Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This is a live-stream of the lecture. An edited version of the lecture will be uploaded in due course.
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https://app.sli.do/event/4Gm2xtG4VWKXpzVVxSjum6
A lecture by Sathnam Sanghera
In the past, history was presented to us as a settled story: a pile of dates to memorise, a handful of “great men” to admire, a heritage of statues and plaques to defend from “erasure”. In the 21st century, this focus has come under greater scrutiny, as wider and more nuanced studies of the past look beyond the limits of male experience.
In this lecture, Sathnam Sanghera takes this further, drawing on his work on the British Empire and his experience of writing history for a broad public. He explores what history is not: not fixed, not a balance sheet of “good” and “bad”, and definitely not the same thing as national heritage, nostalgic pride or self-lacerating shame.
The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website:
gresham.ac.uk/whats-on/history-not
Gresham College has offered free public lectures for over 400 years, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. There are currently over 2,500 lectures free to access. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds. To support Gresham's mission, please consider making a donation: gresham.ac.uk/support
Website: gresham.ac.uk
Twitter: twitter.com/greshamcollege
Facebook: facebook.com/greshamcollege
Instagram: instagram.com/greshamcollege
This is a live-stream of the lecture. An edited version of the lecture will be uploaded in due course.
Have a Question? No Registration Required
https://app.sli.do/event/4Gm2xtG4VWKXpzVVxSjum6
A lecture by Sathnam Sanghera
In the past, history was presented to us as a settled story: a pile of dates to memorise, a handful of “great men” to admire, a heritage of statues and plaques to defend from “erasure”. In the 21st century, this focus has come under greater scrutiny, as wider and more nuanced studies of the past look beyond the limits of male experience.
In this lecture, Sathnam Sanghera takes this further, drawing on his work on the British Empire and his experience of writing history for a broad public. He explores what history is not: not fixed, not a balance sheet of “good” and “bad”, and definitely not the same thing as national heritage, nostalgic pride or self-lacerating shame.
The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website:
gresham.ac.uk/whats-on/history-not
Gresham College has offered free public lectures for over 400 years, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. There are currently over 2,500 lectures free to access. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds. To support Gresham's mission, please consider making a donation: gresham.ac.uk/support
Website: gresham.ac.uk
Twitter: twitter.com/greshamcollege
Facebook: facebook.com/greshamcollege
Instagram: instagram.com/greshamcollege
