Cushman Writes

  So often is the case that I see a news headline and go ‘hmm, that reminds me of something.’ I have written about history on many occasions, emphasising how it can teach us valuable lessons. Many of the rituals and observances that we keep are centuries old; diplomacy is no different. This week, I take a comparative approach to diplomacy in both late medieval society and today, highlighting how its position has remained largely unchanged for most of history.   -- Diplomacy is an age-old interaction between leaders and their representatives and another polity. As part of my degree, I recently studied late medieval diplomacy, and in light of recent interactions between Germany’s Chancellor and the United States President, an abundance of posturing can be observed.  Posturing, in this post, can be defined as an event by one party to provoke a response from another party to give the original party a position of superiority. This article highlights the importance of ...

Often, medieval history is overshadowed by modern history in both education and public interest. After reading Ian Mortimer’s ‘Medieval Horizons’ I found myself wondering, do we really value Medieval history as much as we should? This blog post is an extended essay exploring the challenges medieval history faces within history education, particularly in UK universities. It discusses how uneven access to medieval and earlier historical periods across different institutions limits students’ historical awareness and curiosity. Drawing on my own experience at Oxford and comparisons with other universities, I argue for greater standardisation in history curricula and increased collaboration to ensure all students gain a well-rounded understanding of history—not just modern periods. Medieval history matters deeply for understanding today, and this essay outlines why it should be made more accessible and valued in education. -- As a history student, I often find myself being interrogated ab...