Ali Bennett @alibennett.bsky.social · 04/09/2026#HISTSTM #Envhist hive mind: If you were to offer ugrad students any introductory text on art & natural history in the context of travel & empire in the 19c what would you choose? Hoping for examples that raise important introductory questions before proceeding on to key examples in the seminar… 697
Reposted by Ali BennettEvan @evansmithhist.bsky.social · 03/09/2026Anyone interested in reviewing this book for the Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History? @jich.bsky.social uwap.uwa.edu.au/products/afr...uwap.uwa.edu.auAfrica in AustraliaEntangled Objects, Living Histories Richard Vokes Since the turn of the millennium, ties between Africa and Australia have grown substantially. However, connections between the two continents are no... 196
Reposted by Ali BennettCatherine Frieman @cjfrieman.bsky.social · 05/08/2026Very first sentence is about the knapped artefacts First Nations people here made with ballast stones. Def of interest to archs! 0148
Reposted by Ali BennettDerek R. Peterson @unseenarchive.bsky.social · 20/08/2026Colleagues will be sorry to hear that historian John Iliffe has this morning passed away in Cambridge at age 87. Iliffe was a maker of the academic field of African history. He took up a post at the University of Dar es Salaam shortly after Tanganyika's independence. 1/ 25934
Reposted by Ali BennettThe Material Culture of Wills Project @materialwills.bsky.social · 05/08/2026📢PROJECT UPDATE📢 You may have seen the news that the University of Exeter, home of the wills project, has placed 500 academics at risk of redundancy. The project leader Prof. Jane Whittle & project co-investigator Dr Laura Sangha are both at risk, alongside almost all of the History department. 1/ 1115090
Ali Bennett @alibennett.bsky.social · 14/07/2026Using collections to answer the big questions of our time. This was a fascinating day! www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/blog/uganda-...ccc.cam.ac.ukUganda, Cambridge and the Afterlives of Return - Collections Connections CommunitiesDr Eva Namusoke, Senior Curator, African Collections Futures, McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research Focused on a return to Uganda, Afterlives of Return is a project within African Collections... 010
Ali Bennett @alibennett.bsky.social · 12/06/2026Looking very forward to participating in this! Please join us on 23 June 011
Reposted by Ali BennettAntony Hook @antonyhook.bsky.social · 14/05/2026Democracy in Kent is under attack from a Reform administration that is clearly terrified of scrutiny. They are moving to quiet the opposition while prioritising songs and prayers over policy discussion. It is a bizarre and anti-democratic shift for our county. 🧵 1/6 33233
Ali Bennett @alibennett.bsky.social · 06/05/2026Very glad to see this. Good work Uganda Studies Group! 010
Ali Bennett @alibennett.bsky.social · 16/04/2026Belatedly posting this contribution to "God's Collections'" on the ‘Relics of the Kibuuka shrine in present-day Uganda’ www.godscollections.org/case-studies...godscollections.orgRelics of the Kibuuka shrine in present-day Uganda — Gods' Collectionsby Alison Bennett 121
Reposted by Ali BennettMargot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 10/04/2026CFP: Deadline for submissions: 15 April 2026 Workshop: Monday 15 June 2026, at UCL (London) #Skystoriansucl.ac.ukCall for Papers: ECR Workshop on South Asia and the Indian Ocean WorldThis Early Career Researcher's Workshop provides an interdisciplinary forum for doctoral and postdoctoral scholars from across the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences to present their research and to participate in debate constructive toward the completion of their projects. 01216
Reposted by Ali BennettThe English Historical Review @enghistrev.bsky.social · 10/04/2026**Symposium News** We have a few spaces available at our symposium in Oxford next Friday (17 April) on the theme 'When there are no sources'. The event is free, but please sign up using the link below. Our speakers are John Arnold, Hannah Murphy, Jonathan Saha, Miranda Spieler and Tess Wingard. 065
Reposted by Ali BennettEdgar Taylor @edgarjacktaylor.bsky.social · 03/03/2026The Ham Mukasa Public Lecture will be delivered on Friday 6th March at the Makerere University Main Hall at 2pm and online. 'His Life and Legacy. A Public Lecture by James Galabuzi Mukasa, Ham Mukasa's Grandson'. All are welcome. 112
