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soashistory.bsky.social
SOAS History and the SOAS History Blog
@soashistory.bsky.social
650 followers 71 following 68 posts
News and events from the History Department in the School of History, Religions and Philosophies @SOAS University of London www.soas.ac.uk and the SOAS History Blog blogs.soas.ac.uk/soashistoryblog/
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Reposted by SOAS History and the SOAS History Blog
eicathomefinn.bsky.social
'There is a phenomenon in artificial intelligence and deep learning called model collapse. Model collapse is the slow erosion of a generative AI system grounded in reality as it learns more and more from machine-generated data rather than from human-generated content.' 1/3
From model collapse to citation collapse: risks of over-reliance on AI in the academy
The way GenAI surfaces sources for literature reviews risks exacerbating the citation Matthew effect, writes David Joyner. Here, he offers ways to prevent AI-driven search from blunting the impact of ...
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 17, 2026 at 12:04 PM
soashistory.bsky.social
Alongside the exhibition, there will be a series of events, starting with a talk by Malavika Kasturi titled Contextualising Jahandar Shah and the 'Later' Mughals of Banaras.

Wed 21 Jan, 6.15pm, KLT. Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/contextual...
January 16, 2026 at 12:22 PM
Reposted by SOAS History and the SOAS History Blog
soasuni.bsky.social
📣SOAS Event 15 Jan 2026

Mughal Banaras - a new gallery exhibition exploring the diversity and forgotten history of the community in North India.

Find out more: bit.ly/4pvRfg1
January 12, 2026 at 11:53 AM
Reposted by SOAS History and the SOAS History Blog
soas-speccoll.bsky.social
Thrilled to unveil our first-ever digital exhibition on our brand‑new digital library — celebrating 50 years of the Swire Archive at SOAS. A milestone worth exploring! https://soas.quartexcollections.com/john-swire-sons-exhibition
January 15, 2026 at 12:40 PM
Reposted by SOAS History and the SOAS History Blog
zamarginalities.bsky.social
Just published: OA piece about #inclusion and #attainment in HE based on concrete practice at #SOAS by my fabulous colleagues @e-newbigin.bsky.social and Sarah Tucker:
December 18, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Reposted by SOAS History and the SOAS History Blog
historyworkshop.org.uk
It's that time of year again... the History Workshop team present our "Radical Reads" for 2025!

www.historyworkshop....

Image source: Openverse.
Two stacks of books and three open books in the centre. The books are not identifiable.
December 18, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Reposted by SOAS History and the SOAS History Blog
smidbob.bsky.social
I really enjoyed this article, both for the interesting discussion of course creation and especially the methodological focus on evaluative frameworks and building that into design. I've already shared it with 2 sets of colleagues this morning!
royalhistsoc.org Royal Historical Society @royalhistsoc.org · Dec 17
New today in Transactions: 'Teaching History Inclusively: A Pedagogical Case Study from an Institution Shaped by Empire' bit.ly/4pHzECD

Eleanor Newbigin and Sarah Tucker on the value of developing critical pedagogies in history for HE education @soashistory.bsky.social #Skystorians 1/2
Front page to the Transactions article: 'Teaching History Inclusively: A Pedagogical Case Study from an Institution Shaped by Empire'. Abstract in full: 'The Royal Historical Society’s June 2024 Update to the ‘Race Ethnicity & Equality in UK History: A Report and Resource for Change’ notes some important progress in terms of increased ethnic and racial diversity amongst history students and staff but acknowledges that more work is needed to both sustain and further advance these changes. In this Comment we argue that colleagues and the RHS should prioritise the development of critical pedagogies in history university education and evidence their impact on student outcomes. We share reflections on and data from our collaborative work between September 2021 and August 2024 developing an innovative module with the highly diverse history student cohort at SOAS, University of London, to help colleagues consider how they might undertake related projects in their own institutions.'
December 17, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Reposted by SOAS History and the SOAS History Blog
royalhistsoc.org
Eleanor and Sarah's new article is available free Open Access, as is all 'Transactions' content bit.ly/486BF5d

