Nicholas Scott Baker
@renhistorian.bsky.social
Historian of Renaissance Italy and other things; latest book: In Fortune's Theater: Financial Risk and the Future in Renaissance Italy; Australian football tragic.
Pinned
Like many others, it seems, you can no longer find me or my work on Academia.edu. You can still find my stuff on Hcommons, or as always just email or DM me if you don't have institutional access to an article or chapter I have published and I'll send you a PDF.
Reposted by Nicholas Scott Baker
My latest article came out today in Issue 4 of the New American Antiquarian.
naajournal.org/issues/
naajournal.org/issues/
Issues
naajournal.org
December 29, 2025 at 9:42 PM
My latest article came out today in Issue 4 of the New American Antiquarian.
naajournal.org/issues/
naajournal.org/issues/
My mum used to buy books to give me as birthday or Xmas presents and read them first. I know this because she took delight in telling me -- very proud of her ability to read a book without leaving a trace!
Mum has started giving me back books I gave her for her birthday as Xmas presents, obviously with no recollection that I gave them to her first. I'd never get her anything she wouldn't like but I do now mainly get things we'll both enjoy seeing as I'm getting them back anyway.
January 2, 2026 at 10:46 PM
My mum used to buy books to give me as birthday or Xmas presents and read them first. I know this because she took delight in telling me -- very proud of her ability to read a book without leaving a trace!
Thread: after all the infantile trash talk yesterday, read this considered and articulate take on the state of Renaissance studies and how it contextualizes this particular retirement.
The politics here are reprehensible but also really sad. He was a great scholar once. He had philological skills that no one has anymore. There are very few people who could produce that kind of work today. And to some extent, that's what this is about. He's mad that our field lost its former status
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.
January 1, 2026 at 1:16 AM
Thread: after all the infantile trash talk yesterday, read this considered and articulate take on the state of Renaissance studies and how it contextualizes this particular retirement.
Ah yes, Sauron, whose defenses proved quite permeable and who was fooled by his own blind spots.
Someone didn't do the reading…
Someone didn't do the reading…
Sauron is appearing on the scene as concerns rise about crime among the most wealthy.
Sauron, the high-end home security startup for "super premium" customers, plucks a new CEO out of Sonos | TechCrunch
Sauron is appearing on the scene as concerns rise about crime among the most wealthy.
techcrunch.com
December 29, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Ah yes, Sauron, whose defenses proved quite permeable and who was fooled by his own blind spots.
Someone didn't do the reading…
Someone didn't do the reading…
If I'm honest, I became a historian of Italy because of the food.
"In short: Italian cuisine did not migrate. It was invented abroad by people who had finally found something to eat – a truth that fits awkwardly with Unesco’s love of millennium-old continuity."
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
"In short: Italian cuisine did not migrate. It was invented abroad by people who had finally found something to eat – a truth that fits awkwardly with Unesco’s love of millennium-old continuity."
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The myth of traditional Italian cuisine has seduced the world. The truth is very different | Alberto Grandi
The comforting tourist-brochure idea of what Italian food looks like obscures a story shaped by hunger, migration and innovation, says Alberto Grandi, author and professor of food history
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 11:51 PM
If I'm honest, I became a historian of Italy because of the food.
"In short: Italian cuisine did not migrate. It was invented abroad by people who had finally found something to eat – a truth that fits awkwardly with Unesco’s love of millennium-old continuity."
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
"In short: Italian cuisine did not migrate. It was invented abroad by people who had finally found something to eat – a truth that fits awkwardly with Unesco’s love of millennium-old continuity."
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Nicholas Scott Baker
What does Gen AI mean for the work of the historian and the value of historical experience, skills and craft?
'The Historian in the Age of AI' by @chriscampbell1.bsky.social.
New Comment article now available in 'Transactions of the Royal Historical Society' bit.ly/4atErTB #Skystorians 1/2
'The Historian in the Age of AI' by @chriscampbell1.bsky.social.
New Comment article now available in 'Transactions of the Royal Historical Society' bit.ly/4atErTB #Skystorians 1/2
December 11, 2025 at 2:08 PM
What does Gen AI mean for the work of the historian and the value of historical experience, skills and craft?
'The Historian in the Age of AI' by @chriscampbell1.bsky.social.
New Comment article now available in 'Transactions of the Royal Historical Society' bit.ly/4atErTB #Skystorians 1/2
'The Historian in the Age of AI' by @chriscampbell1.bsky.social.
New Comment article now available in 'Transactions of the Royal Historical Society' bit.ly/4atErTB #Skystorians 1/2
Reposted by Nicholas Scott Baker
Who built the seven gates of Thebes?
The books are filled with names of kings.
Was it the kings who hauled the craggy blocks of stone?
And Babylon, so many times destroyed.
Who built the city up each time?
