#CivilRights advocates, #historians & #Black political leaders sharply rebuked #Trump on Friday for his order, entitled “Restoring Truth & Sanity to American History.” They argued that his #ExecutiveOrder targeting the #Smithsonian Institution is his admin’s latest move to downplay how #race, #racism & #BlackAmericans themselves have shaped the nation’s story.
I found an old letter from "John Kern" inside an old book and I'm trying to learn more. It's addressed to his sister (Mary?), mentions a book titled, "Ladies Museum," and requests flower seeds. I'm wondering whether it might be John Kern, III (1781-1842), of Philadelphia. Any historians on here? cc @histodons #philadelphia #pennsylvania #history #historians #antique
We have an in-depth article by Richard Abels that looks at the idea and debate around 'feudalism'. It is a great read. https://www.medievalists.net/2025/03/historiography-feudalism-medieval-historian/ #feudalism #medieval #historians
In about an hour, Ill be talking about the business side of running a history website - you can join in at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/crhhms-doing-public-history-and-medievalistsnet-peter-konieczny-tickets-1023979178287 #historians
Come and work with us! We have two new positions open at the IFI, both fixed-term for 36 months. These are:
A pre-doctoral position for doctoral candidates focused on 19th to early 20th century Caucasus or Central Asia topics:
https://www.oeaw.ac.at/en/oeaw-home/jobs?jh=55fo92ztvmyavog9ohpufz1qxf668nn
And a post-doctoral position focused on the history of premodern Iran (15th century or earlier):
https://www.oeaw.ac.at/en/oeaw-home/jobs?jh=0b4bl3hjsv600sfggaoxw48hyq0vyn1
Applications should be in by March 31st: please do share this post to colleagues, friends, and groups where people might be interested. We look forward to hearing from you!
"Chen Yaozuo was a #Teochew prime minister & grand tutor of the crown prince of the #SongDynasty (960–1279) in the 11th century. Coming from a family of officials, he was a rising star at the start of his career, until he bravely, or some might say foolishly, answered a call of Emperor Zhenzong for open criticisms by submitting a memorial that spelt out the ills of the times, including matters that no one else dared to speak about. As a result, Chen Yaozuo was banished & demoted to become an assistant prefect in the Teochew prefecture. This happened in 998, almost 180 years after Han Yu of the Tang dynasty suffered a similar fate."
"....Chen Yaozuo was more of a problem-solver than Han Yu, and he knew this. At the same time, he sensed the Teochew people’s deep admiration for his fellow Confucian. Cleverly capitalising on this, Chen Yaozuo erected a shrine in honour of Han Yu and he used it to commence his own programme to promote education among what was still a backward population. In pursuit of this goal, the Sichuan native also set up a Confucian temple and places of learning, while identifying and encouraging able families to send their children to schools.
Chen Yaozuo left Teochew after three years of devoted service to its people. He subsequently revealed in an inscription presented to a study room in Zhangpu (a county in Fujian adjacent to Teochew prefecture) that his time in Teo-yor was passed without major worries, despite it being enveloped in miasma."
"Chen Yaozuo’s heart remained with the place even many years after his departure. His poem below, “A note to Registrar Li Zi in Chaoyang” (送潮陽李孜主簿), illustrates this:
潮陽山水東南奇
The mountains and waters of Chaoyang are a wonder of the Southeast
魚鹽城郭民熙熙
Fishing boats, salt beds, and people going in and out of the city form a merry sight
當時為撰玄聖碑
Back then I had to write inscriptions for the sages
而今風俗鄒魯為。
Today its customs are like Zou and Lu [i.e. the home countries of Mencius and Confucius]
#Chinese #historians credit Han Yu for starting what we may call a #revolution through #literacy in Teochew. Yet the extent of Chen Yaozuo’s tireless contributions towards this cause can be seen by its fruits. Before his arrival, the Teochew prefecture produced only three men who attained the status of jinshi, the highest scholarly title awarded by the Chinese imperial court since the late 6th century. By the end of Song, the records show more than 170 jinshi from Teochew, of whom about a third came from Teo-yor.