The journal's editors welcome submission of research articles and comment pieces, on historical practice and debate, from historians working within and outside education 2/2 #Skystorians
Front cover of 'Transactions of the Royal Historical Society', Seventh Series, Volume 3 (December 2025)
December 17, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Reposted by SOAS History and the SOAS History Blog
royalhistsoc.org
New today in Transactions: 'Teaching History Inclusively: A Pedagogical Case Study from an Institution Shaped by Empire' bit.ly/4pHzECD

Eleanor Newbigin and Sarah Tucker on the value of developing critical pedagogies in history for HE education @soashistory.bsky.social #Skystorians 1/2
Front page to the Transactions article: 'Teaching History Inclusively: A Pedagogical Case Study from an Institution Shaped by Empire'. Abstract in full: 'The Royal Historical Society’s June 2024 Update to the ‘Race Ethnicity & Equality in UK History: A Report and Resource for Change’ notes some important progress in terms of increased ethnic and racial diversity amongst history students and staff but acknowledges that more work is needed to both sustain and further advance these changes. In this Comment we argue that colleagues and the RHS should prioritise the development of critical pedagogies in history university education and evidence their impact on student outcomes. We share reflections on and data from our collaborative work between September 2021 and August 2024 developing an innovative module with the highly diverse history student cohort at SOAS, University of London, to help colleagues consider how they might undertake related projects in their own institutions.'
December 17, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Reposted by SOAS History and the SOAS History Blog
leverhulme.ac.uk
Can studying the past really prepare you for shaping public debate or navigating complex global issues? In this @soashistory.bsky.social podcast, Prof Phil Clark shares what history students can bring to the table. media.leverhulme.ac.uk/podcast/pcla...
Where history can take you: Professor Phil Clark’s journey from the classroom to international media
Where can a history degree take you? Can studying the past really prepare you for shaping public debate or navigating complex global issues? In this SOAS History Blog Podcast, Dr Ellan A. Lincoln-Hyde...
media.leverhulme.ac.uk
December 17, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Reposted by SOAS History and the SOAS History Blog
e-newbigin.bsky.social
Excited to end the year with the publication of this article about the critical pedagogies for history teaching at an institution like SOAS. I’m keen to know how this resonates with work on these issues in other contexts
@soashistory.bsky.social @soasuni.bsky.social
royalhistsoc.org Royal Historical Society @royalhistsoc.org · Dec 17
New today in Transactions: 'Teaching History Inclusively: A Pedagogical Case Study from an Institution Shaped by Empire' bit.ly/4pHzECD

Eleanor Newbigin and Sarah Tucker on the value of developing critical pedagogies in history for HE education @soashistory.bsky.social #Skystorians 1/2
Front page to the Transactions article: 'Teaching History Inclusively: A Pedagogical Case Study from an Institution Shaped by Empire'. Abstract in full: 'The Royal Historical Society’s June 2024 Update to the ‘Race Ethnicity & Equality in UK History: A Report and Resource for Change’ notes some important progress in terms of increased ethnic and racial diversity amongst history students and staff but acknowledges that more work is needed to both sustain and further advance these changes. In this Comment we argue that colleagues and the RHS should prioritise the development of critical pedagogies in history university education and evidence their impact on student outcomes. We share reflections on and data from our collaborative work between September 2021 and August 2024 developing an innovative module with the highly diverse history student cohort at SOAS, University of London, to help colleagues consider how they might undertake related projects in their own institutions.'
December 17, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Reposted by SOAS History and the SOAS History Blog
alanlester.bsky.social
In 1865 the undersecretary for the colonies admitted that British colonial governments were “obstructing rather than promoting commerce” as the solution to slave-trading in Africa. Why? Because they were intent on backing a white men’s monopoly.

