James Morton
@jamesmorton.bsky.social
Associate Professor of History at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Researches law, religion, and manuscripts in the medieval Byzantine Empire. Author, Byzantine Religious Law in Medieval Italy (http://bit.ly/3h3Huph) #ByzantineLaw
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Pinned
James Morton
@jamesmorton.bsky.social
· Oct 25
Assistant Professor (Ancient World History)
Click the link provided to see the complete job description.
cuhk.taleo.net
🚨JOB ALERT: Are you a historian of the ancient world? Are you looking for a tenure-track assistant professor job? Would you like to earn a high salary and live in an exciting city?
If so, you should read our job ad and apply online here: cuhk.taleo.net/careersectio...
If so, you should read our job ad and apply online here: cuhk.taleo.net/careersectio...
It took a few days, but our job ad is finally up on all the normal online academic job sites! If you're an ancient historian looking for a good tenure-track job, you should take a look. Here it is on the Society for Classical Studies website, for example: www.classicalstudies.org/placement-se...
October 30, 2025 at 2:35 PM
It took a few days, but our job ad is finally up on all the normal online academic job sites! If you're an ancient historian looking for a good tenure-track job, you should take a look. Here it is on the Society for Classical Studies website, for example: www.classicalstudies.org/placement-se...
🚨JOB ALERT: Are you a historian of the ancient world? Are you looking for a tenure-track assistant professor job? Would you like to earn a high salary and live in an exciting city?
If so, you should read our job ad and apply online here: cuhk.taleo.net/careersectio...
If so, you should read our job ad and apply online here: cuhk.taleo.net/careersectio...
Assistant Professor (Ancient World History)
Click the link provided to see the complete job description.
cuhk.taleo.net
October 25, 2025 at 1:31 PM
🚨JOB ALERT: Are you a historian of the ancient world? Are you looking for a tenure-track assistant professor job? Would you like to earn a high salary and live in an exciting city?
If so, you should read our job ad and apply online here: cuhk.taleo.net/careersectio...
If so, you should read our job ad and apply online here: cuhk.taleo.net/careersectio...
Historians often try to explain why things happened, but this is an unusual case in which I tried to explain why something *didn’t* happen. Just published, ‘Untranslatable Law’ in Toma and Bara (edd.), ‘Latin Translations of Greek Texts from the 11th to the 13th Century’: brill.com/display/book...
February 10, 2025 at 6:04 AM
Historians often try to explain why things happened, but this is an unusual case in which I tried to explain why something *didn’t* happen. Just published, ‘Untranslatable Law’ in Toma and Bara (edd.), ‘Latin Translations of Greek Texts from the 11th to the 13th Century’: brill.com/display/book...
Wandering around the Met in New York, trying to fight off jet lag before the AHA begins tomorrow. I keep coming across artefacts, thinking ‘that looks familiar’, and then recognising them from images that I use in my lecture slides!
#AHA25
#AHA25
January 2, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Wandering around the Met in New York, trying to fight off jet lag before the AHA begins tomorrow. I keep coming across artefacts, thinking ‘that looks familiar’, and then recognising them from images that I use in my lecture slides!
#AHA25
#AHA25
Happy New Year! I am at Hong Kong International Airport, waiting for a 3:20am flight to New York so that I can attend the annual conference of the American Historical Association. I wouldn’t stay up this late for a party, so why am I doing it for work?!?
#AHA25
#AHA25
December 31, 2024 at 5:19 PM
Happy New Year! I am at Hong Kong International Airport, waiting for a 3:20am flight to New York so that I can attend the annual conference of the American Historical Association. I wouldn’t stay up this late for a party, so why am I doing it for work?!?
#AHA25
#AHA25
This was definitely the most memorable new headline this year
December 28, 2024 at 2:19 AM
This was definitely the most memorable new headline this year
Merry Christmas! God bless us, everyone!
December 25, 2024 at 3:09 AM
Merry Christmas! God bless us, everyone!
