Charles West
@pseudo-isidore.bsky.social
Professor of History
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.
Fascinated by the 1950s brands in the Beamish living history museum.
November 23, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Fascinated by the 1950s brands in the Beamish living history museum.
Cuthbert tests the defences of a castle.
November 22, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Cuthbert tests the defences of a castle.
What languages did the 35 hermits living in Jerusalem in 808 pray to God in? Charlemagne wanted to know, so he found out. (Mostly Greek and Syriac)
November 21, 2025 at 1:22 PM
What languages did the 35 hermits living in Jerusalem in 808 pray to God in? Charlemagne wanted to know, so he found out. (Mostly Greek and Syriac)
Churches in Jerusalem c. 808, mentioned in Charlemagne's survey
November 21, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Churches in Jerusalem c. 808, mentioned in Charlemagne's survey
Happy St Edmund's day.
November 20, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Happy St Edmund's day.
"Perhaps a little bit of Brie?"
November 19, 2025 at 7:53 AM
"Perhaps a little bit of Brie?"
Cuthbert notches up another Parkrun.
November 15, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Cuthbert notches up another Parkrun.
Looking forward to discussing Charlemagne's survey of Jerusalem with students next week...
November 14, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Looking forward to discussing Charlemagne's survey of Jerusalem with students next week...
Eg. here are the places mentioned in Orkneyinga Saga
November 12, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Eg. here are the places mentioned in Orkneyinga Saga
If you've not read it, you should: Henry Parkes's landmark article on Emperor Henry II, which has had a significant impact on scholarship internationally.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/P9YSAI...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/P9YSAI...
November 6, 2025 at 8:54 PM
If you've not read it, you should: Henry Parkes's landmark article on Emperor Henry II, which has had a significant impact on scholarship internationally.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/P9YSAI...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/P9YSAI...
Enjoyed discussing AI and LLMs with MSc students today: we were all slightly puzzled by the recent Microsoft claim that puts Historian as the job that's no. 2 at risk from AI.
November 5, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Enjoyed discussing AI and LLMs with MSc students today: we were all slightly puzzled by the recent Microsoft claim that puts Historian as the job that's no. 2 at risk from AI.
The book follows our (OA) special issue of Frühmittelalterliche Studien doi-org.eux.idm.oclc.org/10.1515/fmst...
November 3, 2025 at 8:23 AM
The book follows our (OA) special issue of Frühmittelalterliche Studien doi-org.eux.idm.oclc.org/10.1515/fmst...
A silver coin issued by Duke Grimoald III in southern Italy, c. 788, showing his and Charlemagne's monogram.
November 2, 2025 at 10:03 AM
A silver coin issued by Duke Grimoald III in southern Italy, c. 788, showing his and Charlemagne's monogram.
Byzantine emperors signed off their letters in style, with red ink.
November 2, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Byzantine emperors signed off their letters in style, with red ink.
A delightful morning taking @hcaatedinburgh.bsky.social students around the National Museum of Scotland, including this, the earliest Scottish tartan (!)
October 30, 2025 at 1:54 PM
A delightful morning taking @hcaatedinburgh.bsky.social students around the National Museum of Scotland, including this, the earliest Scottish tartan (!)
I've had a quick look at Grokipedia, and I think Wikipedia is safe. E.g. this reference to the origins of 'Charlemagne' ("Carolus magnus") is plain wrong: that's decades later, in different sources.
And unlike Wikipedia, I can't make a correction.
And unlike Wikipedia, I can't make a correction.
October 29, 2025 at 11:56 AM
I've had a quick look at Grokipedia, and I think Wikipedia is safe. E.g. this reference to the origins of 'Charlemagne' ("Carolus magnus") is plain wrong: that's decades later, in different sources.
And unlike Wikipedia, I can't make a correction.
And unlike Wikipedia, I can't make a correction.
"To ace your exams"
October 28, 2025 at 9:16 PM
"To ace your exams"
Can't stop thinking about this sales job title.
October 27, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Can't stop thinking about this sales job title.
Unfinished face and wig inlay, using clay and basalt: Egypt c. 1350 BC. If you can get to the exhibition in Cambridge, it's worth a visit. www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/plan-your-vi...
October 26, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Unfinished face and wig inlay, using clay and basalt: Egypt c. 1350 BC. If you can get to the exhibition in Cambridge, it's worth a visit. www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/plan-your-vi...