alanlester.co.uk/blog/antisla...
Antislavery and the Original ‘Scramble for Africa’, 1807-1879
Keynote Lecture for 140 Years Beyond the Berlin Conference, Africa Centre and SOAS Friday 12 December and Saturday 13 December 2025   Alan Lester Most British imperial historians have tended t…
alanlester.co.uk
December 14, 2025 at 8:20 AM
soashistory.bsky.social
140 Years Beyond the Berlin Conference, starting today, 12 Dec, 5pm at #SOAS with a fantastic line-up of speakers.

Open to everyone interested in Africa's past, present, and future.

For more information and registration visit www.africacentre.org.uk/news/140-yea...
140 Years Beyond the Berlin Conference, SOAS Friday 12 December and Saturday 13 December 2025
Join AFFORD, SOAS, the Fatherland Group, and The Africa Centre for “140 Years Beyond the Berlin Conference,” a two-day symposium examining the lasting political, economic, and cultural impacts of the ...
www.africacentre.org.uk
December 12, 2025 at 8:51 AM
soashistory.bsky.social
If you're in London, join us for the final SOAS History Seminar of the semester. Desmond Cheung (SOAS) will speak on Locust Control and State Activism in Ming China.

Wed 10 Dec 2025, 5pm, C426

All welcome!

More info:
www.soas.ac.uk/about/event/...
Flyer for the SOAS History Seminar on Wed 10 December 2025, 5pm, in C426, with Desmond Cheung. Background image: woodblock print showing a page from Buhuang tushuo 捕蝗圖説 - Illustrated explanations of methods for catching locusts, showing a scene of a small group of people trapping locusts between two huge screens.
December 7, 2025 at 8:19 PM
soashistory.bsky.social
At our seminar today (Wed 26 Nov, 5pm), jointly organised with the IHR's African History Seminar, Dr. João Figueiredo (Hannover) will present his new book Sorcery and Jurisdiction in Angola: Law and Multinormativity in Early Modern West Central Africa.

All welcome!

www.soas.ac.uk/about/event/...
Sorcery and Jurisdiction in Angola: Law and Multinormativity in Early Modern West Central Africa
João Figueiredo discusses his book, 'Sorcery and Jurisdiction in Angola', exploring the interaction of European and African legal traditions when the Portuguese first land in West Central Africa.
www.soas.ac.uk
November 26, 2025 at 1:49 PM
soashistory.bsky.social
The SOAS History Seminar will be today, Wed 12 Nov, at 5pm, with Stephanie Mawson (University of York), who will speak about Malay Magic in Colonial Manila. For more info see www.soas.ac.uk/about/event/...
Ternatan, Balinese, and Bugis soldiers. European illustration from the 17th century. Manuscript summary: Travel diary ("Reisebuch") of Alsatian world traveler Georg Franz Müller (1646-1723). Image from Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ternate_Bali_Bugis_soldiers.jpg
November 12, 2025 at 4:41 PM
soashistory.bsky.social
Join us in a bit for the SOAS History Seminar today, Wed 12 Mov, at 5pm: Stephanie Mawson (University of York) will speak about Malay Magic in Colonial Manila. For more info see:

www.soas.ac.uk/about/event/...
Malay Magic in Colonial Manila
www.soas.ac.uk
November 12, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Reposted by SOAS History and the SOAS History Blog
wienerlibrary.bsky.social
Every Tuesday we conduct a free tour of our archive, welcoming the public to see behind the scenes of one of the most important Holocaust-era collections in the world.

Sign up for next week's tour here:
Free Tour - Wiener Holocaust Library and Archive (Tuesdays)
Tuesdays 2-3pm
buff.ly
November 2, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Reposted by SOAS History and the SOAS History Blog
warburginstitute.bsky.social
Ever wanted to see inside the Warburg Library?

