Prof Ben Pohl
@benpohl.bsky.social
Professor of Medieval History, University of Bristol 📚 w/ Oxford Univ Press, Cambridge Univ Press, Boydell & Brewer, Schnell & Steiner, ARC Humanities Press; now writing ‘The Medieval Library: Using and Abusing Books in the Middle Ages’ for Reaktion Books
Pinned
Prof Ben Pohl
@benpohl.bsky.social
· Dec 11
Very happy to have signed the contract for my next book with @reaktionbooks.bsky.social! ✍️
Reposted by Prof Ben Pohl
Last week @mappingthemarch.bsky.social held a launch for my new book and a new book by the brilliant @mattlampitt.bsky.social in the atmospheric crypt of The Mount Without. It was so much fun to celebrate with friends, family, and colleagues who have supported us along the way! #medievalsky #newbook
February 6, 2026 at 11:23 AM
Last week @mappingthemarch.bsky.social held a launch for my new book and a new book by the brilliant @mattlampitt.bsky.social in the atmospheric crypt of The Mount Without. It was so much fun to celebrate with friends, family, and colleagues who have supported us along the way! #medievalsky #newbook
Great to see one of the most brilliant and inspiring authors of our time using her clout to fight the good fight for the Humanities!
Thank you to Elif Shafak and those who joined us last night in person and online for The National Humanities Lecture.
Drawing on literature, history and her own experience as a writer and storyteller, Shafak made an impassioned case for the humanities. Watch here www.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
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Drawing on literature, history and her own experience as a writer and storyteller, Shafak made an impassioned case for the humanities. Watch here www.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
1/3
Elif Shafak Delivers The National Humanities Lecture
The award-winning novelist and storyteller Elif Shafak has delivered The 2026 National Humanities Lecture at Senate House.
www.sas.ac.uk
February 6, 2026 at 10:01 AM
Great to see one of the most brilliant and inspiring authors of our time using her clout to fight the good fight for the Humanities!
Whoever needs to hear this: 'with apologies for cross-posting' does not in fact excuse spamming people's inboxes with irrelevant stuff just because you can't be bothered to enter the relevant addressees manually.
February 6, 2026 at 9:28 AM
Whoever needs to hear this: 'with apologies for cross-posting' does not in fact excuse spamming people's inboxes with irrelevant stuff just because you can't be bothered to enter the relevant addressees manually.
Great to see @proflroach.bsky.social deliver his inaugural lecture last night featuring plenty of charters and this little gem from Richard Southern. Congratulations, Levi!
February 5, 2026 at 8:14 AM
Great to see @proflroach.bsky.social deliver his inaugural lecture last night featuring plenty of charters and this little gem from Richard Southern. Congratulations, Levi!
Utterly predictable, lazy, no attempt at creative problem solving. Higher Education held ransom by overpaid private businesses pretending to offer bespoke solutions when all they’re really doing is sell a cheap, off-the-rack, one-size-fits-all (spoiler: it doesn’t fit anyone!) product at a premium.
In the UK academic recession, you will be at one of these stages since many unis buy the same cuts model from the same consultancies. It is always the same process:
*Talk of belt-tightening
*Incidental savings (e.g. printing, refreshments)
*Travel budgets cut
*Promotion freeze (1/4)
*Talk of belt-tightening
*Incidental savings (e.g. printing, refreshments)
*Travel budgets cut
*Promotion freeze (1/4)
February 3, 2026 at 11:59 AM
Utterly predictable, lazy, no attempt at creative problem solving. Higher Education held ransom by overpaid private businesses pretending to offer bespoke solutions when all they’re really doing is sell a cheap, off-the-rack, one-size-fits-all (spoiler: it doesn’t fit anyone!) product at a premium.
Demanding for academics to be subjected to a ‘strategic research management regime’ is one of the most idiotic and ignorant things I’ve heard in some time. Only someone with no understanding of what universities are for could come up with such utter shite.
'We likely require fewer academics with research in their remit, but those that do need greater time allocated, and must be subject to a strategic research management regime'.
I remain very sceptical/negative about the medium- and long-turn impacts of separating research and teaching. 1/2
I remain very sceptical/negative about the medium- and long-turn impacts of separating research and teaching. 1/2
For Everything to Stay the Same, Everything Must Change
... a riposte to academic nostalgia
profserious.substack.com
February 1, 2026 at 6:58 AM
Demanding for academics to be subjected to a ‘strategic research management regime’ is one of the most idiotic and ignorant things I’ve heard in some time. Only someone with no understanding of what universities are for could come up with such utter shite.
