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Affirmative mysticism and John Woolman in colonial America
Historian article
Joshua M. Reinke introduces the American Quaker abolitionist, John Woolman. This seventeenth-century diarist’s encounter with Christ took him on a journey that led across the American colonies and provoked him to voice his fierce opposition to human bondage and the slave trade...
Affirmative mysticism and John Woolman in colonial America
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The year that lost eleven days
Historian article
From its Roman origins to the dating of the tax year, David Fleming describes how the changes made to the British calendar in 1752 came about and their effect on everyday life, both at the time and since...
The year that lost eleven days
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In search of Alice Molland: an English witchcraft will o’ the wisp
Historian article
As the Historical Association runs its short course on Witchcraft, Werewolves and Magic in European History, Mark Stoyle investigates an apparent turning point in the history of English witchcraft: the case of a woman accused of witchcraft in seventeenth-century Devon.
We also include Mark Stoyle's 'Doing History' companion piece to his...
In search of Alice Molland: an English witchcraft will o’ the wisp
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Out and About: Newcastle’s 1650 Witch Trial
Historian feature
A.D. Bergin’s research for a work of historical fiction led him to Newcastle, where one of the largest witch trials in English history took place in 1650. Despite the scale of the proceedings, the event remains much less well known than the infamous Pendle trials or Matthew Hopkins’ East Anglian witch hunts.
Out and About: Newcastle’s 1650 Witch Trial
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My Favourite History Place: The Great House of Mercers Creek
Historian feature
The tropical island of Antigua is a tourist heaven, but Gabriella Howell’s research into her family property, the Great House of Mercers Creek, shows how over the centuries, a varied history has shaped the experience of visitors and residents alike. From the enslaved and missionaries to admirals and film stars,...
My Favourite History Place: The Great House of Mercers Creek
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Real Lives: Cecily Cook
Historian feature
Our series ‘Real Lives’ seeks to put the story of the ordinary person into our great historical narrative. We are all part of the rich fabric of the communities in which we live and we are affected to greater and lesser degrees by the big events that happen on a daily...
Real Lives: Cecily Cook
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In conversation with Ulinka Rublack
Historian feature
The Historian discusses with Ulinka Rublack her latest book, Dürer’s Lost Masterpiece: Art and Society at the Dawn of a Global World (2023), which takes a fresh look at this major Renaissance artist, telling the story of his life and times, and reassessing some of his best-known works...
In conversation with Ulinka Rublack
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From our branches: Were we quite mad? Establishing the East Sussex Branch
Historian feature
John Oliphant gives us the lowdown on the Historical Association’s new East Sussex Branch, describing the tribulations faced by its committee before a lecture on Oliver Cromwell in September 2024 marked a successful start to the new academic year...
From our branches: Were we quite mad? Establishing the East Sussex Branch
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Opinion: History, anti-history, and historical fiction
Historian feature
As he gives a lecture to the Historical Association’s Virtual Branch, novelist, historian and BBC New Generation Thinker Oskar Jensen shares his thoughts on history, fantasy and the need to engage with the past on its own terms.
Opinion: History, anti-history, and historical fiction
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Disembarking the religious rollercoaster
Teaching History article
Sarah Jackson-Buckley and Jessie Phillips found themselves perennially dissatisfied with the outcomes of their teaching of the Protestant Reformation. Determined that students should take away a sense of the momentous political and social consequences of the Reformation, they turned to historical scholarship, and to the work of other history teachers on...
Disembarking the religious rollercoaster
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Update: Space, place and social constructs: the Spatial Turn in history
Historian feature
Ryan Hampton explains how ‘things’ and people combine to make space an important consideration in human history. Focusing on the German Peasants’ War of 1524-26, he examines how advances in our understanding of space might affect our knowledge of this important conflict...
Update: Space, place and social constructs: the Spatial Turn in history
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The Historian 163: Ukraine
The magazine of the Historical Association
To mark the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine we have opened up this edition of The Historian that contains a number of articles by Ukrainian academics. This edition is a reminder of culture and history of Ukraine and explores some of the ways the unprovoked attack has had on...
The Historian 163: Ukraine
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Recorded webinar: How does good storytelling serve disciplinary thinking?
Webinar series: Building and securing disciplinary thinking in primary history
Building and securing disciplinary thinking in primary history
Session 1: How does good storytelling serve disciplinary thinking?
