History students to 'learn while they eat'

Students on a new History course at Liverpool Hope will be 'learning while the eat' thanks to a link-up with two local Tesco supermarkets. The third year History element, 'The Taste of War', explores the central role of food in major conflicts from the Crusades right up to the current Syria crisis. 

 

In studying global battles for resources over hundreds of years, students will use food as a learning aid, enjoying a different foodstuff each week. The initiative will involve students eating dried fruit while learning about its introduction into Europe by Crusaders; potato crisps while studying the conquest of America; and high energy cereal bars while focusing on nutritional advances in combat diets today.     

 

Dr Bryce Evans, Lecturer in Modern History, explained 'History is an academically demanding subject, but here at Hope it is not about the drab regurgitation of dates; it's about communicating the zest of the past in new and unconventional ways. Being able to smell, touch and taste different foods gives students a memorable sensory learning ingredient to use when assessing key epochs and events.

'So, thanks to this link-up with Tesco, food history comes to life in a different way each week. For example I can teach students about the importance of food prices to the French Revolution, and at the same time "let them eat cake"' while doing so.'

Tesco Community Champions Vicky Nolan and Annette McCarthy visited Hope Park on 20th September to present the vouchers to Dr Evans personally.