It is a little-known fact that St John the Evangelist was rarely seen without his signature Nintendo controller!
(BL, MS Add 5112/1)
(BL, MS Add 5112/1)
January 31, 2026 at 11:37 AM
It is a little-known fact that St John the Evangelist was rarely seen without his signature Nintendo controller!
(BL, MS Add 5112/1)
(BL, MS Add 5112/1)
Reposted by Prof Ben Pohl
I LOVE this painting (in a horrible way): it's one of the most powerful political statements out there. The progeny of an unholy coupling between Francisco de Goya and Francis Bacon - both of whom would have understood it perfectly. His mad, senile, terrified eyes...
January 30, 2026 at 6:02 PM
I LOVE this painting (in a horrible way): it's one of the most powerful political statements out there. The progeny of an unholy coupling between Francisco de Goya and Francis Bacon - both of whom would have understood it perfectly. His mad, senile, terrified eyes...
Not Catherine O’Hara!
January 30, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Not Catherine O’Hara!
Reposted by Prof Ben Pohl
I have just submitted my PhD thesis, and now I am going to drink this Norman Conquest-themed cider. #MedievalSky
January 28, 2026 at 3:53 PM
I have just submitted my PhD thesis, and now I am going to drink this Norman Conquest-themed cider. #MedievalSky
✊
Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen
youtu.be
January 28, 2026 at 6:17 PM
✊
Reposted by Prof Ben Pohl
CMS members have lots of medieval goodness to look forward to this week! Check out our instagram post for more details on all events: www.instagram.com/p/DT0aN7PjL05/ 😊
#medievalsky #skystorians
#medievalsky #skystorians
January 22, 2026 at 4:03 PM
CMS members have lots of medieval goodness to look forward to this week! Check out our instagram post for more details on all events: www.instagram.com/p/DT0aN7PjL05/ 😊
#medievalsky #skystorians
#medievalsky #skystorians
Reposted by Prof Ben Pohl
This is an excellent analogy, because my recollection from grade school is that the pen on the right looks fun and exciting, and then you play with it for a few minutes and realize it's not actually useful for anything and in fact makes some tasks more cumbersome, and never think about it again.
yeah, just out of interest, how many people choose the pen on the right for real work or art? See a lot of them in professional workplaces, do you?
January 22, 2026 at 12:21 PM
This is an excellent analogy, because my recollection from grade school is that the pen on the right looks fun and exciting, and then you play with it for a few minutes and realize it's not actually useful for anything and in fact makes some tasks more cumbersome, and never think about it again.
Reposted by Prof Ben Pohl
Und thus, modernity comes to a close just like it started, with a guy ranting at windmills
Trump: "There are windmills all over Europe. There are windmills all over the place. And they are losers. One thing I've noticed is that the more windmills a country has, the more money that country loses, and the worse that country is doing. I haven't been able to find any wind farms in China."
January 21, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Und thus, modernity comes to a close just like it started, with a guy ranting at windmills
A great loss. Very sad news indeed.
It is with deep sadness that the Master and Fellows of St Peter’s College share news of the death of Professor Stephen Baxter, Fellow and Tutor in Medieval History. Our full tribute will be shared soon. https://ow.ly/cy8J50Y0yrB
January 21, 2026 at 11:52 AM
A great loss. Very sad news indeed.
Unsurprisingly, agriculture is identified as one of the main drivers of global water wastage and pollution; what is surprising, however, is that water-guzzling AI supercomputers and data centres get no mention whatsoever…
Era of ‘global water bankruptcy’ is here, UN report says
Overuse and pollution must end urgently as no one knows when whole system might collapse, says expert
www.theguardian.com
January 20, 2026 at 6:47 PM
Unsurprisingly, agriculture is identified as one of the main drivers of global water wastage and pollution; what is surprising, however, is that water-guzzling AI supercomputers and data centres get no mention whatsoever…
*chef’s kiss*
A joke for the history buffs:
Germany’s satirical newspaper @der-postillon.com titles: “Vienna Academy of the Arts offers Trump admission as a student — They don’t want to get blamed again“
Germany’s satirical newspaper @der-postillon.com titles: “Vienna Academy of the Arts offers Trump admission as a student — They don’t want to get blamed again“
January 18, 2026 at 7:39 PM
*chef’s kiss*
Reposted by Prof Ben Pohl
January 14, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Ein kolossales Armutszeugnis der deutschen Wissenschaftsfinanzierung. Peinlich.
