Bad Ancient/ Owen Rees
@badancient.bsky.social
Ancient Historian: Global history, ancient disability, veteran studies, etc. Also runs Bad Ancient: Fact-checking common claims about the ancient world.
Website: www.badancient.com
Newsletter: https://owenrees.substack.com/
Website: www.badancient.com
Newsletter: https://owenrees.substack.com/
Pinned
🌎 Far Edges of the Known World - Owen Rees
Owen Rees explores powerful empires and diverse people beyond the reaches of Greece and Rome and in doing so offers us a new, brilliantly rich lens with which to understand the ancient world.
Read more - www.bloomsbury.com/uk/far-edges...
Owen Rees explores powerful empires and diverse people beyond the reaches of Greece and Rome and in doing so offers us a new, brilliantly rich lens with which to understand the ancient world.
Read more - www.bloomsbury.com/uk/far-edges...
It is publication day for The Far Edges of the Known World! If you love ancient history, global history, unusual stories from the past, or if you want some nice historical escapism about life at the edges of the ancient world - pick up a copy today! #AncientBlueSky #BookSky #Skystorians
Reposted by Bad Ancient/ Owen Rees
Reposted by Bad Ancient/ Owen Rees
Sincere thanks from me and Michael Robinson to @badancient.bsky.social and Michael Roper for joining us as Birmingham yesterday and today for another MWHN event. Onwards to the next #milwelfhist
November 7, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Sincere thanks from me and Michael Robinson to @badancient.bsky.social and Michael Roper for joining us as Birmingham yesterday and today for another MWHN event. Onwards to the next #milwelfhist
Reposted by Bad Ancient/ Owen Rees
Q&A with Owen Rees about his new book, THE FAR EDGES OF THE KNOWN WORLD.
tinyurl.com/y3avmudz
@badancient.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/y3avmudz
@badancient.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Q&A with Owen Rees about his new book, THE FAR EDGES OF THE KNOWN WORLD.
tinyurl.com/y3avmudz
@badancient.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/y3avmudz
@badancient.bsky.social
Reposted by Bad Ancient/ Owen Rees
0900-1030hrs: Panel Two: 'Short-Term and Long-Term Trauma', with papers by Oscar Owen (University of Wolverhampton); Dr Kristin O'Donnell (Birmingham Newman University) & Dr Ana Catarina Pinho (Universidade Nova de Lisboa) #milwelfhist #trauma #histmed
November 7, 2025 at 10:59 AM
0900-1030hrs: Panel Two: 'Short-Term and Long-Term Trauma', with papers by Oscar Owen (University of Wolverhampton); Dr Kristin O'Donnell (Birmingham Newman University) & Dr Ana Catarina Pinho (Universidade Nova de Lisboa) #milwelfhist #trauma #histmed
This Q&A has just come out with me - all about my book!
Q&A with Owen Rees about his new book, THE FAR EDGES OF THE KNOWN WORLD.
tinyurl.com/y3avmudz
@badancient.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/y3avmudz
@badancient.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 9:44 PM
This Q&A has just come out with me - all about my book!
On my way to Birmingham for this - should be a good one!
Today is day 1 of the second of our @wellcometrust.bsky.social -funded events series, hosted both at @unibirmingham.bsky.social in 2025 and online in 2026. With 'trauma' and its associated medical impacts as our theme, we expect interesting papers and stimulating discussions #milwelfhist
November 6, 2025 at 9:25 AM
On my way to Birmingham for this - should be a good one!
The Far Edges of the Known World has a cheeky mention in The Media Tourist's 'Read all about it'!
The Entertainment Forecast
What to watch, and more! Oct. 31 – Nov. 6 A ‘Halloween’ marathon, the return of Robin Hood & how Harry Chapin’s ‘Cat’s in the Cradle’ touched just abou…
neilsentertainmentpicks.com
October 31, 2025 at 3:22 PM
The Far Edges of the Known World has a cheeky mention in The Media Tourist's 'Read all about it'!
