Lectures and Teaching

University Teaching

I am an experienced, research-led teacher in higher education.

I have taught both undergraduate and postgraduate courses, face-to-face and online, to both UK and US students. Formats have included first-year survey lectures to 60 or more students, second- and third-year, upper-level courses in small seminar groups, and individual tutorials for special subject / senior thesis projects. These have taken place face-to-face, virtually, and in a blended-learning environment.

My classes have a focus on primary source material, encouragement towards independent research, and a conversational approach.

Courses I have developed and led include:

• History of the Middle Ages: England and its Neighbours

• Savage Splendour: Knighthood and Chivalry

• Swords and Swordplay in Medieval and Early Modern Europe

• Bloody-Backs, Tommies and the Thin Red Line: A Cultural History of the British Army

• Medieval Technologies and Social Change

• Castles: From Forbidding Fortress to Pleasure Palace

• Medieval Warriors and Warfare

• Playing Knights: Tournaments, Bohourts, and Pas d’Armes

• Agincourt: The Battle and The Myth

• The Romans in Britain

Academic Conferences

I am a confident and engaging academic speaker.

I have spoken at numerous conferences and research seminars, presenting everything from one-hour lectures, twenty-minute session papers, and academic posters on his research projects and interests.

Selected conferences in which I have spoken include:

• ‘B(e)aring a Blade: The Transfer of Authority through Gifts of Swords in the High and Late Middle Ages.’ Martial Culture in Medieval Towns, (Bern, Switzerland, 2021)

• “Guy Drew his Sword. Then he was a Knight.” Re-evaluating the Sword as a Symbol of Knighthood.’ Weapons in Society, (Virtual, hosted by the Royal Armouries, 2021) Watch a recording here.

• 'Learning the Sword: Fighting Manuals and Medieval Pedagogy.' International Medieval Congress, (Leeds, 2018)

• ‘Un Veel Feble Fauchon dil Anxien Temps: The selection of the falchion as a symbol of tenure; form, function and symbolism.’ Sword; Form and Thought, (Solingen, 2015)

• 'Awakening the Blade: Historical Fencing as Hobby, Sport and Academic Study.' Middle Ages in the Modern World, (Lincoln University, 2015)

• ‘Livery, Ensigns and Russet-Coated Captains: The Military Revolution Through the Lens of Martial Display.' British Commission for Military History New Research in Military History Conference, (Kings College, London, 2011)

• 'þen hentes he þe healme, and hastily hit kisses: The symbolic significance of donning armour in medieval romance.' Coloquio Internacional de Historia Bélica, (University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain, 2010)

• ‘Identifying the Warrior on the Pre-Heraldic battlefield.' Anglo-Norman Studies Conference, (Gregynog, Wales, 2007)

• ‘Military Culture, Mercenary Culture and Martial Display.' Mercenaries and Paid Men, (Swansea University, 2005)

• “What Banner Thine?’ The Banner as Symbol of Identification, Status and Authority on the Medieval Battlefield.' Haskins Society Conference, (Ithaca, New York, USA, 2004)

• ‘Saint and Devil: Military Display and the Medieval Warrior's Humanity.' War, (Durham University, 2001)

Museums Education and Public lectures

I am a flexible presenter, able to tailor his delivery to a wide range of audiences.

I have over ten years of experience as a guide and educator at the Roman Baths Museum in Bath, where I offered general and specialist guided tours to regular visitors as well as those with special educational and research interests. I also led teaching sessions for school and undergraduate students, utilising a combination of discussion groups, handling of original artefacts, and independent activities.

I am a volunteer guide at English Heritage’s Goodrich Castle, on the Welsh/English border north of Monmouth.

I also present aspects of Roman and medieval history to local and national historical societies, educational, and heritage organisations.

Topics I have covered include:

• Goodrich Castle

• William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke

• The medieval Welsh March

• Knighthood and medieval warfare

• Medieval arms and armour

• The medieval tournament

• An introduction to historical fencing

• Bath’s ‘Viking’ Sword

• The creation of Roman Bath

• Roman health and medicine

• Decoding Roman tombstones

• Tourism and heritage planning in Bath