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Researching Central Eastern European History: tips and resources

By Vanesa Djibrilova I have recently finished my master’s dissertation at the University of Glasgow on Slovak folk dress traditions. Here’s what I found out the hard way during my research about the nature of studying Central and Eastern European (CEE) history from the position of a Western university and English-speaking academia.
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1. An Eighteenth-Century Waistcoat

By Zara Kesterton (@ZaraKesterton) This eighteenth-century man’s waistcoat would look appropriately festive at a Christmas party, with its cream silk and rich embroidery glimmering under candlelight. It was likely made initially for use at the British court between c.1770 and c.1795. The waistcoat features a floral design with an innovative machine-made net applied over dark…
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2. Pearls in the Armada Portraits

By Ellie Doran (@Elena_Doran) Only three Armada Portraits of Queen Elizabeth I survive.[1] All were painted to commemorate the English defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. Whilst it is fun to play ‘spot the difference’ between the details in each portrait, these paintings also provide beautiful sources for examining the global in the early modern period.
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4. A Courtroom for an Ecclesiastical Court

By Zoë Jackson (@ZoeMJackson1) Tucked away in the southwest corner of Chester Cathedral lies a small, unassuming room, often devoid of the crowds that the rest of the cathedral attracts. Apart from being an interesting addition to any visit to the Cathedral, this room bears another significant distinction: It is one of the only courtrooms…