I am currently writing for a keynote I have been invited to give, but realised I have never actually sat through one ... they are too long for me. So, if anyone has any tips I am all ears!
October 30, 2025 at 7:18 PM
I am currently writing for a keynote I have been invited to give, but realised I have never actually sat through one ... they are too long for me. So, if anyone has any tips I am all ears!
Reposted by Bad Ancient/ Owen Rees
AI is beginning to acquire a negative default in my head, so I presume that whatever it is claimed it can do should be followed by the word 'badly'.
Elon Musk says AI research into ancient Rome will ‘rewrite history’
www.thetimes.com/world/europe...
www.thetimes.com/world/europe...
Elon Musk says AI research into ancient Rome will ‘rewrite history’
The world’s richest man is financing a new age of archaeological projects that seek to use artificial intelligence to fill in knowledge gaps
www.thetimes.com
October 28, 2025 at 5:48 PM
AI is beginning to acquire a negative default in my head, so I presume that whatever it is claimed it can do should be followed by the word 'badly'.
AI is beginning to acquire a negative default in my head, so I presume that whatever it is claimed it can do should be followed by the word 'badly'.
Elon Musk says AI research into ancient Rome will ‘rewrite history’
www.thetimes.com/world/europe...
www.thetimes.com/world/europe...
Elon Musk says AI research into ancient Rome will ‘rewrite history’
The world’s richest man is financing a new age of archaeological projects that seek to use artificial intelligence to fill in knowledge gaps
www.thetimes.com
October 28, 2025 at 5:48 PM
AI is beginning to acquire a negative default in my head, so I presume that whatever it is claimed it can do should be followed by the word 'badly'.
Reposted by Bad Ancient/ Owen Rees
“telling stories about monsters isn’t simply a way of describing beings that are nothing like humans. It’s also how societies define and police who they think counts as fully human.”
My words in @aeon.co
💙📚 🧪🗃 #ancient #medieval #earlymodern #histsci #histmed #18thCentury #politics #psychology 🧵/n
My words in @aeon.co
💙📚 🧪🗃 #ancient #medieval #earlymodern #histsci #histmed #18thCentury #politics #psychology 🧵/n
Those declared ‘monsters’ are ejected from the human family | Aeon Essays
For centuries we’ve used the declaration of ‘monster’ to eject individuals and groups from being respected as fully human
aeon.co
October 24, 2025 at 10:20 AM
“telling stories about monsters isn’t simply a way of describing beings that are nothing like humans. It’s also how societies define and police who they think counts as fully human.”
My words in @aeon.co
💙📚 🧪🗃 #ancient #medieval #earlymodern #histsci #histmed #18thCentury #politics #psychology 🧵/n
My words in @aeon.co
💙📚 🧪🗃 #ancient #medieval #earlymodern #histsci #histmed #18thCentury #politics #psychology 🧵/n
Reposted by Bad Ancient/ Owen Rees
My latest review explores Owen Rees’s “The Far Edges of the Known World,” a bold rethinking of ancient history that shifts focus from Greece and Rome to the overlooked edges of antiquity.
open.substack.com/pub/jonathan...
open.substack.com/pub/jonathan...
Owen Rees's Material Challenge to Historical Bias in "The Far Edges of the Known World"
"There is a fundamental problem when considering the edges of the world: the edges are determined by where we think the centre is." With this observation, Owen Rees sets the stage for his revisionist ...
open.substack.com
September 16, 2025 at 1:08 AM
My latest review explores Owen Rees’s “The Far Edges of the Known World,” a bold rethinking of ancient history that shifts focus from Greece and Rome to the overlooked edges of antiquity.
open.substack.com/pub/jonathan...
open.substack.com/pub/jonathan...
Reposted by Bad Ancient/ Owen Rees
Intriguing premise for this book on “The Far Edges of the Known World” that touches well on recent scholarly trends around stories from the “periphery”. Will try to get my hands on it. Anybody read it? What did you think?
www.unseenhistories.com/owen-rees-fa...
www.unseenhistories.com/owen-rees-fa...