Is this a glimpse of the last #Byzantine emperor, Constantine XI Palaiologos (r. 1449-1453)? The Ephorate of Antiquities of Achaia discovered this fresco in a church near Aigio, possibly the only portrait of Constantine made during his lifetime: greekcitytimes.com/2024/12/13/p...
#medievalsky
#medievalsky
December 13, 2024 at 3:56 AM
Is this a glimpse of the last #Byzantine emperor, Constantine XI Palaiologos (r. 1449-1453)? The Ephorate of Antiquities of Achaia discovered this fresco in a church near Aigio, possibly the only portrait of Constantine made during his lifetime: greekcitytimes.com/2024/12/13/p...
#medievalsky
#medievalsky
I’m marking hand-written exams for the first time in years. It’s fascinating to see how many students were all drawn to one or two topics on the essay question (they had a choice of six). More fascinating still, one essay topic was so unpopular that literally nobody (out of a class of 30) chose it!
December 11, 2024 at 8:22 AM
I’m marking hand-written exams for the first time in years. It’s fascinating to see how many students were all drawn to one or two topics on the essay question (they had a choice of six). More fascinating still, one essay topic was so unpopular that literally nobody (out of a class of 30) chose it!
My best friend made it into the Financial Times!
Thank you @financialtimes.com for including some old favourites in this list of Venetian eateries and bars. Sharing link below.
on.ft.com/41o2kXW
on.ft.com/41o2kXW
FT readers: your favourite off-the-beaten-track eateries and bars in Venice
Top tips on authentic places to dine and drink in La Serenissima
on.ft.com
December 9, 2024 at 3:02 PM
My best friend made it into the Financial Times!
On my way to invigilate my first ever in-person university exam today. I used to just give take-home final papers. However, thanks to the modern technological progress of #AI, they get to experience course assessment the same way I did when I was a student!
December 9, 2024 at 12:54 AM
On my way to invigilate my first ever in-person university exam today. I used to just give take-home final papers. However, thanks to the modern technological progress of #AI, they get to experience course assessment the same way I did when I was a student!
Reposted by James Morton
Welcome back Principality of Antioch
December 8, 2024 at 3:47 AM
Welcome back Principality of Antioch
Amazing developments in #Syria. When I woke up and read the news this morning, I thought it might all be over for Assad in a day or two. Turns out that it was more like an hour or two!
It’s a useful reminder that historical change comes gradually at first… and then very suddenly.
It’s a useful reminder that historical change comes gradually at first… and then very suddenly.
Syrian rebel forces have officially declared the capture of Damascus and victory in Syria.
HTS's Administration for Military Operations in a statement moments ago: "We announce today, 12-8-2024, the end of this dark era and the beginning of a new era for Syria"
HTS's Administration for Military Operations in a statement moments ago: "We announce today, 12-8-2024, the end of this dark era and the beginning of a new era for Syria"
December 8, 2024 at 3:39 AM
Amazing developments in #Syria. When I woke up and read the news this morning, I thought it might all be over for Assad in a day or two. Turns out that it was more like an hour or two!
It’s a useful reminder that historical change comes gradually at first… and then very suddenly.
It’s a useful reminder that historical change comes gradually at first… and then very suddenly.
The Biden administration doing what it can to lose any remaining good will it still has in its last days.
The U.S. should have condemned the act for what it was - an illegal attempt to impose authoritarian rule and eradicate opposition. For an admin that advocates liberal democracy as a rallying call for friends and allies, the Biden admin seems to be willing to make a lot of exceptions for “friends”.
New Blinken statement just now:
"We welcome President Yoon’s statement that he would rescind the order declaring emergency martial law in accordance with the ROK Constitution, after the National Assembly’s unanimous vote to reject the declaration."
"We welcome President Yoon’s statement that he would rescind the order declaring emergency martial law in accordance with the ROK Constitution, after the National Assembly’s unanimous vote to reject the declaration."
