Mark Williams
@mrfw17thc.bsky.social
Reader in Early Modern History. Currently writing a cultural history of the English East India Company. He/Him. Immigrant. Academic. Father.
All opinions my own.
All opinions my own.
Pinned
Mark Williams
@mrfw17thc.bsky.social
· May 7
Validate User
academic.oup.com
New article!
'Seeing Women in the Early English and Dutch East India Companies' is now available as an Advance Article with Historical Research.
It's been years of work, but I'm proud of this one. I hope #earlymodern #skystorians enjoy it!
Some context below:
academic.oup.com/histres/adva...
'Seeing Women in the Early English and Dutch East India Companies' is now available as an Advance Article with Historical Research.
It's been years of work, but I'm proud of this one. I hope #earlymodern #skystorians enjoy it!
Some context below:
academic.oup.com/histres/adva...
Reposted by Mark Williams
Jesus Christ, I just saw that Trump even ordered the bombing of the dead body of Hugo Chavez in his mausoleum.
You may recall that Trump subscribes to the insane conspiracy theory that Chavez rigged the 2020 presidential election from the grave.
That’s how deranged all this is.
You may recall that Trump subscribes to the insane conspiracy theory that Chavez rigged the 2020 presidential election from the grave.
That’s how deranged all this is.
January 3, 2026 at 2:18 PM
Jesus Christ, I just saw that Trump even ordered the bombing of the dead body of Hugo Chavez in his mausoleum.
You may recall that Trump subscribes to the insane conspiracy theory that Chavez rigged the 2020 presidential election from the grave.
That’s how deranged all this is.
You may recall that Trump subscribes to the insane conspiracy theory that Chavez rigged the 2020 presidential election from the grave.
That’s how deranged all this is.
Reposted by Mark Williams
Something to share with the young / not online here folks in your life who think "AI" overviews are anything other than radioactive waste.
Fund human educators! Press your elected reps! That people would ever click on an overview rather than visit websites is a symptom of info illiteracy.
Fund human educators! Press your elected reps! That people would ever click on an overview rather than visit websites is a symptom of info illiteracy.
Google AI Overviews put people at risk of harm with misleading health advice
Exclusive: Inaccurate information presented in summaries, Guardian investigation finds
www.theguardian.com
January 3, 2026 at 7:06 AM
Something to share with the young / not online here folks in your life who think "AI" overviews are anything other than radioactive waste.
Fund human educators! Press your elected reps! That people would ever click on an overview rather than visit websites is a symptom of info illiteracy.
Fund human educators! Press your elected reps! That people would ever click on an overview rather than visit websites is a symptom of info illiteracy.
Reposted by Mark Williams
Kibble? Slurry? Digi-mass?
How about “ecocidal twaddle Microsoft has bet on heavily“?
How about “ecocidal twaddle Microsoft has bet on heavily“?
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says people should move beyond calling AI 'slop'
"We need to get beyond the arguments of slop vs sophistication and develop a new equilibrium ... that accounts for humans being equipped with these new cognitive amplifier tools as we relate to each other"
"We need to get beyond the arguments of slop vs sophistication and develop a new equilibrium ... that accounts for humans being equipped with these new cognitive amplifier tools as we relate to each other"
January 3, 2026 at 9:55 AM
Kibble? Slurry? Digi-mass?
How about “ecocidal twaddle Microsoft has bet on heavily“?
How about “ecocidal twaddle Microsoft has bet on heavily“?
Reposted by Mark Williams
Trunp says Maduro has been captured and flown out of the country.
January 3, 2026 at 9:27 AM
Trunp says Maduro has been captured and flown out of the country.
Reposted by Mark Williams
Ondertussen in Amsterdam
January 3, 2026 at 9:09 AM
Ondertussen in Amsterdam
Reposted by Mark Williams
/“It’s a horrible, horrible waste,” said Wilson, the director of campaign group Oilfield Witness, pointing to Grok-generated images of Nazi Mickey Mouse as an example of what fossil gas was being burned to produce. “What useful purpose does this serve?”' 1/2
‘Just an unbelievable amount of pollution’: how big a threat is AI to the climate?
Defenders say AI can do good to fight the climate crisis. But spiralling energy and water costs leave experts worried
www.theguardian.com
January 3, 2026 at 8:57 AM
/“It’s a horrible, horrible waste,” said Wilson, the director of campaign group Oilfield Witness, pointing to Grok-generated images of Nazi Mickey Mouse as an example of what fossil gas was being burned to produce. “What useful purpose does this serve?”' 1/2
Reposted by Mark Williams
FIFA peace prize winner Donald Trump may bomb 3 or 4 countries this week: Nigeria for Christmas, Venezuela now, Syria, considering Iran, Somalia
www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...
www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...
The President’s Busy Holiday
Donald Trump spent the past few weeks doubling down on foreign interventions.
www.theatlantic.com
January 3, 2026 at 7:20 AM
FIFA peace prize winner Donald Trump may bomb 3 or 4 countries this week: Nigeria for Christmas, Venezuela now, Syria, considering Iran, Somalia
www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...
www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...
