massive amount of political influence very rapidly from the connections he had made with the ruling classes.

Simultaneously, Caesar gained popularity with the lower classes from continued success in his military campaigns in Gaul from 58BC to 50BC, tales of which filtered back to Rome and became exaggerated for the sake of entertainment. Consequently, in the short space of around 15 years he became extraordinarily powerful, serving his consulship in 45BC alone. Due to his popularity, he had few rivals in power.

During the civil wars, Caesar was granted the position of ‘dictator’, a title without the negative connotations it has in the modern day.

It was a position held in times of crisis, given to a trusted official who was then granted supreme power in order to solve crises.

However, Caesar didn’t relinquish his title, which caused problems and threatened the established political system.

Rosie Kenworthy will forever remain unclear whether Caesar himself was truly a threat to the Republic, which was already dying, or whether this was a last-ditch attempt by the conspirators to save Rome’s dying institution.

After Caesar’s assassination, it was unclear who his successor was, and two major figures tried to claim this position: Mark Antony, Caesar’s first cousin once removed and Octavian, who was allegedly named Caesar’s adopted son in his will. The two clashed, trying to secure themselves as successor. Mark Antony specifically read Caesar’s will, expecting that he would be named as Caesar’s heir, but the will never said anything clear on this topic. Octavian then organised for Caesar to be deified following his death, meaning that it was believed he would become a god in the afterlife.

“Conspirators believed they were doing the right thing.”

The Ides of March itself refers to the 15th March, as ‘ides’ signifies the middle of the month. On this day in 44BC, a meeting organised by the senators was taking place. Caesar had been warned by friends not to attend. However, he went to the meeting and was subsequently assassinated on the steps of the Senate House, being stabbed multiple times by up to 60 people, some of whom he had considered as close friends. The two main conspirators of the assassination were Marcus Junius Brutus and Cassius Longinus.

It was believed by the conspirators that through assassinating Caesar they would acquire popularity among the common people. They believed they were saving the public from a tyrant.

Unfortunately for the conspirators, due to Caesar’s incredible popularity, his murder was not taken well by the public.

The conspirators themselves believed that they were doing the right thing. Due to Caesar’s vast amount of power, he was believed to be a significant threat to the Republic. However, it

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Octavian and Antony continued to fight, with Octavian taking control of Caesar’s armies and leading with them. Antony on campaigns the other hand took his own troops east, as Caesar had been campaigning there before his death, and Antony saw this as continuing Caesar’s legacy.

After much conflict, in 31BC, Octavian was victorious against Antony in the Battle of Actium. Following this, Octavian became the supreme ruler in Rome, with a significant number of special powers. After the Senate and public insisted that he stayed and maintained his power, he promised to restore and rebuild the government. Octavian avoided the title of king, but included ‘imperator’ as part of his name, which meant ‘general’ in military terms but later, came to mean ‘emperor’. Octavian also assumed the title ‘Augustus’, now being known as ‘Augustus Caesar’. Slowly and gradually, he entrenched himself in power and became the first emperor of Rome.

The Ides of March was certainly a landmark event in the timeline of Roman history, as it set in motion the series of events ending the Roman Republic and forging the Roman Empire. Caesar was murdered because the Senate did not want to have a king like figure ruling Rome; ironically their actions lead to the creation of an autocratic Roman state.

www.manchesterhistorian.com

ISSUE 25 | NOVEMBER 2016

The Ancient Olympic Games Nearly 2800 years ago, citizens from all over the Greek world flocked to Olympia for one of the most central rituals in Ancient Greece- the Olympic Games. Perhaps unknown to many people, the Games were as much a religious festival as they were a celebration of athletic strength and power. This great event was held in honour of the mythological god Zeus; a thirteen-metre gold and ivory statue, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient-World. The statue had been dedicated in the Temple of Zeus for all to see in the fifth century BC.

