Charles West
@pseudo-isidore.bsky.social
Professor of History
Reposted by Charles West
This is powerful.
An Autobiographical Essay by Caroline Walker Bynum.
'That very summer, with unpacked boxes all around me, I wrote the article that became the title essay of Jesus as Mother and I filed papers to adopt a child as a single parent.'
www.ias.edu/sites/defaul...
An Autobiographical Essay by Caroline Walker Bynum.
'That very summer, with unpacked boxes all around me, I wrote the article that became the title essay of Jesus as Mother and I filed papers to adopt a child as a single parent.'
www.ias.edu/sites/defaul...
November 27, 2025 at 10:28 PM
This is powerful.
An Autobiographical Essay by Caroline Walker Bynum.
'That very summer, with unpacked boxes all around me, I wrote the article that became the title essay of Jesus as Mother and I filed papers to adopt a child as a single parent.'
www.ias.edu/sites/defaul...
An Autobiographical Essay by Caroline Walker Bynum.
'That very summer, with unpacked boxes all around me, I wrote the article that became the title essay of Jesus as Mother and I filed papers to adopt a child as a single parent.'
www.ias.edu/sites/defaul...
I wonder if the UK will eventually follow suit. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
France to introduce voluntary military service amid threat from Russia
Macron says plan to introduce 10 months’ service among 18- and 19-year-olds will help France respond to ‘accelerating threats’
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 8:09 PM
I wonder if the UK will eventually follow suit. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Another year, another end-of-semester infographic presentation from my students. Here's a map showing Alcuin's letter network.
November 27, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Another year, another end-of-semester infographic presentation from my students. Here's a map showing Alcuin's letter network.
Ever get a tricky question you don't know how to answer?
One of my colleagues went to a seminar at Berkeley and when someone asked a question Derrida brushed it off saying ‘what you ask may be important but it is not interesting’.
This path leads to chaos.
November 27, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Ever get a tricky question you don't know how to answer?
Reposted by Charles West
If you’re interested, here’s a handy tool from the IFS. The results may well surprise you.
ifs.org.uk/tools_and_re...
ifs.org.uk/tools_and_re...
Your household's income : Where do you fit in? | Institute for Fiscal Studies
When you think about your income, do you feel rich, poor, or just plain average? Find out where you lie in the UK income distribution.
ifs.org.uk
November 27, 2025 at 9:29 AM
If you’re interested, here’s a handy tool from the IFS. The results may well surprise you.
ifs.org.uk/tools_and_re...
ifs.org.uk/tools_and_re...
Looking forward to discussing academic.oup.com/past/advance... by @rorynaismith.bsky.social at the next @cmrsedinburgh.bsky.social Medieval Reading Group on Tuesday...
Economic Change, Silver, and the Plague of 664–687 in England*
Abstract. Bede and other authors describe a destructive wave of plague sweeping across Britain and Ireland in the period 664–87. In the decades around and
academic.oup.com
November 27, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Looking forward to discussing academic.oup.com/past/advance... by @rorynaismith.bsky.social at the next @cmrsedinburgh.bsky.social Medieval Reading Group on Tuesday...
"Dumb strategy", but also a very unsupportive wider left.
Starmer and Reeves run probably the most economically left-wing government of past five decades and yet bleeding support to its left thanks to dumb strategy www.economist.com/britain/2025...
November 27, 2025 at 9:02 AM
"Dumb strategy", but also a very unsupportive wider left.
Reposted by Charles West
I don't think this is fair, and think that of the two 'accusations' -
"You're all the same!"
"They've only gone and done a Labour Budget!!"
- the latter is far more accurate. Taxes are higher, investment is higher, the two child limit has gone, they're spending more than Sunak said he would...
"You're all the same!"
"They've only gone and done a Labour Budget!!"
- the latter is far more accurate. Taxes are higher, investment is higher, the two child limit has gone, they're spending more than Sunak said he would...
Interesting that Labour came in with a mandate for change and a huge majority, along with a bunch of explicit promises (and I would wager a sincere self-conception) to stop being short-termist fire-fighters and actually introduce some stability to UK government... but have largely reverted to form.
November 27, 2025 at 8:28 AM
I don't think this is fair, and think that of the two 'accusations' -
"You're all the same!"
"They've only gone and done a Labour Budget!!"
- the latter is far more accurate. Taxes are higher, investment is higher, the two child limit has gone, they're spending more than Sunak said he would...
"You're all the same!"
"They've only gone and done a Labour Budget!!"
- the latter is far more accurate. Taxes are higher, investment is higher, the two child limit has gone, they're spending more than Sunak said he would...
Reposted by Charles West
A good day for Ed Miliband: mansion tax introduced, green levies moved off bills to taxation, ban on new North Sea oil and gas licences confirmed.
November 26, 2025 at 9:59 PM
A good day for Ed Miliband: mansion tax introduced, green levies moved off bills to taxation, ban on new North Sea oil and gas licences confirmed.
This looks tremendous!
