Christopher W. Jones
@cwjones.bsky.social
Historian of the ancient world. Working on imperialism, elite competition, Global Assyria. North Carolinian.
I'm wondering if "we made the class so much easier to meet the students where they're at" and "all our students are using AI for everything" are linked phenomena.
You're signaling the class is low effort and not worth much. Students are budgeting their time and effort accordingly.
You're signaling the class is low effort and not worth much. Students are budgeting their time and effort accordingly.
November 29, 2025 at 1:25 PM
I'm wondering if "we made the class so much easier to meet the students where they're at" and "all our students are using AI for everything" are linked phenomena.
You're signaling the class is low effort and not worth much. Students are budgeting their time and effort accordingly.
You're signaling the class is low effort and not worth much. Students are budgeting their time and effort accordingly.
American Alligator (North Carolina)
American Black Bear (North Carolina)
California Condor (Zion NP, Utah)
Moose (Rocky Mountain NP, Colorado)
Arctic Tern (Finland)
American Black Bear (North Carolina)
California Condor (Zion NP, Utah)
Moose (Rocky Mountain NP, Colorado)
Arctic Tern (Finland)
Introduce yourself with five animals you have seen in the wild:
Banana Slug (Santa Cruz)
Crocodile (Costa Rica)
Giant Sea Turtle (Hawaii)
Manatee (Florida)
Eagles Fan (Philadelphia)
Banana Slug (Santa Cruz)
Crocodile (Costa Rica)
Giant Sea Turtle (Hawaii)
Manatee (Florida)
Eagles Fan (Philadelphia)
Introduce yourself with five animals you have seen in the wild.
Heron (Magdalen)
Fox (Magdalen)
Badger (Magdalen)
Roe deer (Magdalen)
Kingfisher (Magdalen)
But I have yet to see the otters that live here.
Heron (Magdalen)
Fox (Magdalen)
Badger (Magdalen)
Roe deer (Magdalen)
Kingfisher (Magdalen)
But I have yet to see the otters that live here.
November 28, 2025 at 5:57 PM
American Alligator (North Carolina)
American Black Bear (North Carolina)
California Condor (Zion NP, Utah)
Moose (Rocky Mountain NP, Colorado)
Arctic Tern (Finland)
American Black Bear (North Carolina)
California Condor (Zion NP, Utah)
Moose (Rocky Mountain NP, Colorado)
Arctic Tern (Finland)
Future historians will compare government narrative-shaping by Ukraine and Israel since 2022-23.
Both are locked in existential struggles that depend on maintaining American support, both portray themselves as outposts defending the edges of Western Civilization against eastern barbarian hordes.
Both are locked in existential struggles that depend on maintaining American support, both portray themselves as outposts defending the edges of Western Civilization against eastern barbarian hordes.
November 28, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Future historians will compare government narrative-shaping by Ukraine and Israel since 2022-23.
Both are locked in existential struggles that depend on maintaining American support, both portray themselves as outposts defending the edges of Western Civilization against eastern barbarian hordes.
Both are locked in existential struggles that depend on maintaining American support, both portray themselves as outposts defending the edges of Western Civilization against eastern barbarian hordes.
"Remember those quaint old days...when Wikipedia was regarded as the unreliable enemy of rigorous scholarship? Nowadays, it’s one of the more trusted sources of information."
Fallacy of the shifting baseline strikes again!
www.timesofisrael.com/an-editors-f...
Fallacy of the shifting baseline strikes again!
www.timesofisrael.com/an-editors-f...
An editor’s flawed human ramblings on AI, journalism and the disappearance of truth
We are at risk of losing our capacity to establish the facts of what is unfolding around us. And pretty soon, we may give up trying
www.timesofisrael.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:40 AM
"Remember those quaint old days...when Wikipedia was regarded as the unreliable enemy of rigorous scholarship? Nowadays, it’s one of the more trusted sources of information."
Fallacy of the shifting baseline strikes again!
www.timesofisrael.com/an-editors-f...