Araddhna Patel

To win in wrestling, the contestant would need to thrown his opponent on the ground, landing on a hip, shoulder, or his back for a point. Three points were required for a win. Another similar game called pankration, which is literally defined as ‘all force,’ was a combination of boxing and wrestling. Athletes were permitted to do anything, except for the ban on biting, gouging, and genital holds. Because of the danger level to these events, men and boys were separated into two divisions.

The origin of the Games differs depending on which ancient text you consult. The poet Pindar would tell you that Olympia was created by Herakles. These Games were created to celebrate Herakles’ success in cleaning the Augean stables in a single day - one of his twelve labours. Pausanias, a Greek traveller and geographer, gives the story of the dactyl Herakles - not the same man as in Pindar’s account- and his four brothers. They raced to Olympia to entertain Zeus, thus symbolising the chariot races.

The poet Xenophanes described the pankration in his works as “the new and terrible contest… of all holds.”

Herakles was crowned the victor over his siblings and given an olive tree wreath, which then became a peace symbol and was given to all winners at the Games.

Held every 4 years after 776BC, freemen from Greece would participate in different events. The philosopher Epictetus states the very strict rules that they had to adhere to; for instance, they could not eat desserts, drink wine, or drink cold water whenever they wanted to.

Before the events, participants would rub oil all over themselves. A suggestion is that oil protected the skin from the sun and other elements, or helped limber the muscles. However, the glistening of the oil was aesthetically desirable for the Greeks, hence they carried out this activity.

There were a number of events; for the stadion (running event), participants would run barefoot on sand for different lengths such as two hundred metres or even four thousand eight hundred metres. Other running events included particularly gruelling ones; for one, contestants were made to run in armour weighing around fifty to sixty pounds. This race would help build up speed and aid the Greeks during their military service. @TheMcrHistorian

The pentathlon, similar to the modern day Olympics, was a five-event combination of running, wrestling, javelin, discus, and jumping. The javelin was made of wood with either a sharp point at one end or an attached metal point. It was the length of a human, and was used in the same way as modern-day javelins are thrown. The discus was considered very important; it was made of stone, bronze, lead, or iron, and shaped like a flying saucer. The size of the discus was slightly bigger than that of modern discuses.

Again, there were separate divisions for men and boys in terms of the weight of the discus thrown. The jump was slightly different than it is nowadays because athletes were expected to land firmly on both feet. They also held and swung halteres (lead or stone jump weights) to propel their bodies further when they jumped. The pentathlon claimed some of the “most beautiful” men, according to Aristotle. He describes in one of his works “a body capable of enduring all efforts… of bodily strength.”

Finally, the two-horse or four-horse chariot race and horse race were some of the most anticipated yet dangerous events. Only the wealthy were able to pay for horse training, equipment, and feeding. Therefore, the owner received the olive wreath, not the victor.

The Olympic Games continued to be held even when Rome ruled Greece; however, Theodosius I later suppressed them as part of his campaign to impose Christianity as the state religion.

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ISSUE 25 | NOVEMBER 2016

The Partitioning of the Middle East

Dan O’Byrne

If you want to understand part of why the Middle East is such a volatile region today, a good place to start finding answers is the partitioning of the region between 1918 and 1920. The Allies defeated the Ottoman Empire in WWI, and needed to decide what would happen to areas previously under Ottoman control. These covered modern-day Syria, The Lebanon, Israel, Iraq and Iran. Theoretically, their people could have gained independence, after years of being colonial subjects. However, this wasn’t to be. The British, French and Russians had signed a secret treaty in 1916 (the Sykes-Picot Agreement), whereby they had decided to carve up the Middle East among themselves (like a nice, oil-flavoured cake).

This secret agreement was extremely underhanded; the Allies supported Arab rebellions against the Ottomans during the war, and promised them they were fighting for self-governance.

However, Arab oil fields, as well as other economic and political motivations, made them break their promise. To excuse this U-turn, western governments claimed the Arabs weren’t ready to govern themselves, and that they needed British and French control in order to progress.

