ICYMI yesterday afternoon a fantastic new digital resource pulling together data on the Roman road network has just launched. Explore at:

last time I came across taqqiya I was studying the Spanish Inquisition but maybe that's an appropriate analogy here

'being dismissive of Oxbridge dons' oh no, did they also use the wrong fork?

This book proposal webinar with @cathfletcher.bsky.social and me, hosted by @rsaorg.bsky.social, is tomorrow, Nov 6th, folks! #renaissance #earlymodern #histsci #writingcommunity 💙📚 🗃

Ms Smith: So, class, today we're going to learn why, despite earning a teacher's salary, I still can't get a mortgage on any local house.

Our PhD studentship applications are open for 2026 entry and I'm keen to hear from outstanding candidates in history of early modern conflict and/or creative histories.

Sheffield Hallam University complied with Beijing demand to halt research about human rights abuses in China, leading to a major project on supply chains and forced labour being dropped. It was reinstated after threat of legal action but chilling effect remains www.theguardian.com/education/20...

🚨🚨🚨 Major announcement!!! I am extremely pleased to announce that HAA is searching for a senior, endowed position in premodern art or architecture. The subfield is wide open. Please spread the word and encourage curious scholars to write to me with questions! 🚨🚨🚨 cfopitt.taleo.net/careersectio...

There once was a king nicknamed Ozy And the mighty despaired of him 'cause he Would sneer and command Yet decaying in sand He's now half sunk and shattered. Who was he?

This has prompted me to wonder if anyone has written an article "Against Critical Fabulation" or similar. Any #skystorians know?

The 3rd summit in our Royal Marriage Summit series will be on 15 November bit.ly/4oh2VUh This time we will be exploring Mary I & Philip II, Alessandro de’Medici and Margaret of Parma, and James VI and Anna of Denmark.

In this essay I will assess who, in fact, was the greatest f--- in Christendome...

Back to proof-reading today, and I'm delighted to share the cover of my new book, featuring an angel with an arquebus. Out in April 2026.

It's really not hard to get this stuff right, and frankly I'd expect a Labour MP to be more aware of her local council's housing policy than the average person. No excuse.

Contemplating the choice between £209 for a day trip to London by train or £68.50 plus hotel to travel the night before, and wondering if Travelodge is paying backhanders to Avanti

I would genuinely ask how are they going to know? I had HEIF funding about ten years ago for public engagement activity that fed into a project that has since made money for my own company and informed commercial work by several other people. 1/2

It's International Confusing Clocks Week

The piece where I get to say everything that's bugging me about the world of detecting & archaeology & ask - why are we not more concerned about this? (Thank you to everyone who read through drafts & offered thoughts, advice and ideas.) #Archaeology #Detecting 🏺 bigbookoftorcs.com/2025/10/27/t...

The 2nd speaker in the 3rd of our summits on Royal Marriages in 15th & 16th c. Europe will be @cathfletcher.bsky.social She will be talking about the marriage between Alessandro de’ Medici and Margaret of Parma, an essential element of Habsburg strategy. bit.ly/4oh2VUh

New post just out: "Never again?" On how the radical right are trying to change our collective memory about World War Two as part of their assault on the postwar order. And why that memory remains a critical defence against nationalism. (£/free trial) open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/n...

Bayeux Tapestry embroiderer, c. 1071:

I keep thinking I need a sign above my desk that reads ‘Remember…. It’s Italy.’

I'm sure they're all banned from talking to the media right now, but I hope at least one of the demolition workers writes a memoir

On Friday November 14 at 8pm, join Anna Mazzola, Lisa Hilton, Essie Fox, D.V. Bishop, Erin Kelly, Barbara Nadel, Tom Benjamin and Philip Gwynne Jones for an evening of Crime and Conversation at the beautiful Ca' di Dio hotel! Bookings and inquiries at [email protected]. #VeniceNoir

There's more detail of the AHRC decisions here, and while the numbers still aren't great they do look somewhat better than the FOI table suggests.

Okay folks, what helpful advice is ChatGPT going to hallucinate for Brad and Janet here?

Good read, this. I learnt a lot about the pros and cons of arts careers from my dad's life as a professional orchestral musician, and I thoroughly endorse this advice.

I last taught this c. 2008 so forgive me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure William and Mary planned to demolish and rebuild the whole of Hampton Court but never managed to complete their project because Parliament refused to grant the extra funds.

Welcome to the top of the world #Cassino #Recce That’s Monte Cassino in the distance #WW2 If you want to put yourself on the list for this one visit www.istoriatravel.org @danielmcandrew.bsky.social @likesmokenoakum.bsky.social

on behalf of overworked history lecturers everywhere, thanks to YouGov for an easy intro to the upcoming historiography class

Amused by the King landing at Ciampino with all the budget airline passengers but then it is closer if you're taking a limo into town

Good morning #skystorians! A reminder that our Break With Rome 500th anniversary group is hosting an informal online networking event on Friday 21 November, mainly but not exclusively for early career researchers. Get in touch if you'd like the Teams link.

I don't know if the R4 headline segue from the Louvre Heist to the Met investigating Prince Andrew was deliberate, but it certainly had me wondering for a moment.

Please would you do this for @musicasecreta.bsky.social ? We want to continue to make music that makes hearts soar, not sore. We only have one concert this year - TONIGHT at Brighton Early Music Festival - and we want to so much more. x

I’m really looking forward to this tomorrow. There’s still time to book onto @thetudortimes.bsky.social Royal Marriages summit 2. I’m talking about Charles V and Isabella of Portugal #royalmarriages

big test here for Reform as the leaders of Lancashire Council

Just filed my claim for the Anthropic settlement in a burst of Friday afternoon ticking jobs off the to-do list.

You look at the degrees people in the City of London have and they're rarely Business Studies.

What does REF mean for ECRs? Come to the BA roundtable on it on the 29th October to learn more! www.tickettailor.com/events/early...

Looking forward to sharing thoughts in this seminar - please join us #skystorians

Gunpowder, which would probably get the copies impounded at Customs, but then maybe there's no such thing as bad publicity @princetonupress.bsky.social

Absolute classic from Chiles here. I'm almost tempted to wander over to the other side of Manchester this weekend.

Just began typing Noel Malcolm into the browser and it predicted I might want Noel Edmonds and imagine the confusion that could ensue...

For reasons, it would be v. helpful to have information from a broad range of academic and non-academic (incl. GLAM) users of the BBC Written Archives OTHER THAN historians, briefly on: 1) What you've used it for and 2) How the proposed changes would impact on your research. Reposts welcomed.

Important early modern Venice analysis

At a conference and the hotel is offering Breakfast Cocktails and you know, with the state of academia today...

gold-plated FOMO in action

When I had a very junior job at BBC News in Westminster 25 years ago, our bosses routinely complained that politicians did interviews with Sky before they came to us. We tried in vain to explain that this was not a Murdoch conspiracy but simply because Sky had a full-time make-up artist.

Enjoying the niche Tudor taxation joke in this FT illustration.