Page 61 - BBC History - September 2017

What the experts say Rana Mitter
“The boundaries of
history stop at the
From medieval monarchs to 20th-century despots, a huge
borders of Europe”
range of historical human life is contained within this year’s
History Hot 100. We asked a selection of leading historians to The Hot 100 has a decent mixture of men
and women and it’s also chronologically
dissect the results and comment on what they tell us about wide-ranging – everything from medieval
historical discourse in Britain right now kings to contemporary politicians. But the
boundaries of history do stop mostly at
the borders of Europe and are concen-
trated within the UK. And when we do hit
41, the top non-western figure is Genghis
Khan. At least he’s being balanced out by
Fern Riddell Gandhi at 50 – and I’m glad to see
“Popular history has never been Hatshepsut, nipping in at 85.
Might this change in future years?
so strong, or important” Non-western history is beginning to make
its way into the school curriculum – could
we see Mao Zedong there in future? The
Is the Age of Great Men finally dead, and stands out. Jane Austen, Nikola Tesla and Chinese empress Wu Zetian? In universi-
have we actually arrived in an Age of Marie Curie bring in the worlds of ties and in publishing these days Britain
Equality? If the History Hot 100 is literature, science and medicine, while boasts a wide expertise in history. We
anything to go by, the answer to that is a the battle of good vs evil is clear in the need to do more to spread that message.
resounding yes. Women are rising at rise of Adolf Hitler, Jesus, Goebbels and
lightning speed through the chart, and Joan of Arc. Rana Mitter is professor of
new lives are featuring beside well-known Popular history has never been so the history and politics of
names. The indomitable Bess of strong, or so important, because it modern China at the
Hardwick, Catherine de Medici and keeps us questioning the world around us, University of Oxford
Hatshepsut all make first-time appear- and how we can make it better for
ances, demonstrating powerful women everyone.
are fully capable of reaching across time
to captivate us, as popular history brings Fern Riddell is author of Janina Ramirez
their little-known stories to light, A Victorian Guide to Sex
As we face huge social upheaval, the (Pen & Sword, 2014) “We are drawn
desire to understand human nature also
in by big events”
Michael Scott
The Hot 100 list tells me, sadly, nothing
“Our ancient focus, it seems, is still far I didn’t already know about how we relate
too much on the Mediterranean” to historical figures. We are drawn in by
big events, we are attached to great
This is clearly the year when the ancients the traits of these particular powerful monarchs and even terrible figures, and
climb the charts and make big strides individuals, but rather examine the we remember a few who made great
forward into the public consciousness! The bubbling undercurrents/counter-currents changes. A list like this risks reducing
historical Jesus has climbed 42 places from in Roman society. history to individuals.
2016; Alexander the Great is up 10; Boudica The other absence in the list is any As a cultural historian, I believe the full
is up 38; and Cleopatra and Hatshepsut are ancient from Asia, India and the east fabric and texture of the past is composed
new entries. But even more interesting is – what about the rulers of the Qin and Han of so many factors: literature, art, social
who from the ancient world is not in the list. dynasties for instance? While we like our organisation, philosophy, religion,
While rulers such as Alexander, modern history with a more global flavour, economics. These lists are interesting, but
Cleopatra and Hatshepsut are in from the our ancient focus, it seems, is still far too they are a single and stultifying way to see
Greek and Egyptian worlds, not a single much on the Mediterranean. the rich and endlessly unfolding discipline
Roman ruler or emperor is in the top 40. of history.
Instead the ‘rebels’ against Roman rule – Michael Scott is a historian
Jesus and Boudica – are the ones in vision. and broadcaster. His latest Janina Ramirez is a
It seems we want a different kind of book is Ancient Worlds: An cultural historian,
Roman history – not one in which we Epic History of East and broadcaster and author
recite rulers’ names, or learn more about West (Hutchinson, 2016)

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