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LOCKDOWN HISTORY TIPS: Here are some tips for sixth formers who want to further their study of history in lockdown.
Idea 1: Take a free history course. FutureLearn is amazing. There is one on the Tudors which I've attached the link for, but there are loads of history related topics on there which might be of interest. Have an explore. https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/the-tudors
Ideas 2: Read some award winning history books. I've ben trawling through the Bailie Gifford (formerly Samuel Johnson) prize shortlists for non-fiction book of the year searching for any history books that have been nominated. Here's the list...
(1) A Gambling Man: Charles II and the Restoration, Jenny Uglow, 2010.
Liberty’s Exiles: How the Loss of America Made the British Empire, Maya Jasanoff, 2010.
Reprobates: The Cavaliers of the English Civil War, John Stubbs, 2011.
Mao’s Great Famine,Frank Dikotter, 2012.
Liberty’s Exiles: How the Loss of America Made the British Empire, Maya Jasanoff, 2010.
Reprobates: The Cavaliers of the English Civil War, John Stubbs, 2011.
Mao’s Great Famine,Frank Dikotter, 2012.
(2) The Spanish Holocaust, Paul Preston, 2012.
Empires of the Dead: How One Man’s Vision Led to the Creation of WW1’s War Graves, David Crane, 2013.
Return of the King, William Dalrymple, 2013.
Under Another Sky: Journeys in Roman Britain, 2013.
Empires of the Dead: How One Man’s Vision Led to the Creation of WW1’s War Graves, David Crane, 2013.
Return of the King, William Dalrymple, 2013.
Under Another Sky: Journeys in Roman Britain, 2013.
(3) Common People: The History of an English Family, Alison Light, 2014.
Villages of Secrets: Defying the Nazis in Vichy France, Caroline Moorhead, 2014.
Empire of Necessity: The Untold History of Slave Rebellion in the Age of Liberty, Greg Grandin, 2014.
Villages of Secrets: Defying the Nazis in Vichy France, Caroline Moorhead, 2014.
Empire of Necessity: The Untold History of Slave Rebellion in the Age of Liberty, Greg Grandin, 2014.
(4) Fighters in the Shadows, Robert Gildea, 2015.
Black Earth: The Holocaust as History and Warning, Timothy Snyder, 2015.
They All Love Jack: Busting the Ripper, Bruce Robinson, 2015.
East West Street, Philipe Sands, 2016.
Black Earth: The Holocaust as History and Warning, Timothy Snyder, 2015.
They All Love Jack: Busting the Ripper, Bruce Robinson, 2015.
East West Street, Philipe Sands, 2016.
(5) Belonging: The Story of the Jews 1492-1900, Simon Schama, 2017.
Chernobyl: History of a Tragedy, Serhil Plokhy, 2018.
The Spy and the Traitor, Ben Macintyre, 2018.
Imperial Twilight: The Opium War and the End of China’s Last Golden Age, Stephen Platt, 2018.
Chernobyl: History of a Tragedy, Serhil Plokhy, 2018.
The Spy and the Traitor, Ben Macintyre, 2018.
Imperial Twilight: The Opium War and the End of China’s Last Golden Age, Stephen Platt, 2018.
(6) The Five, Hallie Rubenhold, 2019.
Maoism: A Global History, Julia Lovell, 2019.
Alternatively, take a look through the list of the Wolfson prize winners. This is the prize for history book of the year in the UK. https://www.wolfsonhistoryprize.org.uk/past-winners/
Maoism: A Global History, Julia Lovell, 2019.