The League of Nations (the predecessor of the UN) supported the signing of a second treaty, the Treaty of Sevres, in 1920, which legitimised the European presence in the Middle East.

France was given a mandate for Syria and the Lebanon, while Britain was entrusted with Palestine and Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq).

Ostensibly, the Europeans were helping to build new, independent nations. In reality, the mandates were thinly disguised licences for imperialism. The governments they established were basically colonial governments with minimal local representation. Obviously, the local people were less than happy with these arrangements, and there was serious civil unrest across the Arab world.

The European response to this opposition was horrific and brutal. In 1920, the Iraqi people rose up against the British who had showed no signs of honouring their promise to grant independence, and were instead ruthlessly exploiting Iraq’s economic resources. The Iraqis rose up in full strength in an attempt to force the British to leave Mesopotamia. The British responded with a savage bombing campaign, dropping 97

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tonnes of bombs on the rebels, and on some civilian targets.

The Iraqi death toll is estimated to have been between 7,000 and 10,000. Needless to say there was a great deal of collateral damage.

In Syria the locals attempted to put a leader of their own choice, King Faisal, on the throne to try to escape colonial rule.

The French responded in a similar fashion and crushed the rebels in 1920 at the Battle of Maysalun; once again thousands died and the French retained control. Admittedly, the Europeans did learn lessons from these uprisings and they did transfer some power back to local populations, but they still ruled indirectly through puppet leaders, and economic exploitation continued.

This isn’t nearly the full story, but even these examples show in part why historians generally agree that the actions of the Europeans in the decades after WWI set the negative tone for relationships in the Middle East for the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. It is also claimed by many that the colonial style of government and ruthless economic exploitation has had serious knock on effects. Western foreign policy has undeniably had an enduring negative impact on the population of the Middle East. That is why it is so important for us to be aware the events of 1920 today; it set the tone for East-West relations in the twenty-first century.

This doesn’t mean we should feel crippling guilt for something that happened so long ago. However, we should be more able to understand why there is so much hatred towards the West in places like Syria and Iraq. Children of these countries learn in schools about the past exploitation of their countries by western nations; for many it defines their perception of Europeans.

On our social media and on TV today discussion of the actual history of European foreign policy in the Middle East is woefully neglected. People are unaware of how far that policy has exacerbated or even created the problems of extremism and disunity. The example of partitioning and political and economic exploitation by the colonial powers after WWI does show that there were serious negative consequences for the countries of the Middle East. With a better understanding of this period of history, perhaps we can feel more empathy towards those suffering because of extremism or civil war.

Modern day Diwali Celebrations

www.manchesterhistorian.com

ISSUE 25 | NOVEMBER 2016

Oasis - 20th Anniversary of Knebworth Show Steven Bennett

If some sort of modern day Rip Van Winkle was to suddenly awaken from a slumber he fell into in 1996, he could be forgiven for initially thinking he’d only been out for the night and not twenty years. It seems that we just can’t let go of the ‘90s and for all this nostalgia it’s undeniable that Oasis are still massive within the cultural spectrum. From the now forty-somethings who have been there from the beginning to the modern proto indie kids who watch gigs through their smartphones, the music and influence of Oasis shows no signs of fading into obscurity. Even seven years after their acrimonious split the Gallagher brothers are still asked daily if and when the band will reform; it seems people just don’t want this to be the end.

Now is as good a time as any to reflect on Oasis’ legacy, with last month marking the twentieth anniversary of the bands live magnus opus – Knebworth. The two nights at Knebworth on 10th and 11th of August 1996 were and still are a big deal. With a line-up of support acts that would put any bloated modern day festival to shame, Oasis ascended into rock and roll royalty with one in twenty Britons applying for tickets.

Noel himself summed up the importance of the gigs shortly after

when defending his controversial statement that “Oasis are bigger than God”, simply asking “when’s the last time God played Knebworth?” to a bemused Jeremy Paxman. But he does have a point: even the Pope can’t muster a crowd that size on his state visits and he doesn’t charge an admission fee.