Oh so it actually was the kings? Cool, question answered, thanks.
The books are filled with names of kings.
Was it the kings who hauled the craggy blocks of stone?
And Babylon, so many times destroyed.
Who built the city up each time?
Oh so it actually was the kings? Cool, question answered, thanks.
December 11, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Who built the seven gates of Thebes?
The books are filled with names of kings.
Was it the kings who hauled the craggy blocks of stone?
And Babylon, so many times destroyed.
Who built the city up each time?
Oh so it actually was the kings? Cool, question answered, thanks.
The books are filled with names of kings.
Was it the kings who hauled the craggy blocks of stone?
And Babylon, so many times destroyed.
Who built the city up each time?
Oh so it actually was the kings? Cool, question answered, thanks.
Movie you've watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Stars (either War or Trek), LOTR, or Marvel…
December 10, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Movie you've watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Stars (either War or Trek), LOTR, or Marvel…
Reposted by Nicholas Scott Baker
Time again for my favorite christmas post ever, one that still makes me laugh every time i read it
December 23, 2024 at 7:30 PM
Time again for my favorite christmas post ever, one that still makes me laugh every time i read it
Reposted by Nicholas Scott Baker
Our longest yearly book list ever! Thirty six books by contingent historians for you to read, gift, and request for purchase at your library!
2025 Contingent Book List
When you’re shopping for books this season, consider a contingent scholar.
contingentmagazine.org
December 2, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Our longest yearly book list ever! Thirty six books by contingent historians for you to read, gift, and request for purchase at your library!
Reposted by Nicholas Scott Baker
We are delighted to announce that the preliminary program for our 2026 Annual Meeting is available to view and registration is open. We hope you will join us February 19–21, 2026, at our 72nd Annual Meeting in San Francisco, California. www.rsa.org/news/715597/... #RenTwitter #earlymodern #RenSA26
December 2, 2025 at 4:03 PM
We are delighted to announce that the preliminary program for our 2026 Annual Meeting is available to view and registration is open. We hope you will join us February 19–21, 2026, at our 72nd Annual Meeting in San Francisco, California. www.rsa.org/news/715597/... #RenTwitter #earlymodern #RenSA26
Small victories. Today saw students briefing the class on their final research un-essay projects. One student observed: "every challenge I had could be solved by research."
Now that's a satisfying teaching moment.
Now that's a satisfying teaching moment.
December 1, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Small victories. Today saw students briefing the class on their final research un-essay projects. One student observed: "every challenge I had could be solved by research."
Now that's a satisfying teaching moment.
Now that's a satisfying teaching moment.
Hell yeah!
Dragonlance: Chronicles
If you were a despotic president, what movie would you force Hollywood to make? I want to see Quentin's Star Trek movie or maybe Kill Bill Vol 3.
November 25, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Hell yeah!
You’ve been kidnapped. The characters from the last TV show you watched are trying to rescue you. Who’s coming to save you?
Hmm, either of them could probably get it done to be honest, but it wouldn't be pretty.
Hmm, either of them could probably get it done to be honest, but it wouldn't be pretty.
November 25, 2025 at 2:58 PM
You’ve been kidnapped. The characters from the last TV show you watched are trying to rescue you. Who’s coming to save you?
Hmm, either of them could probably get it done to be honest, but it wouldn't be pretty.
Hmm, either of them could probably get it done to be honest, but it wouldn't be pretty.
Reposted by Nicholas Scott Baker
To “my students and to anyone who might listen, I say: Don’t surrender to AI your ability to read, write and think when others once risked their lives and died for the freedom to do so.”
www.huffpost.com/entry/histor...
www.huffpost.com/entry/histor...
I Set A Trap To Catch My Students Cheating With AI. The Results Were Shocking.
"Students are not just undermining their ability to learn, but to someday lead."
www.huffpost.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:22 AM
To “my students and to anyone who might listen, I say: Don’t surrender to AI your ability to read, write and think when others once risked their lives and died for the freedom to do so.”
www.huffpost.com/entry/histor...
www.huffpost.com/entry/histor...
Reposted by Nicholas Scott Baker
There are only three Star Wars films
November 9, 2025 at 3:55 PM
There are only three Star Wars films
Reposted by Nicholas Scott Baker
Did you miss our beginners' webinar last week? The complete recording of our step-by-step introduction to Transkribus is now available on YouTube 👇
Transkribus Webinar for Beginners (English)
Transkribus is the most popular tools for automatic text recognition of historical documents.
By watching this webinar recording, you will learn how to upload documents to Transkribus, perform…
youtu.be
November 3, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Did you miss our beginners' webinar last week? The complete recording of our step-by-step introduction to Transkribus is now available on YouTube 👇
Reposted by Nicholas Scott Baker
I'm very pleased to have all three versions of my book now out.
