History resources
Explore the resources below for a taste of what it’s like to study History at Bristol.
Blogs and podcasts
This episode of BBC Sounds discusses the origins of infectious diseases.
This episode on BBC Sounds explores how Shakespeare's life was shaped by plague.
This episode on BBC Sounds discusses historic plagues and disease outbreaks, noting the social and political consequences of poor public health.
This episode on BBC Sounds explores the economic aftermath of the Black Plague, looking at conflicts and co-operation in the name of trade.
Check out our alumni stories on our YouTube channel to discover why students choose to study subjects in our School of Arts.
For more help choosing your Arts and Humanities degree, watch our introductory video.
News articles
This article summarises research that highlights how archaeological discoveries can provide insights into the spread of diseases through medieval Europe.
- News article: Leprosy victim buried 900 years ago offers insights into how the disease spread through medieval Europe
- Research: Investigation of a Medieval Pilgrim Burial Excavated from the Leprosarium of St Mary Magdalen Winchester, UK
This article summarises research which explores how religion used to influence medical practices in the treatment of historic diseases.
- News article: Sin, Salvation and the Medieval Physician
- Research: Sin, Salvation and the Medieval Physician: Religious Influences on Fourteenth Century Medicine
This article summarises research that highlights how strains of infectious diseases evolve and how society adapts to these changes.
- News article: Syphilis in Renaissance Europe
- Research: Syphilis in Renaissance Europe: rapid evolution of an introduced sexually transmitted disease?
Webinars/online lectures
This three-part lecture series on YouTube investigates the origins of pandemic diseases in Pre-Modern Europe, focusing on the bubonic plague, smallpox and syphilis.
- Part 1: Diseases and their historical origins
- Part 2: Contemporary cures and theories of spread
- Part 3: Public health
This three-part lecture series on YouTube explores Gothic history from the eighteenth century to the present day, encompassing the French Revolution, mad scientists, the decline of empire, and contemporary cinema.
- Part 1: Introduction to Gothic and literary theory
- Part 2: Gothic and literary theory continued
- Part 3: Final instalment of Gothic and literary theory
Wider reading
These three-part packs of resources are to complement the webinar series on Gothic history. These resources can serve as wider reading for the webinars or as standalone literature.
Please note: All information in this content was accurate at the time of publishing and may refer to past faculty structures or events. View our faculty page for our new faculty structures and events page for upcoming open days.