Coinciding with this anniversary, Manchester has seen the arrival of an Oasis exhibition at the old Granada Studios. It’s free to enter and packed with old clobber of the Gallagher’s, with the layout of the room from the album cover of their eponymous Definitely Maybe serving as a photo booth for parka clad fans recreating the iconic shot. It’s fair to say the exhibition is a good old walk down memory lane.

For me, as a major fan and fellow Mancunian the exhibition is all good fun, but like Liverpool’s Beatles museum there’s a sense of corny nostalgia harking back to days gone by, looking at old guitars and jackets in glass cases just isn’t what the Oasis spirit was about.

The real enjoyment is simply in the music. Timeless and as relevant now as it was twenty years ago. From listening to the music and not from recreating shots of an album cover in a dusty old studio, you will realise and remember just why Oasis are still so important.

The Incas: Expansion and Decline The Inca Empire expanded and flourished throughout the fifteenth century and continued to do so until Francisco Pizarro’s third expedition to Peru in 1532. The expansion of the Inca Empire is truly fascinating due to the incredible rate of which they incorporated other ethnic groups. Expansion began under Pachacuti in 1438 and continued to develop under every subsequent ruler. However, what were the motives for such extensive expansion? And how did the Incas make this possible?

Molly Tillet

Both of these motivations were made possible by the impressive public works schemes the Inca undertook. The extensive road network throughout the Andes, estimated between 30,000 and 50,000 kilometres, enabled armies to travel through the challenging terrain. Along this network, forts and storehouses maintained the armies and provided spaces to store the booty they had amassed. Much of the Inca’s success can be explained through these logistics and strategies, as they gave the Inca superiority over any surrounding ethnic groups.

The first of the two major motivations the Inca had for such rapid expansion was the system of reciprocity Despite the strength and complex organisation of the inherent throughout the Andes, which ordered the Inca state, inherent weaknesses also existed. Lack of society in the absence of money. Under this system cultural unification among the Inca and the ethnic it was vital for the Inca to demonstrate generosity to groups in their empire meant no collective identity other ethnic leaders to maintain their relationship. was created. The Inca used religion to unify the empire, http://clas.wayne.edu/IncaCa- however this had little time to develop and successThis required large amounts of luxury goods, as well as foods and supplies, unobtainable to the local leaders ranqui/The-Inca-Empire fully consolidate the ethnic groups. Furthermore, the which could be acquired in other regions of the Andes. outbreak of the civil war in 1527 between Huascar and This resulted in a vicious cycle of a constant need to obtain luxury Atahualpa weakened central authority, allowing the Spanish to products from new regions through establishing new relationships. impose their perceived authority.

The second motivation for rapid Inca expansion was the militarised nature of their society. Men of the Inca needed to prove themselves From 1532, the Spanish were able to infiltrate and supposedly in combat, initially necessitating constant warfare. Due to the liberate the ethnic groups the Inca had conquered. The weaknesses growing influence of the Inca through expansion, the motivation of the Inca Empire coupled with the strength and timing of the of acquisition soon shifted to pacification. This is particularly true of Spanish expedition meant this vast empire had little chance of the peripheries of the empire, as there was no system of reciprocity. survival. @TheMcrHistorian

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ISSUE 25 | NOVEMBER 2016

Shakespeare and his Legacy

Brogen Campbell

400 Years after his Death William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest writer of all time. Shakespeare was a poet and an actor, but is undoubtedly most famous as a playwright. The ‘Bard of Avon’ wrote 38 plays, which include 16 comedies, 12 tragedies and 10 histories. These have been translated into every major language, and Shakespeare’s plays have been performed more than any other playwright’s work.

One of Shakespeare’s most famous plays is Hamlet. Actors compete for the chance to mutter the famous line, “To be, or not to be, that is the question”. Another iconic play is Romeo and Juliet, the two star-crossed lovers, whose tragic love story has become a symbol of romanticism in popular culture. These roles are treasured by actors, due to the complexity of many Shakespearean characters, as well as the challenge of doing justice to the work of a man who was so eloquent with the English language.