#reformationinthelowcountries
#reformationinthelowcountries
November 4, 2025 at 4:18 PM
I'm very pleased to have all three versions of my book now out.
#reformationinthelowcountries
#reformationinthelowcountries
Reposted by Nicholas Scott Baker
Just published from ARC Humanities Press: Trust and Mistrust in Premodern Europe and the Mediterranean.
Contributions range from 13th c. Tunis to my own contribution on "Trust and Time in Sixteenth-Century Italian Mediterranean Commerce," and include two great conceptual essays by the editors.
Contributions range from 13th c. Tunis to my own contribution on "Trust and Time in Sixteenth-Century Italian Mediterranean Commerce," and include two great conceptual essays by the editors.
November 2, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Just published from ARC Humanities Press: Trust and Mistrust in Premodern Europe and the Mediterranean.
Contributions range from 13th c. Tunis to my own contribution on "Trust and Time in Sixteenth-Century Italian Mediterranean Commerce," and include two great conceptual essays by the editors.
Contributions range from 13th c. Tunis to my own contribution on "Trust and Time in Sixteenth-Century Italian Mediterranean Commerce," and include two great conceptual essays by the editors.
Just published from ARC Humanities Press: Trust and Mistrust in Premodern Europe and the Mediterranean.
Contributions range from 13th c. Tunis to my own contribution on "Trust and Time in Sixteenth-Century Italian Mediterranean Commerce," and include two great conceptual essays by the editors.
Contributions range from 13th c. Tunis to my own contribution on "Trust and Time in Sixteenth-Century Italian Mediterranean Commerce," and include two great conceptual essays by the editors.
November 2, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Just published from ARC Humanities Press: Trust and Mistrust in Premodern Europe and the Mediterranean.
Contributions range from 13th c. Tunis to my own contribution on "Trust and Time in Sixteenth-Century Italian Mediterranean Commerce," and include two great conceptual essays by the editors.
Contributions range from 13th c. Tunis to my own contribution on "Trust and Time in Sixteenth-Century Italian Mediterranean Commerce," and include two great conceptual essays by the editors.
Reposted by Nicholas Scott Baker
CfP: Small Worlds, Big Worlds: Medieval Mediterranean Perspectives, Ninth International Conference of the Society for the Medieval Mediterranean, Instituto de Estudos Medievais (IEM) – NOVA, FCSH, Lisbon, June 22–26, 2026 maryjahariscenter.org/blog/small-w...
Small Worlds, Big Worlds: Medieval Mediterranean Perspectives | Mary Jaharis Center
maryjahariscenter.org
October 28, 2025 at 8:38 PM
CfP: Small Worlds, Big Worlds: Medieval Mediterranean Perspectives, Ninth International Conference of the Society for the Medieval Mediterranean, Instituto de Estudos Medievais (IEM) – NOVA, FCSH, Lisbon, June 22–26, 2026 maryjahariscenter.org/blog/small-w...
Reposted by Nicholas Scott Baker
We are awarding FIVE tuition scholarships to RSA members who wish to attend the 2026 Digital Humanities Summer Institute on the campus of the Université de Montréal. Apply by November 19, 2025! www.rsa.org/news/712947/... #RenTwitter #earlymodern #scholarship #digitalhumanities
October 28, 2025 at 5:37 PM
We are awarding FIVE tuition scholarships to RSA members who wish to attend the 2026 Digital Humanities Summer Institute on the campus of the Université de Montréal. Apply by November 19, 2025! www.rsa.org/news/712947/... #RenTwitter #earlymodern #scholarship #digitalhumanities
Reposted by Nicholas Scott Baker
On Thursday, 30 Oct 2025, 5:30pm London time (1:30pm New York/6:30pm Brussels), Alex Lee (NYU London) will speak about ‘Disability and Community: Healing Miracles and the Bianchi of 1399’.
Free! Online-via Zoom & IHR Senate House, London
To register: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
Free! Online-via Zoom & IHR Senate House, London
To register: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
Italy 1200-1700
Seminar
www.history.ac.uk
October 27, 2025 at 9:41 AM
On Thursday, 30 Oct 2025, 5:30pm London time (1:30pm New York/6:30pm Brussels), Alex Lee (NYU London) will speak about ‘Disability and Community: Healing Miracles and the Bianchi of 1399’.
Free! Online-via Zoom & IHR Senate House, London
To register: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
Free! Online-via Zoom & IHR Senate House, London
To register: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
Reposted by Nicholas Scott Baker
Our jam-packed programme is ready to go! Keep reading for more ⬇️
October 13, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Our jam-packed programme is ready to go! Keep reading for more ⬇️
Reposted by Nicholas Scott Baker
Our summer 2025 volume has been published open access at doi.org/10.1553/medi...
October 23, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Our summer 2025 volume has been published open access at doi.org/10.1553/medi...