Reposted by Ali BennettJon Earle @jonathonlearle.bsky.social · 04/04/2026Thrilled to announce the upcoming colloquium @dumbartonoaks.bsky.social, "Flowers, Landscape Design, and Political Imagination in African History: Bridging the Gap Between Precolonial Pasts and Colonial Encounters," of which Rahab Kinyanjui and I are colloquiarchs. www.doaks.org/events/garde...doaks.orgGarden and Landscape Studies ColloquiumNovember 13, 2026 | Jonathon Earle and Rahab Kinyanjui, Colloquiarchs 011
Reposted by Ali BennettMatt Houlbrook @tricksterprince.bsky.social · 11/03/2026I really can't recommend this book highly enough. It's premise – that it is in loss that we find meaning – was as true for Kate’s subjects in the eighteenth century as it is for historians today. 63811
Reposted by Ali BennettJohn McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 09/03/2026This is the elephant Mahabir Deb, presented to the emperor Shah Jahan by 'Adil Khan. This elephant was worth 60,000 rupees. c. 1630 (V&A Museum, London) 092
Reposted by Ali BennettJohn McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 09/03/2026Two 15th century European images of #elephants and then two early 16th century ones. (Albertina, Vienna) 182
Reposted by Ali BennettDr Laura Sangha @lsangha.bsky.social · 04/03/2026The British Trust for Ornithology's cuckoo tracking project has the most charismatic cast of characters. Find out more at: www.bto.org/get-involved... 191
Reposted by Ali BennettDr Laura Sangha @lsangha.bsky.social · 05/02/2026“I needed to respond to the West Africa display as the story of the diaspora was missing”'. Looking forward to seeing Charmaine Watkiss's new works at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum soon. www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...theguardian.com‘It’s about hurling yourself into the unknown’: Charmaine Watkiss on turning a UK museum upside downThe artist’s work resurfaces skills and knowledge that colonialism buried. She explains how her drawings and sculpture weave botanical illustration and traditional craft to engage with generational tr... 171
Reposted by Ali BennettClaire Langhamer @clairelanghamer.bsky.social · 04/02/2026For anyone interested in our 18-month post in British Studies please follow the link below. @ihr.bsky.social www.jobs.london.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...jobs.london.ac.ukJacob Price Fellowship in British Studies (18 month FTC):London Senate House - HybridThe University of London is both the UK’s largest provider of international distance and online learning and the convenor of a federation of 17 renowned higher education institutions. 14365
Ali Bennett @alibennett.bsky.social · 04/02/2026Please join us next Wed 11 Feb 2-3.30 in Oxford for ‘Imperial Circulations Climate Knowledge, Port Labor, and Material Worlds’ 010
Ali Bennett @alibennett.bsky.social · 15/01/2026New blog post for the fab @bemccollective.bsky.social summarising my recent @rhi-ihr.bsky.social article on labour, global commodities, and material skill in the Port of London’s ivory warehouse sites.manchester.ac.uk/bodies-emoti...sites.manchester.ac.ukNew journal article on port labour, global commodities, and material skill development: a study of the ivory warehouse in the Port of London and its representation c.1860-1968 010
Reposted by Ali BennettJohn McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 14/01/2026Dummy board of a woman peeling apples, c. 1690, of English make (Victoria & Albert Museum) Dummy boards were life-size images placed in stairwells or in front of fireplaces in summer time. They were designed to amuse and also to startle visitors. 0123
Reposted by Ali BennettSadiah Qureshi 🦈 @sadiahqureshi.bsky.social · 11/12/2025The story of this collection awaits its historian and fullest telling. It really is an amazing insight into multiple forms of historical erasure, neglect, and theft. 085
Reposted by Ali BennettAlexia Yates @ayates.bsky.social · 12/12/2025So awesome! Terrific and vocal support for the humanities. BUT this university is also near to slow-closing its languages programs and for real these schemes raise questions about economic feasibility arguments. 051
Reposted by Ali BennettModern Records Centre, University of Warwick @mrcwarwick.bsky.social · 08/12/2025#CfP Call for Papers Organised by Global History and Culture Centre, University of Warwick: Between Thompson and the Global: Reflections on Labour History Today Workshop: 26-27 June 2026, University of Warwick Deadline for abstracts: 30 January 2026 Submit to globalhistory@warwick.ac.uk 13634