Alternatively, take a look through the list of the Wolfson prize winners. This is the prize for history book of the year in the UK. https://www.wolfsonhistoryprize.org.uk/past-winners/
Idea 3: Read some of the best history books published last year. What's that you say? You want another list of history books. Well here's a brilliant list of books that were published last year. https://www.historyextra.com/magazine/history-books-year-2019-christmas-gift-guide/
Idea 4: Watch some documentaries. I've been very sad and created a school Youtube channel with loads of links to some great documentaries. Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_ZhAiPE9mRS3fJOp6rGG6247GPEfiq2W
Idea 5: Listen to a podcast. There are so many great history podcasts out there. Some tops ones to recommend are History Hack (a new episode every day through Corona), You're Dead to Me (with Greg Jenner from horrible Histories)...
Killing Time (with Rebecca Rideal), Dan Carlin's Hardcore History, History Extra and the incredible In Our Time. I've given you a link to the last one here, but they are all easily findable through whatever podcast app if on your phone. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01dh5yg/episodes/downloads
Idea 6: Watch a lecture. Gresham College in London has filmed some brilliant public lectures. They are all freely available. There are loads of history ones. Have an explore and see if any take your fancy. https://www.youtube.com/user/GreshamCollege/playlists
Idea 7: Attend an online history festival. Rebecca Rideal recently ran an online history festival after her real one got cancelled. The videos are all still available, and the speakers include top names like Sir Michael Palin and Hallie Rubenhold. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx28fwN_TeDYfklgshl4m1g/videos
Idea 8: Watch a historical film/ TV series and then research how accurate it is. There are so many awesome historical films out there. The key thing is though to approach them critically. Watch the film and then watch a lecture or read a book that relates directly to it...
For instance, you could watch the brilliant 'Lives of Others' on Prime and then read 'Stasiland'. If you can't find a good series or film here are some recommendations from BBC History Magazine. https://www.historyextra.com/period/modern/best-historical-tv-shows-films-stream-right-now-uk-what-to-watch-netflix-amazon-prime-now-tv-us-america-period-dramas/
Advice for students who are going on to study history at university next year: If I was in your shoes I might be thinking this is a nice list of 'stuff' but how do I make it meaningful. (1)
First off I would aim to find out about as many different periods as possible and improve my understanding of history. Read a proper history of the world. My recommendation would be 'The Silk Roads' by Peter Frankopan. (2)
But if that sounds daunting plump for E.H. Gombrich's brilliant children's book 'A Short History of the World' as a simple overview. As you go make a note on anything you feel weak on or sounds really interesting. Soon you'll have a nice long list of topics to study. (3)
Then build some structure and routine to your days to tackle them. I would follow something like this:
Monday- AM- Read book. Aim for 60 pages. PM- Watch lecture and make notes. Order books for next week.
Tuesday- AM- Read book. Aim for 60 pages. PM- Watch doc and make notes.(3)
Monday- AM- Read book. Aim for 60 pages. PM- Watch lecture and make notes. Order books for next week.
Tuesday- AM- Read book. Aim for 60 pages. PM- Watch doc and make notes.(3)
Wednesday- AM- Watch historical film. PM- Watch at least one lecture/ doc in relation to film and research online what it got right and wrong, using at at least one primary source. Make notes.
Thursday- AM- Read book. Aim for 60 pages. PM- Listen to podcast and make notes. (4)
Thursday- AM- Read book. Aim for 60 pages. PM- Listen to podcast and make notes. (4)
Friday- AM- Read book. Aim for 60 pages. PM- Complete next section of online history course, making notes as you go. File all work from the week.
Weekend- Finish book.
This is just an example. I'm not telling you that you have to read 60 pages every morning! (5)
Weekend- Finish book.
This is just an example. I'm not telling you that you have to read 60 pages every morning! (5)
Play around with it and see what works for you. I might have a book on one interesting topic going through the whole week, and then my lecture/ podcast/ documentary/ film choices might hit other topics. Good luck!
Some ace history people/projects mentioned in here somewhere: @greg_jenner @RebeccaRideal @sixteenthCgirl @hack_history @HistoryExtra @HistFestUK @philippesands @peterfrankopan @HardcoreHistory @WolfsonHistory