Shakespeare, who died over 400 years ago, still influences literature and contemporary culture today, as many stories and plays are inspired by his work. This is especially true for films, from The Lion King (Hamlet), to 10 Things I Hate About You (The Taming of the Shrew), to She’s The Man (Twelfth Night). Shakespeare is still as relevant today

Alfred, the Great?

Does history over emphasise King Alfred of Wessex’s ‘greatness’?

King Alfred of Wessex (r. 871 AD – 899 AD) is an enduring individual in English History. Alfred’s Kingdom of Wessex weathered the Viking conquest when all other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms fell. In his subsequent liberations of land, Alfred is said to have laid the foundations of the political unification of England. His achievements are remarkable, but should we consider Alfred – as the Victorian historian Edward Augustus Freeman called him – ‘the most perfect character in history’?

Alfred is one of the few individuals from the Dark Ages with substantial contemporary source material about him. The Anglo Saxon Chronicle details many of Alfred’s exploits, particularly his successful military campaigns. Nevertheless, it is not simply a glowing record of Alfred’s achievements; one entry for 892 AD hints at difficulties Alfred had in completing new fortifications. By reading between the lines, we glimpse problems which frustrated Alfred.

One of the most important sources for understanding Alfred is The Life of King Alfred, written by a monk named Asser from St David’s in Wales, in 893 AD. Asser’s work is the only biography of a pre-Norman conquest English king. Importantly, The Life makes no attempt to be objective; Asser states that he was Alfred’s friend. It could have been a politically motivated work, written to popularise Alfred in Wales, where he had recently become overlord.

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as he was 400 years ago. For example, his influence on the English language is seen in the continued usage of words he invented, like The Stratford-upon-Avon born writer is a British national treasure and his work is taught relentlessly in schools.

One reason why the legacy of Shakespeare hasn’t faded overtime is because his work is being continuously reinvented. Shakespeare’s work is timeless, as his storylines can be moulded to fit any situation, such as in Nicholas Hytner’s Othello, where Othello and Iago had fought in the Gulf War together.

Another contemporary tool to modernise Shakespeare is cross-gender casting, like with Maxine Peake as Hamlet and Kathryn Hunter as Richard III. This is why it is so unfortunate that Artistic Director Emma Rice will not be remaining at the Globe Theatre, as Rice has helped to modernise Shakespeare and continues to make his work relevant to a new generation of theatre goers.

William Shakespeare’s work is his legacy, because little is known about his personal life, except that he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children. This obscurity has meant there has been speculation about his sexuality and physical appearance. Our ignorance in these elements of his life just makes him all the more intriguing.

William Shakespeare is still relevant and fascinating 400 years on and will undoubtedly be just as awe-inspiring in another 400 years’ time.

Adam Steedman Thake The cult of King Alfred dominated the Victorian understanding of the Anglo-Saxon period. In the growing interest in a ‘national character’ during the 19th century, the sources painted Alfred as the embodiment of the English nation: a talented military commander, a scholar with a love of learning and a believer in justice.

One of the major problems confronting historians seeking to study Alfred is that almost all sources about his actions and reign may have been created by Alfred himself or his retinue. The Chronicle can be seen to portray how Alfred wanted to be known, and Asser tells us how Alfred wanted to be remembered. It is exceptionally difficult to extricate the real Alfred from the idealised figure and the ‘Great’ legacy that he had a hand in creating.

In the simple fact that Alfred held back the Vikings, he is exceptional.

That he is the first layperson to have a biography written about him in England is further proof of his importance. Alfred deserves an important place in English history. As Joanne Parker has noted, there could have been no cult of Alfred if there was not a large body of contemporary annals, chronicles and other sources testifying to his greatness.

If we simply take the sources at face value, however, we risk being taken in by the myth of a ‘perfect’ Alfred, which beguiled the Victorian popular imagination. www.manchesterhistorian.com

ISSUE 25 | NOVEMBER 2016

What’s Going on Around Manchester?

