Category Archives: Social History

Climate Change and Religious Conflicts

Posted on October 16, 2025 by briansandberg

I am looking forward to the first session of a new research seminar on Climate Change and Religious Conflicts (Changements Climatiques et Conflits Religieux)! This is a seminar that my colleague Jérémie Foa (Aix-Marseille Université and TELEMMe) and I are … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Conflict, Civilians and Refugees in War, Climate Change, Early Modern Europe, Early Modern France, Early Modern World, Environmental History, European History, European Wars of Religion, French Wars of Religion, Globalization, Lectures and Seminars, Little Ice Age, Mediterranean World, Reformation History, Religious History, Religious Violence, Renaissance Art and History, Social History, Warfare in the Early Modern World | Leave a comment

DNA Studies of Pompeii Victims

Posted on November 8, 2024 by briansandberg

New DNA studies have been done the remains of residents of Pompeii who were killed in the disastrous eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 Common Era (CE). The findings challenge previous interpretations about the identities of many of the victims. … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient History, Environmental History, European History, History of the Western World, Italian History, Social History, World History | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pre-modern Whales and Whaling

Posted on September 16, 2023 by briansandberg

Pre-modern whaling may have contributed significantly to the decline and extinction of some species of whales, according to new research on whale bones. “Industrial-scale whaling in the 19th and 20th centuries nearly drove many whale species into extinction. Populations of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cartographic History, Cultural History, Early Modern Europe, Early Modern World, Environmental History, Food and Cuisine History, Globalization, Maritime History, Material Culture, Medieval History, Renaissance Art and History, Social History | Leave a comment

Teaching Technologies in the Early Modern Classroom

Posted on September 1, 2022 by briansandberg

The Center for Renaissance Studies at the Newberry Library has published a new blog post about early modern teaching technologies. This blog post focuses on the use of hornbooks in teaching basic reading. The post also briefly discusses early modern … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural History, Early Modern Europe, Early Modern World, European History, History of the Book, Intellectual History, Material Culture, Rare Books and Pamphlets, Reformation History, Renaissance Art and History, Social History | Leave a comment

A Renaissance of Violence

Posted on February 11, 2022 by briansandberg

I am happy to report that my review of Colin Rose’s A Renaissance of Violence: Homicide in Early Modern Italy has just been published on H-Italy. “One of the most brazen murders in Bologna’s history occurred on September 8, 1652, … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Conflict, Cultural History, Early Modern Europe, Early Modern World, European History, History of Violence, Italian History, Mediterranean World, Renaissance Art and History, Social History | Leave a comment

Politics and News Media in the United States

Posted on January 16, 2022 by briansandberg

All news reports adopt positions that are essentially political in nature (whether consciously or unconsciously), by presenting social issues through their selection of interview subjects, quotes, framing, interpretation, and commentary. Political philosophies and positions (not necessarily aligned with political parties) … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural History, Education Policy, European History, European Studies, French History, French Revolution and Napoleon, High School History Teaching, History in the Media, Humanities Education, Information Management, Political Culture, Political Theory, Social History, The Past Alive: Teaching History, United States History and Society, World History | Leave a comment

History of Sleep in Medieval and Early Modern Europe

Posted on January 11, 2022 by briansandberg

Nothing could seem more “natural” than our rhythms of sleep, yet there is a history of sleep. Historians have recognized various changes in sleeping patterns in the modern industrialized and post-industrial world, which have also been studied by scientists. Over … Continue reading →

Posted in Archival Research, Cultural History, Early Modern Europe, Early Modern France, Early Modern World, Environmental History, European History, Globalization, History in the Media, History of Medicine, History of Science, History of the Western World, Italian History, Medieval History, Reformation History, Renaissance Art and History, Social History, World History | Leave a comment

Renaissance Fairs and Pandemics

Posted on June 28, 2021 by briansandberg

En garde ! Renaissance fairs are reopening across the United States this summer, bringing the clanging of arms and armor back to an enthusiastic public. These festivals celebrate late medieval and Renaissance culture through costume displays and historical re-enactments—including jousts, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural History, Early Modern Europe, Early Modern World, European History, Historical Re-enactment, History in the Media, History of Medicine, Mediterranean World, Renaissance Art and History, Social History | Leave a comment

Diversity in Historical Re-enactments

Posted on May 28, 2021 by briansandberg

Colonial Williamsburg, one of the most important sites for historical re-enactment in the United States, is increasingly stressing diversity issues in its historical interpretations of colonial American society. The community of Williamsburg, Virginia, has been promoting building restoration and living … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic World, Cultural History, Early Modern Europe, Early Modern World, Empires and Imperialism, European History, Historical Re-enactment, History in the Media, History of Race and Racism, Museums and Historical Memory, Social History, The Past Alive: Teaching History, United States History and Society, Urban History, Women and Gender History | Leave a comment

Irish in Illinois

Posted on April 8, 2021 by briansandberg

I would like to celebrate the publication of The Irish in Illinois a new book by my friends and colleagues, Sean Farrell and Mathieu W. Billings. Sean Farrell works on sectarian violence in Irish history and teaches with me as … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural History, European History, Illinois History and Society, Northern Illinois University, Social History, United States History and Society | Leave a comment