Category: Historical Topics

Historical Topics

Corrupted National Identities – Prewar Japanese and Soviet Assimilationist Policies 

 Jason Roeder What ought to distinguish a nation-state from an empire is the people residing in the former’s ability to shape their own futures freely. Should the two be considered opposites? To answer this question, one must observe how empires utilize the vernacular of self-determination as a cover to amalgamate land for the metropole’s “long-term, all-union concerns.”  Prior to the Second World War, Japan and … Continue reading Corrupted National Identities – Prewar Japanese and Soviet Assimilationist Policies 

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Historical Topics

Many Ways to be Deaf: Situating Deafness in Pre-Modern Chinese History

Oscar Zhenhao Yu Disability has been a burgeoning topic for historians in different fields. Considering disability in Chinese history, few works focus on disability, not to mention exploring the ontology of disability in its pre-modern context. This essay therefore situates disability, and deafness in particular, within pre-modern Chinese history (1644-1912). How did the Chinese perceive deafness before the twentieth century? What sources would be useful … Continue reading Many Ways to be Deaf: Situating Deafness in Pre-Modern Chinese History

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Historical Topics

Assassin’s Creed: History Porn or Digital Heritage?

Rae Neville This Thursday, the popular video game studio Ubisoft will release the latest installment in the Assassin’s Creed franchise: Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Set in Baghdad in the year 861, the game will feature a world rich with art, culture, and knowledge. Players will follow the story of Basim, a “cunning street thief with nightmarish visions seeking answers and justice,” as they explore and cut … Continue reading Assassin’s Creed: History Porn or Digital Heritage?

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Historical Topics

Western Medicine’s Internuncio to Japan

Alexander von Kumberg In 1972 sculptor Tadao Koga unveiled his monument to the introduction of Western medicine to Japan in Ōita, a city on the northeastern coastline of Kyushu, Japan. The bronze statue depicts a Japanese patient preparing for his surgery, flanked by a surgeon and his assistant. The surgeon, dressed in Nanban clothes, is Luis de Almeida. But who is this giant of old, … Continue reading Western Medicine’s Internuncio to Japan

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Historical Topics

The Push to “Improve” Slavery in the British Caribbean

Eamonn Bellin The abolition of the British slave trade in 1807 transformed colonial slavery into a burning issue in British politics. If the slave trade was unjust, how could slavery be sustained? Some thought the enslaved should be emancipated and resettled throughout the Caribbean. However, most leaders of the anti-slave trade campaign balked at immediate emancipation. “It would be…the grossest violation and the merest mockery … Continue reading The Push to “Improve” Slavery in the British Caribbean

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Historical Topics

The Effect of Australian New Wave Cinema on the “Anzac Legend” of WWI

Josh Downes April 25 is Anzac Day in Australia and New Zealand. This national day is a commemoration in both countries of all those who have served and died in military operations. More specifically, this year marks the 108th anniversary of Australian and New Zealand troops landing on the shores of Gallipoli (in what is now Türkiye) during the First World War. The sacrifice of … Continue reading The Effect of Australian New Wave Cinema on the “Anzac Legend” of WWI

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Historical Topics

What’s on my Cherry Blossom Playlist?

A personal exploration of the music history behind my favorite songs for spring! Sareena Dubey Set to the backdrop of billowing cherry blossom petals and a Tidal Basin burgeoning with people, Masayoshi Takanaka’s song “Beleza Pula” interrupts the peace with the sharply spoken phrase “Beleza Pula, Malandro!” The distinct birdlike sound of the cuica contrasts with the soft background vocals which trail the upbeat melody … Continue reading What’s on my Cherry Blossom Playlist?

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Historical Topics, Op-ed

Talkin’ ‘Bout My Generation: How Generation Influenced the 1968 Revolts in France and Italy

Luke Henderson 1968 was a tumultuous, world-altering year. Major historical events occurred on every inhabited continent as societies struggled to define themselves in light of whirlwind-speed technological and political developments. Younger generations played a major role in the historical events and movements of the time, especially in Western Europe. Historians can use the concept of generation to interpret and understand the causes and ideas of … Continue reading Talkin’ ‘Bout My Generation: How Generation Influenced the 1968 Revolts in France and Italy

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Historical Topics

Hindsight: Reactions from the American Scientific Community on the Deployment of Nuclear Bombs

Reed Uhlik For many monumental historical events, the passage of time often leads to a more unified interpretation and narrative of a specific event. However, the decision by the United States to drop two nuclear bombs on Japan does not follow this historical pattern. In the aftermath, US public opinion grew increasingly divided, notably within the scientific community.  Some members of this community initially sought … Continue reading Hindsight: Reactions from the American Scientific Community on the Deployment of Nuclear Bombs

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Historical Topics

Radiation’s Residual Effects on Identity

Theo Bammi The first time John Smitherman witnessed a nuclear explosion, it was pure spectacle. Recounting the story for Studs Terkel’s The Good War, Smitherman recalls that even from his vantage point miles away, the “ball of fire” tearing Bikini Atoll apart on July 1, 1946 was indescribable (Terkel 547). The second explosion, however, was less satisfying. Instead of warmth, Smitherman was pelted with a … Continue reading Radiation’s Residual Effects on Identity

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