Reposted by Mark Williams
But none of us are in heaven yet.
January 3, 2026 at 7:47 AM
But none of us are in heaven yet.
Reposted by Mark Williams
BREAKING: The United States appears to have begun bombing Venezuela. Massive airstrikes are underway. War is here.
January 3, 2026 at 7:22 AM
BREAKING: The United States appears to have begun bombing Venezuela. Massive airstrikes are underway. War is here.
Reposted by Mark Williams
Onlangs verscheen het nieuwe nummer van het Engelstalige multidisciplinaire Open Access tijdschrift Early Modern Low Countries (EMLC). De tweede aflevering van deze negende jaargang is nu voor iedereen online te lezen: www.mdnl.nl?p=19262
December 26, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Onlangs verscheen het nieuwe nummer van het Engelstalige multidisciplinaire Open Access tijdschrift Early Modern Low Countries (EMLC). De tweede aflevering van deze negende jaargang is nu voor iedereen online te lezen: www.mdnl.nl?p=19262
Reposted by Mark Williams
Nigel Farage & compliant right wing media are directly responsible for this surge in crime.
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
Racial and religious hate crime on UK public transport is growing, data shows
Anti-racism groups warn some people are avoiding public transport or limiting their use of it for fear of abuse
www.theguardian.com
January 2, 2026 at 8:21 AM
Nigel Farage & compliant right wing media are directly responsible for this surge in crime.
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
Reposted by Mark Williams
De Montfort, Sheffield, Ulster, Bournemouth, Birkbeck, University of West of Scotland and Edge Hill all on the list. International student number decreases and redundancy payments cited as causes.
Foreign student downturn pushes more universities into deficit
The number of UK universities reporting financial shortfalls for the past academic year continues to climb as some pay out millions in redundancy costs
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 2, 2026 at 10:56 AM
De Montfort, Sheffield, Ulster, Bournemouth, Birkbeck, University of West of Scotland and Edge Hill all on the list. International student number decreases and redundancy payments cited as causes.
Reposted by Mark Williams
I agree this is very much worth a read if you want to understand why this government has made such a mess of its first 18 months -if this is the caliber of thinking/analysis in No 10. Just deeply confused, paranoid word salad. (1/2).
Very much worth a read.
The Blob, the Groups and now The Stakeholder state
Alaa Abd el-Fattah has shown supremacy of the Stakeholder State
www.thetimes.com/article/3720...
Alaa Abd el-Fattah has shown supremacy of the Stakeholder State
www.thetimes.com/article/3720...
January 1, 2026 at 11:04 PM
I agree this is very much worth a read if you want to understand why this government has made such a mess of its first 18 months -if this is the caliber of thinking/analysis in No 10. Just deeply confused, paranoid word salad. (1/2).
Reposted by Mark Williams
"Too often we've presented the perspective of people who know what the fuck we're talking about. Well now it's all about irrational idiots who can fear monger."
Bari Weiss's CBS Evening News replaced John Dickerson, whose investigation "Excited Delirium" into the murder of Elijah McClain was nominated for an Emmy, with Tony Dokoupil -- whose claim to fame is calling Ta-Nehisi Coates an "extremist" on national television.
January 2, 2026 at 9:29 AM
"Too often we've presented the perspective of people who know what the fuck we're talking about. Well now it's all about irrational idiots who can fear monger."
And people wonder why most historians are now so quick to warn against writing histories populated by 'geniuses'.
January 2, 2026 at 7:51 AM
And people wonder why most historians are now so quick to warn against writing histories populated by 'geniuses'.
Reposted by Mark Williams
This is just such a damned disgrace. A crime against knowledge and humanity itself.
January 1, 2026 at 5:38 AM
This is just such a damned disgrace. A crime against knowledge and humanity itself.
Reposted by Mark Williams
Uit historisch onderzoek van het KNMI is gebleken dat het laatste kwart van de 16e eeuw waarschijnlijk het koudste was in de afgelopen 1000 jaar. Dit is gebaseerd op meerdere bronnen, zoals dagboeken, stadsrekeningen en jaarringen van bomen. Deze periode is het dieptepunt van de Kleine IJstijd. 1/2
January 2, 2026 at 7:08 AM
Uit historisch onderzoek van het KNMI is gebleken dat het laatste kwart van de 16e eeuw waarschijnlijk het koudste was in de afgelopen 1000 jaar. Dit is gebaseerd op meerdere bronnen, zoals dagboeken, stadsrekeningen en jaarringen van bomen. Deze periode is het dieptepunt van de Kleine IJstijd. 1/2
Reposted by Mark Williams
Reposted by Mark Williams
Anytime some yahoo says, “all serious historians agree…” I want to say:
1. What is a “serious” historian?
2. Have you ever actually been in a room with more than one historian? We can’t even agree with how long the 19th century was.
1. What is a “serious” historian?
2. Have you ever actually been in a room with more than one historian? We can’t even agree with how long the 19th century was.
