The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) burst onto the international scene in 2014 when they seized large swathes of land in Iraq and Syria. In June 2014, the group formally declared the establishment of a ‘caliphate’ (a state governed in accordance with Islamic law) over the territory it held. It also demanded Continue Reading
Let’s take a step back into the sixteenth century, into a world where religious tensions between Catholic and Protestant nations are at the forefront of European life. The relationship between Elizabeth I and Philip II of Spain was cordial for the early years of their respective reigns, but by the late 1570s that cordiality began Continue Reading
When considering people of historical significance in recent American history, we tend to think of men such as Barack Obama, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Neil Armstrong and, of course, the great Martin Luther King Jr. In a country that has only ever experienced male Presidents and where most leading politicians and activists are male, the actions Continue Reading
Galileo Galilei is credited with taking the first historical landmark in space exploration; his first telescopic observation of the night sky discovered the moons of Jupiter and the phases of Venus. These discoveries and Galilei’s involvement in the scientific revolution of the seventeenth century saw the progress of space exploration catalyse rapidly. Galilei’s discoveries would Continue Reading
On 16 October, 1953, Fidel Castro gave an impassioned speech while on trial for his role in the Moncada Barracks attack. The speech was entitled, ‘History will absolve me.’ Having studied law at Havana University, Castro represented himself at the trial, and being a skilled propagandist, used this platform to spread his message of revolution against Continue Reading
