Department of History, Cambridge
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| Department of History, Cambridge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Department of History, Cambridge |
| Established | 19th century |
| Type | Academic department |
| Parent | University of Cambridge |
| City | Cambridge |
| Country | United Kingdom |
Department of History, Cambridge is the principal historical studies unit within the University of Cambridge, located in Cambridge and linked to colleges such as Trinity College, Cambridge, King's College, Cambridge, St John's College, Cambridge and Gonville and Caius College. The department traces intellectual lineages through figures associated with Cambridge such as Lord Acton, G. M. Trevelyan, E. H. Carr and Christopher Hill, and interfaces with national institutions like the British Academy, the Royal Historical Society and the National Archives (United Kingdom). It contributes to scholarship on periods and regions from the Ancient Rome and Byzantine Empire to Early Modern Europe, Ottoman Empire, Mughal Empire, Qing dynasty, Meiji period and Cold War studies.
History
Founded amid 19th-century reforms at the University of Cambridge, the department evolved from collegiate lectureships and professorships such as the Regius Professor of Modern History and the Professorship of Medieval and Modern History. Its institutional development intersected with events including the Reform Act 1832, the rise of Victorian era scholarship, the impact of the First World War and Second World War, and postwar expansion influenced by scholars returning from the Treaty of Versailles and researching the Russian Revolution. The department’s historiographical shifts reflect debates sparked by works like The English Constitution and The Dark Ages, and by methodological dialogues involving figures associated with the Annales School, the Cambridge School (intellectual history), and comparative studies with scholars linked to the Sorbonne and Harvard University.
Academic Programs
The department offers undergraduate Tripos programs affiliated with colleges including Newnham College, Cambridge and Girton College, Cambridge, and postgraduate degrees such as the Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy. Courses span modules on Medieval Europe, Renaissance, Reformation, Enlightenment, Industrial Revolution, Victorian era, Imperialism, Decolonization, Cold War, and thematic pathways engaging with sources from the Domesday Book to parliamentary debates in archives like the House of Commons Library. Joint and interdisciplinary options connect with the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, the Faculty of Classics, the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages, and professional links to the Institute of Continuing Education.
Research and Centres
Research clusters and centres affiliated with the department collaborate with external bodies such as the Wellcome Trust, the Arts and Humanities Research Council, and the Economic and Social Research Council. Active research units include centres focusing on Medieval Cambridge, British Empire, Global History, Gender History, Environmental History, Urban History, and networks examining archives like the Public Record Office and the British Library. Collaborative projects have involved partnerships with the Tate, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Imperial War Museum, and international institutes such as the Max Planck Society, the Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris and the Smithsonian Institution.
Faculty and Staff
The department's academic staff include holders of professorships and readerships, fellows from colleges such as Clare College, Cambridge and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and research associates with funding from bodies like the Leverhulme Trust and the Gates Cambridge Scholarship. Faculty research profiles cover specialists on figures and events including Thomas More, Oliver Cromwell, Napoleon Bonaparte, Winston Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi, Ho Chi Minh, Mao Zedong, and historiographies addressing the Atlantic slave trade, the Industrial Revolution, the Great Reform Act, and the Partition of India. Visiting scholars and emeritus professors maintain links with institutions including Oxford University, the London School of Economics, Princeton University, Columbia University, and the University of California, Berkeley.
Students and Admissions
Applicants apply through the University of Cambridge undergraduate and graduate admissions processes, often with college preferences for places at Emmanuel College, Cambridge or Downing College, Cambridge. Entry standards reflect national examinations such as A-levels and international equivalents like the International Baccalaureate, while graduate admissions consider prior research training and funding pathways including the UK Research and Innovation studentships and awards from the British Council. Student activities engage with societies such as the Cambridge University Historical Society, the Cambridge Union Society, and regional scholarly exchanges with groups linked to the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings and the Cambridge Antiquarian Society.
Facilities and Resources
The department is supported by libraries and archives including the Cambridge University Library, college libraries at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge and Jesus College, Cambridge, manuscript holdings referencing the Parker Library, and digital resources subscribing to databases like JSTOR, Project MUSE, and national catalogues such as the COPAC records. Seminar rooms, lecture theatres, and research clusters are housed within university buildings proximate to sites such as the Fitzwilliam Museum and the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences, with computing and paleography support linked to projects funded by the European Research Council.
Outreach and Public Engagement
Public-facing initiatives include lectures, exhibitions and conferences partnering with the British Library, the National Trust, the Historic England, and local bodies such as Cambridgeshire County Council. The department publishes research in venues like the English Historical Review, collaborates with broadcasters including the BBC for historical programming, and contributes expertise to inquiries by institutions such as the House of Lords Select Committee and the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts.