Liverpool, England: City of Seafarers, Immigrants, and The Beatles with Dr. Asya Pereltsvaig

Known primarily as the birthplace of The Beatles, Liverpool is the United Kingdom's veritable cultural capital and a port city steeped in maritime history. While it is smaller than Leeds, Manchester, or Birmingham, Liverpool boasts more cultural institutions than any British city except London and more Georgian buildings than Bath. During this interactive conversation, we will focus on the city’s remarkable history and must-see landmarks. 

Liverpool existed as a town already in the early 1200s, but its real growth dates from the late 1700s when it became a center for the transatlantic slave trade, as well as a vital cog in the Industrial Revolution. After the abolition of slavery in Britain in 1807, most people who traveled to and from the port of Liverpool were immigrants from all corners of Europe. Here many of them boarded ships destined for America, whereas others remained in Liverpool, making it a melting pot of different peoples and cultures. Especially significant immigrant communities in the city were the Scandinavians, who gave the city its iconic food, the scouse, and the Irish, whose impact is still felt in the peculiar dialect of Liverpool, the Scouser dialect. In the first half of the 20th century, Liverpool was the home port for three iconic ships: RMS Titanic, RMS Lusitania, and RMS Queen Mary. During World War II, Liverpool was at the heart of the Atlantic and Arctic convoys, which brought much-needed goods and personnel from North America and took them further on to the Soviet port of Murmansk. 

Led by an expert on languages and history Asya Pereltsvaig, Ph.D., this Conversation will virtually explore the city of Liverpool. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with an increased understanding of this wonderful city, its history, and its inhabitants, as well as a desire to explore this fascinating city first-hand.