Historian Membership Sample Resources

Broaden your historical horizons

Published: 22nd July 2020

Try before you join: free resource samples

Enjoy a taster of the original content available with HA Historian membership and discover how it can unlock fresh insights, broaden your historical understanding, and deepen your connection with the past.

Online resources are just one part of the HA membership package – find out more here.

The Historian magazine

The Historian is the HA’s flagship general interest magazine, offering in‑depth yet highly readable history written by leading experts alongside unique research from HA members. It provides a rich and wide‑ranging mix of articles, reviews, and original content you won’t find anywhere else, making it an essential read for anyone passionate about history. Historian members receive new editions quarterly and access to the full archive.

Browse the open access editions:

The Historian: Issue 164 (February 2025, Ancient Worlds)
This globally-minded issue explores fresh archaeological discoveries, diverse ancient cultures, and new approaches to understanding the past — from Iron Age Wales and Nabataea to Roman and sub‑Roman Britain, ancient China, and beyond.

The Historian: Issue 162 (July 2024, Environment)
This edition explores how environmental history presents a larger, more encompassing field in which historians have explored the entanglement between humans and the natural world as they have changed over time.

The Historian: Issue 138 (August 2018, Hidden stories of a centenary)
This edition explores lesser‑told global and local stories of the First World War — from Britain’s Jews and Indian soldiers to homing pigeons, Arctic campaigns, and postwar lives — revealing the conflict’s wide‑ranging human impact.

Explore past editions or take a look at our regular features library, both of which are unlocked with Historian membership.

History journal

Published continuously since 1912, History is a distinguished journal featuring insightful articles by leading historians. Spanning diverse periods, regions, and themes, its archive offers a wealth of scholarly content – both past and present – and is freely accessible to HA members. 

Read for free: History 391

This issue explores global perspectives on political conflict and cultural heritage, featuring articles on topics from the British Museum’s role in imperial campaigns to underground activism in colonial Cyprus.

HA film series

Members gain access to all our interpretations film series, providing the latest scholarship and subject updates from expert contributors. Series covered to date include power and authority in Germany 1871-1991, the African American Civil Rights Movement, Russian leaders in the twentieth century, Tudor royal authority. This year we continue a major series on Power and freedom in Britain and Ireland: 1714-2010.

Watch for free: Tudor royal authority
Explores how power and governance evolved under the Tudor monarchs—from Henry VII to Elizabeth I—highlighting the influence of religion, foreign relations, and domestic politics on their rule. With Tracey Borman, Sue Doran, Anna Whitelock and others. 

You can also preview selected HA films on YouTube.

Podcast library

Membership gives access to a library of over 450+ podcasts and non-members can listen to the first track of any podcast for free. They're a great way to expand and update your historical knowledge with the latest thinking.

Listen for free: Anglo-Saxon England from 871 to 1000
Professor Sarah Foot explores Anglo-Saxon England’s transformation under Alfred the Great and his successors, examining kingship, governance, foreign relations, and the sources that shape our understanding of this era.

Listen for free: The evolution of surgery
Michael Crumplin, explores the evolution of military surgery during the Napoleonic Wars, highlighting changes in surgical training, techniques, equipment, and patient experience, and linking these developments to broader shifts in warfare and medical practice.

On-demand short courses

Led by academics and researchers at the forefront of their fields, these courses explore captivating historical themes and ideas from a new perspective – with curated resources and without the pressure of a formal assessment. Take part in our live courses or access past courses on-demand, all free with membership.

View a taster: Berlin and the Berlin Wall short course 
A self‑guided exploration revealing how the Cold War shaped Berlin, Germany, and European politics through a curated blend of films, podcasts, articles and webinars that illuminate the Wall’s origins, significance, lived experiences and legacy.rmation under Alfred the Great and his successors, examining kingship, governance, foreign relations, and the sources that shape our understanding of this era.

Webinars and webinar series

Membership includes a free, accessible programme of high‑quality online history talks, allowing anyone to keep learning from home while enjoying monthly lectures from leading historians. Members also benefit from on‑demand access to all recordings, alongside free entry to local branch events. Watch these tasters for free:

What our members say:

Ready to broaden your historical horizons?

Join thousands of other members passionate about history.

Can't see the video? Download it here

Want a taster of the benefits before you join? In this recorded webinar, we guide you through some of the key benefits included as part of Historian membership – from fascinating articles and online resources to engaging events, short courses, and local branch talks.