Welcome to the Bristorian

Contextualising the present through the lens of the past

At The Bristorian, we’re committed to publishing provocative and insightful articles from across a wide range of disciplines within the humanities. If you have a nuanced take on something often overlooked or are looking for a platform to complete in-depth investigations into little-known phenomena, the Bristorian is the place for you.

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Latest Features:

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A Tax on Beards? Inside One Russian Tsar’s War on Traditionalism
A Tax on Beards? Inside One Russian Tsar’s War on Traditionalism

Archie McKinlay explores the tax on beards. The early 18th century was a period of great upheaval for Russia, where one coercive tsar went as far as introducing a tax on beards as part of his mission to modernise Russian society.

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From Sinterklaas to Ded Moroz: The Evolution of Father Christmas
From Sinterklaas to Ded Moroz: The Evolution of Father Christmas

In this festive feature, Charlotte Wyatt explores the history and cultural legacy of Father Christmas, from his clothing to what he can teach us about the culture behind the celebration of Christmas.

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A Celebration of Ada Lovelace
A Celebration of Ada Lovelace

Charlotte Wyatt explores the extraordinary life of computing pioneer Ada Lovelace. Next time you walk past the Ada Lovelace building on campus, you’ll have her full life story to hand.

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South African Anti-Apartheid to Palestinian Solidarity: Bristol’s Boycott Gene
South African Anti-Apartheid to Palestinian Solidarity: Bristol’s Boycott Gene

Bristol’s anti-apartheid boycott of the 1980s never really ended—it just swapped South African fruit for Palestinian dates.

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Who Had the Right to Be a Mother? The Limits of Maternal Power under Slavery 
Who Had the Right to Be a Mother? The Limits of Maternal Power under Slavery 

Sukhi Singh explores the challenges posed to maternal authority under slavery, the use of motherhood as labour, and the repurposing of motherhood as a source of resistance.

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Bassline of Belonging: Windrush, Caribbean Identity, and Bristol’s Musical Evolution
Bassline of Belonging: Windrush, Caribbean Identity, and Bristol’s Musical Evolution

Anna Luchmun explores the arrival of Caribbean music and sound brought to Bristol by the Windrush generation, and how it has influenced and shaped the diverse and dynamic music scene we experience in the city today.

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Liberty or Death: A Freedom Denied
Liberty or Death: A Freedom Denied

Lucy Ward re-examines the sentiments from Patrick Henry’s infamous “Give me liberty or give me death” speech, from the perspective of enslaved people who enacted this rhetoric in their own pursuit of freedom. It traces forms of resistance from fugitivity to the work of Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass, exposing the profound contradictions at the heart of American claims to liberty.

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Unsung Composers: Black Legacies in Classical Music
Unsung Composers: Black Legacies in Classical Music

In this article, Jennifer Skipp explores the enduring yet overlooked legacy of Black composers, reflecting on the importance of their contributions to classical music from the Baroque era to the present day.

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Celebrating Black History Month:

Public History:

Featured
‘What’s true and what is aren’t always the same.’ – The Historical Importance of Assassin’s Creed
‘What’s true and what is aren’t always the same.’ – The Historical Importance of Assassin’s Creed

The Assassin’s Creed games are a standout franchise in the counterfactual world, and gamers are currently getting to grips with the latest release, Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Ben Bryant explores the series’ history, its depiction of various periods, and its overall historical importance.

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Game of Roses: Immersing Sixth Formers in the Wars of the Roses through Role-play
Game of Roses: Immersing Sixth Formers in the Wars of the Roses through Role-play

Charlie Farmer uses experiences of her sixth-form’s role play game, ‘Game of Roses’ to explore the impact of role play on education and public history.

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“They shall not grow old” for the not-so-old: how children interact with Remembrance Day
“They shall not grow old” for the not-so-old: how children interact with Remembrance Day

Editor-in-Chief AJ Birt explores the way in which children learn about the significance of Remembrance Day through age-appropriate animated films and historical discussions.

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Man Beheaded by Society: Why is the new statue of Oscar Wilde causing controversy?
Man Beheaded by Society: Why is the new statue of Oscar Wilde causing controversy?

A new statue of Oscar Wilde is being dispalyed in Chelsea, but why is it causing outrage? Mia Townsend looks at Eduardo Paulozzi's artwork of Wilde.

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