Fallacy of the shifting baseline strikes again!
www.timesofisrael.com/an-editors-f...
The twin forces of the neoliberal and post-AI university seem to have turned quite a few faculty into unrequited lovers.
November 27, 2025 at 12:05 AM
The twin forces of the neoliberal and post-AI university seem to have turned quite a few faculty into unrequited lovers.
Reposted by Christopher W. Jones
The Central Mediterranean Penal Heritage Project (CMPHP) is an important project using remote-sensing methods to scan premodern prisons. They have now found medieval graffiti on Sicily & game boards etched by prisoners archaeologymag.com/2025/11/anci... Publication: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Ancient prison graffiti in Sicily reveals games and fears of Early Modern inmates
Graffiti from a Sicilian castle prison reveals gameboards and ship carvings that shed light on Early Modern inmates’ daily lives.
archaeologymag.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:04 AM
The Central Mediterranean Penal Heritage Project (CMPHP) is an important project using remote-sensing methods to scan premodern prisons. They have now found medieval graffiti on Sicily & game boards etched by prisoners archaeologymag.com/2025/11/anci... Publication: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Over on X, they added a feature that reveals the location from where an account is posting and much hilarity has ensued.
The whole site is nothing but engagement farming.
The whole site is nothing but engagement farming.
November 23, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Over on X, they added a feature that reveals the location from where an account is posting and much hilarity has ensued.
The whole site is nothing but engagement farming.
The whole site is nothing but engagement farming.
In the coming years a great historical debate will take place about the extent to which covid lockdowns contributed to social dissolution in the United States in the early-mid 21st century.
A major point of contention will be the extent to which Americans actually followed covid restrictions.
A major point of contention will be the extent to which Americans actually followed covid restrictions.
November 20, 2025 at 5:22 PM
In the coming years a great historical debate will take place about the extent to which covid lockdowns contributed to social dissolution in the United States in the early-mid 21st century.
A major point of contention will be the extent to which Americans actually followed covid restrictions.
A major point of contention will be the extent to which Americans actually followed covid restrictions.
2 year old said the other day that he will "obey Mama." He then clarified that this applied only to "not eating Saul's Mound" (2nd largest Native American mound in the US, about 30 min away from us).
November 20, 2025 at 2:01 PM
2 year old said the other day that he will "obey Mama." He then clarified that this applied only to "not eating Saul's Mound" (2nd largest Native American mound in the US, about 30 min away from us).
Alternate universe Tenochtitlan just dropped.
November 19, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Alternate universe Tenochtitlan just dropped.
Q for the Romanists: Has anyone done a study of tombstones/diplomata for rank-and-file Praetorian Guardsmen in the 3rd century AD? Got a student Q about the origins of Praetorians during the 3rd century crisis today that I can't quite answer.
November 17, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Q for the Romanists: Has anyone done a study of tombstones/diplomata for rank-and-file Praetorian Guardsmen in the 3rd century AD? Got a student Q about the origins of Praetorians during the 3rd century crisis today that I can't quite answer.
Reposted by Christopher W. Jones
This week on the blog: Hoplites! We're taking a crack at explaining the long-running debate over the nature and significance of the ancient Greek heavy infantryman, the hoplite, and the phalanx in which he (mostly) fought.
acoup.blog/2025/11/14/c...
acoup.blog/2025/11/14/c...
Collections: Hoplite Wars, Part I: The Othismos over Othismos
This week (and next) we’re looking at hoplites, the heavy infantry of the ancient Greek poleis in the (early? mid? late?) Archaic and Classical periods, into the Hellenistic. In particular, I…
acoup.blog
November 15, 2025 at 3:09 PM
This week on the blog: Hoplites! We're taking a crack at explaining the long-running debate over the nature and significance of the ancient Greek heavy infantryman, the hoplite, and the phalanx in which he (mostly) fought.
acoup.blog/2025/11/14/c...
acoup.blog/2025/11/14/c...
