Alka Raman
@alkaraman.bsky.social
Economic and social historian of the early modern world, innovation, industrialisation and all things cotton. Assistant Prof at UCL History. Chair of the Women’s Committee of the Economic History Society.
‘Power of the purse, and spine’ in this week’s ‘The Economist’
February 8, 2026 at 10:26 AM
‘Power of the purse, and spine’ in this week’s ‘The Economist’
This term, we’re going from ‘calico craze’ to ‘china mania’ in our quest to unpack technological change.
January 28, 2026 at 6:50 AM
This term, we’re going from ‘calico craze’ to ‘china mania’ in our quest to unpack technological change.
I had the great pleasure yesterday of giving a public lecture at the Oriental Rugs and Textiles Society on the theme of Indian chintz and calico printing in Europe and was overjoyed by the enthusiastic and lively discussions on madder, indigo and all things dyes and their techniques!
January 15, 2026 at 6:53 AM
I had the great pleasure yesterday of giving a public lecture at the Oriental Rugs and Textiles Society on the theme of Indian chintz and calico printing in Europe and was overjoyed by the enthusiastic and lively discussions on madder, indigo and all things dyes and their techniques!
Reposted by Alka Raman
The editorial board of the @rhi-ihr.bsky.social wishes you happy holidays and a very happy new year! We are grateful to our editors, authors, and referees, for a very good year 2025. We look forward to 2026 for more workshops, and new issues engaging with industrial and economic history!
December 23, 2025 at 9:15 AM
The editorial board of the @rhi-ihr.bsky.social wishes you happy holidays and a very happy new year! We are grateful to our editors, authors, and referees, for a very good year 2025. We look forward to 2026 for more workshops, and new issues engaging with industrial and economic history!
Reposted by Alka Raman
We had the @echistsoc.bsky.social Women’s Committee’s Annual Workshop yesterday @ucl.ac.uk Thanks to all the presenters and participants for their collegiality and shared interest in making women visible in history! Special thanks to @camilladekoning.bsky.social for the great organisation!
December 13, 2025 at 7:17 AM
We had the @echistsoc.bsky.social Women’s Committee’s Annual Workshop yesterday @ucl.ac.uk Thanks to all the presenters and participants for their collegiality and shared interest in making women visible in history! Special thanks to @camilladekoning.bsky.social for the great organisation!
What comprised useful market knowledge enabling British merchants to sell cotton textiles in overseas markets? Alexander Appleton examines the coordination of market intelligence for successful cotton trading 👇
"Co-ordination of knowledge and merchant networks in the rise of the British textile trade between 1820 and 1840: the case of Langworthy Brothers and Co." by Alexander Appleton (@uniofeastanglia.bsky.social)
DOI: doi.org/10.1344/rhi-...
DOI: doi.org/10.1344/rhi-...
December 6, 2025 at 11:05 AM
What comprised useful market knowledge enabling British merchants to sell cotton textiles in overseas markets? Alexander Appleton examines the coordination of market intelligence for successful cotton trading 👇
What did innovation in the production of salt look like in the British Caribbean during the late 18th and early 19th centuries? Kimberley Thomas unpacks what the shift from slavery to freedom in salt production entailed 👇
"From slavery to freedom: Labour, technological change, and institutional innovation on the salt islands of the British Caribbean, c. 1774-1845" by Kimberley Thomas (@universityofleeds.bsky.social)
DOI: doi.org/10.1344/rhi-...
DOI: doi.org/10.1344/rhi-...
From slavery to freedom: Labour, technological change, and institutional innovation on the salt islands of the British Caribbean, c. 1774-1845
| Revista de Historia Industrial — Industrial H...
doi.org
December 6, 2025 at 10:59 AM
What did innovation in the production of salt look like in the British Caribbean during the late 18th and early 19th centuries? Kimberley Thomas unpacks what the shift from slavery to freedom in salt production entailed 👇
How might we assess the little divergence between India and Japan through the lens of access to raw cotton? Aditi Dixit comparatively examines the role of the state and industrial growth 👇
"Raw cotton markets, industrial strategies, and trade organisation in India and Japan, c. 1850-1940" by Aditi Dixit (Wageningen University @resourcewur.bsky.social)
DOI: doi.org/10.1344/rhi-...
DOI: doi.org/10.1344/rhi-...
