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The term ‘bubble’ is not a newfound modern concept, nor a term that has been left in the past. Present within economic history for some 400 years, such bubble events have become an entrenched aspect of free market economic systems, brought by speculation and optimism. As modern humanity strives for innovation, (and higher profits), it is often found that a rapid expansion of an up-and-coming industry will bring an overconcentration of efforts into that sector, as seen in the

‘... the remarkable safety of ‘Distaval’ – the new non-barbituric sedative and hypnotic’ (Thalidomide: correspondence regarding the drug Distaval, 1960) Thalidomide was first developed in 1953 by CIBA, a Swiss pharmaceutical company, before being introduced to the market in the late 1950s by the German pharmaceutical company Chemie Grünenthal. Promoted as a safe and effective sedative capable of ‘warding off stress of physical or emotional origin,’ the drug quickly gaine

When we hear the word alchemy, we may picture an eccentric old man, locked away obsessing over the transmutation of lead to gold, or with the discovery of the secret to eternal life. In truth however, alchemy is a much more complex and ancient discipline than one may assume. Whilst it is not possible to cover the whole history of alchemy in adequate depth within a small article such as this, I will be covering key features and changes, whilst highlighting the pervasive Hermet

Apartheid is an Afrikaans word meaning separateness or apartness. In practical terms, these were laws and statutes which enforced white South African superiority. The roots of apartheid can be traced back to colonial South Africa when the British arrived into the area and despite tensions with the Boer tribes were motivated to stay in the area due to finding gold and diamonds there. This discovery also led to increased numbers of Europeans coming into the country. The tension

Across this past year, the people who make Rewind what it is – writers, editors, designers, researchers, and more – have shared what it has meant to them. “I have been with Rewind (pretty much) since the very beginning, and it has been so incredible watching it grow into print editions, projects, and even a national award! Working on the design team has meant I have been able to read and interact with so many outstanding articles. It is undeniable how much impact Rewind has h

On February 5, 2003, United States Secretary of State Colin Powell addressed the United Nations Security Council and declared Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. He held up a vial of white powder, displayed satellite photographs and played intercepted Iraqi phone calls. The Washington Post called the presentation “irrefutable”. Nine days after, French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin rose at the same podium with no props, no satellite imagery and argued the insp

Paris, 1832. In the early hours of the 29th of May, a young Frenchman wrote two letters. The first, a note to his friends covered in scribbles, crossed out names of love and phrases of delirium: “je n’ai pas le temps” (“I don’t have the time”). The other, a paper containing fascinating mathematical discoveries that would ignite a generation of thought and, as mathematician Arthur Cayley would later put it, "marked an epoch in the progress of the theory of algebraic equations.

Image source: Instagram/ Banksy On June 7 2020, the statue of Edward Colston, well-known Bristolian merchant and enslaver, was pulled off his plinth, rolled to the edge of Bristol docks, and pushed into the waters below by Black Lives Matter (BLM) activists. TV and phone cameras relayed the moment to millions of viewers at home – few forget the image of Colston coming down. But fewer recall what happened next… Five years on, it's a fitting moment to follow Colston’s fate, an

According to Dr Mary Dobson, the Spanish Flu was long known as the “forgotten flu.” Only recent historical research has revealed its enormous impact, killing between 50 and 100 million people. This makes it one of the deadliest pandemics in recorded history, second only to the Black Death. There is still a lot of speculation about why or how this was able to happen, what caused it to be so fatal, and why it has been “forgotten” until now. To begin, we should examine where t

“All human beings are born free and equal,” according to Article One of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Yet, 77 years on from its adoption by the United Nations General Assembly, it is estimated that 50 million people globally are living in modern slavery, while global inequality has tripled since 1960. A strong narrative for human rights emerged following the atrocities and devastation committed during the Second World War, driven by Eleanor Roosevelt. The Comm

The modern city of Kinshasa, now the largest in Africa and the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, sits beside what is now known as Pool Malebo, the stretch of water that spans to the northern bank of the Congo River, upon which resides another great African city, Brazzaville. However, the former names of these places invite us to explore the traumatic colonial past of the former Leopoldville, located beside Stanley Pool in the Congo Free State.   The tale of L

‘Public history’ is a funny old term when you stop and think about it. People argue endlessly about what the historian’s role is supposed to be in this process – a guide, a guardian of knowledge, a storyteller, or something else entirely. But in all these debates, one question usually slips through the cracks: What is the ‘public’ actually meant to do in public history? And the moment you ask that; you uncover another assumption: why on earth are we separating the ‘public’

History is perhaps a project centred on memory and remembrance. Many people would suggest history is the study of the past, but how can it be when the past itself no longer exists? Doing history relies on texts from the past that allow us to study something that exists now but within a historical context. But what happens when the texts surrounding certain remembrances are minimalised, overshadowed or disregarded? This is why, as historians, we must learn to read in the silen

The pitch, ‘Is History marching towards “progress”’, is a deeply interesting concept as it delves into whether or not the human race is headed in the right direction. This, of course, gives me some sort of undeserved power – who am I to decide or even comment on the entire human race? This brings me onto one of my overarching points: no singular person can speak for everyone, and it is for that exact reason that we will never be able to generalise whether humankind definitely

The idea that history inevitably leads to better and better circumstances is an addictively optimistic one. It has its uses, and it’s often the way people are first taught history or the way history is portrayed in mass media. This simpler, more optimistic narrative can be useful for engaging people in the subject at first. It’s far easier to think, “They used to do what? How ridiculous!” than to confront the depressing realisation of “Why has nothing changed?” or even “How d

At the core of the Pathways to the Past project is a simple message: our past is something we should both enjoy and feel authority over. History isn’t just for obscure journals or the semi-popularised books of institutional historians. As Hilda Kean and Paula Ashton note, everyone is an ‘active agent in creating history’ – making it difficult to distinguish the historian from ‘their publics.’ We are all products of the thoughts, words, and actions of our predecessors; therefo

This year marks seventy years since the publication of W.G. Hoskins’ The Making of the English Landscape (1955), a work that played a central role in establishing an institutionalised understanding of ‘local history.’ Of course, local history had existed long before Hoskins, particularly in the work of early antiquarians. Beginning in the sixteenth century, William Lambarde’s A Perambulation of Kent (1576) became the first published county history in England, meticulously rec

Not every war is built on lies. Some are born of panic, others from provocation, and many from the brutal contingencies of power. The United States has gone to war for genuine reasons – in response to clear threats, open conflicts, or treaty obligations. But time and again, when the case for military action has been weak, contested, or altogether absent, another pattern emerges: stories are shaped, truths softened, and the line between persuasion and fabrication fades. Thi

On the 8th of July, it was announced that the Bayeux Tapestry – the world-famous embroidery depicting the events of the Norman conquest – would be returning to England for the first time since its creation, more than nine-hundred years ago. As part of an exchange with France, the British Museum will take custody of the Tapestry in 2026 whilst its home in Bayeux undergoes repair, with artefacts from the Sutton Hoo dig site crossing the Channel in return. Talks of such a displa

Churches are enduring landmarks throughout Britain, forming an integral part of the spiritual and social fabric of its cities, towns, and villages. Standing since the late Roman period, they remain constant and defining features of the British landscape. Whether situated in fast-paced urban centres or in remote rural parishes, the presence of a church in a community is almost inevitable. These buildings have served not only as places of worship, but also as lasting symbols of