The Classical panegyric ode, disseminated and imitated throughout Europe during the Renaissance, was transformed in England around 1600, becoming the verse-form of choice to reflect and influence...Show moreThe Classical panegyric ode, disseminated and imitated throughout Europe during the Renaissance, was transformed in England around 1600, becoming the verse-form of choice to reflect and influence the politics of national, monarchical, ideological, religious, and personal issues until its demise around 1700. This essay will examine the classical roots of the ode, its transmission northwards during the Renaissance, the adaptations it underwent once imported into England, and how it was deployed as a vessel for political intervention throughout the century. Naturally, moments of great change and political uncertainty – a monarch’s death, a revolution, a counter-revolution, a foreign coup – are when politics come even more to the fore. These four moments of fundamental change form the framework of the overview, and by examining some representative odes from these four key periods of political change across the century, and linking those texts to the particular issues of the moment, this essay illustrates how the ode-form, once established, quickly became a standard vessel for this kind of poetic, opinion-driven expression. The ode-form, thus pressed into political service, developed recognisable and relatively predictable features during the first half of the century. This established ‘classical,’ mid-century form – adjusted, adapted and reshaped by Cowley, chiefly, but wholly retentive of the ‘spirit’ of the Classical poets – was then employed throughout the Restoration until the relative stability of the Glorious Revolution rendered it less necessary. In fact – so recognisable and entrenched had it become by then – the form itself was even undermined by one of its most prominent exponents, reflecting a general depoliticization towards the turn of the eighteenth century.Show less
The treatment of mental health problems has had limited success in both England and Ireland. Since the Percy Commission in 1957 in England, and the Commission of Inquiry into Mental Illness in 1966...Show moreThe treatment of mental health problems has had limited success in both England and Ireland. Since the Percy Commission in 1957 in England, and the Commission of Inquiry into Mental Illness in 1966 in Ireland, both countries have strived to modernise and improve the quality of their mental healthcare systems. Despite this, they have experienced several shortfalls surrounding funding, staffing and community care amongst other issues. As a result of these problems, both countries have some of the highest rates of mental illness in Europe, with 18.5 percent of Irish people and 17.7 percent of English people experiencing at least one mental illness. While both England and Ireland inherited a similar system based around asylums and a focus on long-term institutionalisation the outcomes for the respective countries were vastly different. Additionally, both countries have moved towards a community-based approach in the hope to rehabilitate and reintegrate patients into the community. Though, England has seen lower rates of hospitalisation and shorter hospital stays for mental illness than in Ireland, as well as historically having lower rates of mental illness. However, since the 1990s, English rates of mental illness have been increasing gradually. As a result, English rates of mental illness are nearly that of Ireland. By discussing the historic developments in mental healthcare in the two countries and issues around welfare and healthcare, the causes for this discrepancy as well as the recent increases in the rate of mental illness can hopefully be explained.Show less
In this thesis, the potential of archaeological predictive modelling within England’s Archaeological Heritage Management (AHM) system is assessed through the case study of Roman-age Hertfordshire,...Show moreIn this thesis, the potential of archaeological predictive modelling within England’s Archaeological Heritage Management (AHM) system is assessed through the case study of Roman-age Hertfordshire, in south-east England. The case study involves the creation of an archaeological predictive model from the bottom-up, using only open-access data. An assessment is also made on the quality of the open-access digital infrastructure within England, as well as on the knowledge that can be gained from the creation and product of the model. A detailed description of the collected data provides information about the environment (elevation, soil, geology, hydrogeology and river system), the social aspects of the landscape (Roman road network and towns) in addition to the modern-day factors which impact planning permissions (land-use, modern roads, protected areas and scheduled monuments). The quality of the environmental data is evaluated for its applicability to the Roman landscape in Hertfordshire. Archaeological site data (n = 4358), provided by the Archaeological Data Service (ADS), is categorised into site types (settlements, economic, ritual, military, water sources and miscellaneous). The representability of the archaeological data is evaluated for potential observational biases. The Roman Hertfordshire predictive model is created using deductive techniques (weighted multi-criteria analysis) and an inductive technique (site density). The final product predicts five areas of archaeological potential within Roman Hertfordshire, ranging from ‘Very High’ to ‘Very Low’. The model is evaluated for its predictive abilities by an unused testing sample of archaeological sites. The accuracy and precision of the model’s predictions are tested using Kvamme’s Gain equation, producing a high-yielding score of 0.72. The applications of the Roman Hertfordshire predictive model are discussed in the context of its uses within the modern development process. Proximity-based analysis of the different site types is explored in regards to water sources, Roman roads and Verulamium (St. Albans). The elevation of different site types are also analysed.Show less
