Thursday Reading and Research is intended as an academic free-for-all, for the discussion of all issues historical, or tangentially so. Suggested topics include, but are by no means limited to:
New developments or discoveries in the field
Recent book releases, old book reviews, reading recommendations, or just talking about what you're reading now
Historiographical discussions, debates, and disputes
Your current research interests or projects
The goings on within the academy
...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 historical discussion, not just anything you like -- we'll have a thread on Friday for that, as usual.
hi, first time every commenting on /r/askhistorians. exciting.
I was looking for a book on the silk road, as well as a book on how different cultures influenced each other. I appreciate that the second point is a bit vague- I have looked through the book list, and really enjoyed Culture and Conquest in Mongol Eurasia by Thomas T. Allsen that was recommended. I was wondering if there were other books like that?
/u/sunagainstgold kindly recommended Reuven Amitai and Michal Biran (eds.), Nomads As Agents of Cultural Exchange: The Mongols and their Eurasian Predecessors (2015) in the modmail, and suggested posting on this thread as well.
thanks!
Currently reading Mustakeem's Slavery At Sea which really does a great job at filling in the gaps in Rediker's The Slave Ship.
While the latter is, I think, a decent introductory text my biggest gripe is that he largely portrayed the experience as a male one - which is unsurprising given his background. He does the same in The Amistad, though his emphasis on ethnography was fantastic.
Anyway, the first part of her book focuses heavily on the coastal interaction of Europeans and African merchants and I would love further reading suggestions that focus on those interactions and relationships.
I'm in the midst of doing research for an undergrad class on England 1500-1800, and in a different class I'm studying the Reformation. I have a basic overview of the period from a previous survey course on England, but for the purpose of my current studies I've become intensely fascinated by Charles II, partly because of his reputation that earned him the moniker of the Merry Monarch.
Can anyone recommend an accessible book on Charles himself for someone with only introductory knowledge of the time and place? Preferably one that deals with his relationship to Parliament, considering their, uh, treatment of the, ah, previous monarch?
I've currently developed a strong itch to learn more about the cold war era, particularly about the proxy wars and the geopolitical aspects of it all. My knowledge is rather limited, and would like to know which are some good books to read. If anyone can provide input I would greatly appreciate it.
Hello everyone! Reposting from /AskHistorians as advised by a member here.
I have been interested in Nationalism for some time now and have recently decided to start delving into professional works about it. So following this I have read 'Imagined Communities' by Benedict Anderson and 'National Identity' by Anthony D. Smith and some other minor articles on the subject. Also I am aware of The Nationalism Project and I have read some of the threads on nationalism under this subreddit. My question for you is which work should I read next? My immediate options for major works are 'Nations and Nationalism since 1780' from Eric Hobsbawm, 'Nations and Nationalism' from Ernest Gellner or 'Nationalism Reframed' by Rogers Brubaker.
One other option would be to read 'Nations and Nationalism in a Global Era' by Anthony D. Smith before one of the other major works, as it perhaps would allow me to follow more closely Smith's arguments since I just finished reading National Identity yesterday.
Lastly, feel free to provide any additional clarifications/distinctions you may feel are important! Thank you for your help!