Embedded Files
On this page you will find what the JRCS History department are currently reading, listening to or watching that may help to inspire you. Keep an eye out for updates.
Mr Hinchliffe's recommendation:
Our immediate thought when it comes to the history of black people is slavery. David Olusoga proves this misconception wrong in his excellent history of the black presence in Britain since the Romans. He has recently written a more student friendly version. You can find a link here. There is also a BBC documentary to accompany the series
Ms Matin's recommendation:
The Minoans are considered to be the first Western Civilisation with a form of written language (an undeciphered syllabic script) from the island of Crete so arguably are considered the first civilisation to document history in the Western world.
This is a good entry level documentary narrated by Bettany Hughes (who is a strong female historian) on what Bronze Age civilisations actually are, focusing on the Minoans.
If anyone was to have an interest into the Ancient world, particularly Greek or Roman history, it is a good place to start since they are considered to be their predecessors.
Be aware that the documentary is not 3 hours but 1 hour 40 and repeats itself.
Mrs Green's recommendation:
My recommendation is a programme on Prohibition focusing particularly on the rise of Al Capone and gangland issues. It looks at key events such as the St Valentine's Day Massacre, the city of Chicago and the ramifications of having introduced Prohibition in the USA. The programme also explores the factors which eventually led to the repeal of the Volstead Act (the act which had introduced Prohibition) in 1933.
Mr Yeates' recommendation:
'The Great Cat Massacre and Other Episodes in French Cultural History' by Robert Darnton.
In this collection of essays, Darnton explores a type of history that was first introduced to me at university - histoire des mentalités (history of mentalities). By looking at popular fairy tales in Europe, Darnton first assesses the subtle differences between German readings of stories such as Little Red Riding Hood, and French readings of the story. It is through these comparisons that Darnton begins to interpret the mindset, status and prospects of each nations working population, and how this shapes their readings of such famous stories. Why is the story of Red Riding Hood so bloody and sexualised amongst the German peasantry, yet so hopeful and optimistic amongst the French?
The book gets its name from an event in the 1730s, in which workers at a printing factory beat the stray cats of Paris half to death, and hold a mock trial for each one. Each of these cats are found guilty of witchcraft, and Darnton explores the symbology and actions of these workers to, again, assess their mindset, attitude and belief systems.
His conclusions are fascinating and provide an insight into the national mood of the working classes of France, as well as other nations. History is driven by people, and this book is a fantastic way to delve into how those people thought.
Mr Wright's recommendation:
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