Also nochmal zum mitschreiben:
Ich kann jetzt bei einem der wichtigsten Geldgeber in der deutschen Wissenschaft mit Hilfe von KI geschriebene Anträge einreichen die dann mit ebenfalls mit KI begutachtet werden. Einzige Voraussetzung ist dass es transparent gemacht wird. Was für eine Farce.
Ich kann jetzt bei einem der wichtigsten Geldgeber in der deutschen Wissenschaft mit Hilfe von KI geschriebene Anträge einreichen die dann mit ebenfalls mit KI begutachtet werden. Einzige Voraussetzung ist dass es transparent gemacht wird. Was für eine Farce.
Die DFG will künftig die Nutzung von Künstlicher Intelligenz #KI in der #Begutachtung ermöglichen. Der Einsatz darf allerdings nur unter klar definierten Bedingungen erfolgen. Eine Leitlinie dazu soll im ersten Quartal 2026 veröffentlicht werden. Mehr zu den Prinzipien:
www.dfg.de/de/aktuelles...
www.dfg.de/de/aktuelles...
January 13, 2026 at 12:21 PM
Ein kolossales Armutszeugnis der deutschen Wissenschaftsfinanzierung. Peinlich.
Reposted by Prof Ben Pohl
We are really excited to announce the second of our fantastic keynote speakers: author, literary historian, Middle English and Biblical poetry expert... our very own Dr Cathy Hume (@cathyhume.bluesky.social)! 🎉🎊🎉
January 13, 2026 at 10:39 AM
We are really excited to announce the second of our fantastic keynote speakers: author, literary historian, Middle English and Biblical poetry expert... our very own Dr Cathy Hume (@cathyhume.bluesky.social)! 🎉🎊🎉
Reposted by Prof Ben Pohl
become ungovernable
January 11, 2026 at 12:53 PM
become ungovernable
Reposted by Prof Ben Pohl
Brexit war noch nie so eine schlechte Idee wie heute.
Breaking News: The EU agreed to a sweeping trade pact with four South American countries that would create one of the largest free-trade zones in the world.
European Union Agrees to Landmark Free-Trade Deal With South America
The agreement with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay represents a push for deeper global cooperation, in contrast to the United States turning to coercion in its dealings with other countries.
nyti.ms
January 9, 2026 at 1:45 PM
Brexit war noch nie so eine schlechte Idee wie heute.
Reposted by Prof Ben Pohl
@damedianajohnson.bsky.social
I don't just want the return of Freedom of Movement: I want the return of the European citizenship & identity that were stolen from me agst my will 10 yrs ago by criminals & fools.
I don't just want the return of Freedom of Movement: I want the return of the European citizenship & identity that were stolen from me agst my will 10 yrs ago by criminals & fools.
Starmer once again says there will be no return to free movement of people
Please repost if you demand the restoration of the Freedom of Movement that was robbed from us by foreign interference and the worst abuses of democracy in modern British history.
Please repost if you demand the restoration of the Freedom of Movement that was robbed from us by foreign interference and the worst abuses of democracy in modern British history.
January 4, 2026 at 10:22 PM
@damedianajohnson.bsky.social
I don't just want the return of Freedom of Movement: I want the return of the European citizenship & identity that were stolen from me agst my will 10 yrs ago by criminals & fools.
I don't just want the return of Freedom of Movement: I want the return of the European citizenship & identity that were stolen from me agst my will 10 yrs ago by criminals & fools.
Reposted by Prof Ben Pohl
Starmer is writing in the Times again where he compares calls to leave the ECHR with calls to tax billionaires.
Both are 'wrong and dangerous'.
I don't think anyone is saying 'tax billionaires and that will fix everything' but it will certainly go a long way to helping fix things.
Both are 'wrong and dangerous'.
I don't think anyone is saying 'tax billionaires and that will fix everything' but it will certainly go a long way to helping fix things.
January 4, 2026 at 8:35 AM
Starmer is writing in the Times again where he compares calls to leave the ECHR with calls to tax billionaires.
Both are 'wrong and dangerous'.
I don't think anyone is saying 'tax billionaires and that will fix everything' but it will certainly go a long way to helping fix things.
Both are 'wrong and dangerous'.
I don't think anyone is saying 'tax billionaires and that will fix everything' but it will certainly go a long way to helping fix things.