Two excellent ancient world books that are totally different from one another. Owen Rees’s The Far Edges of the Known World: A New History of the Ancient Past Jane Draycott’s Fulvia: The Woman Who Broke All the Rules in Ancient Rome 5 stars each. Loved them both so much.

Been reading ‘The Far Edges of the Known World’ by Owen Rees. Favorite antidotes- 2000 BCE ‘Bronze Age’ Megiddo, Canaan.Tin for bronze from Cornwall.Evidence of the consumption of exotic plants for the region such as bananas, soybeans from the Far East (bananas not cultivated in Africa til later).

Behold my masculinity on display

18. Die goeie ouwe taal, Yoïn Van Spijk @yvanspijk.bsky.social 19. Wij, Jevgeni Zamjatin 20. De verre uithoeken van de bekende wereld. Een nieuwe geschiedenis van oude beschavingen, Owen Rees @badancient.bsky.social

Sokrates vs prejudice is timeless. Fill in the blank with any group you like. (Plato, "Meno" 92b-c)

Hey #ClassicsBluesky: drop your 2025 publications here ⬇️

This a great listen. I made the decision to be open about my ADHD when I started my job - I am still not sure if it was a good idea, but the one group who have embraced it most are the students. And the key message they keep repeating is what Ellie mentions - there is no 'right' way to study.

Delighted to be interviewed for this @artsprofessional.co.uk piece about the progress and enduring challenges for disabled people in the UK's arts and cultural sectors. Thanks to @drmaimusie.bsky.social for inviting me to contribute! www.artsprofessional.co.uk/magazine/fea...

Pleased to announce we are celebrating a new leadership agreement for the Returning Solider Network with a 1-day symposium focusing on 'Forgotten Veterans', at Birmingham Newman University in April. Here is the CfP!

Pleased to announce we are celebrating a new leadership agreement for the Returning Solider Network with a 1-day symposium focusing on 'Forgotten Veterans', at Birmingham Newman University in April. Here is the CfP!

Hey if you don’t already follow me on TikTok, and you like Ancient Greek art, history, and archaeology, then you should maybe. No worries if not. #ClassicsBluesky www.tiktok.com/@elliemackin...

I believe strongly in having a duty to nurture new talent in history. So i was very humbled to receive this in an email from an UG student's supervisor in the USA after I helped do their viva: 'a rare demonstration of collegiality and encouragement for a young scholar from an expert in the field'

The pseudoarchaeologists BRIGADED my latest video, The Hawara Hoax, with fraudulent mass reports of it violating YouTube rules YouTube restricted it as suitable for only 18+. I didn't violate any of their guidelines. I appealed and now it is no longer restricted

Love to see it!

If you're in striking distance of Chester on the 15th of January, come and hear me talk about the tangled topic of women and the Roman arena at the beautiful Grosvenor Museum. Tickets available below: visitcheshire.com/events/women...

Past Owen was clearly taking the p!ss when he looked at a (rather rare) quiet teaching week and decided to fill it with *things*. On the plus side, Thursday will see me and @roelkonijn.bsky.social in the same place, recording an interview together about ancient Sparta - another very rare event!

“So, I wanted to write a #book that flipped the usual stories and narratives on their head.” – Owen Rees in his new @deborahkalb.bsky.social #book #author Q&A #writing #research deborahkalbbooks.blogspot.com/2025/11/q-wi... @badancient.bsky.social

I am giving a talk about 'The Far Edges of the Known World' as part of Stony Words, a community and literature festival in Stony Stratford, on the 27th January 2026! Come along, say hello.

I am giving a talk about 'The Far Edges of the Known World' as part of Stony Words, a community and literature festival in Stony Stratford, on the 27th January 2026! Come along, say hello.

I guess I now have to do a thread on shoes in ancient Mesopotamia in response to this (which happens to be from one of my favourite accounts). I’m not an archaeologist, nor do I really know anything about shoes, but let’s go on this journey together.

