University of Arkansas at Little Rock

The 26th annual " Evenings with History " series will begin its 2013-14 season with a look into the mind and character of iconic military leader Alexander the Great at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 1.

Sponsored by the University History Institute at UALR, the series features presentations by UALR Department of History faculty members who share insights into their research.

All sessions will be held at the Historic Arkansas Museum's Ottenheimer Auditorium, 200 E. Third Street, Little Rock.

The sessions will be on the first Tuesday of each month, beginning in October and ending in April. Refreshments will be served at 7 p.m., and each talk begins at 7:30 p.m.

The talks are for a general audience, but each offers insight into the real workings of historical scholarship. The nationally recognized series covers a variety of subjects and eras. Several presentations will illuminate current affairs, and questions and discussion are encouraged.

The first talk examines Professor Edward Anson's efforts to establish the character of Alexander, which resulted in his new book, "Alexander the Great: Themes and Issues."

"Simply detailing what Alexander did produces serious difficulties, but getting into the mind of someone who lived more than 2,000 years ago is even more difficult," said Anson, who will discuss how a historian uses the evidence of antiquity to overcome these barriers.

Other topics will cover Irish social problems and the impact of historical research on public policy; the Southern Tenant Farmers Union and how new sources can change our understanding of such an organization; comprehending American-Jordanian relations; insight into "powerless" Dutch colonists; and ways historians use medieval documents to understand people's religious beliefs in that era.

The full calendar of scheduled lectures can be found at Evenings with History page.

UALR students may attend the lectures free of charge. Others may attend by subscribing at various levels of support, which helps fund additional historical scholarship and research.

All subscriptions and donations to the institute are tax deductible as allowed by law. For more information, contact the University History Institute at 501.569.3235.

Source: Ualr