December 4, 2024 at 9:10 AM
The Biden administration doing what it can to lose any remaining good will it still has in its last days.
I’m obviously not South Korean or very knowledgeable about South Korea, but I don’t find it reassuring that the attempt to impose martial law ended the way it did. Yes, lawmakers were able to overturn it with a vote, but they had to break into the National Assembly building first! #SouthKorea
December 4, 2024 at 2:22 AM
I’m obviously not South Korean or very knowledgeable about South Korea, but I don’t find it reassuring that the attempt to impose martial law ended the way it did. Yes, lawmakers were able to overturn it with a vote, but they had to break into the National Assembly building first! #SouthKorea
In my #Byzantine History class yesterday, we discussed how the Ottoman Mehmed II took the title ‘Kayser-i Rum’ (1453) and Ivan IV of Moscow became ‘Tsar’ (1457). Made me wonder: how many ‘Roman Empires’ have there been in history?
Original
Western
Eastern/Byzantine
HRE
Ottomans
Russia
… any others?
Original
Western
Eastern/Byzantine
HRE
Ottomans
Russia
… any others?
December 3, 2024 at 4:17 AM
In my #Byzantine History class yesterday, we discussed how the Ottoman Mehmed II took the title ‘Kayser-i Rum’ (1453) and Ivan IV of Moscow became ‘Tsar’ (1457). Made me wonder: how many ‘Roman Empires’ have there been in history?
Original
Western
Eastern/Byzantine
HRE
Ottomans
Russia
… any others?
Original
Western
Eastern/Byzantine
HRE
Ottomans
Russia
… any others?
I’m lecturing on the 14th century this week, which means I get to show off the #Scottish Declaration of Arbroath (1320)!
‘It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.’
#medievalsky
‘It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.’
#medievalsky
December 1, 2024 at 7:43 AM
I’m lecturing on the 14th century this week, which means I get to show off the #Scottish Declaration of Arbroath (1320)!
‘It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.’
#medievalsky
‘It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.’
#medievalsky
A couple of days ago, I shared an image of a 14th-century Italian classroom. In the interests of balance, here is a 12th-century #Byzantine classroom. Two ‘philosophers’ sit at the front and address a group of students in this folio from the Madrid Skylitzes.
#medievalsky
#medievalsky
November 29, 2024 at 9:12 AM
A couple of days ago, I shared an image of a 14th-century Italian classroom. In the interests of balance, here is a 12th-century #Byzantine classroom. Two ‘philosophers’ sit at the front and address a group of students in this folio from the Madrid Skylitzes.
#medievalsky
#medievalsky
‘Embrace technology’ - easy words to throw out in a webinar, policy memo, or (in this case) a THE op-ed. Not so easy to define what this actually means for us in practice, though. Should we ‘embrace’ students using AI to cheat on homework? Fewer platitudes and more specifics, please.
Opinion: Liberal arts have nothing to fear – as long as they embrace technology
We can no longer deem as educated a student who knows nothing about statistics, data analytics or computing, says Daniel Diermeier
#AcademicSky #Highered
We can no longer deem as educated a student who knows nothing about statistics, data analytics or computing, says Daniel Diermeier
#AcademicSky #Highered
Liberal arts have nothing to fear – as long as they embrace technology
We can no longer deem as educated a student who knows nothing about statistics, data analytics or computing, says Daniel Diermeier
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 28, 2024 at 10:30 AM
‘Embrace technology’ - easy words to throw out in a webinar, policy memo, or (in this case) a THE op-ed. Not so easy to define what this actually means for us in practice, though. Should we ‘embrace’ students using AI to cheat on homework? Fewer platitudes and more specifics, please.
This is about onions, but I have the same complaint about recipe cooking times in general. Why is it that it takes me an hour to cook something that is supposed to take 30 minutes? Am I just a slow cook? Is the recipe optimistically assuming a best-case scenario? Or is it just lying?