A depiction of the Apis Bull has been added to the Dean E. Smith Center floor in Chapel Hill this season:
November 15, 2025 at 2:20 AM
A depiction of the Apis Bull has been added to the Dean E. Smith Center floor in Chapel Hill this season:
Reposted by Christopher W. Jones
The ASOR Program Committee seeks 4 new members to serve a 3-year term (2026–2028) with possibility of a 2nd term. We are interested in applications from members whose research area(s) are complementary to or not represented by current members of the PC. The brief app. is due Dec. 5: buff.ly/B16v7ds
November 14, 2025 at 3:03 PM
The ASOR Program Committee seeks 4 new members to serve a 3-year term (2026–2028) with possibility of a 2nd term. We are interested in applications from members whose research area(s) are complementary to or not represented by current members of the PC. The brief app. is due Dec. 5: buff.ly/B16v7ds
In retrospect, early 2000's New Atheism was a harbinger of what passes for intellectual culture in the 21st century: Vapid anti-intellectualism disguised as serious thought coupled with proudly affirming historical ignorance, all while claiming to effectively stand outside of History.
The line from early '00s Reddit-tier atheism to 2020s anti-Semitism runs in a straight line.
November 14, 2025 at 1:26 AM
In retrospect, early 2000's New Atheism was a harbinger of what passes for intellectual culture in the 21st century: Vapid anti-intellectualism disguised as serious thought coupled with proudly affirming historical ignorance, all while claiming to effectively stand outside of History.
The line from early '00s Reddit-tier atheism to 2020s anti-Semitism runs in a straight line.
November 12, 2025 at 1:28 PM
The line from early '00s Reddit-tier atheism to 2020s anti-Semitism runs in a straight line.
Apparently there was a break in at the National Museum in Damascus last night and several pieces were stolen:
english.news.cn/20251111/4a5...
english.news.cn/20251111/4a5...
Syria launches probe into theft of ancient artifacts from national museum
english.news.cn
November 12, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Apparently there was a break in at the National Museum in Damascus last night and several pieces were stolen:
english.news.cn/20251111/4a5...
english.news.cn/20251111/4a5...
I still haven't seen this new TOS on Academia dot edu? Maybe it's because I already opted out of the AI stuff before they rolled it out?
Apparently, I'm being made to accept Academia . edu's TOS which grant them ownership of everything I upload. I can't get through to any part of my profile without accepting this BS. Is there a way to delete my account without providing this coerced permission first?
November 8, 2025 at 2:20 AM
I still haven't seen this new TOS on Academia dot edu? Maybe it's because I already opted out of the AI stuff before they rolled it out?
FYI everyone there's a way to turn off all the AI in Academia dot edu.
Go to Account Settings > AI Settings and hit the off switch.
Tada! No podcasts, no AI slop comics, etc.
Go to Account Settings > AI Settings and hit the off switch.
Tada! No podcasts, no AI slop comics, etc.
November 7, 2025 at 8:24 PM
FYI everyone there's a way to turn off all the AI in Academia dot edu.
Go to Account Settings > AI Settings and hit the off switch.
Tada! No podcasts, no AI slop comics, etc.
Go to Account Settings > AI Settings and hit the off switch.
Tada! No podcasts, no AI slop comics, etc.
The ASOR programming committee is looking for four new members!
Having served on Program Committee for the last two years, it is a great opportunity to help shape and organize the annual meeting.
Apply at the link below!
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Having served on Program Committee for the last two years, it is a great opportunity to help shape and organize the annual meeting.
Apply at the link below!
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
ASOR Program Committee Application Form
Thank you for your interest in serving on ASOR's Program Committee (PC). The PC is responsible for the academic content of the Annual Meeting. Specifically, the PC solicits and reviews session and wor...
docs.google.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:18 PM
The ASOR programming committee is looking for four new members!
Having served on Program Committee for the last two years, it is a great opportunity to help shape and organize the annual meeting.
Apply at the link below!
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Having served on Program Committee for the last two years, it is a great opportunity to help shape and organize the annual meeting.
Apply at the link below!
