Cardiff historians make history

Historians from Cardiff University begin historic exchange with Russia's most prestigious institution of learning.

Academics with specialisms across Modern European history have made the first of four historic trips between the capitals, visiting the State Academic University for the Humanities as part of the Erasmus Plus International Credit Mobility scheme.

The Cardiff contingent delivered lectures on a wide variety of topics across Modern European history in Moscow. Among the lectures in May were:

• British perceptions of Russia during the First World War (Dr Toby Thacker)
• Nationalism and the 'imperial turn' in historiography (Dr Gavin Murray-Miller)
• Nazi-occupied Eastern Europe during the Second World War (Dr Deborah Barton)
• The evolution of Soviet state violence (Dr James Ryan)

Historians from the Faculty of History at the State Academic University for the Humanities in Moscow will deliver a similar range of lectures and seminars during their two week-long visits to Cardiff across 2016-2017.

UK coordinator of the exchange, Dr James Ryan said: “The students were wonderfully engaged, asking a wide range of questions for more than 30 minutes after each lecture. Treated to wonderful hospitality, our visit proved immensely interesting and rewarding. Cultural highlights were a tour of the Kremlin and an evening at the Bolshoi.

“We look forward to welcoming our colleagues to Cardiff with an exchange equally as stimulating for both students and academics in the next academic year” he added.

Made possible through the European Commission, the programme aims to help to strengthen cultural connections between countries.

The partnership links Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia’s foremost institution of learning and the top five UK Russell Group university.