I’m sure you’re all going to agree that This lecture was very much to the style of Maximilien Robespierre (MR) style of speaking. MR was a man who was known for his rambling speeches in which he was not taken seriously!
In the first 31 years of MR’s life not a lot was known about him. He was born in May 1758 in the French town Arras. He was the son of a lawyer and received a scholarship to study law. MR became a lawyer and went to establish a reputation as a lawyer who would represent the probono cases that he felt the system was unfairly treating these people of lower class.
MR was a man of roughly 5ft 2; he held his body upright, often clenched his fists, neck and shoulders. His clothes were also very neat, traditional and fashionable. His eyes were dull and melancholy; he also wore green tined glasses. He was not a good public speaker. He had the appearance of and insignificant man and one of which people did not trust. MR had shown and voiced how he thought the estates general should a representation of the people of France. MR was successful in his election. At his first huge appearance in the states general in 1789 he was ignored or laughed at. This was because of his meandering speeches and it made him notoriously ineffective.
Soon RM got involved in the Jacobin club; this was a club of like minded deputies from parliament which was the first modern political party, this became a sensation and was the first political venue that MR was effective in his speeches.
So really how does a young liberal lawyer in 1789 become a killer?
In the summer of 1789 the people of Paris rose up and stormed the Bastille to retrieve guns and weapons. MR was willing to excuse violence and he sided with the majority public. In 1791 MR opposes the war because to many political people were in favour of it and he figured it was a conspiracy. He felt that France should deal with the enemies within before dealing with foreign enemies; which they were beginning to form across Europe. The events of the revolution had finally led to the over throw of the monarch. In 1794 MR signs the death warrant of his old school friend “Des Moulins”. Des Moulins was the best man at MR’s wedding yet MR signs his death warrant. Des Moulins is beheaded twenty four hours later. This is a key event it marks the change from the liberator to an extremist. At this stage there were public killings of officials for being involved in the resistance against the people. There was also resistance from the aristocrats and the clergy men as they were loosing privileges with every step MR took. This all builds up enemies inside and outside France and war becomes eminent.
France declared war in 1794 with Austria this went extremely badly for France by 1792 Austria had gained control of nearly the whole of France. This evolves to the biggest war Europe had ever seen. This was a war between France and the whole of Europe. This then lead to World War one was a new type of war one in which the world had never seen before. MR believed in going to war Full heartedly and the Million strong Army came about. During this time MR becomes involved in his own religion “the cult of supreme being” and begins setting himself as a political messiah and begins excluding large groups of society there was a quote from an onlooker who said “look at that bugger he thinks he’s the pope” this was the beginning of his downfall. People started to believe he wanted a dictatorship. In the midst of all of this mayhem MR has a breakdown MR experienced periodical depression and went into hiding through out his life time. This arguably may have been for strategic reasons or simply to deal with this depression; or possibly both. When he returns he begins to speak of alleged conspiracies but will not reveal who the perpetrator is so the people loose faith in him. MR resorts to an attempted suicide but he is not successful and just blows his jaw off however the next day he is executed.
Wednesday, 28 November 2007
Thursday, 15 November 2007
Johnathan Swift
The lecture on Jonathan Swift by Dr. Robert Armstrong was Different from the two previous lectures, instead of too little information, there was way too much. So here is the highlights (it's still a lot though)
Jonathan swift was born in 1667. He could be described as the most creative Genius ever born in Ireland. A very complicated character, he raises questions on what it is to be Irish and how the churches are run. A very peculiar character, who could not really be described as typical. Active in so many things, he really only came into his own very late in life and accomplished so much in a short time.
Swift was born in Dublin, his father died shortly before he was born. He was educated in Kilkenny and Trinity College, which he graduated from in 1659. After this and until 1699 he spends most of his time living in England and traveling back and forth between there and Dublin. While he was in England, he became a secretary for the politician William Temple. During his time in England he was able to make a lot of contacts, and also during this time, he published his first set of poems.
