-
La Dime Royale de Vauban
In 1707 Le Marquis de Vauban wrote "La Dime Royale". This was a text which had as a purpose the denouncement of the French Absolutist Regime. It proposed new forms of taxes, which were based on revenue rather, than social status. He blames the causes of the earlier 1693 Famine, on government taxation of the peasants. Shortly after publishing such a text, there was a police intervention at his house, to which he died not long after. This depicts how the crown was at fault for the Famine of 1693. -
La Dime Royale "Citation + Description p2"
As aforementioned, Vauban was explicit on who he believed to be at fault for the starvation of the French population. The governmental response to this depicts the sort of Absolutist power which reigned in Europe at the time.
Citation:
Vauban. La Dîme Royale. Paris: Harmattan, 2004. -
Irish Potato Famine, "Citation + Description p2"
This piece of propaganda was undoubtedly used as a way to in sorts exonerate the British government in their role of such a famine.
Citation:
Tenniel, John. “A Cartoon Depicting Britannia Holding the Wolf of Starvation from the Door of the Irish Peasants.” Cartoon, 19AD. -
A cartoon depicting Britannia holding the wolf of starvation from the door of the Irish peasants. Illustrated by John Tenniel (1820-1914)
This cartoon illustrated by John Tenniel, depicts Britannia fighting the wolf of starvation to protect the Irish Families. This Cartoon is very strong in the sense that it portrays the idea that Britannia, is actually helping the Irish and doing everything to prevent starvation. However as almost any historian would argue today, England was simply a bystander to such a situation, and some would even say it worsened the situation. (Finished on next page) -
Funeral in Galicia, "Citation + Description p2"
The resemblance to Medieval peasantry in this painting, undoubtedly show to which extent the Austrian administration had failed at industrializing Galician land, and shows how their greed else where in the empire had deprived the Galician gentry. -
"Funeral in Galicia" by Teodor Axentowicz
This was painted in 1882 by Polish painter, Teodor Axentowicz. This depicts a snowy setting, with a group of Galician people dragging a coffin behind a chariot. The people are wearing ragged clothing and appear in extremly poor conditions. This painting portrays the conditions in which the Galician people have been left in by the Austrian Government. Their clothing and ways of hunching their back over resemble medieval times, and the conditions under which the peasants were living. -
Women and Children Receiving Bread Russia during the First world War.
This image was taken by an unknown photographer in Russia. It depicts a group of women and children, on their knees around a table waiting for a woman to serve them rations. The way the crown is on their knees, with their hands up in the air depict the lady serving the bread as a godlike figure. This therefore portrays the jarring environment in which the Russian civilians lived in these times of scarcity. This picture was undoubtedly a precursor the demands for "peace and bread" which fulled... -
Russia during WW1, "Citation + Description p2"
... which fulled the later October revolution. This revolution was originally started in protest of the failures of the Tsar and his administration.
Citation:
Unknown. Woman and Children Receiving Bread. Photograph. Russia, 1914-1918. -
Great Parisian Exodus, "Citation + Description p2"
on how life was lived during such hard times. He gives his account of the story but a noticeable aspect of it is when he blames the government for this. He states that the day before the exodus he went for lunch on the Champs Elysees and states concerning the war: “if it was that important, they wouldn’t think to water the grass (p.11)”. Clearly depicting the job of the government in hiding the German Invasion.
Citation:
Werth, Leon. 33 Jours. 1992. -
The Grand Parisian Exodus: Leon Werth's "33 Jours"
This text by Leon Werth, is a witness account of his experience during the Great Parisian Exodus. He was on the move for "33 Jours" and explains his story during such time. From this he talks about his different moments where starvation was present and he and other children could barely find anything to eat. There is a passage where he explains how he and other teenagers have to kill a chicken with their bare hands in order to survive. This text gives a very detailed insight on how life ...