History

Historical writing across eras

The Novel as Instrument: Sinan Antoon and Michael Allan

Our partner podcast Novel Dialogue invites a novelist and a literary critic to talk about novels from every angle: how we read them, write them, publish them, and remember them. This season’s signature question is: Who was your favorite teacher and why? “I am haunted by history: the history of dictatorship, the history of empire, […] The post The Novel as Instrument: Sinan Antoon and Michael Allan appeared first on Public Books.

Megan Cummins·May 22, 2026

The Conversation

Fertiliser: the forgotten history linking the agricultural commodity and empire in wartime

A labour and political ecology expert looks back at imperialistic logic and how chemical fertilisers have repeatedly served as strategic objectives and weapons, particularly in wartime.

Lorenzo Feltrin, Postdoctoral research fellow, Ca' Foscari University of Venice; Graduate Institute – Institut de hautes études internationales et du développement (IHEID)·May 21, 2026

The Conversation

Why early medieval Ireland had laws for bees

Medieval Irish bees had a legal status because they were classified as domestic livestock.

Chris Doyle, Lecturer in Ancient and Medieval History, University of Galway·May 20, 2026

The Paris Review

The Ignorant Art Historian: Sackcloth 1953

“We associate burlap not with art but with use, indeed with waste.”

Hal Foster·May 19, 2026

The Conversation

How a shifting Nile landscape shaped the rise of the ancient empire of Kush in Sudan

The ancient Kush city of Jebel Barkal rose up in the Nile River Valley starting around 2000 BCE. New research dug deep to learn more about what this landscape was like over the past 4,000 years.

Geoff Emberling, Research Scientist in Archaeology, University of Michigan·May 19, 2026

The Conversation

Xi warned Trump against the ‘Thucydides Trap’ – here’s what ancient Greece can tell us about US-China relations

The Greek historian recounted the danger of a rising power challenging an established one.

Neville Morley, Professor in Classics, Ancient History, Religion, and Theology, University of Exeter·May 18, 2026

The Paris Review

The Ignorant Art Historian: Ice Floes

“This is a river you can’t step in even once.”

Hal Foster·May 5, 2026

The Paris Review

The Ignorant Art Historian: The Blind Man’s Meal

“Perhaps he is tubercular as well as blind. Certainly he is poor.”

Hal Foster·May 12, 2026

The Conversation

America’s musical founding father: ‘Liberty songs’ by a self-taught singer and tanner helped fuel the Revolution

William Billings has been largely forgotten, except among music historians. But he was the country’s first notable composer, penning protest songs against Great Britain.

David W. Stowe, Professor of Religious Studies, Michigan State University·May 15, 2026

The Conversation

From medieval plague ships to hantavirus: How outbreaks at sea helped to shape the international public health system

To stop the spread of infectious diseases, governments need information and other resources that countries around the globe share through international organizations.

Katrine L. Wallace, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Illinois Chicago·May 15, 2026

The Conversation

From beef ribs to a ‘heavenly’ walk: Xi-Trump summit symbolism underscored American power and Chinese tradition

A cultural historian of modern China explains the meaning behind some of the venue choices during President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing.

Xianda Huang, Ph.D. Student in Asian Languages and Cultures, University of California, Los Angeles·May 16, 2026

JSTOR Daily

A Trusted Name in a Dubious Drug Market

Amid the fraud and flimflam of early drug markets, Shakers stood for purity, creating a brand others were eager to exploit. The post A Trusted Name in a Dubious Drug Market appeared first on JSTOR Daily.

Matthew Wills·May 4, 2026

JSTOR Daily

Six Flash Fiction Stories by Contemporary Writers

Compact narratives of precision and surprise, by Lydia Davis, Aimee Bender, Stuart Dybek, Venita Blackburn, and more. The post Six Flash Fiction Stories by Contemporary Writers appeared first on JSTOR Daily.

The Editors·May 5, 2026

JSTOR Daily

Preserving the Art of Ed Aulerich-Sugai

An artist’s work is traced through memory, stewardship, and decades of care. The post Preserving the Art of Ed Aulerich-Sugai appeared first on JSTOR Daily.

The Editors·May 6, 2026

JSTOR Daily

How 1980s Children’s Books Framed Vietnamese Refugees

Children’s books introduced Vietnamese refugees to US readers, often simplifying their histories and experiences. The post How 1980s Children’s Books Framed Vietnamese Refugees appeared first on JSTOR Daily.

H.M.A. Leow·May 7, 2026

JSTOR Daily

Why Do People Embrace Hate? Sartre Has an Answer

A classic essay examines the hidden dynamics behind modern prejudice. The post Why Do People Embrace Hate? Sartre Has an Answer appeared first on JSTOR Daily.

Livia Gershon·May 8, 2026

JSTOR Daily

The Invention of the Continental Divide

A Civil War–era push for unity helped transform a little-known geographic boundary into a powerful symbol of American identity. The post The Invention of the Continental Divide appeared first on JSTOR Daily.

Matthew Wills·May 11, 2026

JSTOR Daily

Arctic Airships and the Rise of the Technological Explorer

Competing expeditions to the North Pole redefined exploration in the early age of aviation. The post Arctic Airships and the Rise of the Technological Explorer appeared first on JSTOR Daily.

Danny Robb·May 12, 2026

JSTOR Daily

Hired at First Sight: The Power of “Pretty Privilege”

First impressions shape outcomes before a word is spoken—and research shows those snap judgments are far from random. The post Hired at First Sight: The Power of “Pretty Privilege” appeared first on JSTOR Daily.

Ben Ambridge·May 15, 2026

Aeon

The origins of Indians

Genetic studies support what historians have argued for decades: ancient India was a place of migration and mixture- by Kiran KumbharRead on Aeon

Kiran Kumbhar·May 7, 2026

Aeon

Classroom 4

In this award-winning short, inmates and college students explore the history of incarceration from inside a US prison- by Aeon VideoWatch on Aeon

Aeon Video·May 11, 2026

JSTOR Daily

The Violent History Behind Nutmeg

How a single spice became the pretext for genocide in the Banda Islands.

H.M.A. Leow·May 14, 2026·8 min read

JSTOR Daily

The Forgotten Untouchables of France

The Cagots: a French caste whose origins remain disputed and whose treatment was systematically cruel.

Ed Simon·May 13, 2026·9 min read

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