In 1695 at the age of 28 he makes the decision to become a clergyman. Swift is given a parish in Belfast, which he hates, and after a few months he ends up going back to Temple, he is into his 30’s by this point. In 1699 Temple dies and Swift is given a new better parish in Meath.
In 1704 his first book: A Tale of a Tub. This was, and still is considered an odd book, for three reasons:
1. The book is written in a way that its like three different books in one
2. When the book was first published, the author was anonymous
3. Nobody knows what the tub means (not even Swift)
The book does have a main story, but it gets interrupted throughout, rambling around the little pathways-just for fun. The main story follows three brothers, who represent three of mainstream churches:
PETER: who represents the Catholic Church (named after St. Peter)
MARTIN: who represents the church of England/Ireland (named after Martin Luther)
JACK: who represents dissenting Protestant churches (named after John Calvin)
The three brothers are each given a coat and each try to change theirs, Peter tries to make his coat too fancy, Jack (who gets most of swift’s anger and is described as a madman) tries to make his coat too minimal and ends up destroying it, and Martin (who represents Swift’s religion) is described as the best of all three, because he stays in the middle, he’s not too fancy or too modest. This book is a great way of looking at how the churches were run at this time.
1699 was a time of political upheaval in the United Kingdom. James III who was king for only three years. His crowning immediately causes problems since he was a catholic and most of Britain was officially protestant, and a common religion makes society work.
King James was deposed in 1689 and replaced by William III. This was a great landmark in the way England rules itself, as it let people know that they could get rid of the king if they wanted to. When James gets deposed, he comes to Ireland and this eventually leads to the Battle of the Boyne, James is again defeated when William comes over to deal with him. The fallout of this is that Protestantism becomes the official religion of Ireland, but nobody is signing up for it. This political and religious upheaval going on while he was in England was inspiration for many of Swift's writings.
Next Swift gets involved in politics. From 1708-14 he lives in London. He gets to know the top political people and starts to write political pamphlets, one such pamphlet sold 11,000 in two months, an amazing amount for the time. He also runs The Examiner, a newspaper magazine, and just as A Tale of a Tub, which was critical of religion, these new works would be critical of politics. The Examiner was also an example of making politics more accessible.
During this time a new type of government was in play called the ray of party, in which the monarch would choose the political party in charge, although it was not full democracy it was a start. There were two main parties: the Tories and the Whigs, Both parties wanted Swift on their side, and eventually he sided with the Tories.
In 1714 when Queen Anne dies the new king, George kicks the Tories out of office, and since Swift is so tied up with the Tories, he is out too. After this he becomes the dean of St. Patrick’s and then returns to Dublin where he lives the rest of his life. When he returns he does not write anything for four years, but when he starts again he in a sense reinvents himself, he becomes a kind of patriot writer, and starts to write attacks on how Ireland is being ruled from England. His writings can not really be considered nationalist, more patriotic; he supports the king, but did not like how Ireland is being told what to do by the parliament of England. After writing “The Drapier's Letters” he instantly becomes a folk hero, and helps bring about changes.
Possibly his most famous book “Gulliver's Travels” was published in 1726. this book could be described as a book about all the things Swift had ever been interested in. the book also talks about his view in life and the world he lives in. So it is not really a story for children.
Swift died in 1745 and despite dieing over 250 years ago, hes still remembered fondly today (just look at the ship that’s named after him)
Jonathan swift was born in 1667. He could be described as the most creative Genius ever born in Ireland. A very complicated character, he raises questions on what it is to be Irish and how the churches are run. A very peculiar character, who could not really be described as typical. Active in so many things, he really only came into his own very late in life and accomplished so much in a short time.
Swift was born in Dublin, his father died shortly before he was born. He was educated in Kilkenny and Trinity College, which he graduated from in 1659. After this and until 1699 he spends most of his time living in England and traveling back and forth between there and Dublin. While he was in England, he became a secretary for the politician William Temple. During his time in England he was able to make a lot of contacts, and also during this time, he published his first set of poems.
