Where you can learn about anything Geology, Geography or History related! Including a special Article detailing the Christmas truce formed between the English and German soldiers on Christmas day!
Opportunity to win a sweet treat on Pg. 19 If you can guess the answer correctly to a riddle created by the GAIA Team!
Want to write us an Article for our Spring Issue, join the GAIA teams with the code s002j9i
Hello and welcome to the Winter 2024 issue of the GAIA magazine!
This issue has been in production throughout two amazing events- Black History Month (October) and Remembrance Day (November). We would like to give a huge thanks to all those who have written articles for the magazine this term and to our fantastic team of editors who have been dedicated to making this magazine a success. Additionally, a thank you is owed to Silvia Marques who runs the GAIA society and has helped us along the entire production of this issue. As chief editors of the GAIA magazine, we are so grateful for the work our team has put into this year’s first issue and hope to deliver you many more fantastic issues this year. There is truly something for everyone in this term from a quiz on Ancient Egypt and Rome to an article on the Artemis Accords. Enjoy!
Luisa Hughes and Callum Smith
Pg. 4-5 ………………………………………
Xerxes: Was He a Good Persian King. By Lucas Woodcock
Pg. 6-8 ………………………………...……. Model UN Roundup: The Artemis Accords. By Ryan Cain
Pg. 9-11 Auschwitz, and the role it played in the Holocaust. By Luisa Hughes
Pg. 12-13
Legitimacy: Do Greek or Roman Gods hold the power. By Chloe Brown
Pg. 14-15 Ancient Empires QUIZ!
Pg. 16 …………………………………………………………………………….……………… RIDDLE OF THE TERM!
Pg. 17-19 ………………… Ernesto “Che” Guevara – The face of Revolution. By Shaun Simmons
Pg. 20-22 Scandalous Henry. By Hannah Robins
Pg. 23-24
Knights of the Round Table – Fact or Cap. By Kaden Barton & Dominic Joel Burns
Pg. 25-26 …………………. The Assassination of John F Kennedy. By Rosaline Florence Williams
Pg. 27-29 ……………………………………………….. The use of mythology in history. By Sadie Henry
Pg. 30-31
History of the North-South divide. By Jasmine Dodsworth
Pg. 32-33 WWI’s Christmas Truce. By Remy Gerard Naylor
PG. 34-35 Ancient Empires Quiz Answers!
Pg. 36-37 ……………………………………………………... What’s being going on with GAIA this Term?
Pg. 38 ………………………………………………………. Thankyou from GAIA & additional information
Xerxes was born and died in Persepolis – living from 519BCE to 465BCE. in 519BCE and died in 465BCE both in Persepolis. He was the second son of the King at that time. Darius; however, he was able to take the throne before his older brother as when he was born, his father was king meaning he was the rightful heir.. King Xerxes reigned over the Persian empire following on from his father Darius. Xerxes reigned over the empire from 486BCE until his assassination in 465BCE. As a ruler, he was a firm believer of Zoroastrianism as he believed in good and evil choices. He also believed he was chosen by Ahura Mazda.
The Gate of all nations was a great structure built under Xerxes as King. It is in the ceremonial capital on the gate states, A great god is Ahura Mazda, who created this earth, who created heaven, who created man, who created happiness for man, who made Xerxes king, one king of many kings, commander of many commanders.’
of the Persian empire and held things like Nasq-e Rustam, the burial place of Darius, Xerxes father. The structure consisted of one large room whose roof was supported by four stone columns with bellshaped bases. Parallel to the inner walls of this room ran a stone bench, interrupted at the doorways. This was made to play homage to the King and his reign. An inscription
There were many problems that Xerxes faced in his reign which ultimately led to his downfall. One of these was that he was forced to remove the satrap in Egypt as there were many rebellions there, forcing them into slavery. Alongside this and the Babylonian revolt , and Xerxes had a lot to deal with due to many Polis’ rejecting his harsh Persian rule. After this revolt, Xerxes would disrespect religions of many places, including Babylonian, and treat the people very harshly. He also had a terrible reptation as king due to him giving horrible punishments, womanizing and draining the public with extremely high taxation.
In 465BCE was assassinated by a high member of the Persian court and a royal Bodyguard, Artabanus. He became popular due to his influence over religion in the quarters of the court. Artabanus was also Xerxes’ nephew so many historians argue over the reasons however many believe it was to secure the throne. According to the Aristotle, Artabanus killed his older brother then his father. Once his other brother, Artaxerxes, discovered the bodies he then killed Artabanus and all his sons.
Once he knew the Persian wars were lost, he retired back to Persia and reigned until his eventual assassination in 465BCE. Before this, he looked over great building projects. There were new places contrasted with old and the
beginning of the creation of The Hall of a Hundred Collum's. He had great impact over the literature of Persia and language they used over the next hundred years. However, his death marked the decline of the Persian empire, and they were ultimately reduced by Alexander the Great in the 4th Century BC
Overall, Xerxes was the final leader of the Achaemenid Empire and the last flame of what the Persian empire used to be under Cyrus the Great.
Written by Lucas Woodcock .
Edited by Philippa Horrobin
How should we govern space? This was the topic discussed and debated in the first session of Model UN this year. Representatives for the US, UK and India argued that the UN should adopt the Artemis Accords as its official policy towards space, whilst representatives for China, Russia and North Korea rejected this assertion. Why was this the case? What was the outcome? Let's find out!
The Artemis Accords are a set of common principles, introduced by the US State Department and NASA in 2020, for a "safe, peaceful and prosperous future in space" (according to NASA's website). At the time of writing, fortyeight nations have signed onto the accords ranging from Bahrain to Belgium, and more and more countries are signing onto the Accords, the most recent example being Denmark on the 13th of November 2024.
Nations like the US and UK are eager to expand Artemis as they believe it reduces the risk of future conflict in space by clearly stating who has the right to access and extract lunar resources through the creation of "safety zones" which prevents other countries or businesses from interfering with another nation's or business' resource extraction operations, providing an area of exclusive activity for whichever entity begins operations there first. This creates a situation similar to the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) which governs the distribution of territorial waters and was brought into force in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea. This was seen as evidence that the "security zones" proposed under Artemis had a legal precedent, suggesting they could be made to work. However, due to the first come, first serve nature of the distribution of "security zones", unlike EEZs bound to geographical coastlines, the North Korean delegation argued smaller nations with less advanced space programs would be left behind with no hopes of securing the most valuable lunar resource deposits. Therefore, the richest, most developed nations, like the US would benefit the most from this at the expense of less wealthy nations. China has serious concerns around the possibility for "security zones" to provide the justification for the militarisation of space to provide a deter Other key points supporting the Artemis Accords included obligations to register space objects in order to mitigate the risks of harmful interference with space flights as the amount of debris in the Earth's orbit continues to increase dramatically, provisions to increase interoperability and the sharing of scientific discoveries between nations and commercial enterprises ensuring space exploration benefits all of humanity, and agreements for collaboration in the event of a need to mount rescue missions. All of these points did receive universal support, however, it was argued the Accords were not needed as these developments could be achieved through adjustments to the 1967 Outer Space Treaty without the need for a radical new agreement.
