History – A Sideways Look

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This group looks ‘Sideways’ at history. We choose a particular period and examine what was happening at that period worldwide. None of us are experts; we share a curiosity about the past throughout the world. Group members participate in discussions and share the responsibility of researching/presenting topics of their choice.

From September 2026 we will be looking at the period 1100-1300 CE. This will include not only the the vast upheaval across Eurasia caused by the conquests of Genghis Khan and the Mongols, but also crusades, monasteries and pogroms in Europe, the multi-cultural Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, the cultural flowering of the Southern Song dynasty in China, little known monument builders in Toltec Mexico and in Ethiopia and the first arrival of human beings in New Zealand. We will be looking at world-shaking trends or quirky details - anything that catches our fancy in the period.

Michael Johns leads the group. We present papers on email and meet for discussion on zoom, to enable members with travel or mobility problems to participate. From time to time we meet in person for a social lunch.