History Now and Then

This series of public discussions run by the Institute of Historical Research (IHR), part of the University of London’s School of Advanced Study takes off from an extraordinary (and potentially dangerous) paradox. On the one hand, ‘history’ seems to be more popular than ever: in schools and universities, on film, TV and the internet, in sales of historical biographies, visitor numbers to heritage sites, the growth of family history, re-enactment societies and the like.

Yet we also live in an aggressively here-and-now culture in which many people seem to lack any real understanding of how the present is linked to all that has preceded it. That’s why the six public discussions on how we regard – and disregard – the past will be so compelling.

They will feature top historians including Margot Finn, Margaret MacMillan, Chris Wickham, David Starkey, Taylor Downing, Diarmaid MacCulloch and Miri Rubin.

Taking place monthly, each has its own theme:
• Rhodes statue and beyond (5 October 2016): How far can or should history be re-written to accommodate contemporary values? The panel will consider the pros and cons of ‘apology’. Have some aspects of history become unacceptable even to discuss?

• History and change (2 November 2016): Is history necessarily the story of 'change'? Who or what creates change? The panel will reflect on the role of ‘great men’ and ‘great women’ in driving historical change.

• The proper focus of history (7 December 2016): Should history focus on the nation? A locality? The wider world? Or should it focus on ‘things’ instead? Should it have a short, precisely defined temporal focus or a longer Durée?

• Lessons from the past (11 January 2017): Does history 'repeat itself'? What kind of 'lessons' can we learn from history? The panel will explore the idea of counterfactual history: could the past have been different?

• History and religion(s) (8 February 2017): What role has religion played in the unfolding of history? The panel will ask whether it has been a fundamental motivating force or a reflection of deeper socioeconomic trends and priorities.

• The future of the past (8 March 2017): How will future historians judge today’s history writing? What do modern historians over-emphasise or under-emphasise? The panel will discuss the influence of ‘big history’ and ‘big data’ and predict how the writing of history will change in the digital age.

All discussions begin at 6pm and last for approximately 90 minutes, followed by refreshments.