One of the key arguments against the Accords is that large parts of it contradict earlier treaties such as the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, a point raised by the Russian delegation, complicating, not simplifying the
governance of space making the Artemis Accords redundant and potentially problematic. This could risk future conflict in space as different interpretations of equally valid laws could lead to two opposing sides with an equally valid casus belli: a perfect recipe for conflict suggesting the Accords may fail in their role to ensure peace. Another, key argument of opposition to the Accords is perceived US dominance which could stifle competition. This seems plausible as the Artemis Accords are US backed proposals whose name is derived from American plans to once again send humans to the moon, the Artemis Program. On the other hand, the fact that nations from outside of the Western sphere, such as India, have signed the accords suggests there is more to the Accords than just an entrenching of US hegemony.
At the close of discussions, a vote was held and the proposition was victorious with two votes over the opposition meaning the Model UN embraces the Artemis Accords. However, in the real United Nations, such a scenario is highly unlikely as Russia and China's anti-American opposition would be impossible to overcome with both nations holding a Security Council Veto and developed space programs of their own with militaristic tendencies entirely opposed to the West's assertion of peaceful collaboration. Therefore, it seems impossible for the whole world to unite behind the Artemis Accords. This could pose a serious threat to humanity as in the words of Tim Marshall (author of 'The Future of Geography: How the Competition in Space Will Change Our World') "The 1967 Outer Space Treaty is a useful framework, but technology has overtaken it”, and serious risks to humanity, especially in the form of conflict, will arise in space and on Earth if we fail to change and adapt. "We urgently need a new set of internationally agreed principles." Could the Artemis Accords be the principles we so urgently need?
Other key points supporting the Artemis Accords included obligations to register space objects in order to mitigate the risks of harmful interference with space flights as the amount of debris in the Earth's orbit continues to increase dramatically, provisions to increase interoperability and the sharing of scientific discoveries between nations and commercial enterprises ensuring space exploration benefits all of humanity, and agreements for collaboration in the event of a need to mount rescue missions. All of these points did receive universal support, however, it was argued the Accords were not needed as these developments could be achieved through adjustments to the 1967 Outer Space Treaty without the need for a radical new agreement.
One of the key arguments against the Accords is that large parts of it contradict earlier treaties such as the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, a point raised by the Russian delegation, complicating, not simplifying the governance of space making the Artemis Accords redundant and potentially problematic. This could risk future conflict in space as different interpretations of equally valid laws could lead to two opposing sides with an equally valid casus belli: a perfect recipe for conflict suggesting the Accords may fail in their role to ensure peace. Another, key argument of opposition to the Accords is perceived US dominance which could stifle competition. This seems plausible as the Artemis Accords are US backed proposals whose name is derived from American plans to once again send humans to the moon, the Artemis Program. On the other hand, the fact that nations from outside of the Western sphere, such as India, have signed the accords suggests there is more to the Accords than just an entrenching of US hegemony.
At the close of discussions, a vote was held and the proposition was victorious with two votes over the opposition meaning the Model UN embraces the Artemis Accords. However, in the real United Nations, such a scenario is highly unlikely as Russia and China's anti-American opposition would be impossible to overcome with both nations holding a Security Council Veto and developed space programs of their own with militaristic tendencies entirely opposed to the West's assertion of peaceful collaboration. Therefore, it seems impossible for the whole world to unite behind the Artemis Accords. This could pose a serious threat to humanity as in the words of Tim Marshall (author of 'The Future of Geography: How the Competition in Space Will Change Our World') "The 1967 Outer Space Treaty is a useful framework, but technology has overtaken it”, and serious risks to humanity, especially in the form of conflict, will arise in space and on Earth if we fail to change and adapt. "We urgently need a new set of internationally agreed principles." Could the Artemis Accords be the principles we so urgently need?
To conclude, I would like to send a huge thanks to all of those who have attended Model UN so far, your contributions have been amazing to see. If this article has interested you, why not join us? Just come down to M01 on Tuesdays from 12:45-13:15 and take part in the discussion!
Thank you, Ryan Cain (Model UN Coordinator)
Edited by Lucy Winkel
Roughly 80 years ago, the most extreme case of mass genocide took place across Western Europe, we know it today as the Holocaust. It was one of the darkest periods in modern history and when you put it into perspective, it’s shocking to believe that it really wasn’t that long ago. It’s also key to note that Adolf Hitler was not solely responsible for the violence, hatred and murder between the years of 1939-45. His dictatorship and charisma paved the way, however, without the backing of his collaborators (these being the ones who ran camps carrying out orders without resistance) he had nothing but an extremist view. Specifically, I’m going to focus on Auschwitz-Birkenau, a death camp in Poland that spanned 400 acres (6000 football fields) and claimed 1.1 million lives in just 4 years.
Entering Auschwitz:
Auschwitz was designed to house 100,000 people yet over 1 million Jews went through registration. On average, a prisoner would spend 30 minutes at the camp before being killed. 80% of victims who went to Auschwitz were never registered, because they didn’t make it through the selection process. This was where Nazi officials would select prisoners that they thought could be useful within the work effort and then send them into the camps whereas the others would be sent to the Gas Chambers. Unfortunately, the one million registered prisoners of Auschwitz only made up 20% of the victims. It is the largest Graveyard in Europe, yet not a single headstone. Presently at the Auschwitz Museum there is a book which contains the names of all victims from the Holocaust this book contains up to 4.2 million names and took up an entire room. However, what was extremely special about this room is the fact that on the far wall there are images of victims after the Holocaust, these were the survivors. It's hard to imagine how you can just continue on with life after such a traumatic experience and after losing so many people around youthese victims made lives for themselves despite everything they had been through. It’s vital to remember that the people affected by the Holocaust were not just victims they were real human beings with full and vibrant lives, they were unsuspecting victims like you or me.
Below I have included the names of a few victims from the Holocaust that I selected from the book of names, and this may be the first time that they have been mentioned in over 80 years. So please if you can, just say their names aloud and remember that these were real people with their own real lives and dreams:
Brock Liib
Evelinka Weis
Wajs Miklosh
Unfortunately, the humanity of the victims was not valued more than their belongings. Anything belonging to them of value was kept and used by the Nazis and the German people. One of the cruelest strategies used to dispose of Jews was through the gas chambers the victims were forced to undress before entering what they were told was the ‘showers’ and within 20 minutes would have died due to the cyanide in the air which blocked gas exchange in the blood, they suffocated from the inside. Any valuables left from/by the corpses (even gold teeth were extracted from victims) were taken like jewelry and over 10,000 people were gassed and sent through the furnaces each day. Most Shockingly women’s' hair was cut off by the Nazis ostensibly it may seem that hair holds little value but it did to the Nazis; over 6 tones of hair was found in Auschwitz, and it was discovered That this hair was used to produce cloth for German army uniforms and socks for railway conductors etc. According to the women who worked on the farms, the ashes of the victims were used to fertilize the land. EVERYTHING about them was recycled for the ‘good’ of the German effort.