Why is storytelling so crucial to the journey of the lesson? How does powerful storytelling make knowledge memorable meaningful? How can I get better at storytelling? How does storytelling help children wrestle with...
Recorded webinar: How does good storytelling serve disciplinary thinking?
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Virtual Branch Recording: Humans
The 300,000 year struggle for equality
In this Virtual Branch talk, Dr Alvin Finkel challenges claims that egalitarian, peaceful societies disappeared with the founding of agriculture or with the founding of state-level social organisation.
Different authors have suggested that early human society was essentially egalitarian in nature, with hierarchies only later becoming common. The point at which...
Virtual Branch Recording: Humans
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Recorded webinar: Prosthetics and assistive technology in ancient Greece and Rome
Article
In this webinar, Jane Draycott shares her research on prostheses and assistive technology in ancient Greece, Rome and the neighbouring civilisations. She outlines the findings from her 2023 book on this subject, which arose from a grant to visit museums around the UK to access surviving ancient prostheses and modern...
Recorded webinar: Prosthetics and assistive technology in ancient Greece and Rome
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Sir William Capell and a Royal Chain: The Afterlives (and Death) of King Edward V
History journal blog
This blog post and interview complement the first view publication of the author's History journal article: ‘Sir William Capell and a Royal Chain: the Afterlives (and Death) of King Edward V’.
The disappearance in 1483 of King Edward V and his brother Richard, duke of York - the 'Princes in the Tower' -...
Sir William Capell and a Royal Chain: The Afterlives (and Death) of King Edward V
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Even more support for beginning teachers from the Historical Association
Primary History article
It is easy to be both overwhelmed and confused by the demands of teaching in the primary sector. The Historical Association has long been aware of the need to support student teachers, early career teachers and those that support them. With all the busy demands it is easy to miss...
Even more support for beginning teachers from the Historical Association
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Pull-out posters: Primary History 98
Talking History competition
The HA's Primary Oracy Competition: To register interest for 2025, contact Olivia Dent on: olivia.dent@history.org.uk
Find out more here
Pull-out posters: Primary History 98
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Who is in charge?
Primary History article
Children are introduced from the start of their lives to the idea that someone is in charge. Helen Crawford and Karin Doull explore how the question ‘Who is in charge?’ can be used with EYFS children to develop ideas of power, authority and agency. The article looks at its relevance...
Who is in charge?
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Planning for progression and sequencing in primary history
Primary History article
Jo Pearson uses the example of The Greetland Academy in Halifax to address the thorny issue of planning for progression and sequence. She recognises the problems of simplistic and formulaic definitions about progression. In planning the curriculum, four lenses are identified and considered to determine what is taught and when. This is a compelling...
Planning for progression and sequencing in primary history
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Exploring the many aspects of neolithic Britain
Primary History article
The Neolithic period provides many challenges – the huge length of time, the limitations of evidence, the many different aspects. This article suggests how a teaching programme might be structured to explore the period. It promotes the idea that these people, so distant in time, were much as we are...
Exploring the many aspects of neolithic Britain
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Disability in primary history teaching
Primary History article
This article is based on a session by Bev Forrest and Mel Jones at the HA Conference in May 2024. The central concern is to support teachers to weave the experiences and lives of disabled people in the past into the primary curriculum. It looks at possible opportunities in EYFS, Key Stage 1...
Disability in primary history teaching
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The role of oracy in primary history
Primary History article
East-the-Water is a primary school in Bideford, Devon. It has recently been awarded a Gold Award Quality Mark. Among many strong features, one was the emphasis on using oracy effectively in history. In this article, Kelly Bridle outlines its role, especially in connecting periods and events across the history curriculum using a range of connectors,...
The role of oracy in primary history
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Four objects in search of a story: why artefacts matter in history
Primary History article
The well-known children’s historical fiction author Tom Palmer relates how he uses artefacts as an important element in encouraging children to read and engage with history. The examples are from the First and Second World Wars, but artefacts from any period can make an excellent stimulus as well as an...
Four objects in search of a story: why artefacts matter in history
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Different ways of teaching local history through significant individuals
Primary History article
It is commonplace to include significant people when looking at the history of a given locality. The Historical Association has a series of case studies of significant local individuals organised by counties or regions. In this article Tim Lomas builds on that resource by looking at the way such individuals...
Different ways of teaching local history through significant individuals
