Charles West
@pseudo-isidore.bsky.social
Professor of History at the University of Edinburgh
https://www.ed.ac.uk/profile/charles-west
https://www.ed.ac.uk/profile/charles-west
If you've not read it, you should: Henry Parkes's landmark article on Emperor Henry II, which has had a significant impact on scholarship internationally.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/P9YSAI...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/P9YSAI...
November 6, 2025 at 8:54 PM
If you've not read it, you should: Henry Parkes's landmark article on Emperor Henry II, which has had a significant impact on scholarship internationally.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/P9YSAI...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/P9YSAI...
Enjoyed discussing AI and LLMs with MSc students today: we were all slightly puzzled by the recent Microsoft claim that puts Historian as the job that's no. 2 at risk from AI.
November 5, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Enjoyed discussing AI and LLMs with MSc students today: we were all slightly puzzled by the recent Microsoft claim that puts Historian as the job that's no. 2 at risk from AI.
The book follows our (OA) special issue of Frühmittelalterliche Studien doi-org.eux.idm.oclc.org/10.1515/fmst...
November 3, 2025 at 8:23 AM
The book follows our (OA) special issue of Frühmittelalterliche Studien doi-org.eux.idm.oclc.org/10.1515/fmst...
A silver coin issued by Duke Grimoald III in southern Italy, c. 788, showing his and Charlemagne's monogram.
November 2, 2025 at 10:03 AM
A silver coin issued by Duke Grimoald III in southern Italy, c. 788, showing his and Charlemagne's monogram.
Byzantine emperors signed off their letters in style, with red ink.
November 2, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Byzantine emperors signed off their letters in style, with red ink.
A delightful morning taking @hcaatedinburgh.bsky.social students around the National Museum of Scotland, including this, the earliest Scottish tartan (!)
October 30, 2025 at 1:54 PM
A delightful morning taking @hcaatedinburgh.bsky.social students around the National Museum of Scotland, including this, the earliest Scottish tartan (!)
I've had a quick look at Grokipedia, and I think Wikipedia is safe. E.g. this reference to the origins of 'Charlemagne' ("Carolus magnus") is plain wrong: that's decades later, in different sources.
And unlike Wikipedia, I can't make a correction.
And unlike Wikipedia, I can't make a correction.
October 29, 2025 at 11:56 AM
I've had a quick look at Grokipedia, and I think Wikipedia is safe. E.g. this reference to the origins of 'Charlemagne' ("Carolus magnus") is plain wrong: that's decades later, in different sources.
And unlike Wikipedia, I can't make a correction.
And unlike Wikipedia, I can't make a correction.
"To ace your exams"
October 28, 2025 at 9:16 PM
"To ace your exams"
Can't stop thinking about this sales job title.
October 27, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Can't stop thinking about this sales job title.
Unfinished face and wig inlay, using clay and basalt: Egypt c. 1350 BC. If you can get to the exhibition in Cambridge, it's worth a visit. www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/plan-your-vi...
October 26, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Unfinished face and wig inlay, using clay and basalt: Egypt c. 1350 BC. If you can get to the exhibition in Cambridge, it's worth a visit. www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/plan-your-vi...
Astonished by this stylish bedside-table style cabinet, made in Egypt c. 700 BC (!).
October 25, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Astonished by this stylish bedside-table style cabinet, made in Egypt c. 700 BC (!).
How to draw a cat, a lion and an antelope. Egypt, c. 500 BC.
October 25, 2025 at 12:08 PM
How to draw a cat, a lion and an antelope. Egypt, c. 500 BC.
Spotted outside @theul.bsky.social tea-room 🔪
October 24, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Spotted outside @theul.bsky.social tea-room 🔪
Glorious morning in Edinburgh after the mirk of the past few days.
October 22, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Glorious morning in Edinburgh after the mirk of the past few days.
Looking forward to discussing this graphic with my MSc students next week, as we consider the Pirenne thesis.
October 21, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Looking forward to discussing this graphic with my MSc students next week, as we consider the Pirenne thesis.
Congrats to @laurysarti.bsky.social on her new book on Merovingian Francia and the Roman Empire, open access and downloadable here (scroll to bottom of page) brill.com/display/titl...
October 20, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Congrats to @laurysarti.bsky.social on her new book on Merovingian Francia and the Roman Empire, open access and downloadable here (scroll to bottom of page) brill.com/display/titl...
Cuthbert the Fearless.
October 18, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Cuthbert the Fearless.
If you'd like to buy a copy, may I recommend the marvellous Topping Books? www.toppingbooks.co.uk/books/charle... Signed copies available in their Edinburgh store.
Or you can use this discount to get 30% direct at OUP (cheaper than Amazon in UK, even with postage). 3/5
Or you can use this discount to get 30% direct at OUP (cheaper than Amazon in UK, even with postage). 3/5
October 16, 2025 at 8:01 AM
If you'd like to buy a copy, may I recommend the marvellous Topping Books? www.toppingbooks.co.uk/books/charle... Signed copies available in their Edinburgh store.
Or you can use this discount to get 30% direct at OUP (cheaper than Amazon in UK, even with postage). 3/5
Or you can use this discount to get 30% direct at OUP (cheaper than Amazon in UK, even with postage). 3/5
It's a provocative take on a slice of European history that includes the First Crusade, the Gregorian Reform & the 'Feudal Revolution'. Plus over 50 illustrations, from Geniza letters about pirates to Byzantine village tax records to the journeys of a missionary on a cute donkey 2/6
October 16, 2025 at 7:55 AM
It's a provocative take on a slice of European history that includes the First Crusade, the Gregorian Reform & the 'Feudal Revolution'. Plus over 50 illustrations, from Geniza letters about pirates to Byzantine village tax records to the journeys of a missionary on a cute donkey 2/6
Looking forward to discussing the Annals of Lorsch this week with my final-year students. Does the change of hand/pen visible here suggest these annals were written up year-by-year, and were thus strictly contemporary?
October 14, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Looking forward to discussing the Annals of Lorsch this week with my final-year students. Does the change of hand/pen visible here suggest these annals were written up year-by-year, and were thus strictly contemporary?
Cuthbert has a new favourite bookshop: the exquisitely well-stocked Toppings.
October 12, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Cuthbert has a new favourite bookshop: the exquisitely well-stocked Toppings.
Cuthbert completes his 13th Parkrun, in autumnal colours.
October 11, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Cuthbert completes his 13th Parkrun, in autumnal colours.