Real-world issues about history

A Guardian article, asking the question, ‘Can history teach us anything about the future of war and peace?’ 

This History Today article considers how seemingly mundane objects – architecture, art, dress, furniture – can provide us with a huge amount of knowledge on aspects such as education, wealth, pleasures, loves, and the trajectory of people’s lives.

In a New Humanist review of a new book by Niall Ferguson, Charlotte Riley considers the nature of historical enquiry, and the relationship between historians and the facts.

A History Today article, in which four historians offer their thoughts on the question, ‘What is history?’ 

An Aeon video, looking at how significant historical footage is ‘locked’ behind paywalls, meaning ordinary knowers are unable to draw on it when they study the past.

A History Today article, which asserts that we “need to keep listening to voices from the past…because we cannot know who in the future may need to hear them.” 

An Art Newspaper article, discussing the importance of facing up to the complete histories of monuments and buildings, even when they are morally murky. 

A New Humanist article, which considers the importance of remembering historical injustices, as a way of guarding against the misuse of power in the present.

A History Today article, taking a broad look at the debate surrounding statues that celebrate controversial characters from the past. 

This BBC article considers the case of British footballer Wayne Hennessey, who claimed that he did not know who Adolf Hitler was, and was therefore unaware of the significance of doing a Nazi salute.

A Smithsonian article, looking at an art exhibition that presents the historical evidence used against David Irving when he sued Deborah Lipstadt for referring to him as a Holocaust denier.

A Conversation article, examining the ‘slippery slope’ of using deepfakes to gain an understanding of the past. 

A History Today article, in which the dangers of translations – and mistranslations – are discussed.

This Vox video analyses one of the most famous historical photo – “Raising a Flag over the Reichstag” – taken at the end of World War II. It looks at the way in which the photo was doctored, and the reasons for the changes made.

A Washington Post article, looking at how the founding generation of the United States – like the leaders of any other nation – rewrote the past to consolidate their position in the present.

A CNN article, which looks at how Joe Biden referred to events in Tulsa 100 years ago as a massacre – not a riot.

This BBC video features the work of Marina Amaral. She recolours photos from the past, creating images that seem to resonate more with us than the black and white originals.

A short History Today article, looking at EH Carr’s famous assertion that historians “fish for the truth”.

This Smithsonian article looks at the way the Spanish government and society has ‘handled’ its past, and the way this impacts on individuals whose families were caught up in the struggles that characterised the Civil War (and Franco) era.

A Washington Post article about a new book – offering a new perspective – on the life and legacy of George Washington.

A Guardian article, looking at the different ways in which the Spanish Conquistador Hernan Cortes is perceived by different governments and interest groups today.

This Guardian article considers how denial about the facts of the Srebrenica massacre are gaining ground.

This Conversation story looks at two different biographies that have recently been written about the controversial Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, former first lady of South Africa, and former wife of iconic Nelson Mandela.

A History Today article, asserting that dressing in historical clothing can give us a greater insight into reality than more ‘intellectual’ methods of accessing the past.

A History Today article, which explores how filling in the historical gaps about the past “requires the techniques of a novelist”.

This Reuters article focuses on the plans by the new Brazilian government to revise history by re-labelling the 1964 military uprising and subsequent military dictatorship as vital movements that were necessary in the context of the Cold War.

A New York Times article about researchers who are trying to recreate the kind of smells that defined Europe from the 16th century to the early 20th century.

This Big Think article/podcast examines how ‘big history’ is helping us to explore the role of women wielding power and influence in eight premodern societies spanning five continents and more than 4,000 years.

Vladimir Kara-Murza (who happens to be an ex-student of Michael Dunn!) considers in the Washington Post why the Soviet-Afghan war is being ‘revised’ by the current Russian government, and viewed in a different light.

A History Today article, looking at how history is a “never ending process”, and that it’s vital to have the ability to change your mind about your conclusions and judgements.

A Now and Then video, looking at the extent to which we can – and should – apply objectivity to our study of the past.

A Telegraph article, considering the historical inaccuracies of the movie, Braveheart, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

This Guardian article and photos look at an English Heritage reenactment of the Battle of Hastings of 1066, when the Normans invaded and conquered England.