Richard Brothers was a notable early believer and advocate for English-Israelism. He antagonized the government with prophecies of the king of England yielding his throne to him. Prophesying that...Show moreRichard Brothers was a notable early believer and advocate for English-Israelism. He antagonized the government with prophecies of the king of England yielding his throne to him. Prophesying that the hidden Jews of England would return to Israel under his guidance. He was the most prominent late 18thcentury prophet and remains a controversial and misunderstood figure. Despite decade long interest from scholars, Brothers’ role as part of the broader radical culture remains a matter of debate. While his story can be interpreted as that of a lunatic who stumbled into fame, we will discuss what allowed Brothers to blossom into a national phenomenon. The aim is to explore Brothers’ role and impact in the context of the larger radical movement. We will explore why Brothers was prosecuted in a government effort aimed at silencing these radical groups in England, and why his political and religious message were deemed too dangerous to be left unchecked. We will view Brothers through the lens that most of Britain would have seen him through in 1795, the newspapers. A deeply divisive figure, he sparked discourse in all layers of English society. His fame reached even outside Britain. While the exact number of followers and sympathetic individuals has been the subject of some debate, the aim is to find out if there was significant support for the prophet. With material documenting Brothers’ impact on London now readily available in online newspaper archives, the goal of this research is to answer the question: What impact did Richard Brothers have on society and how was he perceived by the government and the public?Show less
This thesis studies the negative characterization of the Dutch in the pamphlet discourse of early modern England. It provides a survey of the character traits, tropes, arguments and general images...Show moreThis thesis studies the negative characterization of the Dutch in the pamphlet discourse of early modern England. It provides a survey of the character traits, tropes, arguments and general images used by pamphleteers to depict the Dutch as an immoral enemy ‘Other’. It also analyses the development of Hollandophobia, mapping changes and continuity within the discourse, focusing on the Anglo-Dutch Wars of the seventeenth century and the Glorious Revolution of 1688.Show less
The Early Anglo-Saxons did not split Middle-Earth in continents like we divide the earth now. This thesis will attempt to answer the question of how the influx of Christian and Greco-Latin...Show moreThe Early Anglo-Saxons did not split Middle-Earth in continents like we divide the earth now. This thesis will attempt to answer the question of how the influx of Christian and Greco-Latin literature influences the representation of Africa and Asia in Anglo-Saxon England.Show less
This thesis answers the question why there was a cluster of innovation in the English textile industry between 1760 and 1820. In order to answer this question, this thesis uses records concerning...Show moreThis thesis answers the question why there was a cluster of innovation in the English textile industry between 1760 and 1820. In order to answer this question, this thesis uses records concerning eight important textile inventors: Samuel Crompton, Richard Arkwright, James Hargreaves, Matthew Murray, Edmund Cartwright, William Radcliffe, Jedediah Strutt and John Kennedy. Crucial for clusters of innovative activity in general is that the existing stock of knowledge and techniques is constantly recombined into new technical knowledge, leading to innovation. It is pivotal for constant recombination that individual access costs to new technical knowledge are low. This, in turn, is achieved when new knowledge rapidly circulates, allowing inventors to constantly build on innovations done before them. A thorough study of eight important textile inventors will show that the cluster of innovative activity in the British textile industry existed because groups of inventors, manufacturers, financiers and workmen in the North West of England closely cooperated in a number of ways and because new technical knowledge rapidly circulated within and between these groups. These processes took place within a cultural context favourable to innovation, a political context in which elites supported innovation and an economic context in which large amounts of human capital were available. The cooperation took place both inside and