History Extension

Joshua Biefeld

Ivan the Terrible

My project consisted around the premise of assessing the validity of different historical perspectives on the legacy and image of Ivan Vasilyeich. This consisted of comparing historical time period’s popular image of Ivan, in addition to contemporary, revisionist views. Overall, both views were to an extent accurate, however, they were both limited in historical accuracy and truths.

Jack Charlton

Account for the impact of nationalism on the recorded history and legacy of Mao Zedong.

My project focused on communist China and the way that nationalism affected interpretations on Chairman Mao within and outside of mainland China. I found the way that nationalism was upheld by the current and past Chinese governments, protecting a positive legacy of Mao. By drawing comparisons between Chinese and Western perspectives, I was able to develop a holistic understanding of the way that nationalism affected the legacy of Mao.

Thomas Cleary

How have the methods of historians contributed to the popular accounts of the Battle of Thermopylae?

My project details the how the work of historians contributed to the popular accounts of the Battle of Thermopylae. This project details and analyses ancient and modern historians and comparing or contrasting them to modern accounts such as media like Pressfield’s Gates of Fire and Zack Snyder’s 300 in a way that attempts to establish connections between both modern and ancient histories of the event.

Thomas Connaghan

The Magna Carta

My project was about the Magna Carta, a document signed in 1215AD which lead to the development of constitutional rights and freedoms. My project specifically focused on the ‘Whig Interpretation’ of the Magna Carta and its rejection by recent historians. It focuses on the real intentions of King John and the Barons and the issues surrounding its legitimacy and purpose.

Christopher Elliott

The Crusades

This project has been an investigation into the influence of historical context upon the interpretations of the controversial Crusades. By examining each century, its trends and various historians and writers over the ages, the cause and effect of this influence can be seen.

Zachary Hollinger

“How and why the approach to Australian military history has changed, with reference to the case study of Charles Bean”

My project involved investigating the changing approach to the elevated status of Australian military history through the case study of the official war historian Charles Edwin Bean, primarily looking into academic works which demonstrate how and why the debate has changed and become increasingly subject to polarising views and politicisation.

Thomas Howe

The Afghan war diary

“How has the exposure of secret files (Afghan war diary) shaped the construction of American involvement in the Afghanistan wars?”

My project was about the secret file leak, via WikiLeaks. I focused on “the Afghan war diary” which exposed Americas real involvement in Afghanistan. I aimed to assess how the “Afghan war diary” shaped Americas involvement in this war and the impacts that it caused.

Tony Kero

Women in the Croatian War of Independence

My project was about the Croatian war of independence, which was a bloody battle that lasted from 1991 to 1995 and resulted in Croatia’s independence from Yugoslavia. Through this, I concentrated on the efforts and acts of women, which are frequently overlooked, and I investigated the reasons for this.

Dylan Mackenzie

Minoan Crete

Minoan Crete was a Bronze Age culture which was centred on the island of Crete, the lowest island of Greece. Known for its monumental architecture and its energetic art, it is often regarded as the first civilization in Europe. Historian Sir Arthur Evans rediscovered the civilisation in 1900, garnering large amounts of fame.

Nicholas Mirabelli

Assess the role of an individual in uncovering the abuse of history by the Australian Defence Force and Australian War Memorial

 Donald William Tate was a Private in the Australian Army and a member of the 2^nd D and E Platoon, after Mr Tate’s and other serving members records were removed to show that they had not been apart of the 2^nd D and E Platoon. Over a 40 year period, Donald Tate sought out recognition for the Platoon and to be reinstated into the Australian War Memorial.

Joshua Monico

The East Timor Crisis

This project details the differing approaches to history, using the scope of Australian involvement to the 1999 East Timor Crisis. This does not mean that it aims to cover the events with detail, rather exploring the historical context to the recording and reporting on the events through media, historians, and official accounts. The period around the conflict saw large shifts in the media industry due to new technology, and as such the recording was greatly influenced in this way. In a general sense, media, official reports and academic histories will take a point of reference unique to the person or organisation and the point they are trying to argue or prove, and this project provides evidence to this.

Angus Mullen

Account for the changing historical interpretations of King Edward VIII

My project intended to uncover the changing historical interpretations of King Edward VIII, who is often revered as one of the few members of British Royalty to abdicate the throne. Within my research I uncovered the underlying societal and contextual influences which have contributed to diminishing perception of the monarch.

Rowan Roomie

The Iraq War

My project is essentially about discussing the role of propaganda in history using the Invasion of Iraq in 2003 vessel. I describe propagandas immense influence on history through describing its impact on the media when discussing the Iraq war.

Marco Segafredo

“Account for the differing perspectives in the debate surrounding historical statues, in reference to statues of King Leopold II of Belgium.”

My project focused on the differing perspectives taken by both historians and the public on statues of King Leopold II, a controversial figure which recently has come under heavy debate on the atrocities which he committed in the Congo. The three perspectives include the preservation, removal, or modification of the statues depicting Leopold II.

Luke Sissons

Oppenheimer

My major work is about the construction of history for J. Robert Oppenheimer, who was the father of the atomic bomb. He was the lead architect and physicist behind the bombs dropped over Hiroshima and Nagasaki which ended America’s conflict in the Pacific during World War 2. My Oppenheimer major work is specifically about evaluating interpretations of Oppenheimer throughout history; and how such interpretations have impacted the way we view nuclear weaponry within both past and present contexts.