One of the worst sins for a historian is presentism - the belief that people who lived in past societies shared our own outlook and beliefs. Some behaviours are almost universal - almost everyone lov… (View Post)

Gibbon was an incredible propagandist for Roman “civilisation” v medieval “barbarism”, and he dominates the popular view of Rome long after academics have ceased bothering either to attack or defend … (View Post)

It's why I so detest the notion of "punching up." The National Socialists claimed to be "punching up." It's treating a group like shit, and claiming to be virtuous as yo… (View Post)

I don't think it does "go without saying." You're right. (View Post)

In South Africa, there was an obvious good guy, and an obvious bad guy. Despite what Roger and the Corbynistas think, Israel doesn't fill the role of obvious bad guy, nor do the Palestinians fil… (View Post)