Photos via The Manchester Evening News

CHRISTMAS MARKETS!

PICK OF THE GIGS

The markets attract shoppers from all over the U.K. A Manchester students’ Christmas can’t be complete without a trip to the markets, as the market has put Manchester city centre firmly on the Christmas map and has become a hugely popular leisure destination in its own right.

•Hinds – Saturday 26th November – Manchester Academy •Bill Ryder-Jones – Monday 28th November – Gorilla •Eliza and the Bear – Friday 2nd December – Manchester Academy •Blossoms - Friday 2nd December – Albert Hall •Biffy Clyro – Saturday 3rd December – Manchester Arena •Pixies – Sunday 4th December – Manchester Apollo

Manchester’s award winning Christmas Markets are back! For five weeks in late November and throughout December, the H markets wind their way through the city centre.

Open: 10th November – 20th December Locations include: St Ann’s Square Albert Square Brazennose Street Exchange Street New Cathedral Street The Corn Exchange Corporation Street

NEW YEAR’S EVE - BEST CLUB NIGHTS: See in the New Year at these huge Manchester club nights!

•Antwerp Mansion New Years Eve – with Special Guest •NYE: La Discotheque – Albert Hall •WHP 16 – New Year’s Eve at the Warehouse Project •NYE Dance Party: The Deaf Institute

If you wish to write reviews for films or events in Manchester please email: manchesterhistorian@gmail.com @TheMcrHistorian

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ISSUE 25 | NOVEMBER 2016

HISTORY SOCIETIES History at UoM Hello!

A massive welcome back to the first issue of the new year. It’s great to see the Manchester Historian back up and running.

We hope lots of our new students and returning students will stretch their writing skills and contribute.

The beginning of term has been an exciting time for the History Society. A huge thank you to everyone who came along to our bar crawl, special congratulations to anyone who made it to the end. Our annual Staff/Student Pub Quiz this year was at Revolution in Fallowfield and filled the whole top floor. Big congratulations to the winning team. It was great to see staff there even if they were a little late (do remember that the next time you get the ‘stare’ for being late to a lecture). Following on from this, we have some more socials and events we are holding before the Christmas holidays!

Keep an eye out on the History Society Facebook page for a trip to the People’s History Museum and a Christmas Social!

History Society invade Prague We are edging nearer to our yearly trip abroad, destination: Prague! We are offering return transfers and flights as well as three nights accommodation and nightlife. We have already sold over half of our tickets, but there are a few left that will be sold soon so make sure you book your place now!

Peer Mentors

According to the University of Manchester, the aims of the Peer Mentoring Scheme are to enhance the quality, quantity, and diversity of student learning within a discipline and involve students as partners in their own learning experience. Furthermore, the scheme can provide further opportunity for the development of intellectual and professional competencies, and to provide students with a supportive environment to assist the transition to higher education.

The History department have been busy since the beginning of the year; peer mentors held a quiz for freshers to welcome them to Manchester. Recently, mentors have been going into History in Practise seminars to check on their mentees and make sure they’re getting on well and enjoying themselves. Upcoming events include the very-exciting Christmas event – more details to follow soon!

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Muneera Lula The trip gives us the chance to kick back and relax, having a great weekend away to celebrate the end of exams. There will be plenty of things to do, catering to all interests, including tourist activities, history and heritage experiences, and a good night out or two.

Wellbeing This time of year can be quite stressful with deadlines looming, the weather turning colder, and the thought of exams not that far away. But remember help is always available through the Student Advice Centre. Remember you can always contact them at any time to arrange a meeting or go to a drop in session no matter what your issue.

Find out more here: http://manchesterstudentsunion.com/ adviceservice That’s all for now, but make sure to keep up to date on all the latest society info by joining our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/UoMHistorySociety/ Twitter: @UoMHistSoc

Araddhna Patel As a Classics and Ancient History peer mentor myself, I have been told that our support is often very helpful. Arriving at university for the first time and not knowing anyone can be daunting, so to have other students to help you out with whatever you need is really comforting. Moreover, students are more likely to turn to their peer mentors in times of need outside of their academic work, so the scheme definitely works well with first years.

