Monthly Archives: March 2013

Overhyping MOOCs

Posted on March 18, 2013 by briansandberg

Education media is abuzz with news about MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses). The Chronicle of Higher Education has repeatedly touted the supposed benefits of MOOCs in successive stories for several years now, as have other education and technology publications online.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Digital Humanities, Education Policy, Globalization, Humanities Education, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Domestic Violence and Gun Rights

Posted on March 18, 2013 by briansandberg

Gun rights advocates are challenging the legal protections granted to victims of domestic violence. Women who have been physically abused and threatened often seek protective orders (restraining orders) from city and county courts. In some states, those restraining orders may … Continue reading →

Posted in Arms Control, History of Violence, Human Rights, Women and Gender History | Leave a comment

Graves of Black Death Victims Unearthed

Posted on March 17, 2013 by briansandberg

The graves of twelve suspected victims of the Black Death have been unearthed in London. Workers excavating on a tunnel for an extension of the London Underground system discovered the human remains and brought in archaeologists to investigate. This excavation … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Modern Europe, Early Modern World, European History, History of Medicine, History of Science | Leave a comment

Habemus Papam

Posted on March 14, 2013 by briansandberg

White smoke billowing from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel today (14 March 2013) indicated that a new pope has been elected: “Habemus Papam!” Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, archbishop of Buenos Aires, has been elected pope and has taken the title … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Conflict, Civilians and Refugees in War, European History, History of Violence, Human Rights, Italian History, Political Culture, Religious History | Leave a comment

A Van Dyck Painting Rediscovered Online

Posted on March 10, 2013 by briansandberg

An Anthony Van Dyck portrait has been identified in an online database. The previously unidentified painting was in storage at a museum in the United Kingdom, but a digital image of the portrait was recently added to an online database, … Continue reading →

Posted in Art History, Digital Humanities, Early Modern Europe, European History, History in the Media, Noble Culture and History of Elites, Reformation History, Women and Gender History | Leave a comment

Sephardic Jews Invited to Return to Spain

Posted on March 6, 2013 by briansandberg

More than 500 years after the infamous 1492 expulsion of Jews from the kingdom of Spain, the modern Spanish government is preparing to invite Jews to return to the country. “In November [2012],” according to the BBC, “Spain’s justice minister … Continue reading →

Posted in Civilians and Refugees in War, Early Modern Europe, Early Modern World, Empires and Imperialism, European History, European Union, European Wars of Religion, History of Violence, Human Rights, Mediterranean World, Political Culture, Religious History, Religious Violence, Renaissance Art and History | 1 Comment

Innovation in Italian Politics?

Posted on March 6, 2013 by briansandberg

The recent elections in Italy surprised many Italians and have dumbfounded observers around the world. The center-left coalition led by Luigi Bersani seemed poised to win the elections, but did not come out as a clear winner. The resurgence of Silvio … Continue reading →

Posted in European History, European Union, Italian History, Political Culture | Leave a comment

Georges Vigarello Seminars at the Louvre

Posted on March 5, 2013 by briansandberg

Philosopher and historian Georges Vigarello is presenting a series of seminars at the Louvre on Le corps et le mouvement (XVe-XXe). The seminars will be held on 25 March, 4 April, 11 April, 18 April, and 22 April in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Art History, Conferences, European History, French History, History of Medicine, Lectures and Seminars, Paris History, Renaissance Art and History | Leave a comment

Drones and Changing Conceptions of Airspace

Posted on March 5, 2013 by briansandberg

Drones have already significantly transformed the conduct of military operations in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and other areas. Now, drones are beginning to change conceptions of airspace. Yesterday (4 March 2013), an Alitalia pilot on approach to New York’s JFK airport reported … Continue reading →

Posted in Arms Control, History of Violence, Human Rights, Political Culture, Strategy and International Politics, Terrorism, War, Culture, and Society | Leave a comment

Historians Discuss Papal Resignation

Posted on March 5, 2013 by briansandberg

Historians at the University of California at Santa Barbara are holding a public panel discussion of the papal resignation. Here is the announcement from the UCSB website: UCSB Historians To Examine Pope Benedict XVI’s Resignation Public invited to panel discussion … Continue reading →

Posted in European History, Italian History, Lectures and Seminars, Political Culture, Reformation History, Religious History, Renaissance Art and History | Leave a comment