School of Historical Studies

Brad Bolman, Member in the School of Historical Studies, illuminates how beagles became vital yet overlooked contributors to scientific knowledge during World War II. His work also highlights how incremental, methodical research forms an essential foundation of scientific progress and understanding.

Esther Liberman Cuenca, Member (2022–23) in the School of Historical Studies, shows how customary laws—which emerged from everyday practices rather than formal institutions—shaped medieval English towns. Her work highlights how male urban elites crafted these evolving legal frameworks to their advantage.

Nana Osei-Opare, Member (2022–23) in the School of Historical Studies, provides a new perspective on the Ghanaian political economy under President Kwame Nkrumah. Through meticulous analysis of archival sources, he reveals how the policies employed during Nkrumah's presidency show Black Marxists’ deep understandings of state capitalist ideas.

Rubina Raja, Member (2019) in the School of Historical Studies, explains how archaeological context can transform understanding of ancient societies. By analyzing a "loose head" from Palmyra, Syria, once misidentified as the work of a Greek sculptor, she demonstrates how local craftsmen were not merely imitating foreign styles but creating distinct works, fundamentally reshaping our view of Palmyra's cultural identity.