Living in this camp was nothing short of torture itself, the living conditions were dreadful. Between the thousands of prisoners there were 200 toilets and only 20 minutes of the day were allocated to using them. Many prisoners suffered from starvation diarrhea which only heightened the issue of hygiene within the camps. There was a plethora of jobs that the Jews could partake in however cleaning the toilets was a favorite among them, given that they were able to spend cold winter days indoors and we're also able to use the facilities whenever they needed. However, the true jackpot among duties was located between the barbed fences. This was because it was the only area throughout the whole 400 acres of Auschwitz where Grass grew, and the starved prisoners would eat it.
Auschwitz was also used for experimentation for example people with Heterochromia (different colored eyes) were used so that the Nazis could figure out how to change a person's eyes to blue thus artificially becoming part of the Aryan race. This was done by injecting a chemical solvents straight into the prisoner's eyes with no pain re- lief of course this either killed them immediately due to the pain or they died from infection soon after . Pregnant women bearing twins were also experimented on because one of the Nazi poli- cies included creating strong Aryan families and wanted to do it at a rapid rate twins could make this process swifter however these experimenta- tions not only led to the death of the babies but also the mothers. Finally, several hundred fe- male prisoners we used as human Guinea pigs for sterilization experiments between April 1943 and May 1944 some of them died from the treatment that they received all those were murdered so the autopsies could be performed on them those who did survive will left with permanent injuries. These were the lengths to which the Nazis would go to prevent the Jewish race from prospering once more in Germany.
Unfortunately, this was how the prisoners of Auschwitz lived their lives but there is also the question of how they died and that is one of increasing brutality. The Germans wanted to decide how and when the
Jews would be killed, this is why attempting to kill yourself was seen as an effort of escape and you would be prosecuted heavily for this. The Death Wall! A wall against which thousands of men, women and children were executed, whether it be through shooting, hanging, flogging or starvation. Now this wool serves as a memorial for visitors, and it is asked of you to be silent when exploring this area of the camp.
At the beginning of this article, I mentioned how Hitler was only part of the problem because without his collaborators he didn't have a regime, a prime example of this is the role played by the commandant of Auschwitz. Ostensibly he was a family man, The proof in being that historians found several kind and warm letters that he wrote to his children but at his core he was a murderer. His camp became a prototype for all death camps. However, something very strange occurred linking to this man because out of the hundreds of thousands that he killed, he saved two lives, and they belonged to a couple. He had heard the woman reading a poem at a cultural evening and recognized her accent as being from the same area as he had grown up in and consequently, he removed her name from the transport list to Auschwitz camp. Statistics cannot explain why he sent Jews to their deaths every single day yet saved one couple this just demonstrates how complex the Holocaust truly is.
Closing statements:
The Holocaust is a challenging topic even today, because unfortunately society still hasn't progressed much since the inconceivable events of the 1940’s. The Holocaust will forever be relevant in a modern world, and Auschwitz is only a mere microcosm of the torture, murder and violence that minorities faced by the Nazis and their collaborators. If there is anything you take away from reading this, let it be that their victims were neither nameless nor faceless, they were more than a statistic and the disease that is hatred has still got the power today to fester into such extreme matters.
Written by Luisa Hughes.
Edited by Remy Gerard Naylor.
Over millions of years, before the existence of Christ, Roman and Greek Gods were the religious authority over the people of that time. However, there has also been a debate, on whether Greek and Roman Gods existed to each other. They only believed their own Gods existed. This article will talk about the legitimacy of the Gods, and which ones actually deserve papal status.
Sources say that Greek Mythology is “difficult to know when started,” although we can believe it was around the discovery of Crete, after 3000 BC. Alternatively, Roman Gods were discovered in 20 BC, proving the legitimacy of Greek Gods due to their age. Greek and Roman Gods influenced natural formations, such as war, water and even forbidden places such as the underworld. Both held predominance over the citizens of Rome and Greece as the people believed terrible events would occur if the Gods were disrespected. This scared people as they could be killed, or experience events that could get them killed, which influenced people to follow the Gods. People who didn’t believe in the Gods were forced to be slaves to the Gods or punished in worse matters. This shows how both Greek and Roman Gods are legitimate as they both had authority over their people, even if Greek Gods existed beforehand.
Previously mentioned, the Gods influenced all natural factors of humanity. In Greek and Roman times there were Gods for:
- Marriage and Love
- War and wisdom
- Water
- Lightning
- Music
- Messages
As well as plenty more, there were no difference in the functions and duties of Roman and Greek Gods. However, there was a difference in names, Romans were seen as illegitimate in this sense as they stole the Greek names and modified them to their language. For example, the King of Gods for Greece was Zeus, but the King of Gods for Rome was Jupiter. This created havoc due to the disrespect towards Greek Gods. This shows how both armies of God were similar within function but different in name, emphasising how Romans stole ideas and analogies from the Greek Gods.
Although there is a debate about the legitimacy of Greek and Roman Gods, there is also the debate of them existing at all. There is still question to this day as there is not enough evidence to support or deny their existence. There are multiple tales such as of Icarus and the sunlight, or the Minotaur. Yet there is uncertainty as some people believe these tales about the Gods were word by word. Yet others believe that the tales were created to teach lessons about life. Personally, I believe of the existence of Gods, as well as many authors, the author of “The Iliad” must believe in something to write a whole book. In contrast you have the historians who dedicate books to the denial of their existence. This shows how neither are legitimate as there is doubt about their existence.
Overall, there is still a debate on the legitimacy of Roman and Greek Gods. Greek Gods are legitimate as they existed before Roman Gods. Yet Roman Gods are legitimate as they could still rule authority over people. They are both illegitimate as people question the existence of any God. However, there are people that believe. Its up to you which route you take.
