History and Politics

Further General Reading in History and Politics

“Big Questions in History” Harriet Swain

Using historical examples from Ancient Greece to Britain under Tony Blair leading historical thinkers address twenty big questions that have been asked over the centuries about the course of human events Each essay is placed in context by a more general commentary that discusses the different views of other leading thinkers both today and in the past. Questions which are examined over the course of this study include What makes a good leader? Why do empires rise and can History ever have an end?

“Fateful Choices” Ian Kershaw

In this volume it is held by Kershaw that the events of the Second World War were shaped by ten fateful choices which were made during 1940 and 1941.Examples of these include an examination of what may have occurred if Britain had chosen to make peace in May-June 1940 and the extent to which the complexion of the war would have changed. In addition if Hitler had chosen to preserve his alliance with Stalin it would have been Britain and not Germany which would have been facing almost certain military defeat in the conflict. Finally the decision of Japan to attack the American Fleet at Pearl Harbor on Hawaii together with invading European colonies in Asia which converted a European centred one into a truly global conflict.

The History of the World” Andrew Marr 

In this volume Marr gives a “big picture” overview of some of the key developments in the history of the world. Emphasis is placed on individuals such as Cleopatra, Genghis Khan, Galileo & Mao rather than movements in history providing an opportunity to evaluate the relative merits of various approaches to studying the past. The interconnections between them are highlighted. Marr has produced his thesis for the benefit of a general audience and this helps to make the book accessible and populist in nature with the result that it enables a more reflective view of the past to be taken. Even if his argument may seem to be rather old fashioned for the 20th century in terms of focusing on the “Great Men '' approach to History it provides an opportunity for a critical approach to be adopted by the reader with regard to the nature of the subject.

“The End of History and the Last Man” Francis Fukuyama 

The thesis statement made by Fukuyama in this volume which was published at the time of the end of the Cold War was that the ideological conflicts which had formed the basis of historical events in the past were over. He argued that the collapse of communism and the apparent success of the idea of liberal democracy against other ideologies showed that “the end of history” had been reached. Since 2001 however with the apparent rise of religious fundamentalism in parts of the world and a rejection of western liberal democracy Fukuyama’s thesis has been questioned.  

Historical Fiction and Literature related to History

“Roots” Alex Haley

This poignant and powerful narrative tells the story of Kunta Kinte who was snatched from freedom in Africa and brought by ship to the United States for slavery. Drawing on the oral traditions handed down in his family for generations. Haley traces his origins back to the 17 year old Kunta Kinte who was abducted from Gambia and how the lives of seven generations of black men and women were affected by the slavery in the United States during the 18th and 19th centuries.

“To Kill a Mockingbird” Harper Lee

In 1932 in a small Alabama town lawyer Atticus Finch agrees to defend Tom Robinson a black man who is accused of raping Mayella Ewell. As a result of the trial Atticus is able to demonstrate Tom’s innocence forcing Mayella to admit that her father beat her when he found her making advances towards Tom but the all-white jury returns a verdict of guilty. Atticus attempts to have the decision reversed but before he can do so Tom attempts to escape and is killed.

“The Reader” Bernhard Schlink

This novel tells the story of Michael Berg a German lawyer who as a teenager in 1958 had an affair with an older woman Hanna Schmitz who subsequently disappeared only to return many years later as one of the defendants in a war crimes trial stemming from her actions as a guard in a Nazi concentration camp. Michael realises Hanna is keeping a personal secret she believes is worse than her Nazi past which if revealed could help her at the trial.

“Fatherland” Robert Harris 

In his novel Harris provides an alternative view of the history of the world in the 20th century in which Nazi Germany won World War II. The story begins in 1964 in the week leading up to the 75th birthday of Hitler. The plot follows detective Xavier March as he investigates the suspicious death of a high ranking Nazi Josef Buhler. As March uncovers details of his death he discovers a political scandal involving senior Nazis being murdered. With an American female journalist “Charlie Maguire” March discovers that the Gestapo is murdering the remaining officials who planned the Holocaust at the Wannsee Conference of 1942.This is taking place to safeguard an upcoming meeting of Hitler and President Joseph Kennedy of the USA aimed at bringing Nazi Germany in from the political cold. 

A wide range of video material is available online to develop a deeper understanding of History studies across the school curriculum including the following:

• The Cold War (CNN) This excellent series produced during the late 1990s provides a comprehensive guide to all of the key aspects of the Cold War and is a very good supplement for GCSE History in Year 11 when this topic is studied as well as in Year 13 for the IB Diploma.

• David Olusoga documentaries: The renowned historian has produced a wide range of documentaries on aspects of “Black British History” with the materials here being of relevance for students from KS3 to KS5 to deepen their appreciation of this often hidden aspect of our national story.

• Lucy Worsley documentaries; The renowned historian has produced a wide range of documentaries with a focus on many topics ranging from the Middle Ages, through the Tudor period to the Early Modern & Modern eras with there being aspects to extend an appreciation of British, European and World History.

• Nazi Germany 1933 to 1945; This series provides a thorough overview of key aspects of Hitler’s rule in this period involving “talking heads” from a number of eminent historians & being particularly suitable to enrich understanding of this topic for GCSE in Year 10 and the IB in Year 12.

• The Great War Interviews; Although this is an old documentary it remains powerful involving testimony from a range of World War I veterans about their experiences in the conflict looking back with hindsight during the 1960s at the events which changed the world between 1914 and 1918.

