History – A Sideways Look

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. All group members participate in discussions and share the responsibility of researching/presenting topics of their choice.

From September 2025 we will be looking at the period 1000-1100 CE. This includes the one date everyone in the country knows: 1066; and we will look at the conflict between the Anglo Saxons and the Normans in England (and Ireland). But it also enables us to look at the Khmer Empire in Cambodia, the early Sung dynasty in China and the late Mayan states in Mexico. The Catholic church broke finally from the Orthodox church and popes challenged the power of emperors. Islam was expanding into India but for a time lost out in the west to the Christians in the first crusade. 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.