Reposted by Ali BennettAlka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 06/12/2025How does a physical space become a site for global economic history? @alibennett.bsky.social unpacks the significance of African ivory in the Port of London 👇 031
Reposted by Ali BennettHistory of Art, University of Oxford @oxfordhistoryofart.bsky.social · 17/11/2025Medieval Visual Culture Seminar 'New directions in the study of ivories from the Islamic world: A talk and handling session' Mariam Rosser-Owen (V&A) & Ashley Coutu (Pitt Rivers) 5pm Nov 20 🗓️ Khalili Research Center 🏢 (Co-sponsored by the Khalili Research Center) www.hoa.ox.ac.uk/event/mediev...hoa.ox.ac.ukMedieval Visual Culture SeminarNew directions in the study of ivories from the Islamic world: A talk and handling session 002
Ali Bennett @alibennett.bsky.social · 25/11/2025A brilliant opportunity to work on a new exhibition on the Global Renaissance. 010
Reposted by Ali BennettAlka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 19/11/2025The first volume of the Special Issue on Global Economic History @rhi-ihr.bsky.social is now out! It features 4 new articles on 4 commodities in global economic history - salt, ivory, raw cotton, and finished cotton goods - all open access. It was a great experience editing this volume! 075
Ali Bennett @alibennett.bsky.social · 18/11/2025Very pleased to have published this new article entitled ‘Port labour, global commodities, and material skill development: A study of the ivory warehouse in the Port of London and its representation c. 1860-1968’ with @rhi-ihr.bsky.social. Huge thanks go to @alkaraman.bsky.social as special editor! 130
Reposted by Ali BennettRoyal Historical Society @royalhistsoc.org · 28/10/2025We are very pleased to be working with @ihr.bsky.social and @findmypast.bsky.social on this new Applied History Fellowship programme. The launch event on Weds 19 November bit.ly/49vcgCS provides further details of the scheme and how to apply #Skystoriansbit.ly 02719
Ali Bennett @alibennett.bsky.social · 10/10/2025On flags and ‘patriotism’ in Kent right now 😩 www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10...telegraph.co.ukAccess Restricted 000
Reposted by Ali BennettAnne E @anita5446.bsky.social · 13/08/2025Fascinating article by Nuala Zahedieh about the centrality of canoes in early colonial exploitation 🗃️https://academic.oup.com/past/advance-article/doi/10.1093/pastj/gtaf021/8231030academic.oup.comCanoes in the Early English Caribbean: The Role of an Indigenous Technology in Making Mercantilism Work*Abstract. The Caribbean, with its focus on cash crop production, played a major role in the rise of England’s Atlantic trading system and the making of mod 17132
Reposted by Ali BennettUniversity of Glasgow @glasgow.ac.uk · 09/07/2025Over 90% of the world's museum collections are locked away in storage. Not anymore. UofG’s Museums in the Metaverse is bringing hidden treasures to life through 3D technology. Sign up to be first to hear about the beta launch www.gla.ac.uk/mim 02812
Reposted by Ali BennettLiberating Narratives @liberatingnarratives.com · 26/07/2025After my annual summer break, I'm back with a new series on teaching East Africa in world history. This first post is free and introduces some resources and themes we can use when teaching East Africa. 🗺️🗃️ www.liberatingnarratives.com/a-mixed-popu...liberatingnarratives.com“A Mixed Population of Muslims and Zanj”: Teaching East Africa in World History, c.1000 to PresentDiscussion of teaching East Africa Africa in World History 1179
Reposted by Ali BennettDr. Verena Krebs @krebsverena.bsky.social · 20/02/2025Two years later, it still feels surreal that I had the (quite literally) once-in-a-lifetime honour of giving a keynote at the International Medieval Congress in Leeds. Turning that talk into an essay—whose proofs arrived today—is just the icing on the absurdity cake. 410210
Reposted by Ali BennettArchifau Prifysgol Bangor University Archives @archpbu.bsky.social · 12/08/2025With it being #WorldElephantDay #ElephantDay we just had to post a photo of the Seal of the borough of Pwllheli featuring an elephant and castle, as it appears on the ceiling of the wonderful Shankland Reading Room here at Bangor University. 064