In 1695 at the age of 28 he makes the decision to become a clergyman. Swift is given a parish in Belfast, which he hates, and after a few months he ends up going back to Temple, he is into his 30’s by this point. In 1699 Temple dies and Swift is given a new better parish in Meath.
In 1704 his first book: A Tale of a Tub. This was, and still is considered an odd book, for three reasons:
1. The book is written in a way that its like three different books in one
2. When the book was first published, the author was anonymous
3. Nobody knows what the tub means (not even Swift)
The book does have a main story, but it gets interrupted throughout, rambling around the little pathways-just for fun. The main story follows three brothers, who represent three of mainstream churches:
PETER: who represents the Catholic Church (named after St. Peter)
MARTIN: who represents the church of England/Ireland (named after Martin Luther)
JACK: who represents dissenting Protestant churches (named after John Calvin)
The three brothers are each given a coat and each try to change theirs, Peter tries to make his coat too fancy, Jack (who gets most of swift’s anger and is described as a madman) tries to make his coat too minimal and ends up destroying it, and Martin (who represents Swift’s religion) is described as the best of all three, because he stays in the middle, he’s not too fancy or too modest. This book is a great way of looking at how the churches were run at this time.
1699 was a time of political upheaval in the United Kingdom. James III who was king for only three years. His crowning immediately causes problems since he was a catholic and most of Britain was officially protestant, and a common religion makes society work.
King James was deposed in 1689 and replaced by William III. This was a great landmark in the way England rules itself, as it let people know that they could get rid of the king if they wanted to. When James gets deposed, he comes to Ireland and this eventually leads to the Battle of the Boyne, James is again defeated when William comes over to deal with him. The fallout of this is that Protestantism becomes the official religion of Ireland, but nobody is signing up for it. This political and religious upheaval going on while he was in England was inspiration for many of Swift's writings.
Next Swift gets involved in politics. From 1708-14 he lives in London. He gets to know the top political people and starts to write political pamphlets, one such pamphlet sold 11,000 in two months, an amazing amount for the time. He also runs The Examiner, a newspaper magazine, and just as A Tale of a Tub, which was critical of religion, these new works would be critical of politics. The Examiner was also an example of making politics more accessible.
During this time a new type of government was in play called the ray of party, in which the monarch would choose the political party in charge, although it was not full democracy it was a start. There were two main parties: the Tories and the Whigs, Both parties wanted Swift on their side, and eventually he sided with the Tories.
In 1714 when Queen Anne dies the new king, George kicks the Tories out of office, and since Swift is so tied up with the Tories, he is out too. After this he becomes the dean of St. Patrick’s and then returns to Dublin where he lives the rest of his life. When he returns he does not write anything for four years, but when he starts again he in a sense reinvents himself, he becomes a kind of patriot writer, and starts to write attacks on how Ireland is being ruled from England. His writings can not really be considered nationalist, more patriotic; he supports the king, but did not like how Ireland is being told what to do by the parliament of England. After writing “The Drapier's Letters” he instantly becomes a folk hero, and helps bring about changes.
Possibly his most famous book “Gulliver's Travels” was published in 1726. this book could be described as a book about all the things Swift had ever been interested in. the book also talks about his view in life and the world he lives in. So it is not really a story for children.
Swift died in 1745 and despite dieing over 250 years ago, hes still remembered fondly today (just look at the ship that’s named after him)
Wednesday, 7 November 2007
Brian Boru
This lecture by Dr. Sean Duffy was very similar to the lecture on William Wallace because there's not much facts on Brian Boru nobody even knows his real date of birth.The lecture wasn't just based on Brian Boru in general but it was about how he gained power over the Ui Neill clang. The rule back then was you couldn't be a high king unless you were a descendant of Niall of the 9 hostages.
