Cromwell and Empire

At Parallel Histories we focus on ensuring that students discuss and debate the most controversial historical topics, including the role of the British Empire. Britain’s status as the capital of a much larger political entity is relevant to every aspect of its history. We have produced a new product on Oliver Cromwell, a man commonly […]

Why and how Oliver Cromwell’s reputation has evolved

Stuart Orme is curator at the Cromwell Museum, Huntingdon. He sat down with Miriam Tomusk to discuss the shifting legacy of Oliver Cromwell, his relevance today, the work of the Museum, and working with schools and teachers.   Thank you so much Stuart for joining me to discuss the contested legacy of Oliver Cromwell. What […]

Black History Month in the US – teaching about race when it could cost you your job.

Our mission is to help teachers teach controversial history, so the challenge of teaching the history of race in the USA is one we have been thinking about for some time. We are very excited to have launched a new programme to coincide with Black History month in the USA. This introductory program covering four […]

What can two minutes of The Simpsons tell you about US perceptions of Cuba?

TV shows can tell us a lot about the relationships between different countries and societies. Placing a TV clip in the context of some basic knowledge about a country and its history can release a wealth of information that is otherwise easy to miss. Take this 2 minute clip of The Simpsons from 1998 in […]

Why unionists and nationalists should not shy away from their competing views on past

There’s no point in providing history students with an inoffensive curriculum, says Ruth Dudley Edwards This article first appeared in The Belfast Telegraph and www.ruthdudleyedwards.co.uk on 27th July 2020.  Ruth Dudley Edwards is a journalist, crime fiction writer and biographer. Last month I saw a young woman on a TV news programme being asked if she […]

Famous deaths, and how to use them in your lessons

During 2022, we lost a number of prominent public figures. While students are familiar with Pele and the Queen, below this top tier, many other famous deaths are reported by the news. Students are likely to have seen these deaths on the news, but may not realise their significance, or understand why some these people […]

Where there is discord, will invoking Thatcher’s memory bring harmony?

Following the bitter and drawn-out removal of Boris Johnson Prime Minister earlier this year, the Conservative Party found itself tussling over who the next leader would be. This led to the familiar sound of Thatcher and Thatcherism being invoked as the ultimate Conservative authority in all areas of policy and in the case of Liz […]

Songs as Historical Sources – Margaret Thatcher

Researching our new programme on Margaret Thatcher, it became clear to me that her influence touches on almost every aspect of British life. Selecting a small number of sources was difficult due to the sheer scope of her influence and how to convey it. We work hard to make sure that our sources not only […]

What are students thinking about free speech now?

New research on student perceptions of free speech is in, and Bobby Duffy and Finlay Malcolm wonder whether both sides of the debate can find some sensible common ground. This article first appeared on Wonkhe:  https://wonkhe.com/blogs/what-are-students-thinking-about-free-speech-now/   One of the defining features of “culture wars” is that the two sides can take completely opposing messages […]

In praise of Margaret Thatcher

To prepare the ground for our Great Leaders videos on Margaret Thatcher, we are posting blogs that examine her legacy. Having looked at a negative view of Thatcher here, we will now examine David Cameron’s glowing tribute to Thatcher, made in the House of Commons following her death in 2013.   DAVID CAMERON AND MARGARET […]