Written by Chloe Brown
Edited by Rosaline Florence Williams
1. Match up the Egyptian Gods
Anubis Protection
Horus Motherhood & Wisdom
Ammit Death
Isis Devourer of souls
Sekhmet Medicine
2. True of False, Vikings wore Helmets with Horns to ward of evil spirits?
3. True or False, Boudicca was a Celtic Queen?
4. According to Egyptian Mythology, why do we have Solar Eclipses?
A. So the Sun God, Ra, could rest
B. It was a snake devouring the Sun God’s boat
C. It was Anubis fighting for dominance over the Earth
5. Who founded Rome?
A. Julius Ceasar
B. Romanus Diogenes
C. Romulus & Remus
D. Dionysius & Homer
6. How did Julius Ceasar die?
A. Poisoned by his wife Cornelia
B. Shot with an arrow in the back
C. Stabbed by his Senators
D. Ate a poisonous fish
7. How many brothers did Cleopatra marry?
A. 3
8. Which infamous Egyptian Beetle had the ability to eat Human flesh in ‘The Mummy’?
A. Dung Beetle
B. Rose Chafer
C. Scarab Beetle
D. Acorn Weevil
9. In the ‘How to train your Dragon’ Franchise what was Stoics Dragon called and who looked after him after Stoics death?
A. Scull-crusher & Eret, son of Eret
B. Bone-smasher, Dagger
C. Fire-setter, Rikar
D. Doby, Bellatrix
10. Name of Orpheus' lover who he attempted to retrieve from the underworld?
A. Rosalind
B. Aphrodite
C. Eurydice
D. Ludicyisa
11. When did Pompeii erupt for the first time.
A. 279 AD
B. 130 BC
C. 24 AD
D. 79 AD
12. Neptune was a Roman God but who was his Greek equivalent and what power did they share?
13. Where did the Vikings originated from?
14. Which TV Series based on Egyptian mythology follows Nina and her friends as they uncover the dark truths about their school, teachers and home.
Answers on Pages 34 & 35
I began my journey through time the mightiest being, but was chased out of existence. You have made a spectacle of me, however still acknowledge my ferocity. But outside you’re escapisms I’m considered no more than the average Rock to you. Who/What am I?
Have an answer? Send it to J001441 on Teams and there will be a draw on 06.01.2025 for those who guessed correctly and winner will receive a sweet treat of their choice! Good Luck.
“The true revolutionary is guided by a feeling of love. It is impossible to think of a genuine revolutionary lacking this quality.”
“Guerillero Heroico” - one of the most iconic and recognisable photos of all time. Featuring in popular culture, famous media, on the fronts of shirts and beer-stained posters on the walls of punk venues, this photo is truly an adored symbol of modern society. A question that lingers on everyone’s mind when they see this photo is “Who is this man?”, a simple question with a complex answer, considering his history, effect and ideals. To be seen as the face of revolution is no small feat, so who is this man and why does he have such influence on society?
Born in 1928 in Rosario, Argentina to wealthy parents and a stable household, Ernesto Guevara was the eldest child in an upper-class family. A privileged upbring is a surprising trait for a socialist revolutionary with the Bourgeoisie often instilling similar values into their children. However, the Guevara family were left leaning, often hosting Republican Veterans from the Spanish Civil War in their own homes and encouraging the reading of leftist thinkers to their children. Growing up in this environment lead Ernesto to develop an “affinity for the poor”, engaging in various works by political authors such as Engels and Lenin. Thus, the seeds of his ideologies were planted.
Ernesto went on to study Medicine at the University of Buenos Aires but his desire for adventure led him to take a break from his studies and engage on two expeditions through Latin America. It was on these expeditions, accompanied by his best friend Alberto Granado, that he saw first-hand the exploitation of the proletariat and the suffering of people just like him. It's safe to say that these journeys truly opened his eyes and transformed him into the revolutionary we know him as today. Upon completion of his expeditions, Ernesto had gained a newfound perspective on Latin America, no longer seeing it as a continent filled with separate nations but instead as a single entity requiring liberation from the borders that separated it. Thus, he embarked on his revolutionary journey, beginning to immerse himself in the political world and joining up with Fidel Castro’s “26th of July Movement” a revolutionary force that wished to overthrow the Cuban Dictator, Fulgencio Batista.
Quickly gaining respect in this movement, Ernesto became Castro’s second-in-command and was known as “Che” amongst the men, having gained their adoration and respect. In 1956, the guerilla forces re-entered Cuba and began a 2-year campaign to topple Batista’s regime, known as the Cuban Revolution. Finally, on the 31st of December 1958, Batista fled the country and the Revolution was successful. The 26th of July Movement became the leading force of the new Cuba and in October 1965 was officially established as the Communist Party of Cuba. Under Castro’s leadership, Che Guevara became a key member of the new government, serving in roles such as Minister of Industry, President of the National Bank and Chief of the Industrial Department of the National Institute of Agrarian Reform. During his time in government, Che defined key policies of the new nation, became the face of Cuba’s revolution and contributed intellectually through works such as “Man and Socialism in Cuba”. Thus, Cuba flourished under the leadership of Guevara and Castro’s socialism, being the face of revolution in the world at the time.
Not only did Che Guevara dedicate himself to Cuba’s revolution, but he also dedicated himself to the revolutions of other countries that needed his help. In 1965, he travelled to the Congo to provide his military expertise, especially regarding guerilla tactics. Whilst the Simba rebellion was an eventual failure, Che’s dedication to revolution was clearly displayed through his solidarity with the Congolese rebels and their desire for freedom. Furthermore, in 1966 Che travelled to Bolivia to foster revolution and build his guerilla army to overthrow the corrupt government. However, this is where Che’s story began to come to an end. While his army was well trained, it was small and isolated due to the faulty status of the radio transmitter he intended to use to contact Cuba for supplies. Furthermore, the US influenced the Bolivian army, training and preparing them for Che’s army as well as sending commandos, operatives and rangers to destabilise and attack the army. Thus, on the 8th of October 1967, Che Guevara was captured by Bolivian forces.
Che Guevara was captured by the Bolivian army and imprisoned in a dilapidated, mud schoolhouse in a nearby village. He had refused to let himself be interrogated and kept his stony silence when asked about the whereabouts of other guerillas. He had even spat in the face of Bolivian Rear Admiral Horacio Ugarteche, who had attempted to question him. On the morning of the 9th of October, Guevara asked to speak to the schoolteacher of the village, a 22-year-old woman named “Julia Cortez” who stated that she found herself unable to look him in the eye, saying his gaze was “unbearable, piercing and so tranquil”. During their conversation, Che pointed out the condition of the dilapidated schoolhouse, stating that it was “anti-pedagogical” to expect students to be educated in such a place while “government officials drive Mercedes cars”, showing his dedication to his ideals by stating that "that's what we are fighting against". Even in imprisonment and total despair, Che Guevara was dedicated to his ideals. Later in the morning, Bolivian President René Barrientos ordered the execution of Che Guevara, with the instructions to not shoot him in the head so it seems that he died in action. After being told about his planned execution, a soldier asked him whether he was thinking about his own immortality, with Che replying that he was thinking about “the immortality of the revolution”. When Mario Terán, the voluntary executioner, entered the schoolhouse, Ernesto “Che” Guevara rose to his feet and spoke his last words, "I know you've come to kill me. Shoot, coward! You are only going to kill a man!". Thus, the man had been executed but his idea had been immortalised.
