Why history? The history of magic

Опубликовано: 19 Июль 2026
на канале: The British Academy
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Sharing insights from the past that help us to make sense of the present.

Three great strands of practice and belief run through human history: science, religion, and magic. But why has magic – the idea that we have a connection with the universe – developed a bad reputation? In this event, Chris Gosden explores the role of magic in shaping civilisations and how we might use it today to rethink our understanding of the world.

Speaker: Professor Chris Gosden FBA, Professor of European Archaeology, University of Oxford

Chair: Farhana Haider, Journalist and Broadcaster, Presenter for the BBC World Service’s Witness History

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'The History of Magic: From Alchemy to Witchcraft, from the Ice Age to the Present.' is available to purchase: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/30399...

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