Peter Good

Amazing!

Didn’t know you knew anything about the EIC… 😛

Happy to see the U.K. and other commonwealth members recognising Palestine as a state. It’s behind time and I hope will lead to a peaceful transition to two separate states in the Holy Land.

Middle East related: This Orient Isle, by Brotton. Sword of Persia, by Axworthy. Also enjoyed Science and Leisure by Küçük, but it’s a bit more specialised.

I’m not angry John, never. But I am disappointed 🤣

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship associated with the ERC-funded project "ECOART" (284675) | University of Oslo Job title: Postdoctoral Research Fellowship associated with the ERC-funded project "ECOART" (284675), Employer: University of Oslo, Deadline: Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Postdoc Opportunity!

Dr. Anna Grasskamp at Oslo seeks a postdoctoral fellow specializing in the early modern Philippines to investigate the artistic use and visual representation of geographical, geological, botanical, zoological, and climatic resources in Eurasia.

www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...

There are two different maunds in Persia, and sometimes they’re both different weights. Once I realised that some things made sense but others still didn’t. Turns out that’s because they were being concerted in Troy weights, not avoir du poids.

I’ll get the bay leaves, don’t go anywhere…

I’ll take two

Thanks David!

Do I know anyone who goes regular to the Bank of England Archive?

Postdoctoral Research Associate in Iranian Linguistics (Part Time, Fixed Term) at University of Cambridge Apply for the Postdoctoral Research Associate in Iranian Linguistics (Part Time, Fixed Term) role on jobs.ac.uk, the top job board for academic positions in higher education. View details and apply no...

📢 New job klaxon!

🔍 Postdoctoral Research Associate in Iranian Linguistics @cam.ac.uk's Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies.

🔗 www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DNW791/p...

My copy arrived this week too! Looking forward to getting into it after my brief forays into French history

The committee cites evidence of over-bureaucratic structures within Whitehall and a lack of expertise. One witness told the committee: “If you have people running policy in the Foreign Office who don’t speak a word of Persian then that is a fat lot of good to be honest.”

From the parliamentary report on Iran. Just quickly — does anyone know if the UK has places that teach languages to a high level, and if so, what the government policy on them is?

If you want to keep up with Iran, highly recommend @gbrew24.bsky.social

This is then coupled with a lack of expertise in the history/culture/politics of Iran and MENA more widely. Zero strategic forethought seems to go into it.

I promise I’m not shouting…

There’s also no sense where GCHQ or other government orgs seem to want to encourage universities to offer courses. Exeter, SOAS, Edinburgh, St.A, Oxbridge all offer Persian to degree level, so the programmes exist, but seem constantly underutilised. Manchester close their Persian programme recently

As someone with no vested interest in this at all… There has been a pretty steady breakdown in the teaching of Persian/Arabic/other strategic languages in the UK because there’s no pathway to either policy or practice within the Foreign Office/CS, where specialisation is actively discouraged.

Call for papers for the Conflict, War and Violence in the Early Modern World Conference, taking place at the University of Exeter on 30-31 October. We are exploring early modern conflict in all its forms. We particularly seek to unpack the interactions between the more traditional aspects of conflict, such as the political, tactical and strategic, with the more human side of it, including sociocultural approaches that explore experiences, representations and impacts of violence. As such, we particularly welcome proposals that look beyond purely military history and break chronological, geographical and disciplinary boundaries. We welcome proposals for individual papers of up to 20 minutes, or full panels of three to four papers, on any aspect of conflict, war and violence in the early modern period. Speakers might consider, but are not limited to, the following themes: Physical, tactical, operational and strategic aspects of warfare. Martial identities, values and motivations. Notions of gender, race, class and religion. Remembering, (re)imagining and representing violence and/or conflict. The experience of violence, its impact and the everyday at war. Popular allegiance in early modern conflict. Maritime violence and naval warfare. The bureaucracy of conflict, finance and the law. Abstracts of up to 300 words, along with a biographical note, should be sent to earlymodernwar@gmail.com by Friday 5th September.

We are thrilled to announce that the Conflict, War and Violence in the Early Modern World Conference, with a keynote address by Professor Mark Stoyle, will be held on 30-31 October at the University of Exeter.

Please help us spread the world, and consider submitting a proposal!🗡️

Attention all #earlymodern #skystorians! The Hakluyt Society is now on BSky. Follow for all things relating to the History of Travel and Exploration

@hakluytsociety.bsky.social

The Israeli attacks on Iran feel like a desperate throw of the dice to try and wrest back at least some international support for the failing Netanyahu government. Attacking Iran won’t bring around regime change in Tehran, only reinforce the contention that the status quo is the only option. Madness

Les sanglots longs
Des violons
De l'automne
Blessent mon cœur
D'une langueur
Monotone.

A day to remember the value of cooperation between the nations against tyranny, violence and oppression.

#DDay81

Converting students to
Persian Studies one piece of artwork at a time!

Yes Caroline, I quite agree. Now perhaps we could move on to the important heritage sector that’s being destroyed, demolished, devastated to the detriment of all of us?

Yes! Tend to read anything that gets my attention. Recently a lot about East Asia, Naval History and Medieval England.

Starting at University of Bergen! I’ll be teaching Arabic and History there.

I’m not Norway based until the beginning of next month, but always happy to help!

Eid Mubarak!

عيد مبارك!

Happy new year, one and all!
كلً عام و انتم بخير