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Enrollments the first time I taught Modern Middle East (2019): 20
Second time (2022): 16
Enrollment for my Modern Middle East class this coming spring: 7
Are Americans losing interest in the region? Turning inwards, losing interest in understanding the rest of the world?
Second time (2022): 16
Enrollment for my Modern Middle East class this coming spring: 7
Are Americans losing interest in the region? Turning inwards, losing interest in understanding the rest of the world?
November 6, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Enrollments the first time I taught Modern Middle East (2019): 20
Second time (2022): 16
Enrollment for my Modern Middle East class this coming spring: 7
Are Americans losing interest in the region? Turning inwards, losing interest in understanding the rest of the world?
Second time (2022): 16
Enrollment for my Modern Middle East class this coming spring: 7
Are Americans losing interest in the region? Turning inwards, losing interest in understanding the rest of the world?
Reposted by Christopher W. Jones
First time I see an article retracted for (likely) AI hallucinations.
N.B., the authors have PhD´s but don´t seem affiliated with a university.
N.B., the authors have PhD´s but don´t seem affiliated with a university.
"Following publication, concerns were raised by a third party regarding the accuracy and validity of many of the references in this article ... the Editor and the Publisher no longer have confidence in the content presented".
www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1...
www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1...
Retracted Article: Strengthening Caribbean Intelligence: Education and Training for Enhanced Intra- and Inter-Agency Collaboration
We, the Editor and Publisher of International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence, have retracted the following article:Smith, T., & Short, A. (2025). Strengthening Caribbean Intelligen...
www.tandfonline.com
November 3, 2025 at 8:40 PM
First time I see an article retracted for (likely) AI hallucinations.
N.B., the authors have PhD´s but don´t seem affiliated with a university.
N.B., the authors have PhD´s but don´t seem affiliated with a university.
Gained a new little member of the family this weekend.
My (apparently Judith Butler-reading) two year old: "when baby sister grows hair, will she be a girl?"
My (apparently Judith Butler-reading) two year old: "when baby sister grows hair, will she be a girl?"
November 4, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Gained a new little member of the family this weekend.
My (apparently Judith Butler-reading) two year old: "when baby sister grows hair, will she be a girl?"
My (apparently Judith Butler-reading) two year old: "when baby sister grows hair, will she be a girl?"
Reposted by Christopher W. Jones
The book to read is James Tan’s Power and Public Finance in Rome. Which argues (among other things) that Roman taxpayers had real leverage over elites due to being taxpayers. Turning point: by 167 the empire was so profitable that direct taxation ended. Which ended that leverage.
Using his powers to extract tribute from foreign countries, "donors," etc. and then using those extraconstitutional slush funds to bypass the Constitution and the rule of law. Literally the opposite of originalism and a profound threat to the continuation of constitutional democracy in this country.
$550 billion in Japanese funding.
Directed by the President.
Outside Congress’s control.
My new @justsecurity.org piece explains how the agreement bypasses the Appropriations Clause and violates the laws that safeguard Congress’s power of the purse.
www.justsecurity.org/123478/trump...
Directed by the President.
Outside Congress’s control.
My new @justsecurity.org piece explains how the agreement bypasses the Appropriations Clause and violates the laws that safeguard Congress’s power of the purse.
www.justsecurity.org/123478/trump...
October 31, 2025 at 6:21 AM
The book to read is James Tan’s Power and Public Finance in Rome. Which argues (among other things) that Roman taxpayers had real leverage over elites due to being taxpayers. Turning point: by 167 the empire was so profitable that direct taxation ended. Which ended that leverage.
I don't think my field has really reckoned with how the essential transience of the Internet has severed many people's lived experience of having a connection to the past.
At the societal level, digital culture takes on some aspects of oral culture.
At the societal level, digital culture takes on some aspects of oral culture.
October 28, 2025 at 12:25 AM
I don't think my field has really reckoned with how the essential transience of the Internet has severed many people's lived experience of having a connection to the past.
At the societal level, digital culture takes on some aspects of oral culture.
At the societal level, digital culture takes on some aspects of oral culture.