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History Extra podcast

History Behind the Headlines: student protests down the centuries

May 13, 2024
Hannah Skoda and Rana Mitter discuss the evolution of student protests, drawing parallels between historical events like the St Scholastica's Day Massacre and modern social justice movements. They explore crowd-sourced projects on Jane Austen's connections and the rediscovery of an 11th-century astrolabe. The podcast also highlights the interconnectedness of medieval Europe with Southeast Asia and the emerging geopolitical significance of the region.
41:13

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Medieval student protests focused on defending privileges and autonomy, contrasting modern protests for social justice.
  • Student activism in the 20th century, such as the May 4th movements in China and the Kent State shootings, shaped public perceptions and responses.

Deep dives

Student protests throughout history

Student protests have a long history dating back centuries. In one notable medieval incident at Oxford in 1355, known as the St Scholastica's Day Massacre, students violently protested having their ale watered down. This violence stemmed from a deep concern about economic weights, jurisdictional privileges, and defending their own interests. Contrasting modern student protests driven by social justice, medieval student activism often focused on protecting their privileges and autonomy.

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