Alan Atkinson, in the journey to understand whether or not a ‘good historian’ should allow compassion to stain their work concluded that to not experience and project emotion is inhuman.[1] Similarly, Charles Beard’s 1935 article condemned the possibility of writing an entirely objective history, asserting that this was simply an unachievable yet ‘noble dream’.[2] Despite … Continue reading In what ways do historians’ own personal experiences shape their interpretations of the past?
historian
Did the experience of the Second World War radicalise the British public?
It is not true that the British public become supportive of extreme political and social movements as a result of the cultural impact of the experience of the Second World War. Whilst it is evident that the experience of the Second World War radicalised the British public to a certain extent, it would certainly be … Continue reading Did the experience of the Second World War radicalise the British public?
The period 1851 – 1914 was an important time in the transition of leisure and cultural practices in Britain.
It is certain that the period 1851 – 1914 was an important time in the transition of leisure and cultural practices in Britain. These changes were led by a combination of the upper classes placing an emphasis on leisure time being used to create a sense of morality and rightness and a revolution in leisure … Continue reading The period 1851 – 1914 was an important time in the transition of leisure and cultural practices in Britain.
I am now on Twitter! Learning how to internet slowly... Follow @histapprentice
What really happened to the dinosaurs?
What makes deviance?
Cresswell claims that deviance “is created through reactions . . . [and] when we concentrate on this aspect of deviance, the analysis of the process of labelling becomes more important than the characteristics of those who are so labelled.” Taking the witch as an example, to what extent do you agree with this contention? Historians, … Continue reading What makes deviance?
Vlad the Impaler
Saw this on Facebook before and laughed far more than I should have.
The Crusades – BBC Documentary
Just a week before I am about to sit an exam regarding the Third Crusade and its characters, I have stumbled across a brand new BBC Four documentary series narrated by leading Crusade historian Thomas Asbridge. It has so far covered the causes of the Holy War, the Battle of Hattin in 1187 and the … Continue reading The Crusades – BBC Documentary
Catching the Clergy in the Act
In around 1535 (following Henry VIII's break from Rome and marriage to his second wife, Anne Boleyn, but before he relieved her of the burden that was her head), Henry was in desperate need of cash. In a continuation of his attack on Roman Catholicism, Henry launched a campaign against the monasteries which would result … Continue reading Catching the Clergy in the Act
The Lotto Craze
It is driven into the human psyche that if there exists a small chance of something happening to a person, that person might be you. You might refuse to go out in a thunderstorm because you might be hit by lightning. You might refuse to travel by aircraft because there was a report on the … Continue reading The Lotto Craze
The Historian's Apprentice 