So far, the CLAH Peer Mentoring scheme have held an assignment talk - with free pizza! – for students to attend and ask any questions they had regarding essays, source analyses, gobbets, and language exams. We have also organised an accommodation document for first years to assist them with finding housing responsibly for next year. Throughout the year, we will be having pub quizzes and other workshops, so make sure you know who your mentor is or risk missing out on the fun! www.manchesterhistorian.com

ISSUE 25 | NOVEMBER 2016

History Netball Fresh from their outstanding 22-8 win against PGCE, History Netball are training hard for the remainder of their pre-Christmas matches. Currently third in the league, captain Charlotte Peacock is leading the team to victory after victory with only one loss so far in the season. She tells the Manchester Historian:

Caitlin Hughes They next play Richmond Park on Wednesday 23rd November, so watch this space for more team news!

“Being netball captain this year is both a challenging and highly rewarding experience. Training each week requires planning to set fun new drills and tasks to enhance our team dynamics and performance in matches. After great success in the last academic year, we are continuing to perform well in matches, currently holding third place within the division. Our most impressive win to date saw a goal difference of 14 points. We hope to continue in our success in remaining matches, working our way up to the top spot! A close knit team of twenty-five players, it is a pleasure to play with such lovely girls every week.”

Although History had two teams last year, the concentration of talent into one team is clearly proving to be successful.

History FC Having reached the dizzy heights of Division 1 following last season’s promotion, coupled with victory in the Alan Mainwaring Shield, History FC set their sights on similar success for the upcoming 2016-17 season. Returning back from a relaxed summer involving no exercise, the 3 remaining players - Scott Doherty, Nick Jeyarajah and Ollie Brown (Social Sec) - soon faced the reality of a severely depleted squad.

Cue the highly regarded History FC trials; looking to recruit 11 new players, the stakes were high for all involved. Having narrowed down a highly competitive first trial to 20, a second trial ensued with players giving their all to be in such a prestigious team; rumour of last season’s accomplishments had clearly travelled nationwide. Having secured 11 highly skilled athletes in a range of positions, it was time to get under way. Hoping to

@TheMcrHistorian

Scott Doherty

replicate last season’s exceptional triumphs, the squad looked to defeat recently relegated Geography FC in their first game. Alas, it was not to be, their Premiership experience proved too much for the Historians who suffered a crushing 5-1 defeat.

The team were distraught but as Historians, we looked beyond the result, instead focussing on the causes and the lessons to be learnt from such a historic occasion. With a slight change in formation, the team have gone unbeaten in the last 4 games and sit 4th in the league. One notable victory came against the Germans; defeating the society 10-0 on the battlefield of Wythenshawe will certainly be something to talk about 40 years from now. The team look strong and we are pushing for promotion once again into the highly sought Premiership, no doubt an achievable task in what will be a competitive season for the men in blue.

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ISSUE 25 | NOVEMBER 2016

Your Careers Update!

It’s nearly Christmas, and the month-long holiday is the perfect time to be thinking a little bit more about careers. With 2017 fast approaching, planning where you might want to be in years to come is a great idea- and there is loads of help available if you want to do just that! The Careers Service are always happy to meet with students who want to make an appointment and you should always feel free to drop in to the Atrium (1st floor of University Place) to get more advice. There are so many opportunities around for historians this winter so be sure to check them all out on Careerslink and keep an eye out on the History Society Facebook group. Check out some of the highlights below: Find out about Mock Assessments (TUESDAY 22ND NOVEMBER, 3PM – 5PM, and WEDNESDAY 23RD NOVEMBER, 1PM – 3PM): The university has partnered with graduate employers who hold two mock assessment centres. All successful applicants will get to attend a two-hour session and receive feedback from a graduate employer. Moreover, the winning team on each day will win £250 from IBM. If you’re interested, email humanities.careers@manchester.ac.uk with the subject line ‘Mock Assessment’ to apply for a place.