On Saturday 29 November we’re offering a public tour of our Library, Photographic Collection and Archive.

Free, but booking essential: warburg.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...

#WarburgLibrary
Warburg Library and Collections Tours
Please enable JavaScript in your web browser to get the best experience.
warburg.sas.ac.uk
November 2, 2025 at 5:37 PM
soashistory.bsky.social
New on the blog: 'A Man Between Worlds: the Story of Persia's American Reformer' - on the young and idealistic American administrator William Morgan Shuster on a mission to save Persia's first constitutional government, by Owen Steuernagel.

blogs.soas.ac.uk/soashistoryb...
William Morgan Shuster in his private office in Atabak Palace. Source: The Strangling of Persia (1912). Text: New on the blog: A Man between Worlds: the Story of Persia's American Reformer, by Owen Steuernagel
November 1, 2025 at 9:18 PM
soashistory.bsky.social
Finally online: 3-part podcast series on History and Music, produced by #SOAS students Saskia Lootsma and Idriss Gheriani as part of their Co-creator internship, spring 2025. Episode 1: Interview with Lennon Aviss on Red Sun in the Sky and the Afterlife of CR Songs blogs.soas.ac.uk/soashistoryb...
Adapted Mao poster showing Mao in front of a red sun as the helmsman steering his fleet through the sea inserted into (with Chinese text saying 大海航行靠舵手) and partly covering another image of the tonearm of a record player on a vinyl; text on dark red background: Red Sun in the Sky and the Afterlife of Songs of China's Cultural Revolution
November 1, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Reposted by SOAS History and the SOAS History Blog
soashistory.bsky.social
The Histories of Capitalism & Race seminar at #SOAS is hosting two authors next week for conversations about their recently published books:

1) @omarcheta.bsky.social on Tue 28 Oct, 5-7pm: How Commerce Became Legal: Merchants and Market Governance in Nineteenth Century Egypt (Stanford 2025).
Omar Cheta, How Commerce Became Legal: Merchants and Market Governance in Nineteenth-Century Egypt — Walter Rodney Collective for Historical Research
Join us for the UK book launch of Omar Cheta’s much anticipated, How Commerce Became Legal: Merchants and Market Governance in Nineteenth-Century Egypt (2025). Book Description: When Egypt's markets...
www.soas-walter-rodney-collective.com
October 25, 2025 at 1:17 PM
soashistory.bsky.social
4-year job opportunity in Modern Chinese History at Oxford University (applications close 9 Jan 2026):

my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...
Job Details
my.corehr.com
October 27, 2025 at 5:01 PM
soashistory.bsky.social
At this week's SOAS History Seminar Shounak Ghosh will speak about 'A Persian Archive of Early Modern Diplomacy: Letters and Emissaries between Golkonda and Isfahan.'

Wed 29 Oct 2025, 5pm, C426.

All welcome!

For more info go to: www.soas.ac.uk/about/event/...
Seminar announcement, title at the top: A Persian Archive of Early Modern Diplomacy: Letters and Emissaries between Golkonda and Isfahan At the bottom: A SOAS History Seminar with Shounak Ghosh, Wed 29 Oct 2025, 5pm, C426 Background image: Title page of Tārīkh-i Quṭb-i Shāhīyah [History of Sultan Muhammad Qutb Shah, Sultan of Golconda and the Qutb Shahi dynasty and includes the historical, political and social events prevalent in Hyderabadi during the Qutb Shahi period] Library of Congress, Persian Rare Language Materials https://www.loc.gov/item/2016397784/
October 25, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Reposted by SOAS History and the SOAS History Blog
digitalorientalist.bsky.social
In this overview, Editor in Chief Rachael Griffiths highlights #digital tools and resources for Central and South Asian Studies reviewed by The DO members in past contributions ✨

🔗 digitalorientalist.com/2025/10/24/a...
October 24, 2025 at 1:24 PM