During hot 19th-century summers, many Russians sought to escape Moscow as the city turned into a stifling dustbowl. Georgy Manaev lists five of their favourite retreats - from sleigh-racing in Petrovsky Park to tea at Sokolniki. #history #russia #1800s rbth.com/history/336379…

In the mid-1720s, London was gripped by a moral hysteria that led to raids of 'molly houses', arrests and even executions. As Livia Gershon writes, many feared the city had grown too large and with it, too corrupt and "shameless". #history #London #1700s daily.jstor.org/the-shameless-…

Russia's Cold War influence in Europe, Asia and Cuba is well known. Sebastian Seibt looks at how Soviet influence was expanded and utilised in colonialist and Western-backed nations in Africa, from Algeria down to South Africa. #history #coldwar #Africa france24.com/en/africa/2023…

As 'Oppenheimer' draws huge crowds in cinemas, author Evan Thomas on two of modern history's most asked questions: was the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary, and could the Allies have won World War II without them? #history #worldwar2 time.com/6297240/atomic…

The struggle to write popular history that is also 'good' history has been a difficult one, particularly in the US. A new book explores five prominent American historians, three of them radical, and their impact on public thought. #history #us #historians bostonreview.net/articles/who-i…

The Korean War was one of the deadliest conflicts of the 20th century and despite ending 70 years ago, we live with its consequences today. SCMP provides this useful graphic explainer of the war, its combatants and its course. #history #korea #koreanwar multimedia.scmp.com/infographics/n…

Much has been written about World War I conscientious objectors, one-third of whom were imprisoned. As Linsey Robb explains, more than 60,000 Britons also objected to World War II - and were treated markedly differently. #history #worldwar2 #objectors theconversation.com/conscientious-…

Every major conflict produces individuals willing to side with the enemy for political reasons or personal gain. A new book by Ian Buruma looks at three traitors or collaborators from World War II, their actions and motives. #history #worldwar2 #traitors theconversation.com/what-leads-peo…

In the mid-1800s, Moscow was a city "surrounded by a ring of human waste", its residents and visitors beset by cesspools, foul stench and disease. Georgy Manaev explains how the Russian city "learned to clean up after itself". #history #russia #moscow rbth.com/history/336471…

The turmoil that followed the partition of India in 1947 is well known. Noor Anand Chawla recalls the fate of women post-Partition and the "specific and gendered" violence they endured, including sexual assault, torture and murder. #history #india #women daily.jstor.org/women-partitio…

The story of Oppenheimer and the Manhattan Project is well known - not so Shinkolobwe, the mine in Central Africa that was the source of much of their uranium. Ngofeen Mputubwele recalls its dark and painful colonial history. #history #congo #Oppenheimer wired.com/story/the-dark…

"The city is expensive and makes many demands... Dear father, deign to help me." A survey of letters home from university students in medieval Europe reveals a very familiar theme: requests for money. #history #middleages #students medievalists.net/2023/08/letter…

Russia's new state-sanctioned school history textbooks praise Russia under Stalinism, bemoan the collapse of the Soviet Union and provide unsubtle justifications for Putin's military action in Ukraine, writes Yuliya Talmazan. #history #russia #revisionism nbcnews.com/news/world/put…

"They attend classes but make no effort to learn anything… so they return home empty, without knowledge, conscience or money." Sources show medieval teachers, like those today, griped about students and their work ethic. #history #middleages #education medievalists.net/2023/09/mediev…

The stories and narratives we learn in school shape our understanding of the past - but how accurate are they? We think of historical revisionism as the domain of totalitarian states but it occurs everywhere, writes Tracey Shelton. #history #schools abc.net.au/news/2023-09-0…

After turbulent relations during the Cold War, Russia and China are drawing closer politically. Now, analysis of thousands of state-sanctioned articles reveals their historical views on World War II are also closely aligning. #history #russia #China thediplomat.com/2023/09/what-w…

More than 240 years after the Revolutionary War, the people of a small Connecticut town have not forgotten their hatred for Benedict Arnold, the leader who sided with the British and burned their home to the ground. #history #americanrevolution #arnold nytimes.com/2023/09/19/nyr…

In 1909, a prominent journalist told the world Europe was now so advanced, its peoples and economies so intertwined that war wasn't just unlikely, it was impossible. Tim Brinkhof recalls the flawed optimism of Norman Angell. #history #europe #worldwar1 bigthink.com/the-past/world…

As in many places, US school history courses are dominated by studies of men. Two female educators are looking to change that, creating resources and lobbying determinedly for the introduction of an AP US Women's History course. #history #us #women 19thnews.org/2023/09/ap-us-…

The United States' invasion of the tiny Caribbean nation of Grenada unfolded 40 years ago this week. Shalini Puri recalls the tumultuous developments of 1983 that stunned a world already accustomed to Cold War gesturing. #history #coldwar #grenada nacla.org/remembering-gr…