outside of the inventive process. Within the inventive process, workmen and financiers provided the inventor with the technical and financial aid necessary to continue inventing. Outside of the inventive process, they helped some inventors to be properly rewarded for their efforts and collectively opposed inventors with overtly monopolistic tendencies. Rapid circulation of knowledge within and between these groups was realised in several ways. First, the successful collective action taken against monopolistic inventors insured the quick diffusion of their inventions. Second, most inventors at times freely shared their inventions with fellow inventors, manufacturers, and the public at large. Third, inventions were massively stolen. One of the ways in which new technical knowledge was stolen, was through the patent system. Contrary to popular belief, the English patent system, in most cases, did not allow individuals a sufficient return on the money, time and effort they had put into their innovative process. The specification of their invention, included in the patent application, was widely copied. Most inventors were unable to successfully fight these infringements. However, many inventors kept taking out patents, hoping to be successfully remunerated. In this way, the system contributed to the free circulation of new technical knowledge. These findings contribute to several debates within the field of social and economic history, economics and organisational science.Show less
The English countryside is dotted with old parish churches, often there since Medieval times and seemingly untouched. But appearances are deceptive and most of them, if not all, did change...Show moreThe English countryside is dotted with old parish churches, often there since Medieval times and seemingly untouched. But appearances are deceptive and most of them, if not all, did change considerably, and probably at least twice. The first major transformation happened in the 16th and early 17th century when after the Reformation churches were adapted from catholic places of worship into buildings fitting a new protestant liturgy. More surprisingly a second drastic transformation happened in the mid 19-hundreds, then vice-versa, altering churches backwards into more catholic settings for still protestant worship. This thesis examines the last, which not only generated huge changes in internal arrangements, layouts and furnishings, often beyond recognition, but also left us the churches we are familiar with and indeed established the blueprint for all churches in the Anglican and Episcopal community worldwide. In general churches were adapted according to a new concept created by an obviously successful and powerful movement, aiming for revitalisation of the Church of England: the Ecclesiological Society. Although the result of some compromising and adoption of ideas of others, their ecclesiological concept was strict and detailed, aiming for an ideal setting for Anglican worship based on 14th century forms, but which in fact was totally new and neither Medieval nor Anglican. A concept that required, and indeed generated, not only a radical internal rearrangement and refurnishing, altering churches from pulpit focusing auditoriums into sacramental spaces orientated to the altar, but also a full restyling into the only style befitted for truly Christian, English churches: the Middle Pointed Style. Many writers see the mid 19-hundreds as a period of revolution in which churches en-masse were transformed according to the ecclesiological principles: rigidly and rigorously. Broadly speaking this may be true. Still, three different cases of church remodelling, although providing only a tiny impression, show differently. St. Andrew’s Church in Castle Combe, Bath Abbey and St. Eadburgha’s in Broadway all got their ecclesiological arrangements, but neither of them to the full. And more noticeable, neither of them was restyled into the preferred Middle Pointed Style. The ecclesiological transformations may generally have been rapid and rigid, but certainly some churches followed their own patterns and paces, determined by facts such as the churchmanship and position of the incumbent or the significance and role of the church in the community.Show less
In this thesis the possible correlation between vertebral pathologies and social status was examined in two post-medieval populations from London (1700-1850 AD). One group contained individuals of...Show moreIn this thesis the possible correlation between vertebral pathologies and social status was examined in two post-medieval populations from London (1700-1850 AD). One group contained individuals of high social status, Chelsea Old Church, and one of lower social status, Cross Bones. As it could be expected that individuals of lower social class may have undertaken more physically demanding activities, vertebral pathologies which can appear as a result of stress should be more abundant in the Cross Bones group. Conversely diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH), a disease associated with dietary excess should be more visible in high social status groups. The groups are compared using age groups and chi-squared tests.Show less
