Simon Lam

A warm welcome (back) to Oxford, and for the return of the Oxford China Reading Group for a new academic year! Do join us on Fridays 2pm at the Oxford China Centre for student-led discussions on topics related to the Sinosphere in a relaxed, informal atmosphere.

Very proud to be able to publish among so many esteemed authors in War & Society. My thanks, also, to @kristenauthor.bsky.social and everyone involved in the editorial and review process!

also me after my supervisor emailed me about thesis progress for the first time in 5 months (im doomed)

a man in a red shirt is rowing a boat with chinese writing on the side ALT: a man in a red shirt is rowing a boat with chinese writing on the side

Me going to bed satisfied after writing 50 words over 8 hours for my thesis

(on a serious note very interesting to see how important boat races are as a form of community building across Asia)

Tareq Baconi · Short Cuts: Gaza under Siege Humanitarian aid has long served as cover for Israeli crimes. Under the Geneva Conventions, an occupying force is...

‘“What can be done?” the European diplomat might ask me today.

For a start, call a spade a spade. This is an apartheid regime carrying out a genocide on a captive population. End military assistance. Suspend arms exports to Israel.’

Tareq Baconi on Gaza:

www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

So happy to see the global interest in the South China region on display - can't wait to see familiar and new faces at the conference next month!

Very happy to see the diversity of papers already submitted - do keep them coming!

From the AskHistorians community on Reddit Explore this post and more from the AskHistorians community

AskHistorians has joined with thirty other research- and academia-focused subreddits to issue this statement condemning recent and ongoing efforts to undermine scholarly research and intellectual freedom in the United States.

Please share widely!

www.reddit.com/r/AskHistori...

This is somehow like Newt Gringrich's weird American Civil War fanfic in which Robert E. Lee almost singlehandedly beats the Union Army through sheer military genius/Newtype ability (Yes the book is confederate apologia)

Diarmaid MacCulloch full of wit as always, referring to the Holy Trinity:

'Irreverently to adapt a famous remark of the late Princess Diana, there were three of them in that marriage, so it was a bit theologically crowded.'

Just one of many in a fascinating new book on sex and Christianity!

James Butler | As the Met bruised in Last Thursday evening, more than twenty Metropolitan police officers – some armed with tasers – broke down the doors...

‘Pacific, temperate, egalitarian, avowedly non-violent, the epitome of unimpeachable, quietist radicalism: if the police can do this to the Quakers, what could they do to you?’

James Butler on last week’s Met Police raid on a Quaker meeting house in Westminster: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/ma...

Twentieth century China in a nutshell

"I keep hearing about how knowledge was lost in the dark ages, but as far as I can tell, that almost exclusively concerns Greek philosophy, which, imo, isn't exactly a big deal. In terms of knowledge that actually affects people's lives on a practical level, that is technology, the only thing I can find is concrete, and even then, I've heard it pops up here, and there. With that in mind, what knowledge that makes any difference was actually lost?"

Take that, intellectual historians.

Always fun presenting more so at #AAS2025!

I understand (reluctantly) the Labour govt's increase in UK defence budget, but surely the aid budget shouldn't be on the chopping block - after all, recent news point to a robust civil society at home and abroad being a key factor in the defence against fascism and authoritarianism...

WE DESERVED THAT GET IN LIVERPOOL IS BLUEEEEEEEE

SET PIECE KINGS YOU'LL NEVER SING THAT #UTFT

We all know X has become a bit of a battlefield, but while we're finding our peace here on Bluesky, history is still alive and well elsewhere!

Check out r/AskHistorians on Reddit (& Bluesky), moderated by some of our members: @fraserraeburn.bsky.social & @simonlam98.bsky.social

Lakers are a perfect example of how the rich get richer

Reenacting the Battle of Odessa I see

Baines and Coleman? At this point let's just get the band together again...where's Jagielka and Distin at we need some coaching badges printed out asap #utft

No one in history wants to be a y-wing.

Never thought the most compelling and cohesive anti-war narrative of 2024 would come from Spy x Family

Crashing out playing Marvel Rivals. Mad that I'm both addicted and trash at this game. Literally can't fall asleep thinking about how bad my positioning was last round.

Sophie Smith · Sleeping Women: On the Pelicot trial Gisèle Pelicot doesn’t conceive of her now ex-husband or the other men who raped her as ‘bad apples’, aberrations...

‘Gisèle Pelicot’s decision is astonishingly brave, not least because the culture she is condemning also produced the lawyers who have been questioning her and the journalists covering the case.’

Sophie Smith on the Pelicot trial:

A government so insecure it labels a pollster and academic with no political affiliation a national security threat. Clearly the spirit of Christmas hasn't reached the Hong Kong police HQ yet...

I AM SO HAPPY, YOU ALL.

THAT IS THE SUPERMAN I BELIEVE IN

The Economics of War in Ancient Greece In recent decades the study of the ancient economy and ancient warfare have both been transformed by ground-breaking new studies and methodological approaches.…

My new edited volume is out. I've been working on this with Manu Dal Borgo since 2016. Delighted to see the final product and to play host to such an excellent set of chapters.
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/economics...

The Medieval Crossbow The crossbow is an iconic weapon of the Middle Ages and, alongside the longbow, one of the most effective ranged weapons of the pre-gunpowder era.…

Bit of shameless self promotion for the holidays. I wrote a book, it's about crossbows, I think it's pretty rad. It's got regicide, family feuds, technical diagrams, and information on the rise and eventual decline of an iconic medieval weapon.
www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Medieval...