November 28, 2024 at 5:44 AM
This is about onions, but I have the same complaint about recipe cooking times in general. Why is it that it takes me an hour to cook something that is supposed to take 30 minutes? Am I just a slow cook? Is the recipe optimistically assuming a best-case scenario? Or is it just lying?
The intersection of science and religion? This 14th-century #Byzantine monk is using an astrolabe to take astronomical readings while a scribe jots down the results. Natural science is an underappreciated aspect of the 'Palaiologan Renaissance' of late #Byzantium.
#medievalsky
#medievalsky
November 26, 2024 at 5:20 AM
The intersection of science and religion? This 14th-century #Byzantine monk is using an astrolabe to take astronomical readings while a scribe jots down the results. Natural science is an underappreciated aspect of the 'Palaiologan Renaissance' of late #Byzantium.
#medievalsky
#medievalsky
Replace the books with computers, and it isn't so different from a modern lecture! This C14 carving from Verona shows the physician Antonio Pelacani (d. 1327) lecturing to students in a medieval classroom. I'll be doing something similar when I show it to my own students tomorrow...
#medievalsky
#medievalsky
November 25, 2024 at 5:13 AM
Replace the books with computers, and it isn't so different from a modern lecture! This C14 carving from Verona shows the physician Antonio Pelacani (d. 1327) lecturing to students in a medieval classroom. I'll be doing something similar when I show it to my own students tomorrow...
#medievalsky
#medievalsky
I was lucky to be able to present some of my research on Byzantine legal manuscripts at a conference in Taiwan recently (‘lucky’ in a very literal sense - there was a super typhoon the day before!). Here are some of my favourite highlights from the manuscripts that I discussed!
#ByzantineLaw
#ByzantineLaw
November 22, 2024 at 5:40 AM
I was lucky to be able to present some of my research on Byzantine legal manuscripts at a conference in Taiwan recently (‘lucky’ in a very literal sense - there was a super typhoon the day before!). Here are some of my favourite highlights from the manuscripts that I discussed!
#ByzantineLaw
#ByzantineLaw
This is wrong for the following reasons:
1. McClane wouldn’t even be there if it wasn’t Christmas.
2. It’s the Christmas party that allows Hans Gruber to take over the building.
3. Killing terrorists helps McClane rediscover the true meaning of Christmas: it’s all about family.
1. McClane wouldn’t even be there if it wasn’t Christmas.
2. It’s the Christmas party that allows Hans Gruber to take over the building.
3. Killing terrorists helps McClane rediscover the true meaning of Christmas: it’s all about family.
Here is a test for the civility on BlueSky:
A movie cannot be a Christmas movie unless Christmas plays a central mechanism in the transition of the narrative from A to B.
So Die Hard is clearly NOT a Christmas movie because Christmas changes nothing in the story.
A movie cannot be a Christmas movie unless Christmas plays a central mechanism in the transition of the narrative from A to B.
So Die Hard is clearly NOT a Christmas movie because Christmas changes nothing in the story.
November 21, 2024 at 7:30 AM
This is wrong for the following reasons:
1. McClane wouldn’t even be there if it wasn’t Christmas.
2. It’s the Christmas party that allows Hans Gruber to take over the building.
3. Killing terrorists helps McClane rediscover the true meaning of Christmas: it’s all about family.
1. McClane wouldn’t even be there if it wasn’t Christmas.
2. It’s the Christmas party that allows Hans Gruber to take over the building.
3. Killing terrorists helps McClane rediscover the true meaning of Christmas: it’s all about family.
Pleased to see that I’ve been able to rebuild so much of my old Twitter network so quickly here! I do wonder, though, how to people make the time to read and write posts across so many different platforms?
November 21, 2024 at 4:49 AM
Pleased to see that I’ve been able to rebuild so much of my old Twitter network so quickly here! I do wonder, though, how to people make the time to read and write posts across so many different platforms?