Beyond scholarly titles, the creation of an educated class sparked a golden age in Teochew with accelerated advancements in agriculture and industry that ended its days as a backwater."
Ref: https://inf.news/en/history/08fbe530527e724eeeee5320bff4f3b9.html
Studying #Humanities, especially #History, people tell me:
- "Historians? They don't contribute to anything tangible!"
- "That's all well and good, but it's all just an ivory tower."
Well, in times like ours 'you' need 'us:
Because 'we' (#historians, #archivists, #librarians, #GLAM) are here. We can contextualize stuff, can illustrate/demonstrate continuities, etc. pp.
Countering despair/uncertainty with analyses of the past(-s), showing you what has been.
“Isn’t that Special!”
Said The Church Lady
Just think of how readily these words come to mind. And through maybe as many ages as verbal and written language as been used.
I’m curious if people from other societies than Western and European have as many of these terms as English-speakers have. If so, hmmmm, that is a human characteristic, perhaps? If not, hmmmm, what does that infer? Calling fans and students of #Linguistics and #Historians
#Historians would also argue that the #Vietnam War served as a defining — if not redefining — moment in the history of U.S. party #politics. At the time, there was perhaps no bigger player in sculpting modern #conservatism than William F. Buckley, who in a 1968 column advocated the use of #NuclearBombs in Vietnam. In 1969, President Richard #Nixon nearly heeded that recommendation.
Pictured, William F. Buckley in Vietnam, 1969.
Credit: Stars and Stripes.
The Broader Push to Rewrite #History.
Israel's assault on #Palestinian #heritage goes beyond fabricated #archaeological narratives—it’s a #systematic effort to erase history and consolidate control. Here are more key aspects of the campaign:
#Looting of #WestBank #Antiquities :
For decades, #Israel has #exploited the occupied territories' rich archaeological sites, #smuggling thousands of #artifacts to build its #colonial narrative. The new bill seeks to #institutionalize this #theft, granting #extremist officials unchecked authority over excavation and #HeritagePreservation in Palestinian areas.
The Role of the Israeli Antiquities Authority:
Under the guise of #AcademicResearch, the #IsraeliAntiquitiesAuthority frequently removes artifacts from the West Bank, exhibiting them in Israeli #museums without acknowledging their Palestinian origins. This process not only strips Palestinians of their #cultural history but also bolsters Israel’s claim to the land.
Settler-Led Excavations:
Settler organizations like #Elad are at the forefront of #illegal excavations, particularly in East #Jerusalem. These digs disrupt Palestinian neighborhoods, displace families, and create #tourist sites glorifying biblical narratives while erasing the #multicultural history of the region.
Linking Settlements to #BiblicalClaims:
Israeli settlement expansion is increasingly tied to archaeological claims. By declaring areas with supposed biblical significance, such as #Hebron or #Shiloh as part of #Jewish heritage, the #llegalOccupation justifies #annexation and denies Palestinians access to their land.
The International Fallout:
Despite warnings from Israeli #archaeologists and global institutions, the government continues its #unilateral moves. If the bill passes, Israel risks severe isolation, as #CulturalTheft violates international conventions, including #UNESCO protection of #CulturalHeritage during conflicts.
These moves are not just an assault on history—they are an extension of the colonial project, reshaping the narrative to legitimize an occupation that erases Palestinian identity. The stakes go beyond antiquities; they encompass the right of a people to their past, present, and future.