This paper examines the impact of English National Identity upon political dissent in 13th century England. Using official documents alongside contemporary accounts it details how this identity was...Show moreThis paper examines the impact of English National Identity upon political dissent in 13th century England. Using official documents alongside contemporary accounts it details how this identity was repeatedly used by political dissidents between Magna Carta and the Provisions of Oxford and Westminster, to such an extent that in 1258 both the rebels and the royalists found it essential to claim it as their own.Show less
In 1625 an Anglo-Dutch fleet attacked the Spanish port of Cádiz. It was the main campaign of the 1624-1630 war between England and Spain. The event was widely recorded in different genres of...Show moreIn 1625 an Anglo-Dutch fleet attacked the Spanish port of Cádiz. It was the main campaign of the 1624-1630 war between England and Spain. The event was widely recorded in different genres of Spanish and English news. How did this news contribute to shaping images of the enemy around specific concepts, such as nation and religion? By addressing the construction of the other, the news also contributed to the formation of images of self-identity. While the Spanish news mainly appealed to the Catholic religion, the English news appealed to a sense of Englishness. The battle of Cádiz and the news produced around it opened a public discussion about the responsibility for it. The news reflected the political tensions within both states and these debates contributed to the definition of a public sphere of discussion.Show less
In 1961 Banbury Borough Council signed the Town Development Act, giving them licence to expand Banbury and double the population. This thesis looks at central and local government policies to...Show moreIn 1961 Banbury Borough Council signed the Town Development Act, giving them licence to expand Banbury and double the population. This thesis looks at central and local government policies to analyse why the Borough Council decided to make this decision that would drastically change Banbury from a small market town into an industrial centre for many different businesses. In order to do this it looks at the build up to signing the Act and what the main motivating factors were. It tests five hypotheses of why the Council decided to expand: opportunism, the desire to increase the rateable value of Banbury, the need to diversify industry, the Borough Council's need to increase their own power, and finally, fear of the town dying.Show less
An analysis as to how people in Medieval looked at music and musicians in their society. Done by historical accounts and by looking at famous literary work from the period involving music and/or...Show moreAn analysis as to how people in Medieval looked at music and musicians in their society. Done by historical accounts and by looking at famous literary work from the period involving music and/or musicians; such as Beowulf, Sir Orfeo and the Canterbury Tales.Show less
Pollen from pre-Anglian sediments at Beeston, Norfolk, UK, were investigated to reconstruct the palaeoenvironment and climate at the locality during the time of deposition. The results of the...Show morePollen from pre-Anglian sediments at Beeston, Norfolk, UK, were investigated to reconstruct the palaeoenvironment and climate at the locality during the time of deposition. The results of the environmental reconstruction are integrated in the debate on hominin presence in northwest Europe during the Pleistocene, their dispersal, biogeography, and the understanding of their ecological tolerances. Based on the pollen assemblages identified from the sediment sequence the presence of an infilling fresh water river channel in a river plain could be reconstructed. The presence of aquatic plants suggest a permanent wet locality. An increase in waterside and damp ground plants towards the upper part of the sampled sequence together with an increase in sedimentation indicate the infilling of the channel. In the river plain both back waters, pools and slow-flowing streams were probably present. The water was bordered by waterside and damp ground vegetation. The river plain formed an open area where various animals may have roamed. In the vicinity the river plain was bordered by a coniferous forest with some deciduous elements. The climate and ecological habitat reconstructed from the pre-glacial sediments at Beeston, resemble that of known archaeological sites in the region. The age of the sediments, based on lithostratigraphy and biostratigraphy, could be constrained to between ~0.6 and ~1 Ma. This possible age range covers the period to which the now known earliest hominin occupation and subsequent hominin presence in Britain is dated. Based on this environmental reconstruction the locality of Beeston would have formed a habitable niche for hominins during the time of deposition. Up to today no indications of hominin presence are found near Beeston. Although excavations of the pre-glacial sediments at Beeston is today impossible, the environmental reconstruction and the apparent absence of archaeology from Beeston can be used for reconstructing the wider context of hominins in northwest Europe and form a basis for further inferences on hominin dispersal, biogeography and ecological tolerances.Show less
An analysis is given of two potential revolutionary situations in order to find out whether the actions by potential revolutionaries can be considered revolutionary at all.