Publication – « Les lois barbares. Dire le droit et le pouvoir en Occident après la disparition de l’Empire romain », éd. Sylvie Joye
rmblf.be/2025/11/27/p...
rmblf.be/2025/11/27/p...
Publication – « Les lois barbares. Dire le droit et le pouvoir en Occident après la disparition de l’Empire romain », éd. Sylvie Joye
Enfants de Rome, les royaumes dits barbares ou post-romains le sont assurément, tout comme leurs lois. Cependant, en ce qui concerne le droit comme le reste, on sut élaborer des structures et des i…
rmblf.be
November 27, 2025 at 7:12 AM
This looks tremendous!
Reposted by Charles West
Publication – Alice Hicklin, Steffen Patzold, Bastiaan Waagmeester, Charles West, « Local Priests in the Latin West, 900–1050 »
rmblf.be/2025/11/27/p...
rmblf.be/2025/11/27/p...
Publication – Alice Hicklin, Steffen Patzold, Bastiaan Waagmeester, Charles West, « Local Priests in the Latin West, 900–1050 »
The local priest was the most ubiquitous embodiment of the Church for many people in medieval Christian Europe. By centring this key figure in post-Carolingian Europe, this book provides a fresh pe…
rmblf.be
November 27, 2025 at 6:33 AM
Publication – Alice Hicklin, Steffen Patzold, Bastiaan Waagmeester, Charles West, « Local Priests in the Latin West, 900–1050 »
rmblf.be/2025/11/27/p...
rmblf.be/2025/11/27/p...
Reposted by Charles West
Just out!
As @sarahsemple.bsky.social says, '544 pages and 190 images of pure sculptural joy!'
A fantastic cast list and a tremendous achievement @ascorpus.bsky.social.
boydellandbrewer.com/book/early-m...
As @sarahsemple.bsky.social says, '544 pages and 190 images of pure sculptural joy!'
A fantastic cast list and a tremendous achievement @ascorpus.bsky.social.
boydellandbrewer.com/book/early-m...
November 26, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Just out!
As @sarahsemple.bsky.social says, '544 pages and 190 images of pure sculptural joy!'
A fantastic cast list and a tremendous achievement @ascorpus.bsky.social.
boydellandbrewer.com/book/early-m...
As @sarahsemple.bsky.social says, '544 pages and 190 images of pure sculptural joy!'
A fantastic cast list and a tremendous achievement @ascorpus.bsky.social.
boydellandbrewer.com/book/early-m...
"At this point, AI tools like Gemini should be able to make most digitized handwritten documents searchable and readable in transcription". Cool, but also sad, in a way.
New issue of my newsletter: "The Writing Is on the Wall for Handwriting Recognition" — One of the hardest problems in digital humanities has finally been solved, and it's a good use of AI newsletter.dancohen.org/archive/the-...
The Writing Is on the Wall for Handwriting Recognition
One of the hardest problems in digital humanities has finally been solved
newsletter.dancohen.org
November 26, 2025 at 6:11 PM
"At this point, AI tools like Gemini should be able to make most digitized handwritten documents searchable and readable in transcription". Cool, but also sad, in a way.
Reposted by Charles West
Handing back student work that’s been written by ChatGPT with a 0 followed by the comment “This essay will never stand in authentic wonder before the Beauty of God’s creation.”
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
Even God Is Worried About ChatGPT
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
www.vulture.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Handing back student work that’s been written by ChatGPT with a 0 followed by the comment “This essay will never stand in authentic wonder before the Beauty of God’s creation.”
Reposted by Charles West
new favourite New York Times term for a British thing just dropped
November 26, 2025 at 10:05 AM
new favourite New York Times term for a British thing just dropped
Reposted by Charles West
International student fee levy details confirmed in Budget document: flat fee charged on institutions "of £925 per student per year of study, starting in August 2028 academic year 2028-29".
No charge for first 220 students per year.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6926eb...
No charge for first 220 students per year.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6926eb...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
November 26, 2025 at 1:49 PM
International student fee levy details confirmed in Budget document: flat fee charged on institutions "of £925 per student per year of study, starting in August 2028 academic year 2028-29".
No charge for first 220 students per year.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6926eb...
No charge for first 220 students per year.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6926eb...
Reposted by Charles West
As bad as your day might be, it could be worse, you could be the person who accidentally published the OBR's budget document a couple of hours early: obr.uk/docs/dlm_upl...
obr.uk
November 26, 2025 at 11:59 AM
As bad as your day might be, it could be worse, you could be the person who accidentally published the OBR's budget document a couple of hours early: obr.uk/docs/dlm_upl...
Wow, that is a lot of coins
More details here - www.francebleu.fr/infos/sante-...
PHOTOS - Des dizaines de milliers de pièces de monnaie de l'époque antique découvertes à Senon, dans la Meuse - ICI
A l'occasion de fouilles préventives avant des travaux sur une parcelle privée, des archéologues ont découvert trois réserves de pièces de monnaie dans des amphores, dans le village de Senon (Meuse). ...
www.francebleu.fr
November 26, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Wow, that is a lot of coins
Reposted by Charles West
'Exiting the market' is such a crap euphemism. It's not like the 'university' will then go and apply all its assets to another market. Those assets (human and non-human) will be dispersed, wasted, destroyed. Un-creative destruction. Which we can't afford as a society.