The Far Edges of the Known World - Unseen Histories
Owen Rees introduces us to his new history of the Ancient Past.
www.unseenhistories.com
October 10, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Intriguing premise for this book on “The Far Edges of the Known World” that touches well on recent scholarly trends around stories from the “periphery”. Will try to get my hands on it. Anybody read it? What did you think?
www.unseenhistories.com/owen-rees-fa...
www.unseenhistories.com/owen-rees-fa...
Reposted by Bad Ancient/ Owen Rees
The Far Edges of the Known World: Life Beyond the Borders of Ancient Civilization
Owen Rees
newbooksnetwork.com/the-far-edge... #borderlandshistory #socialhistory I especially enjoyed the part about the nubian-egyptian border, cooking, and intermarriage
Owen Rees
newbooksnetwork.com/the-far-edge... #borderlandshistory #socialhistory I especially enjoyed the part about the nubian-egyptian border, cooking, and intermarriage
Owen Rees, "The Far Edges of the Known World: Life Beyond the Borders of Ancient Civilization" (Norton, 2025) - New Books Network
newbooksnetwork.com
October 16, 2025 at 1:05 AM
The Far Edges of the Known World: Life Beyond the Borders of Ancient Civilization
Owen Rees
newbooksnetwork.com/the-far-edge... #borderlandshistory #socialhistory I especially enjoyed the part about the nubian-egyptian border, cooking, and intermarriage
Owen Rees
newbooksnetwork.com/the-far-edge... #borderlandshistory #socialhistory I especially enjoyed the part about the nubian-egyptian border, cooking, and intermarriage
Reposted by Bad Ancient/ Owen Rees
Latest review looks at Owen Rees' new book "The Far Edges of the Known World: A new history of the ancient past" which discusses how ancient cultures were often transformed and shaped by interaction and exchange, particularly at their fringes. resolutereader.blogspot.com/2025/10/owen...
Owen Rees - The Far Edges of the Known World: A new history of the ancient past
The premise of The Far Edges of the Known World is demonstrated best with the quote that opens the book. The Greek hero Jason (of the Argona...
resolutereader.blogspot.com
October 16, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Latest review looks at Owen Rees' new book "The Far Edges of the Known World: A new history of the ancient past" which discusses how ancient cultures were often transformed and shaped by interaction and exchange, particularly at their fringes. resolutereader.blogspot.com/2025/10/owen...
Reposted by Bad Ancient/ Owen Rees
Good morning #skystorians! A reminder that our Break With Rome 500th anniversary group is hosting an informal online networking event on Friday 21 November, mainly but not exclusively for early career researchers. Get in touch if you'd like the Teams link.
Break with Rome, 500th anniversary
The Break with Rome Anniversaries Group was established in 2025 by a group of researchers both inside and outside academia who are interested in thinking through how to communicate the hi…
mcphh.wordpress.com
October 20, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Good morning #skystorians! A reminder that our Break With Rome 500th anniversary group is hosting an informal online networking event on Friday 21 November, mainly but not exclusively for early career researchers. Get in touch if you'd like the Teams link.
Reposted by Bad Ancient/ Owen Rees
My book is in Waterstones' preorder sale for books released in 2026. Today is the last chance to get 25% off the paperback edition for when its released next February!
The Far Edges of the Known World by Dr Owen Rees | Waterstones
Buy The Far Edges of the Known World by Dr Owen Rees from Waterstones today! Click and Collect from your local Waterstones or get FREE UK delivery on orders over £25.
www.waterstones.com
October 17, 2025 at 9:08 AM
My book is in Waterstones' preorder sale for books released in 2026. Today is the last chance to get 25% off the paperback edition for when its released next February!
My book is in Waterstones' preorder sale for books released in 2026. Today is the last chance to get 25% off the paperback edition for when its released next February!