Many years ago, I helped set up The Returning Soldier Network, but circumstances meant that I had to step away for a few years as I tried to find secure work. Yesterday, I returned back into the fold as one of the project leads! So watch this space, plans are brewing... @milwelfhist.bsky.social

Many years ago, I helped set up The Returning Soldier Network, but circumstances meant that I had to step away for a few years as I tried to find secure work. Yesterday, I returned back into the fold as one of the project leads! So watch this space, plans are brewing... @milwelfhist.bsky.social

Repatriating the Athenian War Dead - by Owen Rees owenrees.substack.com/p/repatriati...

Call for Statements of Interest - open now! In 2026 the MWHN, in partnership with the JMVHR, will produce its second special issue. With the theme of 'Medical welfare and care of military communities: a collection of historical studies'. Full details attached #histmed #histnursing #milwelfhist

Civilisation is vague term, I'll admit, but I dont think it could ever be used to describe 'the samurai'. Maybe I'm wrong? 🗂

The German translation has arrived! See the next post for a link to order.

Civilisation is vague term, I'll admit, but I dont think it could ever be used to describe 'the samurai'. Maybe I'm wrong? 🗂

The German translation has arrived! See the next post for a link to order.

My US publisher has made book related content - this is a first for me!

My book is available in Greek! www.psichogios.gr/en/oi-paryfe...

My book is available in Greek! www.psichogios.gr/en/oi-paryfe...

Sincere thanks from me and Michael Robinson to @badancient.bsky.social and Michael Roper for joining us as Birmingham yesterday and today for another MWHN event. Onwards to the next #milwelfhist

Q&A with Owen Rees about his new book, THE FAR EDGES OF THE KNOWN WORLD. tinyurl.com/y3avmudz @badancient.bsky.social

0900-1030hrs: Panel Two: 'Short-Term and Long-Term Trauma', with papers by Oscar Owen (University of Wolverhampton); Dr Kristin O'Donnell (Birmingham Newman University) & Dr Ana Catarina Pinho (Universidade Nova de Lisboa) #milwelfhist #trauma #histmed

This Q&A has just come out with me - all about my book!

On my way to Birmingham for this - should be a good one!

The Far Edges of the Known World has a cheeky mention in The Media Tourist's 'Read all about it'!

I am currently writing for a keynote I have been invited to give, but realised I have never actually sat through one ... they are too long for me. So, if anyone has any tips I am all ears!

AI is beginning to acquire a negative default in my head, so I presume that whatever it is claimed it can do should be followed by the word 'badly'.

AI is beginning to acquire a negative default in my head, so I presume that whatever it is claimed it can do should be followed by the word 'badly'.

“telling stories about monsters isn’t simply a way of describing beings that are nothing like humans. It’s also how societies define and police who they think counts as fully human.” My words in @aeon.co 💙📚 🧪🗃 #ancient #medieval #earlymodern #histsci #histmed #18thCentury #politics #psychology 🧵/n

My latest review explores Owen Rees’s “The Far Edges of the Known World,” a bold rethinking of ancient history that shifts focus from Greece and Rome to the overlooked edges of antiquity. open.substack.com/pub/jonathan...

Intriguing premise for this book on “The Far Edges of the Known World” that touches well on recent scholarly trends around stories from the “periphery”. Will try to get my hands on it. Anybody read it? What did you think? www.unseenhistories.com/owen-rees-fa...

The Far Edges of the Known World: Life Beyond the Borders of Ancient Civilization Owen Rees newbooksnetwork.com/the-far-edge... #borderlandshistory #socialhistory I especially enjoyed the part about the nubian-egyptian border, cooking, and intermarriage

Latest review looks at Owen Rees' new book "The Far Edges of the Known World: A new history of the ancient past" which discusses how ancient cultures were often transformed and shaped by interaction and exchange, particularly at their fringes. resolutereader.blogspot.com/2025/10/owen...

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.

My book is in Waterstones' preorder sale for books released in 2026. Today is the last chance to get 25% off the paperback edition for when its released next February!

My book is in Waterstones' preorder sale for books released in 2026. Today is the last chance to get 25% off the paperback edition for when its released next February!

This will be a great talk in January! @belovedofoizys.bsky.social is the go to person for gladiator history.

This will be a great talk in January! @belovedofoizys.bsky.social is the go to person for gladiator history.