This week, ending in December 29 2016:
Today's thread is for open discussion of:
History in the academy
Historiographical disputes, debates and rivalries
Implications of historical theory both abstractly and in application
Philosophy of history
And so on
Regular participants in the Thursday threads should just keep doing what they've been doing; newcomers should take notice that this thread is meant for open discussion only of matters like those above, not just anything you like -- we'll have a thread on Friday for that, as usual.
Sci-hist people. Is there a good history of meteorology out there? I'm especially interested in ancient/medieval/early modern understandings of the weather, around the world, but I'd take reading recommendations on the modern development as well.
Thanks!
Anyone know much about the disagreement between J. Arch Etty and Robert Conquest on how much blame could be placed on Stalin for the purges?
It seems that Conquest directed more vitriol at Getty in his work after Getty became prominent than Getty did at Stalin.
Yezhov was probably not a great guy himself, but that doesn't mean that Stalin can't be held responsible for his subordinates' actions. At the same time, I am not entirely convinced by Conquest about Stalin being directly involved with everything.
[Junior research seminar on 20th Century Europe had me pick this topic for the paper]