Upon the publication of his death and pictures of his corpse spreading across the world, his legend spread to every corner of the Earth. Protests against his murder sprung up in various cities across the world, with people wearing shirts with his face on it to show their dedication. Riots erupted, college campuses hummed with the voices of the students and Che’s presence could be felt in the hearts of the common man. The military historian, Erik Durschmied stated that "In those heady months of 1968, Che Guevara was not dead. He was very much alive.".
His legend continued to spread across the world, with left wing activists idolising him as the “Socialist New Man” and attempting to emulate his revolutionary glory. In life, Che Guevara had been a revolutionary and in death he had become a symbol of the everlasting struggle for a better world. His image, particularly the image of Guerillero Heroico, became synonymous with revolution and guided budding revolutionaries in their desires to reform the world for the common man.
Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s life was one of adversity, danger but above all, hope. His life was spent fighting for a better future, and whilst he may have not transformed our world into a communist utopia, he provided a symbol to inspire the future proletariat to do it in his honour. His life set the stage for the liberation of the proletariat, with leftists viewing Che as a hero, inspiring them to continue his fight. Thus, Che was right regarding “the immortality of the revolution”, his image and life setting an example to the future of humanity so that we may never lay down and let ourselves be oppressed.
“Above all, always be capable of feeling deeply any injustice committed against anyone, anywhere in the world. This is the most beautiful quality in a revolutionary.”
Written by Shaun Simmons
Edited by Philippa Horrobin
You may have heard of Henry VIII’s three children, Mary I, Elizabeth I, and Edward VI. How could you not? They left legacies which have been remembered for centuries to come. However, they are the only ones that are written down in the history books. In school you only get taught about them because they are the LEGITAMATE children of Henry VIII. The less fortunate (which is debatable), illegitimate children are left to be forgotten about.
Mary I or notoriously nicknamed ‘Bloody Mary’, was the only surviving child of Henry and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. She was known for multiple things, some more notably recognisable than others. Firstly, she was the first Queen of England to rule in her own right (1553-58). In 1554, Mary married Phillip II of Spain therefore extending her rule by becoming Queen consort of Spain. Moreover, her most famous decision was the prosecution of protestants. Burning 280 people at the stake earning her nickname ‘Bloody Mary’
Henry’s second child Elizabeth I caused quite a scandal to England’s monarchy. Elizabeth was the product of the English Reformation. Elizabeth’s mother, Anne Boleyn, sparked the change in England’s faith and loyalty to the Roman Catholic Church. For Henry to marry Anne, Henry needed to change England’s religion to Protestantism to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. All of Elizabeth’s life, she never married. From this she gained the title of ‘Virgin Queen’ and one of her first colonies in North America was named after her – Virginia. She also settled the religious rivalry in the nation between Catholics and protestants by creating a ‘middle way’. This consisted of the Act of uniformity and the Act of Supremacy in 1559. These acts made her the ‘Supreme Governor’, and it managed how the Church of England should run and how the people should abide by it. One of her most famous victories is the Spanish Armada in 1588. Phillip II of Spain launched an attack on England in retaliation to multiple factors. In her valiant efforts she destroyed the Armada with the help of Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Francis Drake. After all her efforts from the years of 1558 to 1603 to make England a better place, it was truly a Golden Age.
The Last of Henry’s Legitimate children was Edward VI. Henry desperately wanted a son, so decided to marry, Jane Seymore (Edward’s mother) after sending Anne Boleyn to the executioner. Unfortunately, she died 12 days after childbirth in Hampton Court Palace. Thus, Edward never felt the love of his mother. Not to worry though, Edward continuously felt the love of his father. After all he was the son and heir to the English throne, pushing his elder sisters down the succession ladder. Once his father finally passed away, Edward was crowned King of England at just nine years old in 1547. Despite his young age, he led religious reformations. He followed in his father’s footsteps by being a devout protestant and encouraging multiple reforms such as, allowing priests to marry, the removal of stained-glass windows in churches, removed all pictures, ornaments and alters as well as adopting an English prayer book. His most famous reform is the publishing the Great Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. Making the protestant faith more accessible to everyone including the poor, non-educated peasants. Sadly in 1553, age 15, Edward passed away naming his successor as Lady Jane Grey, vexing his sister Mary who was next in line to the throne.
Now Henry wasn’t known for having one true love. He had six wives. Quite the opposite of devotion. On top of that, he had a vast number of mistresses. Henry would justify this since his wives hadn’t given him any sons, but is that really an excuse for flirting and bedding other women?
Whilst Henry was married to Catherine of Aragon, he decided to take Elizabeth Blount, Catherine’s lady in waiting, as his mistress. Elizabeth Blount became pregnant with Henry’s child and on 15th June 1519 Elizabeth gave birth to Henry Fitzroy. Even though Henry VIII recognised him as his son, he couldn’t exactly appoint this child as the heir to the English throne. Once Henry’s second wife Anne Boleyn couldn’t produce any male heirs, their bond of father and son became particularly close. So, with Henry’s gracious gift of being king, he appointed Fitzroy as Knight of the Garter and Duke of Richmond and Somerset in 1525. He was also given the title of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. In 1532
It was rumoured that Catherine and Henry Carey were the children of Henry VIII and Mary Boleyn, Anne Boleyn’s sister. Yet they were never recognised by Henry like he did with Henry Fitzroy. Before Anne was in the eye line of Henry, Mary captured the king’s heart. At the time Mary Boleyn was married to William Carey, a wealthy and influential courtier of the privy chamber, however she was a mistress to Henry.
Around the time Mary was in court and mistress to the king, she gave birth to her first child Elizabeth Carey in 1524. Due to this it is very debatable within historians whether Elizabeth’s father was Henry or William. Despite this, she was still close to the crown as her aunt, Anne Boleyn, was Queen of England. Due to family relations, she was able to have high positions in court. In 1539 she was appointed Maid of Honour to both Anne of Cleves and in the following year she married her first husband Sir Francis Knolly. Her husband was knighted in 1547 and was named a Knight of the Garter in 1593. He was also Treasurer of the Royal Household. From the time of her marriage, Catherine became known as Mistress Knollys, and from 1547 as Lady Knollys. When Queen Mary came into power, she and her husband fled to Germany to escape the protestant prosecutions. She kept in touch with Elizabeth Tudor and when she came to the throne, Elizabeth appointed her cousin (or half-sister) as Chief Lady of the bed chamber. It was well known that Elizabeth and Catherine had a very close relationship which could be due to Elizabeth not having many female relatives. She sadly died in 1569 being laid to rest at in St Edmund's Chapel in Westminster Abbey.
