When WWI began, Russians responded with patriotism, tears, and rioting. What happens if the textbook only tells one part of this story? An approach using textbooks as interpretations to be critically examined against key scholarship of Joshua Sanborn istorikteach.blogspot.com/2024/02/russia…

#OnThisDay in 1953 Joseph Stalin died, proving once again that even all-powerful dictators are mortal. The portrait (from Imperial War Museum, dating from the WW2 alliance) is by the British artist Grace Cruttwell (1880-1952).

We wish our followers a happy #InternationalWomensDay! To mark it, and #WomensHistoryMonth we’ll be doing an online talk next Thursday on the paradoxes of femininity and masculinity in Russian culture and history. Don’t miss it: us02web.zoom.us/j/87203807215?…

After Keith Milne's AQA webinar on A-Level History 2023, some thoughts on #historyrevision as we come up to end of Y13👇 Good luck to all teachers and students! istorikteach.blogspot.com/2024/03/a-leve… Katie Amery @katiehall1979 Versus History Richard Natalie Hopper @MVincentHistory

On this day in 1917, the Russian Provisional Government was established. Its first socialist member, Justice Minister Alexander Kerensky, became the "first love of the revolution" but fell spectacularly from power in October Русское наследие istorikteach.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-fi…

Giving students responsibility for their revision can help memory and understanding; it also protects teachers at a serious pinch-point in the year. Reflections, strategies, and seven activities for engaging students as creators of own revision 👇 istorikteach.blogspot.com/2024/03/giving…

Why did Tsar Nicholas II fall from power? What ruined the Romanov’s? Find out in our brand new history blogpost. #VersusHistory Link: bit.ly/49YkjFT

In 1916, revolt in Central Asia pushed Russia to the brink. Why did civil war break out amid global war, and why is this labelled genocide by some today? Post on 1916 Revolt, teaching resources linked istorikteach.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-ru… Versus History Parallel Histories BASEES SGRR

In 1917, anarchist sailor Zhelezniakov had helped bring about the Bolshevik October Revolution. Over following years, he would be instrumental (and disruptive) to the Bolsheviks' attempts to win civil war. Latest Blog Post: istorikteach.blogspot.com/2024/04/the-li…

Teachers of AQA #Alevelhistory 1H! The exam is approaching fast. What will you be telling your students the night before? 5 tips here: istorikteach.blogspot.com/2024/05/the-ni… Good luck to you and your students!

In 1937 and 1938, Stalin's terror targeted ethnic minorities. Where did Soviet ethnic violence come from? How can we make sense of it in our teaching? Origins, explanations, resources in latest post 👇 istorikteach.blogspot.com/2024/05/the-em… Thanks to Shane O'Rourke especially! Robert Dale

Why did the world's first socialist state embrace nationalism in the 1920s? A summary for teachers of Russian/Soviet History, w. classroom resource linked, drawn from Brigid O'Keeffe's fantastic recent book👇 istorikteach.blogspot.com/2024/06/findin…

Latest Istorik blog post - substantive concepts for Russian and Soviet teachers

Pogroms were intrinsic to Russian/Soviet history. How can we explain their occurrence and reoccurrence, and why is it so important we do? Post giving an approach and teaching resources using scholarship from Brendan McGeever and others 👇 istorikteach.blogspot.com/2024/08/proble…

A-Level teachers - as we approach a new academic year, are you planning to ask your students to get a copy of the course textbook? Here's a case against doing so: istorikteach.blogspot.com/2024/08/texts-…

Choosing who should represent groups from the past isn't easy and throws up some dilemmas. New post considering what this means for History teachers, drawing esp. on work of @danlyndon and @CitoyenneClaire (thanks to Claire for generous feedback on this!) istorikteach.blogspot.com/2024/08/we-nee…

Istorik Blog will no longer be posting from or using this account. Find future posts on Bluesky under @alistairdickins.bsky.social