SPARTA History Society: An Exciting Autumn Programme

The SPARTA History Society is pleased to unveil an outstanding programme of talks and events for the coming months. Covering everything from medieval military orders and Elizabethan culture to witch hunts, German history and even the history of popular music, there is something to appeal to every history enthusiast.

Step Into London's Rock and Roll Past

The programme begins on Wednesday 16 September with a special Rock'n'Roll London Walking Tour led by acclaimed guide Adam Scott-Goulding.

Starting at 6.30pm outside Tottenham Court Road Underground Station (Exit 1) and finishing near Piccadilly Circus, this fascinating tour will explore the streets that helped shape modern music. Participants will discover where The Rolling Stones recorded their first album, where Jimi Hendrix played his final London performance, and where Oasis posed for one of the most iconic album covers of the 1990s.

From Denmark Street's music industry heritage to Soho's role in the birth of British pop and rock, the evening promises a blend of music, history, scandal and unforgettable stories.

Cost: £10, payable by cash or card on the day.

Assassins and Templars: Myth, Memory and Medieval Warfare

On Tuesday 22 September at 1pm, historian Dr Steve Tibble joins us online to discuss two of history's most famous organisations: the Assassins and the Knights Templar.

In a talk based on his extensive research into the Crusades, Steve will explore how these seemingly opposing groups developed surprisingly similar strategies for survival in the turbulent medieval Middle East. Examining the realities behind the legends, he will trace their rise, influence and eventual destruction while revealing why both continue to capture the public imagination today.

Steve is a Research Associate at Royal Holloway, University of London, and author of several acclaimed books including Templars and The Crusader Armies.

Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe

We are delighted to welcome back bestselling historian Katja Hoyer on Monday 19 October at 1pm for a talk based on her latest book, Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe.

The city of Weimar occupies a unique place in German history. It symbolised both democratic ambition and the rise of dictatorship, cultural innovation and political extremism. Drawing on new archival research, Katja will examine the experiences of ordinary people as Germany moved from the aftermath of the First World War into the dark years of the Nazi regime.

Katja is a Visiting Research Fellow at King's College London, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and author of the international bestseller Beyond the Wall.

Did England Have a Renaissance?

On Thursday 22 October at 12.30pm, the Society welcomes Professor Emma Smith, one of the world's leading Shakespeare scholars.

Drawing on research for her forthcoming history of Elizabethan culture, Professor Smith will challenge traditional ideas about the Renaissance and explore how England developed a distinctive cultural movement that differed significantly from its Italian counterpart. Rather than being driven by wealthy patrons, England's Renaissance emerged through the ambitions and interests of the growing middle classes.

Professor Smith is Professor of Shakespeare Studies at the University of Oxford and author of the bestselling This Is Shakespeare.

Witchland: Witch Hunting in Seventeenth-Century Britain

The autumn programme continues on Tuesday 3 November at 1pm with Professor Marion Gibson, who will discuss her new book Witchland: A Tale of Witch Hunting and War in Seventeenth-Century Britain.

This fascinating talk explores how fear, religious conflict and economic hardship created the conditions for widespread witch hunts across Britain. It examines the devastating impact on local communities and the individuals, particularly women and the poor, who found themselves accused during one of the most turbulent periods in British history.

Professor Gibson is Professor Emerita of Renaissance and Magical Literatures at the University of Exeter and one of Britain's foremost experts on the history of witchcraft.

Looking Ahead

The Society's packed programme continues throughout November and December with talks including:

• 10 November: What Can You Learn from a Cookbook (Other Than How to Cook?) with Professor Rebecca Earle

• 17 November: Rethinking Offa, King of the Mercians with Rory Naismith

• 26 November: The Great Tramways Conspiracy

• 9 December: The Bayeux Tapestry with Michael Lewis, lead curator of the British Museum's Bayeux Tapestry exhibition

Whether your interests lie in medieval warfare, Tudor England, twentieth-century Europe, social history or popular culture, the SPARTA History Society continues to provide opportunities to hear from leading historians and authors.

We look forward to welcoming both regular attendees and new members to another fascinating season of historical exploration.

If you are interested in attending any of these events then please contact Robert Baker at robert.baker@dft.gov.uk