Araddhna Patel

Postgraduate Open Day (WEDNESDAY 23RD NOVEMBER): are you thinking about further study after you complete your undergraduate degree? The university offers a one-year full time, or two-year part time, MA programme which is designed to suit the needs and interests both of students who simply want to spend another year exploring their subject, and of those who plan to continue to doctoral work or to a career in teaching in their subject. Even if you haven’t decided which route, if either, is for you, come along to the Postgraduate Open Day. There will be events all throughout the day, but in particular, there is a talk on MA programmes in SALC at 2pm in Mansfield Cooper G20. For a full programme, and to register for more information, see: http://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/masters/ open-days-fairs/open-day/ Whether these events appeal to you or not, start some of your own research and be proactive. There is plenty of help available to those who want it to get you started. Be sure to take some time out to have a think about where your degree is leading you. Keep checking the careers website or join one of the Facebook groups (search Final/Second/First Years Careers – UoM Humanities) for regular updates.

Good luck in your Careers search!

Photo via The University of Manchester

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www.manchesterhistorian.com

ISSUE 25 | NOVEMBER 2016

Fuse Live One night, three bands, Manchester Academy 3. Come along, have a drink, and listen to some fabulous live music on 6th December from 18:30 to 22:00!

Pareidolia (www.facebook.com/PareidoliabandUK) Pareidolia are an original 8-piece modern fusion band hailing from the city of Manchester. Think rhythmic soul, drum, and bass-jazz fusion. Pareidolia’s live sets encompass all of their favourite genres, bringing an original twist to familiar sounds.

As an 8-piece band, Pareidolia have a broad range of musical interests and this diversity coalesces in their sessions to create a truly unique sound.

TAMSYN (www.facebook.com/TAMSYNofficial) Influenced most notably by The 1975, The Courteeners, Blossoms and The Rolling Stones, TAMSYN are a thrilling new indie rock band from Manchester. Alexander (vocals), Michael (rhythm guitar), Phil (lead guitar), Joel (percussion) and Zach (bass) make up the band. TAMSYN were finalists of this year’s Soundwaves Music Competition and BBC Introducing’s Dave Monks featured the bands captivating track ‘Want You To Care’ from their new EP on his show.

Tickets available from the University of Manchester Students’ Union website. Book now to avoid disappointment!

Cosmo Calling (www.facebook.com/cosmocalling) Formed in 2015 and based in Manchester, Cosmo Calling name Arcade Fire, Queens of the Stone Age and Red Hot Chilli Peppers among their influences. Consisting of Harry and Phoebe on vocals, Darragh on guitar, Tom on Bass and Gabriel on drums, Cosmo Calling are a band that dabble in the indie-rock. They have gained a loyal following and have previously played venues such as The Pub/Zoo and The Live Room.

@TheMcrHistorian

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ISSUE 25 | NOVEMBER 2016

MANCHESTER HISTORIAN MANCHESTER HISTORIAN is changing READ IT, WRITE IT

The Manchester Historian is a newspaper run for students by students.

Anyone currently attending the University of Manchester is able to write for it. you can write an article. do an interview with a staff membr, or revew a historical, book or play.

View our previous issues at http://issuu.com/manchesterhistorian No experience is necessary; we are simply looking for an interested and enthusiastic team of writers and contributors. We welcome article suggestions too, so whether you’d like to write it or not, please contact us at any time during the year with your ideas.

TO GET IN TOUCH.

f: facebook.com/TheManchesterHistorian t: @TheMcrHistorian w: manchesterhistorian.com e: manchesterhistorian@gmail.com

Behind every story… There is History

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www.manchesterhistorian.com

Manchester History invades Prague from February 2nd - 5th. Places are still available with a £99 deposit due by 9th December. www.manchesterhistorian.com