The Far Edges of the Known World by Dr Owen Rees | Waterstones
Buy The Far Edges of the Known World by Dr Owen Rees from Waterstones today! Click and Collect from your local Waterstones or get FREE UK delivery on orders over £25.
www.waterstones.com
October 17, 2025 at 9:08 AM
My book is in Waterstones' preorder sale for books released in 2026. Today is the last chance to get 25% off the paperback edition for when its released next February!
Reposted by Bad Ancient/ Owen Rees
This will be a great talk in January! @belovedofoizys.bsky.social is the go to person for gladiator history.
After a warm reception at Dorchester, I've been invited to give my Women of the Roman Arena talk again. This time I'm headed to the Grovesnor Museum in Chester. If anyone is nearby on the 15th of January, I'd love to see you there!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/women-of-t...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/women-of-t...
Women of the Roman Arena
Join ancient historian Alexandra Sills as she uncovers the forgotten story of female gladiators in Rome's most masculine arena.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
October 15, 2025 at 5:41 PM
This will be a great talk in January! @belovedofoizys.bsky.social is the go to person for gladiator history.
This will be a great talk in January! @belovedofoizys.bsky.social is the go to person for gladiator history.
After a warm reception at Dorchester, I've been invited to give my Women of the Roman Arena talk again. This time I'm headed to the Grovesnor Museum in Chester. If anyone is nearby on the 15th of January, I'd love to see you there!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/women-of-t...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/women-of-t...
Women of the Roman Arena
Join ancient historian Alexandra Sills as she uncovers the forgotten story of female gladiators in Rome's most masculine arena.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
October 15, 2025 at 5:41 PM
This will be a great talk in January! @belovedofoizys.bsky.social is the go to person for gladiator history.
Reposted by Bad Ancient/ Owen Rees
I'm willing to bet everyone knows at least one person who would love to receive this as a gift this festive season...
UK history lovers. My paperback is available for pre-order in Waterstones 25% off deal for the next coiple of days!
The Far Edges of the Known World by Dr Owen Rees | Waterstones
Buy The Far Edges of the Known World by Dr Owen Rees from Waterstones today! Click and Collect from your local Waterstones or get FREE UK delivery on orders over £25.
www.waterstones.com
October 14, 2025 at 10:26 PM
I'm willing to bet everyone knows at least one person who would love to receive this as a gift this festive season...
UK history lovers. My paperback is available for pre-order in Waterstones 25% off deal for the next coiple of days!
The Far Edges of the Known World by Dr Owen Rees | Waterstones
Buy The Far Edges of the Known World by Dr Owen Rees from Waterstones today! Click and Collect from your local Waterstones or get FREE UK delivery on orders over £25.
www.waterstones.com
October 14, 2025 at 8:14 PM
UK history lovers. My paperback is available for pre-order in Waterstones 25% off deal for the next coiple of days!
Reposted by Bad Ancient/ Owen Rees
WSJ review: 'This refreshingly original tour of the ancient world’s lesser-known locales challenges readers to imagine familiar stories from the other side for a change'
I'm happy with that!
www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
I'm happy with that!
www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
‘The Far Edges of the Known World’ Review: Ancient Strangers
On the borderlands of early civilizations, people who considered one another alien met in moments of trade, warfare or simple human curiosity.
www.wsj.com
October 13, 2025 at 4:38 PM
WSJ review: 'This refreshingly original tour of the ancient world’s lesser-known locales challenges readers to imagine familiar stories from the other side for a change'
I'm happy with that!
www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
I'm happy with that!
www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
WSJ review: 'This refreshingly original tour of the ancient world’s lesser-known locales challenges readers to imagine familiar stories from the other side for a change'
I'm happy with that!
www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
I'm happy with that!
www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
‘The Far Edges of the Known World’ Review: Ancient Strangers
On the borderlands of early civilizations, people who considered one another alien met in moments of trade, warfare or simple human curiosity.
www.wsj.com
October 13, 2025 at 4:38 PM
WSJ review: 'This refreshingly original tour of the ancient world’s lesser-known locales challenges readers to imagine familiar stories from the other side for a change'
I'm happy with that!
www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
I'm happy with that!
www.wsj.com/arts-culture...