Reposted by Ali BennettThe Linnean Society of London @linneansociety.bsky.social · 12/08/2025Today is #ElephantDay! Enjoy these illustrations of the largest living land animals from our collections. The first is from C. d’Orbigny's, 'Dictionnaire universel d’histoire naturelle', 1847, and the second from B. Hawkins's, 'A comparative view of the human and animal frame', 1860. 0205
Reposted by Ali BennettSteven Nelson @snelsonus.bsky.social · 17/07/2025A bit of good news from the Yale University Art Gallery. www.nhregister.com/connecticut/...nhregister.comYale Art Gallery abandons plans for federal grants over anti-DEI rules, funds African exhibit itself"We have a world-spanning collection of art, and it is our mission to represent a diversity of cultures," a Yale Art Gallery spokesman said. 16616
Reposted by Ali BennettJonas Fossli Gjersø @jonasgjerso.bsky.social · 12/05/2025Our latest @jich.bsky.social 'Current Debate' essay entitled 'Trump and the Commonwealth' is now #OpenAccess for a limited time. The journal's former editor Professor Philip Murphy offers some compelling commentary on the US president's ambition of joining the Commonwealth. doi.org/10.1080/0308...doi.orgTrump and the CommonwealthPublished in The Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History (Ahead of Print, 2025) 0106
Ali Bennett @alibennett.bsky.social · 25/04/2025If you find yourself in the Margate area, do check out the Powell-Cotton Museum’s redisplay of some of its East African Collections. Especially useful for those interested in missionary collecting but also a new focus on Ugandan figures- not just the solitary British missionary ‘expert’ or explorer 0112
Reposted by Ali BennettFreddy Foks @freddyfoks.bsky.social · 18/02/2025How might ships change the way we understand migration policy in postwar Britain and its empire? My new article in @jbritishstudies.bsky.social offers an answer to that question. Here's a thread to hopefully pique your interest and maybe get you to read it 🧵🚢 www.cambridge.org/core/service... 295
Reposted by Ali BennettHannah Barker @historyhannahb.bsky.social · 28/02/2025So excited to see ‘Faith in the Town’ (co-authored my me, @kategibson Jeremy Gregory and Carys Brown & published in Open Access form (free to read) today by @oxfordunipress.bsky.social. Want to know how religious faith was woven through urban life in northern English towns 1740-1830? Then read on …academic.oup.comFaith in the Town: Lay Religion in Northern England, 1740–1830Abstract. Faith in the Town explores the ways in which religious faith affected the lives of men, women, and children in the increasingly urban and industr 47721
Reposted by Ali BennettFreddy Foks @freddyfoks.bsky.social · 04/02/2025Manchester have posted 14 more postdoc positions in 'SHAPE' disciplines - 4x simon fellowships and 10(!) hallsworth fellowships. Simon eligibility is 'within 4 years of PhD award', except career breaks www.humanities.manchester.ac.uk/research/fun... Happy to discuss these via emailhumanities.manchester.ac.ukSimon and Hallsworth Fellowships | Faculty of Humanities | The University of ManchesterFind out the Simon and Hallsworth Fellowships at Manchester, our Faculty of Humanities funding scheme for early career researchers with a doctoral degree. 01114
Ali Bennett @alibennett.bsky.social · 21/01/2025Such excellent and important work, @zoecormack.bsky.social and team! 020
Reposted by Ali BennettLoot and Plunder @andrewheavens.bsky.social · 21/01/2025A piece of Ethiopia's Maqdala plunder comes under the spotlight A diptych linking Dürer and Christian Ethiopia likely taken from Portugal to Ethiopia by Jesuit missionaries. Quotes @zoecormack.bsky.social @alulapankhurst.bsky.social @krebsverena.bsky.social www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/01/21/i...theartnewspaper.comInvestigation shines fresh light on British Museum’s looted, Dürer-inspired diptychThe piece, one side of which is an enamel copy of a 16th-century woodcut, the other side crafted in Ethiopia, reveals how European icons became incorporated into the African country’s traditions 0105
Reposted by Ali BennettMargot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 15/01/2025Are you a postdoctoral (or equivalent) researcher in the UK within c. 10 years of your PhD? If so, the @britishacademy.bsky.social 's Early Career Research Network (ECRN) is designed & funded for you. North West & North Wales cluster is now live. 1/2 www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/early-c... 21614