Conversations in World History
Conversations in World History is a bridge to the past connecting scholars to people interested in the deeper meaning of history. Here, my informal chats with historians open up the past, their research, and major questions and debates in the field. These episodes should help us all engage in the fascinating conversations of world history and to hear from the people who are writing the next pages. The host, David Sherrin, is an author and award-winning social studies teacher. Check out other episodes and his books at www.davidsherrin.com.
Listen on:
Episodes
Saturday Jan 21, 2023
Saturday Jan 21, 2023
"Teacher's Corner" episodes are conversations with K-12 educators about how they bring topics in world history to life. Here, I chat with Andy Snyder about The Good Life (or "Living your Best Life"), his high school philosophy class. Andy was my former colleague at Harvest Collegiate, a public school in New York City, and he is one of the most thoughtful and thought-provoking teachers I have had the chance to work with.
Wednesday Jan 18, 2023
Wednesday Jan 18, 2023
I talk with Professor Matthew Restall of Penn State University about his book When Montezuma Met Cortes. We discuss the problems with the traditional narrative and the ways that an approach centered on the actions of indigenous Mexicans is more accurate and more interesting. Did Montezuma really surrender? Did he give away his empire in his speech to Cortes? Did Cortes kidnap Montezuma? Did Aztecs really believe Cortes was a returning Aztec god? Listen to find out these answers and more.
See here for a teaching worksheet for this episode at my website
https://www.davidsherrin.com/cwh
Additional books recommended by Matthew Restall:
Fifth Sun by Camilla Townsend
On Savage Shores by Caroline Dodds-Pennock
Wednesday Jan 18, 2023
Wednesday Jan 18, 2023
Ian Barrow is a professor of South Asian history at Middlebury College in Vermont. He has written three books, the latest being a history of the British East India Company. Ian is currently working on a new book about the history of the independence struggles in South Asia.
We discuss the meaning of India, power and resistance in colonial South Asia, the myth of Gandhi, causes of Indian independence, major issues in India between 1947 and today, and much more.
See here for a teaching worksheet for this episode at my website
https://www.davidsherrin.com/cwh
Additional books recommended by Ian Barrow:
The Great Partition by Yasmin Khan
Dispatches from a Precarious State: The Nine Lives of Pakistan by Declan Walsh
Conversations in World History
What is it? Conversations in World History is a bridge to the past connecting scholars to people interested in the deeper meaning of history. Here, my informal chats with historians open up the past, their research, and major questions and debates in the field. The "Teacher's Corner" episodes involve talks with K-12 social studies teachers to hear how they bring world history to life. These episodes should help us all engage in the fascinating conversations of world history and to hear from the people who are writing the next pages.
Who am I?
I am an author of picture books as well as engaging and practical books about teaching social studies. I teach at Scarsdale High School in Westchester. I formally taught at Harvest Collegiate in New York City, where I was a founding teacher and served as department chair, instructional coach, and Master Teacher.
My picture books are:
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Big Bad Wolf's Yom Kippur (Apples & Honey Press, 2023)
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The Pirate Rabbi (Apples & Honey Press, 2024)
My pedagogy books are:
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Authentic Assessment in Social Studies: A Guide to Keeping it Real
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The Classes They Remember: Using Role-Plays to Bring Learning to Life
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Judging for Themselves: Using Mock Trials to Bring Learning to Life.
I was named a New York City Master Teacher for 2014-2015 and was the recipient of the 2014 Robert H Jackson Center National Award for Teaching Justice. I have guest lectured in various graduate school education courses and led professional development for teachers at places such as NCSS, Revolutionary Learning Conference, Columbia Teacher's College, and Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda.
I spent two years as a street educator for Projeto Axé, a Brazilian organization that provides education and outreach for street children in Salvador, Brazil.