Tag: social history

  • Homosexuality in the ‘Enlightenment’?

    Homosexuality in the ‘Enlightenment’?

    By Nailya Shamgunova Nailya is working on European conceptualisations of sexual diversity in South East Asia and Japan in the 17th century. France was the first European state to repeal its sodomy laws as far back as 1791. The event, which is now hailed by LGBTQ+ groups as a landmark, at first glance seems like a…

  • How people saw: looking at photographs in history

    How people saw: looking at photographs in history

    By Jess Hope “To the complaint, ‘There are no people in these photographs,’ I respond, ‘There are always two people: the photographer and the viewer.” – Ansel Adams How do historians approach photographs as sources? Those of us who study the mid-19th century to the present can access a wealth of moments ‘captured’ on film,…

  • Wealth, status, and power: is the franchise the same as the vote?

    Wealth, status, and power: is the franchise the same as the vote?

    By Carys Brown @HistoryCarys Wealth and status were at the heart of eighteenth century politics, so much so that those with enough of both could have significant political influence even without enfranchisement. Such was the rather peculiar position of British Catholic gentlemen, who could not vote or hold political office until 1829 because of their religion.…

  • Making ‘Big Data’ Human: Doing History in a Digital Age – Conference Programme

    Making ‘Big Data’ Human: Doing History in a Digital Age – Conference Programme

    We are pleased to announce the final programme for the “Making ‘Big Data’ Human: Doing History in a Digital Age” conference, as set out below (updated 29/08/15). Registration for the conference is free but please sign up here if you would like to attend. Graduate Student Travel Bursaries – A number of travel bursaries are available for graduate…

  • The ‘Re-making’ of Great British Class

    The ‘Re-making’ of Great British Class

    By James Dowsett Britain is a nation peculiarly obsessed with social class. And not, perhaps, without reason, as Professor Mike Savage’s new book Social Class in the 21st Century argues: “classes are indeed being fundamentally remade.” [1] Really, one might argue that social class never really went away. Those of us wise to the cynicism of…