It is also rumoured that Mary Boleyn’s second child Henry Carey was also fathered by Henry VII. Carey and his elder sister Catherine came under the wardship of their maternal aunt Anne Boleyn, who was engaged to Henry VIII at the time. Also, for his later education he was sent to a prestigious Cistercian monastery. This made him very educated which would be proved useful throughout his life. At the age of 21 Henry entered parliament representing Buckingham in 1547-1550 and again in 1554 - 1555. Two years later he was knighted by Elizabeth given the title of Baron of Hunsdon. Later in 1560 he was appointed to master of the Queens Hawks and in the following year a Knight of the Garter. Yet again stepping up in position, he was appointed Captain of the Gentlemen Pensioners in 1564 and in 1568 he became Governor of Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland. Henry also helped destroy the threat of the Revolt of the Northern Earls. He died in 1556 and was buried in Westminster Abbey along with his sister Catherine. He proved himself a loyal servant not only to Elizabeth herself but to the whole of England.
Written by Hannah Robins
Edited Luisa Hughes
Everybody knows about the fabled tale of the knights of the Round Table, many people are familiar with the famous faces from the folklore such as King Arthur himself, Merlin the great and powerful wizard and who could forget the legendary Sir Lancelot arguably the greatest of the knights residing in his iconic abode Castle Camelot. The story of the Knights of the Round Table is the main component of the legends, focusing on the reign of King Arthur and the iconic adventures of his chivalrous knights. It weaves together key themes such as: bravery, loyalty and betrayal.
This is not just a mere retelling of these tales but a deep dive into the validity of mystical events. Many have questioned the truth of the myths and the lines between reality and fantasy have become blurred over the years. In the tale, Arthur establishes a court based on equality and chivalry. The Round Table was a symbol of fairness ensuring all knights are treated equally. There were many knights of the round table, the most distinguished being Lancelot, Gawain, Percival, Galahad, and Mordred. The knights undertook a spiritual quest for the Holy Grail, undoubtably the most iconic of all their treacherous adventures. The Holy Grail was a chalice that was said to have miraculous healing powers and ultimately in the tale Galahad obtained the artifact, due to him having the purest of souls. This could be an example of the fabrications of the tale used as a lesson to society to ensure their faith in God.
Another example that could suggest these fascinating fables are in fact false could be the infamous affair between Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere resulting in the downfall of Camelot. It was said there were many internal issues within Camelot and that the knights themselves laid the groundwork for its eventual fall. But the event that served as the catalyst for the downfall was Lancelot (Arthur’s most trusted friend and knight) having an affair with his wife queen Guinevere. This event being the cause of the downfall of Camelot is most likely included in the tales as a moral lesson to teach medieval society and even our society today to abstain from sin such as infidelity because sin is the root for the downfall of man.
We have been relatively negative so far when deducing if these legendary stories are truly fact or fiction but there is evidence that suggests King Arthur was a real person and if he was, the probability the subsequent tales being real greatly increases. The most convincing evidence being work of Geoffrey of Monmouth who is widely regarded as the founding father of Arthurian Legend who believes it was Arthur who was king in the 6th century who quelled the Saxon threat in England and conquers much of northern Europe until his death at the hands of his relative Mordred. His accounts are supported by historical artifacts that have been discovered such as the castle of Caer Melyn (awfully like Camelot) near Cardiff and Arthur’s stone made of nine upright stones and a large capstone which many believe to be the legendary King Arthur's tomb.
In conclusion, the story of The Knights of the Round Table is not likely to be completely factual. However, behind all mythology is some sense of truth and factual events are commonly exaggerated over centuries of the stories being told, leading to some details being false. There is much evidence supporting King Arthur really existed and there are similarities between the story and events that played out in that period. The answer to the question: Was the story of the Knights of the round table fact or fiction.
Written by Kaden Barton & Dominic Joel Burns
Edited by Rosaline Florence Williams
There are many conspiracy theories surrounding the death of John F Kennedythe former 31st President of the US - who led from 1961 up until his assassination. Due to his assassination, he is arguably one of the most notorious presidents ever. However, there are multiple theories about his death, for example, suspected involvements of the CIA and the Mafia. There are even questions regarding if the man convicted could have truly committed the crime. Also, there is a random theory that one bullet was magic as it had hit Kennedy in more than place almost simultaneously.
One of the most prominent theories is that it was impossible for Lee Harvey Oswald to have killed the president. However, there were many investigations that could prove the sceptics wrong. There was also a yearlong series of interviews and significant time spent building the case up. However, there are questions surrounding the CIA’s involvement due to conflicts regarding international relations particularly during the cold war along with rumoured involvement with the Mafia. One of the most mentioned of the inconsistencies was the fact that during a series of interviews, almost half of 50 witnesses from the Dealy Plaza where the assassination occurred - reported hearing gunshots from Grassy Knoll. Many who were nearby had initially feared that one of the shots had come from this area and had reported this to the authorities. This however was ignored even though Oswald supposedly shot from the opposite direction and these reports were simply dismissed as echoes, cars or misconceptions as to where the noise came from. Some witnesses also retracted statements or dismissed this therefore weakening theory there was more than one shooter and strengthening the single gunman theory. Concepts of shots coming from Grassy Knoll were theory eventually thrown out by those investigating and picked up by conspiracy theorists as part of a larger conspiracy or issue.
Another interesting aspect of the assassination theories that backs this up is the ‘Magic Single-bullet theory’ - the belief that one bullet killed Kennedy and was responsible for all of Governor Connally’s wounds. Though this sounds drastic, the shot was argued to be taken from hundreds of feet away 6 floors up in the Depository building. The Warren Commission however eventually found Oswald guilty. He was also convicted on the accounts of DNA evidence and the discovery of a bullet that had matched a gun he possessed. However, many still argue it was either not Oswald or that he didn’t work alone. But Oswald, after taking no blame, was killed 2 days after his trial.
Therefore, there are many theories surrounding the death of Kennedy and inconsistencies within witness statements and the case evidently causing many to become sceptical although Oswald was found guilty on multiple accounts. This has fuelled not only one of
the greatest controversies and debates of American history as to the motives of the assassination but also particularly who killed the famous John F Kennedy.
Written by Rosaline Florence Williams
Edited by Lucy Winkel
To many, the ancient myths come to them more as fantastical tales, stories with no truth to them, invented solely for entertainment and religious tales. To some others, these myths are an insight to the religion of ancient Greece, Hellenic polytheism, and the views that came with it. However, the myths are even more than just these both, while they do give insight into the religion, they also give us an insight to history and major events that haven’t been recorded in any other form. For example, the end of the Minoan civilisation, which scholars have spent many years pondering upon.