December 6, 2025 at 10:58 AM
How might we assess the little divergence between India and Japan through the lens of access to raw cotton? Aditi Dixit comparatively examines the role of the state and industrial growth 👇
How does a physical space become a site for global economic history? @alibennett.bsky.social unpacks the significance of African ivory in the Port of London 👇
"Port labour, global commodities, and material skill development: a study of the ivory warehouse in the Port of London and its representation c. 1860-1968" by @alibennett.bsky.social (@officialuom.bsky.social )
DOI: doi.org/10.1344/rhi-...
DOI: doi.org/10.1344/rhi-...
December 6, 2025 at 10:56 AM
How does a physical space become a site for global economic history? @alibennett.bsky.social unpacks the significance of African ivory in the Port of London 👇
Reposted by Alka Raman
Few days left to register for the EHS Women’s Committee’s annual workshop. Details 👇 or follow the link ehs.org.uk/event/womens...
November 28, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Few days left to register for the EHS Women’s Committee’s annual workshop. Details 👇 or follow the link ehs.org.uk/event/womens...
Reposted by Alka Raman
🍾 We are proud to announce “Introduction: New Perspectives in Global Economic History” by @alkaraman.bsky.social (@ucl.ac.uk ), author of the piece and editor of the special issue on global economic history in @rhi-ihr.bsky.social .
Read it open access 👉 doi.org/10.1344/rhi-...
Read it open access 👉 doi.org/10.1344/rhi-...
November 20, 2025 at 8:21 AM
🍾 We are proud to announce “Introduction: New Perspectives in Global Economic History” by @alkaraman.bsky.social (@ucl.ac.uk ), author of the piece and editor of the special issue on global economic history in @rhi-ihr.bsky.social .
Read it open access 👉 doi.org/10.1344/rhi-...
Read it open access 👉 doi.org/10.1344/rhi-...
The first volume of the Special Issue on Global Economic History @rhi-ihr.bsky.social is now out! It features 4 new articles on 4 commodities in global economic history - salt, ivory, raw cotton, and finished cotton goods - all open access. It was a great experience editing this volume!
Vol. 34 No. 95 (2025) of @rhi-ihr.bsky.social is out! The first instalment of New Perspectives in Global Economic History, edited by @alkaraman.bsky.social, shows how commodity based economic history reveals global interconnections and rethinks long-term development. revistes.ub.edu/index.php/Hi...
November 19, 2025 at 11:05 AM
The first volume of the Special Issue on Global Economic History @rhi-ihr.bsky.social is now out! It features 4 new articles on 4 commodities in global economic history - salt, ivory, raw cotton, and finished cotton goods - all open access. It was a great experience editing this volume!
Last evening was truly special, meeting with dear friends and colleagues to celebrate the launch of @edmond-smith.bsky.social new book, ‘Ruthless: A New History of Britain’s Rise to Wealth and Power’
November 7, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Last evening was truly special, meeting with dear friends and colleagues to celebrate the launch of @edmond-smith.bsky.social new book, ‘Ruthless: A New History of Britain’s Rise to Wealth and Power’
Still buzzing after the talk by @sushmajansari.bsky.social about her experience of community curation and the making of the exhibition ‘Ancient India, Living Traditions’ @britishmuseum.bsky.social @uclhistory.bsky.social
October 15, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Still buzzing after the talk by @sushmajansari.bsky.social about her experience of community curation and the making of the exhibition ‘Ancient India, Living Traditions’ @britishmuseum.bsky.social @uclhistory.bsky.social
A great programme on the theme of ‘Women and Enterprise’ for the annual workshop of the EHS Women’s Committee @echistsoc.bsky.social @ehswomcom.bsky.social The workshop will be held in-person @uclhistory.bsky.social see registration details 👇
The @echistsoc.bsky.social Women’s Committee is organising its annual workshop on the 12th of December @ucl.ac.uk This will be an in-person only event. Book now to attend. Details ⬇️
Registration for our EHS Women's Committee Workshop: Women & Entrepreneurship: Agency, Experience, and Enterprise is now open.
See the amazing program at the link below and find the register button at the bottom of the page!
@ehswomcom.bsky.social @echistsoc.bsky.social
See the amazing program at the link below and find the register button at the bottom of the page!
@ehswomcom.bsky.social @echistsoc.bsky.social
October 13, 2025 at 11:18 AM
A great programme on the theme of ‘Women and Enterprise’ for the annual workshop of the EHS Women’s Committee @echistsoc.bsky.social @ehswomcom.bsky.social The workshop will be held in-person @uclhistory.bsky.social see registration details 👇
We’ve just finished a most useful @ehswomcom.bsky.social training session with @eicathomefinn.bsky.social, Ramon Ramon-Munoz @rhi-ihr.bsky.social and Michael Watson @universitypress.cambridge.org on early career years in academia & grants/postdocs processes & publishing academic articles/books.
