Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

James Barr

@jamesbarr.bsky.social

5.2K followers 500 following 6.1K posts

I write history. Last book: LORDS OF THE DESERT; before that: A LINE IN THE SAND. Next book: THE ARENA. More at/contact me via https://www.historythatmatters.org Signal - jamesbarr.62 Currently reading Alanbrooke’s diaries

www.historythatmatters.org

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · Aug 28

Vague promises made under pressure have a tendency to backfire. I wrote about Britain’s recognition of Palestine and an earlier parallel for @engelsbergideas.bsky.social

When Britain promised Arab independence

Britain's ambiguous support for Arab national aspirations in 1915 is a warning that abstract promises, hastily made, can only generate discontent – a vital lesson for the current UK government as it p...

engelsbergideas.com

4 13 31

Reposted by James Barr

James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 14h

This is very very good. Recommended to me a couple of years ago and I spotted it secondhand earlier this week.

3 2 12

James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 13h

Oh very good

Reposted by James Barr

Lev Parikian @levparikian.bsky.social · 13h

If only there were a French expression to denote an uncanny feeling of having experienced something before

Sophie Pedder @sophiepedder.bsky.social · 14h

France’s new prime minister is…the very one who resigned on Monday, Sébastien Lecornu. It rounds off the most chaotic and absurdist week in French politics in modern times

12 47 170

James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 13h

Reculer pour mieux sauter?

Sophie Pedder @sophiepedder.bsky.social · 14h

France’s new prime minister is…the very one who resigned on Monday, Sébastien Lecornu. It rounds off the most chaotic and absurdist week in French politics in modern times

James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 14h

Yes, it was a good series. BBC radio is making a big effort to explain the history - there’s something else in the works at the moment which I will flag up when it is broadcast.

1 1

James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 14h

This is very very good. Recommended to me a couple of years ago and I spotted it secondhand earlier this week.

3 2 12

Reposted by James Barr

Peter McCullough @mcculloughp.bsky.social · 19h

Celebrating 50 years since the conversion of one of Oxford's most iconic buildings into one of its most beautiful libraries @lincoln.ox.ac.uk (Yours truly also in the slideshow getting very excited showing things from the historic collection.)
lincoln.ox.ac.uk/news/lincoln...

Lincoln Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Library | Lincoln College Oxford

Lincoln Library 50th Anniversary

lincoln.ox.ac.uk

2 6 15

Reposted by James Barr

Jason Burke @jasonburke2.bsky.social · 19h

like it or not, Netanyahu dominates Israeli politics, now as before. If anyone thinks the ceasefire is the endgame for a man who has been in power in Israel longer than David Ben Gurion, founding father, then think again ...

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

‘Yes Bibi, or no Bibi’: what does Gaza deal mean for Benjamin Netanyahu’s future?

Widespread support among Israelis for the ceasefire is unlikely to translate into votes for Likud, survey shows

www.theguardian.com

1 3

Reposted by James Barr

James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 1d

Back in the summer I took part in the Engelsberg Seminar in Sweden. Here are a series of interviews with speakers, starting with mine. The interviewer is @niklasekdal.bsky.social

The British and the French Mandates | James Barr

YouTube video by Axess Television

m.youtube.com

1 5 19

James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 20h

There’s loads of good stuff here.

Reposted by James Barr

Stephen Collins @stephencollins.bsky.social · 21h

ChatGPT's guide to Winning At Work
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Climbing the corporate greasy pole, ChatGPT style: the Stephen Collins cartoon

If I tell you what you want to hear then you’ll think I’m a god!

www.theguardian.com

26 86

Reposted by James Barr

Stephen Collins @stephencollins.bsky.social · 1d

All my comics have happy endings!

14 350 1.1K

James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 1d

Yes, exactly

1 2

Reposted by James Barr

Peter Ricketts @lordrickettsp.bsky.social · 1d

The hugely welcome ceasefire/hostage release deal finally happened when Trump used the full weight of US power to mobilise Arab pressure on Hamas and get Netanyahu over the line. But it will take sustained engagement by Trump personally (not his strong point) to avoid the deal unravelling 1/2

12 8 30

James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 1d

You need a cactus in the corner

James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 1d

I’ll add more as I find them.

1 2

James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 1d

Stephen Kotkin on Russia in the Middle East

Russia is a Near Eastern Country too | Stephen Kotkin

YouTube video by Axess Television

m.youtube.com

1 2

James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 1d

John Jenkins on the Saudis

The Saudi-Wahhabi Pact — Past and Present | John Jenkins

YouTube video by Axess Television

m.youtube.com

James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 1d

Gabriel Martinez-Gros on ibn Khaldun

The Legacy of Ibn Khaldun | Gabriel Martinez-Gros

YouTube video by Axess Television

m.youtube.com

James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 1d

Simon Mayall on the crusades

On the Crusades | Simon Mayall

YouTube video by Axess Television

m.youtube.com

James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 1d

@peterfrankopan.bsky.social on Byzantium

The Rise and Fall of Byzantium | Peter Frankopan

YouTube video by Axess Television

m.youtube.com

1 1

James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 1d

Martin Goodman on the beginning of Christianity

The Beginning of Christendom | Martin Goodman

YouTube video by Axess Television

m.youtube.com

James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 1d

Amber Gartrell on Roman religion

The Roman Imperial Cult | Amber Gartrell

YouTube video by Axess Television

m.youtube.com

James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 1d

Here’s Ali Ansari on Persia

The Persian Empire and its Faith | Ali Ansari

YouTube video by Axess Television

m.youtube.com

James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 1d

Back in the summer I took part in the Engelsberg Seminar in Sweden. Here are a series of interviews with speakers, starting with mine. The interviewer is @niklasekdal.bsky.social

The British and the French Mandates | James Barr

YouTube video by Axess Television

m.youtube.com

1 5 19