Nobody knows the exact date of the birth of Brian Boru, it was said that he was born in 925 he was the youngest of two sons of Cennedig, head of Dal Cais, one of the royal free tribes of Munster. Brian’s brother, Mahon, being the eldest, succeeded Cennedig as chief of the Dalcassians. Being hemmed into Clare by the Norse Leader, Ivar of Limerick, Mahon brian brother was willing to accept terms but Brian, seeing almost all of the Dal Cais tribe including his mother brutally murdered by a danish raid when he was only a child, refused to be any part of such a truce. He deserted Mahon with a group of soldiers. Brian and his group of solider attacked danish settlements. They used a mild form of gorilla warfare.
How Brian came to power.
In the year 795 When Vikings started to attack Ireland from Scotland and other places Scandinavia and Normandy.Ui Neill defeated them in all the main areas they controlled. In the towns that the viking occupied they built them up and these towns became very rich .Brain family taught if they got their hands on limerick they would gain power . Nearly overnight they gained controlled over limerick,then Cork and eventually Dublin.
Brian then battled against Ui Neill and he defeated him.It wasn't hard for him to defeat them because Ui Neill had no money, no fleet and Brian used his big Viking boats and other supplies to overthrow the Monopoly.Brian became the king of Scotland.This was a significant achievement because Brian was the first king of Scotland in over 400 years who wasn't a direct descendant of Niall of the 9 hostages.
One of the most famous battle's in history is the "Battle of Clontarf" Dr. Sean Duffy said this battle wasn't to important because Brian Boru didn't truly banish the Vikings because there was still Vikings in Ireland.Brian was murdered during this battle. The reason people called it a victory was because what Brian stopped happening in 1013 the Danes conquered England.
Dr. Sean Duffy's theory was after king Cnut conquered England he taught it would be easy to take Ireland.When Brian overthrown the Ui Neill clang he showed others that it was not impossible to become king if you hadn't got royal blood . 1014 battle of Clantarff preventing the Scandinavians conquering Ireland.
This is one of the main reasons Brian Boru is remembered. he was a great leader and tactician who changed history.
Nobody knows the exact date of the birth of Brian Boru, it was said that he was born in 925 he was the youngest of two sons of Cennedig, head of Dal Cais, one of the royal free tribes of Munster. Brian’s brother, Mahon, being the eldest, succeeded Cennedig as chief of the Dalcassians. Being hemmed into Clare by the Norse Leader, Ivar of Limerick, Mahon brian brother was willing to accept terms but Brian, seeing almost all of the Dal Cais tribe including his mother brutally murdered by a danish raid when he was only a child, refused to be any part of such a truce. He deserted Mahon with a group of soldiers. Brian and his group of solider attacked danish settlements. They used a mild form of gorilla warfare.
How Brian came to power.
In the year 795 When Vikings started to attack Ireland from Scotland and other places Scandinavia and Normandy.Ui Neill defeated them in all the main areas they controlled. In the towns that the viking occupied they built them up and these towns became very rich .Brain family taught if they got their hands on limerick they would gain power . Nearly overnight they gained controlled over limerick,then Cork and eventually Dublin.
Brian then battled against Ui Neill and he defeated him.It wasn't hard for him to defeat them because Ui Neill had no money, no fleet and Brian used his big Viking boats and other supplies to overthrow the Monopoly.Brian became the king of Scotland.This was a significant achievement because Brian was the first king of Scotland in over 400 years who wasn't a direct descendant of Niall of the 9 hostages.
One of the most famous battle's in history is the "Battle of Clontarf" Dr. Sean Duffy said this battle wasn't to important because Brian Boru didn't truly banish the Vikings because there was still Vikings in Ireland.Brian was murdered during this battle. The reason people called it a victory was because what Brian stopped happening in 1013 the Danes conquered England.
Dr. Sean Duffy's theory was after king Cnut conquered England he taught it would be easy to take Ireland.When Brian overthrown the Ui Neill clang he showed others that it was not impossible to become king if you hadn't got royal blood . 1014 battle of Clantarff preventing the Scandinavians conquering Ireland.
This is one of the main reasons Brian Boru is remembered. he was a great leader and tactician who changed history.
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