October 10, 2025 at 12:32 PM
We’ve just finished a most useful @ehswomcom.bsky.social training session with @eicathomefinn.bsky.social, Ramon Ramon-Munoz @rhi-ihr.bsky.social and Michael Watson @universitypress.cambridge.org on early career years in academia & grants/postdocs processes & publishing academic articles/books.
Reminder: online training event for academic publishing and applying for grants, on 10th Oct, organised by the @ehswomcom.bsky.social The event will be particularly useful for ECRs, registration info👇
The @echistsoc.bsky.social Women’s Committee is organising an online training event on academic publication and grants applications process on 10th Oct 2025. More details and how to register👇
ehs.org.uk/event/womens...
ehs.org.uk/event/womens...
Women's Committee - Publishing & Grants Made Simple - Economic History Society
10/10/2025 @ 11:00 am - 1:00 pm - The Women’s Committee of the Economic History Society invites you to join our online training event to learn strategies for getting published in top academic journals...
ehs.org.uk
October 4, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Reminder: online training event for academic publishing and applying for grants, on 10th Oct, organised by the @ehswomcom.bsky.social The event will be particularly useful for ECRs, registration info👇
Many thanks to Darshan Shah and the team from Weavers’ Studio, Kolkata. ‘Textiles from Bengal’ would not be possible without them.
September 17, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Many thanks to Darshan Shah and the team from Weavers’ Studio, Kolkata. ‘Textiles from Bengal’ would not be possible without them.
The highlight of the day - textile objects, demonstrating extraordinary skill and expertise in textile making and adornment in Bengal.
September 17, 2025 at 10:39 PM
The highlight of the day - textile objects, demonstrating extraordinary skill and expertise in textile making and adornment in Bengal.
Mary Schoeser, Meha Priyadarshini and I also presented at the ‘Textiles from Bengal’ event. Thanks to the audience for the fantastic engagement!
September 17, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Mary Schoeser, Meha Priyadarshini and I also presented at the ‘Textiles from Bengal’ event. Thanks to the audience for the fantastic engagement!
Rosemary Crill, John Styles and Karolina Hutkova presenting at ‘Textiles from Bengal: A Shared Legacy’
September 17, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Rosemary Crill, John Styles and Karolina Hutkova presenting at ‘Textiles from Bengal: A Shared Legacy’
It’s about to begin! Setting up for ‘Textiles from Bengal’
September 17, 2025 at 7:42 AM
It’s about to begin! Setting up for ‘Textiles from Bengal’
Reposted by Alka Raman
Children and the Covid-19 pandemic. UK report is out, and includes a child-friendly version.
Children & Young People's Voices Research Project - UK Covid-19 Inquiry
The independent public inquiry to examine the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK
covid19.public-inquiry.uk
September 15, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Children and the Covid-19 pandemic. UK report is out, and includes a child-friendly version.
Want to know more about publishing your work and applying for research grants? The @ehswomcom.bsky.social is organising an online training session on 10th Oct. Save the date! ⬇️
The @echistsoc.bsky.social Women’s Committee is organising an online training event on academic publication and grants applications process on 10th Oct 2025. More details and how to register👇
ehs.org.uk/event/womens...
ehs.org.uk/event/womens...
Women's Committee - Publishing & Grants Made Simple - Economic History Society
10/10/2025 @ 11:00 am - 1:00 pm - The Women’s Committee of the Economic History Society invites you to join our online training event to learn strategies for getting published in top academic journals...
ehs.org.uk
September 11, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Want to know more about publishing your work and applying for research grants? The @ehswomcom.bsky.social is organising an online training session on 10th Oct. Save the date! ⬇️
Reposted by Alka Raman
It's that time of year again, annual elections for election to Council of the National Trust. Lots of candidates to choose from.
Read carefully and vote wisely if you don't want the direction of travel to be backward.
Read carefully and vote wisely if you don't want the direction of travel to be backward.
What's better than a rainbow-coloured bed of dahlias?
An actual rainbow shining over the rainbow-coloured dahlias.
An actual rainbow shining over the rainbow-coloured dahlias.
September 9, 2025 at 9:21 AM
It's that time of year again, annual elections for election to Council of the National Trust. Lots of candidates to choose from.
Read carefully and vote wisely if you don't want the direction of travel to be backward.
Read carefully and vote wisely if you don't want the direction of travel to be backward.