The Minoans are often considered as the precursor to ancient Greece, though their actual central point was Crete, their control spread far up the Aegean Sea, even reaching the supposed location of Troy. Evidence for this comes in the form of goods and shipwrecks that have a design distinct to the Minoan civilisation which suggests trade. Crete itself was likely a trade hub of sorts, as five major palaces have been found all over the island in general states of ruin, the largest being the palace of Knossos. These palaces have a labyrinth-like structure suggesting these were not palaces as we know them, not the homes of the rich, but instead a form of market where stalls could be set up to sell goods with ease. Despite this, little is known of the Minoan people and their culture, largely due to their language (linear A) being entirely indigenous, meaning there isn’t a way to translate it, due to the fact there is nothing to compare it to. On top of this, the paintings and art found in the palaces can tell us very little, the countless interpretations provide little to no support due to the lack of evidence provided.
So how can we learn about these people? Our best sources are the natural geography, geology, and the mythology, particularly the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. Below I will put a recap of the myth for those that don’t know it, if you do and do not want a recap, skip to the paragraph labelled with a red star at the start of it (like this *)!
The myth truly begins with neither Theseus nor the minotaur, but instead with King Minos, a man aspiring to become the King of Crete. To do this, Minos claimed he had received sovereignty from the Gods and that anything he prayed for he would receive, so to prove this, he asked Poseidon to send him a bull, promising to sacrifice it to him in return, Poseidon did this, sending up a magnificent bull from the ocean’s depths. However, Minos, so amazed at the bull, did not sacrifice it as he promised and instead placed it in his own fields and sacrificed a regular bull to Poseidon. Angered by this he cursed Minos’ wife, Pasiphaë, to be lustful towards the very bull Minos had failed to sacrifice, and with the help of Daedalus (a wise inventor) a false bull was created and from this highly disturbing relationship, the minotaur was born, a human body and a bull’s head. They named him Asterion, “the starry one”.
Asterion had no place in the natural order of the world, he was never meant to exist and as a result there wasn’t exactly a diet for him and so his diet became one of human flesh. With no idea what to do with this creature Minos came to Daedalus and had him build somewhere to keep Asterion without killing him, therefore, Daedalus built the labyrinth and was then imprisoned in a tower with his son Icarus to keep him silent on the way out of the labyrinth.
To keep Asterion alive, Minos ordered the Athenians to send him a sacrifice of seven young men and seven young girls, unarmed, regularly so they could be sacrificed to Asterion.
Now we get to our hero, Theseus! He was sent as a sacrifice with the other Athenians but had managed to escape before entering the labyrinth where he then met Ariadne, the daughter of King Minos and the sister of the Minotaur, though of course she was fully human. Ariadne was charmed by Theseus and fell in love with him, not wishing to see him die Ariadne begged Daedalus to tell her how anyone could escape the labyrinth. Ariadne passed on the advice she received, handing Theseus a thread and a sword, telling him to lay the thread as he went and to follow it back when it came time for him to leave.
As the myth goes, Theseus won, defeating the minotaur and escaping from the labyrinth. Together he and Ariadne escaped on a ship together to return to Athens. Though on the way, Theseus abandoned Ariadne on the island of Naxos, some say by accident, by divine intervention, or he was just being cruel, up to you! Ariadne is found by Dionysus, and they are wed, her becoming a goddess and Theseus sailing home to Athens and becoming its king.
*As with all myths, there may be slight differences with each telling, for example some sources say the labyrinth was originally a dance track for Ariadne! But the general storyline remains the same. Minos angered Poseidon and Asterion was born and then locked away in the labyrinth, Athens were forced to give a sacrifice and eventually Theseus arrived and with the aid of Ariadne he defeated the Minotaur. So how does any of that teach us about an ancient civilisation?
Well, a few things come up straight away, one bulls! The minotaur is a half bull monster, and a lot of Minoan art centres around bulls. The labyrinth? Sounds shockingly similar to those confusing palaces mentioned previously. As said earlier, evidence of control has been found far up the Aegean Sea, including Athens. From this myth and evidence, we can deduce a possible timeline.
Firstly, some sort of natural disaster occurred that left Crete with only one palace left standing, as Poseidon is a God of earthquakes, we can create a tether between natural disasters (which may have destroyed the palaces) and Minos angering Poseidon. Secondly, Athens was taxed. The fourteen sacrifices can be seen as the Minoan people having high taxes that angered Athens, hence why Minos is often described as being tyrannical. Theseus may have been a major player, but it’s likely Athens sent a fleet to attack the Minoans and free themselves from their control, returning successful with stories of bulls, labyrinth-like palaces, and a hero to praise.
There are several more examples such as the evidence of the Trojan War. We know that near to the end of the Mycenaean age the Greek cities and kings were running out of money, so it’s likely in a desperate bid to prevent the end of their civilisation, the kings would come together to attack the wealthy city of Troy, taking its gold to save
themselves. Originally stories of this war would be passed on orally, explaining why the story grew and changed, until 300 years after the war Homer wrote down the stories in his epics. We may not be able to confirm if the creatures of the Odyssey are real, but we do know there was a King of Ithaca likely named Odysseus who fought in the Trojan war and was then absent for ten years longer than his peers.
It is for these reasons that mythology is so important, and when studying the history of these ancient civilisations we must not simply disregard them as tales that hold no weight. Myths reflect the beliefs of time, the social and political climate and it even contains those civilisations very morals and thus can teach us what no other source can, especially when evidence is so scarce.
Written by Sadie Henry
Edited by Keisha Ainsworth
The history of our country has always had an underlying sense of division that is often forgotten in modern day society. But what is it that caused the division that has so long plagued that lands of the north and how does this affect us today?
It can be argued that English history is on autopilot and every positive change inevitably reverts to the same position. The struggle between north and south has changed throughout the centuries but it was in 939 AD when partScandinavian northerners and southern rulers fought causing a split that would divide a country far longer than they could have expected. It was this split that doomed England to conquest in 1066. A divided nation would never survive against the mighty William the Conqueror. It is from this time that there’s been constant disadvantage. Some would argue this was a cause of the Harrying of the north. A military campaign waged by the Conqueror himself in the winter of 1069 to ensure that the north would never revolt against him again. In fact, the slaughter of 150,000 people and the entirety of Northumbria being pillaged for all it is worth, did not just stop them from revolting against William but it enabled them from ever rising again. Even years later the north would not return to its true glory. Many groups would try throughout the centuries to resist the power of the south: the bloodshed of Towton in 1461 and the Northern rebellion in 1569. Even the civil war had elements of a north- south divide.
However, one might suggest that the divide is simply geographical. We are divided by the rich lands of the south and the rigged igneous uplands in the north. And fortunately for our southern friends they also have the better farmland and climate for agriculture. Furthermore, the south is closer to mainland Europe and the great market and trading of the world. Overall, it seems that fate has conspired in favour of the south. But fate seemed to have changed its mind as the Industrial Revolution began and for once the north had the advantage. Coal had come to save us. But the pull of the south was too strong and by 1900 the industrial north was failing to keep up with the capitalists of the south. As we well know, the great Maggie Thatcher had something to say about the northern mines.
