Tibet: History Across the Himalayas
How can historians of Tibet – a region whose history is tightly controlled by the Chinese authorities – gain access to its recent past? Comparing newspapers from either side of the Himalayas might offer a way in.
Historiography
On the Spot: Justine Firnhaber-Baker
‘What is the most common misconception about my field? That medieval people were dumber than modern ones.’
The Transformations of Fernand Braudel
It is 40 years since the death of Fernand Braudel, the historian who sought the perspective of ‘God the Father’.
‘The Indefatigable Asa Briggs’ by Adam Sisman review
The Indefatigable Asa Briggs: A Biography by Adam Sisman is a detailed portrait of that voluminous chronicler of Victorian things.
Popularizing the Past by Nick Witham review
Popularizing the Past: Historians, Publishers, and Readers in Postwar America by Nick Witham explores the industry of popular history from Daniel Boorstin to Howard Zinn.
Reflecting on the Past
A valedictory column provides a chance to reflect on a decade grappling with what history is and how it should be written.
Are ‘Dark Ages’ Inevitable?
We know less about some periods than others, but the meaning of ‘Dark Age’ is multifarious and often loaded.
It Was a Dark and Stormy Night...
Historians often take creative liberties when setting the scene, but at what point does it become misleading?
A ‘Creative Microhistory’ of a Medieval Manor
The distant past is not often illustrated with plentiful descriptions of everyday life. Instead, the picture has to be put together from different sources, piece by piece, like a jigsaw. But there are often still gaps, which can be filled with historically informed creativity.
Fishing for the Facts
E.H. Carr’s belief that the histories we get depend on the questions we ask is more relevant than ever.