• History of Britain; This series presented by eminent historian Simon Schama provides a thorough and comprehensive overview of the key events and developments which have taken place in our national story from the time of the Norman Conquest until the end of the 20th century.

• Windrush: A very timely series on the history of the “Black British” experience within the nation which has been re-shown on television to commemorate the 75 anniversary of the arrival of the “Empire Windrush” in Tilbury in 1948 bringing many migrants from the West Indies to this country.

There are a number of good podcasts which students may listen to or watch so as to enhance their knowledge & understanding of contemporary political developments as well as historical events including:

• Channel 4: Ways to Change the World presented by Krishan Guru Murthy from Channel 4 News and involving a series of in depth interviews with politicians on the British and global stage as well as other figures involved in key aspects of economic, social and cultural life at the moment.

• BBC Political Thinking presented by former BBC Political Editor and now presenter of Radio 4 “Today” programme involving in depth interviews with a wide variety of key individuals in a number of different areas of political, economic, social and cultural life within Britain. 

Historical Association: This offers a wide range of sample lectures and podcasts online and in person so as to enable KS5 students to develop an appreciation of the “university experience” with regard to learning and by participating in them they are able to enrich their understanding of the nature of the subject.

There are a number of different websites which may be accessed to enhance students understanding of their studies in History across the curriculum including the following many of which include short video clips to make aspects of the topics easier 

• Dan Snow: History Hit :The renowned British historian has produced a number of full documentaries which are very accessible to all students on key aspects of British and world History although this series is appealing because of the small “bite sized” segments on a range of different topics.

• BBC Bitesize GCSE History: This website is suitable for enhancing and reinforcing knowledge of the main aspects which form part of the Edexcel course which we follow in the department including both key “nuggets of knowledge” as well as video segments to complement classroom learning.

• BBC Teach KS3: This website provides a wealth of information with video clips on key topics which are studied as part of the History curriculum in Years 7 to 9 and helps to enrich an understanding of some of the key components of study during the first three years of secondary education.

• BBC Teach KS4; This website is similar in its design to that for KS3 although with an in depth focus on some of the key topics which form the basis of GCSE History with its emphasis on the History of Medicine, Weimar and Nazi Germany, the Cold War and Elizabethan England.

There are a wide range of museums which are available to visit to enhance an understanding of History both in the London Borough of Bexley as well as central London and beyond including the following:

• Danson House Welling: This is the most local of museums to visit with the now beautifully restored mansion on the hill being open to visitors and having direct connections to the Slave Trade with its original owner obtaining the funds to build it from the profits sugar plantations in the West Indies

• Red House Bexleyheath ;|This beautiful “arts and crafts” house designed by William Morris during the 19th century is open to the public through English Heritage being a fine example of this movement which was a leading force for design at this time.

• Eltham Palace: The origins of the palace are to be found in the late Middle Ages and Early Modern period with it being a favourite home of many of the Tudor monarchs including Henry VII and Henry VIII being originally situated in the Kent countryside but now is found in South East London.

• Crossness Pumping Station: This preserved pumping station which was built in the 19th century as part of public health reform is an excellent example of Victorian engineering being very close and easy to visit within Abbey Wood linking to the Year 8 topic of the Industrial Revolution.

• Royal Observatory Greenwich; Situated within the grounds of Greenwich Park the Royal Observatory is an excellent example of the technical advancements of the Scientific Revolution which took place in Britain during the 18th and 19th centuries.  

• National Maritime Museum; Situated in historical Greenwich, this museum provides a rich history of key aspects of the naval history of Britain with many of the exhibitions within it relating to aspects of early modern History which forms a key component of the KS3 curriculum.

• Rochester Castle; Situated on the banks of the River Medway this medieval castle whose keep remains largely intact is a fine example of the methods of control used by the Normans to control England after 1066 and enhances a key aspect of the Year 7 curriculum. 

• Penshurst Place: This Tudor country house set in the Kent countryside is an excellent example of how the wealthy lived during the early modern period and helps to enhance the Year 7 curriculum with its focus on key aspects of the Tudor period in the 16th century.

• Chartwell: Set in the Kent countryside near Westerham the country home of Winston Churchill and his “retreat” from the pressures of politics enhances aspects of the Year 9 curriculum with its focus upon key aspects of the 20th century world.

• Churchill War Rooms: Constructed below Whitehall in Central London this museum and from where Prime Minister Winston Churchill conducted much of the war effort between 1939 and 1945 provides a useful supplement to the Year 9 curriculum topic on Turning Points in World War II.

• Imperial War Museum: Situated in central London this museum is comprehensive in its coverage of the major conflicts of the 20th century with there being an excellent exhibition on the First World War to reinforce learning on this topic which is studied in Year 9.

• Wellcome Galleries: Science Museum; These new galleries which opened for the first time in 2020 offer a comprehensive overview of the key developments in the history of medicine in Britain and are helpful in supplementing the Year 10 GCSE unit on the History of Medicine from 1250 to the Present.

• Imperial War Museum: Duxford Although this is outside of London this museum provides an insight into some of the key aspects of military hardware used by Britain in the conflict of the 20th century and helps to supplement an understanding of aspects of the Year 9 History curriculum.

• Bletchley Park Museum; Like the Imperial War Museum at Duxford this is outside of the capital but it presents a key history of one of the most important aspects of warfare in the 20th century namely the use of codes and codebreaking and the role of key individuals in this process like Alan Turing.