It seems to me that the divide has been present for far longer than people would realise as when asked most would say it started in the 1980s with a series of riots across the north. The most serious riots were the April Brixton riots in London, followed in July by the Toxteth riots in Liverpool, the Handsworth riots in Birmingham, the Chapeltown riots in Leeds, and the Moss Side riots in Manchester. Also, a series of less serious riots took place in other towns and cities.
But how does this affect us today? Well, one consistent division between the south and the north has always been how the government treated us. For example, in modern society government spending per person is far more in the south than it is in the north. In 2019, London received £12,147 per person while in the north the figure was only £8,125. It is no coincidence that all Britain’s most successful towns are
in the south and the least successful being in the north. Even more concerning, the life expectancy in Cambridge is 79.5 years whilst in Liverpool it is 75.7 years. Although this is only a few years, there should not be any change in life expectancies from such a small country. Furthermore, the average student in the south has a better chance at achieving higher grades than a student in the north. Could this be due to the higher number of private schools in the south or because government spending on schools is far more substantial in the south or even due to cruel stereotypes where northern students expect to do worse in their exams?
I believe it is time we finally acknowledge what has always been right in front of us. “We” are not single people at all and never really have been or we can insist against all historical evidence that we are one nation, a nation that will almost always be ruled by a party of the south.
Witten by Jasmine Dodsworth
Edited by Callum Smith
- On Christmas Eve 1914, on the Western Front during the First World War, at about 10 p.m., British machine gunner Bruce Bairnsfather, writing his memoirs, recalled that he heard a noise and ‘listened’. “Away across the field, among the dark shadows beyond, [he] could hear the murmur of voices,” and turning to another soldier, he questioned the matter. The other soldier replied to him, saying that the voices from afar were German and that he had heard them for some time.
- The German soldiers, knowing that it was Christmas Eve, had been singing carols, and suddenly, Bairnsfather recalled that “we heard a confused shouting from the other side.” They stopped to listen and heard another shout. From a German soldier, the shout came and speaking in English in a German accent, he said “come over here.”
- Another British sergeant answered, “you come half-way. I come half-way.”
- Whilst the only means of communication between English soldiers and German soldiers was merely bullets and shellfire, this time was different.
- As enemy soldiers began to climb out of their trenches, passing the barbed wire into ‘No Man’s Land,’ they nervously approached each other.
- Suddenly, the propaganda-based attitudes they had previously vanished, for they began to shake hands and exchange words of kindness. They traded their rations including wine and tobacco. They sang songs and rested.
- As the night developed into the early morning, soldiers began becoming friendly with one another with multiple accounts referring to German infantry soldiers helping a British soldier to set up a makeshift barbershop and some German soldiers using candle to light Christmas trees.
- Then, an event known throughout history occurred. Instead of fighting one another on the battlefield, the enemy soldiers began a football match. As a British 1 soldier recalled, “the ball appeared from somewhere”, and “they made up some goals and one fellow went in goal and then it was just a general kickabout”.
- After Christmas Day ended, the armies returned to their trenches as well as some of the truces continuing for days on, with orders from their superiors, they resumed the war. Despite calls from Pope Benedict XV including him referring to the elders of Europe, stating that “the guns may fall silent at least upon the night the angles sang,” the war developed.
- Attempts to continue the truce on Christmas Day 1915 failed and no further truces were seen until the armistice of November 1918.
Now, a memorial is placed in England’s National Memorial Arboretum commemorating the Christmas Truce
Written by Remy Gerard Naylor
Edited by Faye Amelia Rose Glover-Smith
1. Match up the Egyptian Gods
Anubis Protection
Horus Motherhood & Wisdom
Ammit Death
Isis Devourer of souls
Sekhmet Medicine
2. True of False, Vikings wore Helmets with Horns to ward of evil spirits? FALSE (Theydidn’thavehornson theirHelmets)
3. True or False, Boudicca was a Celtic Queen? TRUE
4. According to Egyptian Mythology, why do we have Solar Eclipses? B. It was a snake devouring the Sun God’s boat
5. Who founded Rome? C. Romulus & Remus
6. How did Julius Ceasar die? C. Stabbed by his Senators
7. How many brothers did Cleopatra marry? D. 2
8. Which infamous Egyptian Beetle had the ability to eat Human flesh in ‘The Mummy’? C. Scarab Beetle
9. In the how to train your Dragon Franchise what was Stoics Dragon called and who looked after him after Stoics death? A. Scull-crusher & Eret, son of Eret
10. Name of Orpheus' lover who he attempted to retrieve from the underworld? C. Eurydice
11. When did Pompeii erupt for the first time. D. 79AD
12. Neptune was a Roman God but who was his Greek equivalent and what power did they share? Poseidon, Gods of
13. Where did the Vikings originated from? Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway, Sweden)
14. Which TV Series based on Egyptian mythology follows Nina and her friends as they uncover the dark truths about their school, teachers and home. House of Anubis
So far GAIA has hosted a couple of Ted Talks and are currently planning more ready for next term on topics including Ancient History (Persian Kings and Roman Emperors).
GAIA hosted an essay competition posing the question “Why is the Holocaust still relevant Today?” The winners, Tesia Seddon & Luisa Hughes got to partake in The lessons from Auschwitz Program which including traveling to Poland and Hearing from Holocaust survivors which will now Allow them to become Holocaust ambassadors!
Students; Ryan Cain, Philippa Horrobin & Blake Keating, competed in the Great Debate answering questions like ‘How can your local history tell a global story?’ The competition was very tight, It took the judges around 40 minutes to decide on the winners so we are very proud of them! Ryan Cain came second!
Our model Un co-ordinator, Ryan Can, has worked tirelessly this term to promote and run the Model Un society which has been a success and was even featured on an episode of Winstanley TV. If you’re interested in joining it is Held on Tuesday’s from 12:45 13:15 in M01.
GAIA offers a course in Latin (taught by Silvia Marques) which was introduced this year and has been a hit among the lower sixth students, they will be taking the exam in May 2025 which will earn them a qualification in Latin.
This Winter GAIA decided to donate new children’s clothes like hats, gloves, scarfs, wellies and earmuffs etc. to Barnardo's, organised by our fabulous Charity co-ordinator. We’ve set a target of 150 items, hopefully we will hit it in time for Christmas!
17TH December: Winter wonderland
Visitthegaiastall:
• Baked goods on sale
• Christmas craft projects to make (rocks, baubles and origami)
• Histo-geog-geolgical selfie stall
• Name the dino
• Guess how many dinos in a jar
• Create your own heraldry.
AndMore…We’llseeyouthere!
A special shoutout and massive thanks to our incredible secretary, Ella Haseldine, who runs the meetings and oversees all the events that GAIA holds!
ThankyouforreadingthisTermsissueoftheGAIAMagazineandThankyou totheincredibleteamthatmadeitpossible.