Full article by Alaa Al-Lami:
https://www.al-akhbar.com/Culture_People/387633
#FreePalestine
#IsraelIsATerroristState
#IsraelWarCrimes
#IsraelRogueState
#ArmsEmbargoOnIsrael
#USAFundsGenocide
#BoycottIsrael
#BDSMovement
#BoycottIsraeliApartheid
#StopGenocide
#ApartheidIsrael
#SanctionIsrael
#ExposeIsraeliTerrorists
#ZionismIsACult
#Journalism
#Historians
#Decolonization
In 1814 Paraguay forbade European-only marriages as part of their post-colonial reckoning. My keyword searches are failing to find out if other Central or #SouthAmerican countries enacted similar laws and how #historians discuss the impetus & outcome of these laws. In other words: What other countries forced interracial marriages and did this successfully lead to racial equality?
Can #histodons help a girl out?
#BlackMastodon #LatinXStudies #Hispanic
Follow and uplift progressive thinkers on American issues. This list is from some friends. Who else should be included?
HISTORIANS/THINKERS:
@GottaLaff
Hasan Piker
Heather Cox Richardson (follow her Substack)
Ibram X Kendi
Rebecca Solnit
@rbreich
@RickiTarr
Roxane Gay
Timothy Snyder
Tressie McMillan Cottom
Edit: Adding suggestions from comments, removed podcasts
https://mastodon.social/@blogdiva/113402532925546460
This is short, but such a good thread on Spain and food and ancestry
the purpose of #history and #historians is, as #Thucydides put it, is to offer “an exact knowledge of the past as an aid to the understanding of the future, which in the course of human affairs must resemble if it does not reflect it”
https://acoup.blog/2024/10/25/new-acquisitions-1933-and-the-definition-of-fascism/
been on mastodon since 2018. I noticed all the #OpenSourceSoftware sites I was checking out had mastodon icons.
here's an #introduction for all those checking #twittermigration for people to follow
I am a #writer of #FlashFiction #horror and #haiku #poetry I am an #artist and sometimes I make #music
I'm looking to follow #journalists #historians #scientists #artists #writers and #musicians and people who post about #bikes #PublicTransit and #LitMags
j'apprends le #français
" #Historians understand the terror of #Kristallnacht ... a modern #pogrom against #Jews in #Germany. On that “one violent night,” SS paramilitary forces attacked #Jewish shops, businesses & synagogues while #Nazi government authorities looked on & did nothing.
It is the responsibility of #news organizations to inform the #public & for their analysts to draw relevant, #historical parallels. They are failing in that responsibility"
https://statuskuo.substack.com/p/legacy-media-is-failing-us-hard
Talking about skewed data sets, there are twice as many #physicists than #historians in #Wikidata, and the latter already include archaeologists.
So, dear #histodons add yourselves!
We are continuing our dive into field surveys with #Wikidata. This time, we looked at #historians defined as humans whose field of work is https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1066186 or who have authored a work on this topic.
The query https://w.wiki/AYjY shows almost 53066 historians on a map. A person will have as many dots as they have had affiliations. Yet, there are "only" c.34k dots on this map. This is due to affiliations not being listed on Wikidata or not having geo coordinates.
The skewed distribution of the data set is not surprising with high-density clusters in Europe, North America, and Japan.
EDITED for clarity
been on mastodon since 2018. I noticed all the #OpenSourceSoftware sites I was checking out had mastodon icons.
here's an #introduction for all those checking #twittermigration for people to follow
I am a #writer of #FlashFiction #horror and #haiku #poetry I am an #artist and sometimes I make #music
I'm looking to follow #journalists #historians #scientists #artists #writers and #musicians and people who post about #bikes #PublicTransit and #LitMags
j'apprends le #français
Howdy! By way of introduction…
I’m David, he/him. I’m a designer & typographer & (accidentally?) historian. I teach graphic design at VCU in Richmond. UTPress just published a book I wrote & designed about the Rob Roy Kelly American Wood Type Collection. I am currently about ½ through my work on an MLIS degree at ODU.
I'm liking the vibe here, the nature of the interactions, & the speed of the information. #introduction #WoodType #NineteenthCentury #letterpress #libraries #archives #historians