January 1, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Anytime some yahoo says, “all serious historians agree…” I want to say:
1. What is a “serious” historian?
2. Have you ever actually been in a room with more than one historian? We can’t even agree with how long the 19th century was.
1. What is a “serious” historian?
2. Have you ever actually been in a room with more than one historian? We can’t even agree with how long the 19th century was.
Reposted by Mark Williams
Again, the man who’s next in line for the presidency after this walking corpse has said he’s deeply influenced by this outright Nazi, so maybe we could get a little more attention on that?
Curtis Yarvin, JD Vance’s friend & ideological influence, ended 2025 by claiming “only Hitler spoke the truth” about “too many subjects” & “Hitler was a genius.”
Extremism isn’t fringe on the right. Once marginal online extremists like Yarvin are influential at the highest levels of government.
Extremism isn’t fringe on the right. Once marginal online extremists like Yarvin are influential at the highest levels of government.
January 1, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Again, the man who’s next in line for the presidency after this walking corpse has said he’s deeply influenced by this outright Nazi, so maybe we could get a little more attention on that?
Netherlands joins the 'Universities Shooting Themselves In the Foot to Placate Populists' Club.
Utrecht University abolishes its English language bachelor's program in economics and replaces it with a Dutch one.
They told staff (~30% international) the week before Christmas. Layoffs seem likely now. Unwarranted lobotomy is the only word I can find for it...
dub.uu.nl/en/news/econ...
They told staff (~30% international) the week before Christmas. Layoffs seem likely now. Unwarranted lobotomy is the only word I can find for it...
dub.uu.nl/en/news/econ...
Economics programme in shock after sudden cancellation of English-taught track
The Bachelor's programme in Economics & Business Economics will only be offered in Dutch from 2029 onwards, the Executive Board announced on Tuesday. The news came as a complete surprise to the econom...
dub.uu.nl
January 1, 2026 at 5:32 PM
Netherlands joins the 'Universities Shooting Themselves In the Foot to Placate Populists' Club.
Reposted by Mark Williams
Our last issue of 2025, #29.5-6, is available online! This special issue is entitled "Environment and Empire in the Early Modern World."
It begins with an introduction by Pratyay Nath: "Environment, Empire, & Early Modernity: Histories of Co-Constitution." brill.com/view/journal...
It begins with an introduction by Pratyay Nath: "Environment, Empire, & Early Modernity: Histories of Co-Constitution." brill.com/view/journal...
brill.com
December 31, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Our last issue of 2025, #29.5-6, is available online! This special issue is entitled "Environment and Empire in the Early Modern World."
It begins with an introduction by Pratyay Nath: "Environment, Empire, & Early Modernity: Histories of Co-Constitution." brill.com/view/journal...
It begins with an introduction by Pratyay Nath: "Environment, Empire, & Early Modernity: Histories of Co-Constitution." brill.com/view/journal...
Reposted by Mark Williams
I invented a new phone to help save time in the morning
April 19, 2025 at 1:45 PM
I invented a new phone to help save time in the morning
Reposted by Mark Williams
Part of the problem with assessment in History is that it appears to emphasise synthesis outcomes over process. This opens doors for AI (ab)use.
For years now, I've framed assessment where I can around showing process through reflective writing around not just what was produced, but how and why.
For years now, I've framed assessment where I can around showing process through reflective writing around not just what was produced, but how and why.
Other subjects are in a tougher spot. For e.g. history gen-ed classes, where you're mostly testing if people have done the reading, they case for exams over term papers is a lot stronger now.
[humanists, please correct me if I'm talking out of my ass]
[humanists, please correct me if I'm talking out of my ass]
December 31, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Part of the problem with assessment in History is that it appears to emphasise synthesis outcomes over process. This opens doors for AI (ab)use.
For years now, I've framed assessment where I can around showing process through reflective writing around not just what was produced, but how and why.
For years now, I've framed assessment where I can around showing process through reflective writing around not just what was produced, but how and why.
Reposted by Mark Williams
Lots being said - quite rightly - about this. But two things more:
- The desire to create a sort of 'final act' of an academic career by throwing in with reactionaries is neither sympathetic nor dignified.
- Adapting to the state of the field is part of the job, not a burden.
- The desire to create a sort of 'final act' of an academic career by throwing in with reactionaries is neither sympathetic nor dignified.
- Adapting to the state of the field is part of the job, not a burden.
The reason this Harvard history professor decided he was done with one of the best and most privileged jobs in the world was, in his own words, because he was forced to lecture in a mask during peak Covid.
I’m not making this up.
I’m not making this up.
December 31, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Lots being said - quite rightly - about this. But two things more:
- The desire to create a sort of 'final act' of an academic career by throwing in with reactionaries is neither sympathetic nor dignified.
- Adapting to the state of the field is part of the job, not a burden.
- The desire to create a sort of 'final act' of an academic career by throwing in with reactionaries is neither sympathetic nor dignified.
- Adapting to the state of the field is part of the job, not a burden.