Nomadic cultures of the steppes: new light on the Scythians

The Scythians, or Saka, as they were known to outsiders, were nomads who traversed the Eurasian steppes from the Black Sea to the borders of China. Regarded as "barbarians" by the ancient Greeks, archaeological investigations have thrown new light on their culture, their way of life and interactions with neighbours such as the Persians and Chinese.

An article from the New York Times, published in conjunction with an upcoming exhibition at the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World at New York University, looks at the artifacts recovered from Scythian burial mounds and what this tells us about their culture

CLICK HERE TO WATCH A SLIDE-SHOW OF SOME OF THE BEAUTIFUL ARTIFACTS ON DISPLAY

Two views of the British Empire: book reviews

Dr. William Jackson (University of Leeds) reviews two recent books on the British Empire in the Institute of Historical Research's Reviews in History 


The books are

• Britain's Empire: resistance, repression and revolt, by Richard Gott
• Empire: what ruling the world did to the British, by Jeremy Paxman

You can read Richard Gott's response to the article and check out Britain's Empire yourself  at A325.341 / 735278

CLICK HERE TO LINK TO THE LIBRARY CATALOGUE

Jeremy Paxman's book is on order by the Library, but meanwhile you can also read the Guardian's opinion on his accompanying TV series 

Book review: Sovereignty and social reform in India

Dr Andrea Major's "Sovereignty and social reform in India : British colonialism and the campaign against sati, 1830-1860" is reviewed by Daniel Grey in the Institute of Historical Research's Reviews in History 

Andrea Major lecturers in the School of History at the University of Leeds
Dr Daniel Grey is a Junior Research Fellow in World History at Wolfson College (Oxford)

Read the book in SOAS Library at JA954.03 / 736856


CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE LIBRARY CATALOGUE RECORD

North China Herald: new online resource

Now available! Brill have made all issues of The North-China herald and Supreme Court and consular gazette (to give it its full title!) from 1850 to 1940 available in a digitized format.

The newspaper was published in Shanghai, which was "at the heart of China’s dealing with the Euro-American world and a city at the forefront of developments in Chinese politics, culture, education and the economy. As the official journal for British consular notifications, and announcements of the Shanghai Municipal Council, it is the first – and sometimes only – point of reference for information and comment on a range of foreign and Chinese activities." Brill website

It "is universally acclaimed as the prime printed source in any language for the history of the foreign presence in China from around 1850 to the 1940s" Brill website


 LINK TO LIBRARY CATALOGUE PAGE

INTRODUCTORY VIDEO FROM BRILL (YouTube)

The acquisition of African antiquities

In this article from Project Sydicate, Juliet Torome, a writer and documentary film maker, looks at the dubious provenance of many of the African cultural and historical artifacts that have been removed from their original sites or owners and  found their way into museums or the hands of private collectors

Reconsidering the mystery of Easter Island : book review

Terry Hunt and Carl Lipo reconsider the traditional view that the inhabitants of Easter Island (Rapa Nui) bore the prime responsibility for the catastrophe that befell their society in "The statues that walked : unravelling the mystery of Easter Island"

READ THE REVIEW IN THE TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT

and look out for the book when it arrives in SOAS Library (ordered 18th January)

Ottoman Palestine on film

Link to YouTube to watch archive footage of Jerusalem (late 19th century?) and Bethlehem and Gethsemane (1920s)

1. Jerusalem (said to be made in 1896)
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vaIK8wlAl0>

2. Bethlehem and Gethsemane (mid 1920s)
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqqY_apdIXc&feature=fvwp&NR=1>