Chief exec of OfS 'said the OfS believes there are 24 institutions at risk of exiting the market in the next 12 months, seven of which are large providers with more than 3,000 students. There are another 25 or so institutions of various sizes at risk over a two- to three-year period, she added.'
Seven ‘large providers’ at risk of going under in the next year
Skills minister says no higher education institutions are at imminent risk of collapse this year but OfS confirms more than 20 providers are being closely monitored
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:54 AM
'Exiting the market' is such a crap euphemism. It's not like the 'university' will then go and apply all its assets to another market. Those assets (human and non-human) will be dispersed, wasted, destroyed. Un-creative destruction. Which we can't afford as a society.
Reposted by Charles West
This morning's @thetimes.com...
'Some academics suggest that even prior to the Norman Conquest, Anglo-Saxon Britons had a rudimentary system of jury decision making.' (!) Discuss.
'Some academics suggest that even prior to the Norman Conquest, Anglo-Saxon Britons had a rudimentary system of jury decision making.' (!) Discuss.
November 26, 2025 at 9:15 AM
This morning's @thetimes.com...
'Some academics suggest that even prior to the Norman Conquest, Anglo-Saxon Britons had a rudimentary system of jury decision making.' (!) Discuss.
'Some academics suggest that even prior to the Norman Conquest, Anglo-Saxon Britons had a rudimentary system of jury decision making.' (!) Discuss.
If only new books also came with the gift of some time to read them :)
Just listened to @pseudo-isidore.bsky.social talking about topics of his new book, and it was so interesting. Now I have to get hands on the book (and find some time to read it, which is much more difficult.) www.historyextra.com/membership/1... #medievalsky
11th-century Europe: not just the Norman Conquest
Charles West explains how the 11th century saw a raft of major changes and a plethora of significant events that extend beyond the Norman Conquest
www.historyextra.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:36 AM
If only new books also came with the gift of some time to read them :)
Reposted by Charles West
Zonal map of the World
SBB, Msc.Class.38; Macrobius's Commentary on Cicero's Somnium Scipionis; late 10th century; Italy; f.20r
SBB, Msc.Class.38; Macrobius's Commentary on Cicero's Somnium Scipionis; late 10th century; Italy; f.20r
November 25, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Zonal map of the World
SBB, Msc.Class.38; Macrobius's Commentary on Cicero's Somnium Scipionis; late 10th century; Italy; f.20r
SBB, Msc.Class.38; Macrobius's Commentary on Cicero's Somnium Scipionis; late 10th century; Italy; f.20r
Reposted by Charles West
Delighted to share @arezouazad.bsky.social's blog for @edinburghup.bsky.social: discover more about her upcoming book 'The Warehouse of Bamiyan'!
#medievalsky #skystorians #booksky #Afghanistan
#medievalsky #skystorians #booksky #Afghanistan
📚 New on the blog!
@arezouazad.bsky.social rediscovers Bamiyan’s medieval archives, revealing a diverse, literate and interconnected Islamicate society in Afghanistan.
Have a read:
@arezouazad.bsky.social rediscovers Bamiyan’s medieval archives, revealing a diverse, literate and interconnected Islamicate society in Afghanistan.
Have a read:
The Warehouse of Bamiyan: Q&A with Arezou Azad - Edinburgh University Press Blog
Arezou Azad rediscovers Bamiyan’s medieval archives, revealing a diverse, literate and interconnected Islamicate society in Afghanistan.
edin.ac
November 25, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Delighted to share @arezouazad.bsky.social's blog for @edinburghup.bsky.social: discover more about her upcoming book 'The Warehouse of Bamiyan'!
#medievalsky #skystorians #booksky #Afghanistan
#medievalsky #skystorians #booksky #Afghanistan
Reposted by Charles West
Save the date of the last GHIL lecture in our winter series given by Stefan Esders (@freieuniversitaet.bsky.social) on 'Ethnicity and Legal Pluralism in the Early Middle Ages':
📅 9 December 2025
📍Pushkin House, London
⏰ 5:30pm GMT
🔗 Sign up: www.ghil.ac.uk/event...
1/7
📅 9 December 2025
📍Pushkin House, London
⏰ 5:30pm GMT
🔗 Sign up: www.ghil.ac.uk/event...
1/7
November 25, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Save the date of the last GHIL lecture in our winter series given by Stefan Esders (@freieuniversitaet.bsky.social) on 'Ethnicity and Legal Pluralism in the Early Middle Ages':
📅 9 December 2025
📍Pushkin House, London
⏰ 5:30pm GMT
🔗 Sign up: www.ghil.ac.uk/event...
1/7
📅 9 December 2025
📍Pushkin House, London
⏰ 5:30pm GMT
🔗 Sign up: www.ghil.ac.uk/event...
1/7