HistoryHub
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Dr. François Soyer is a Senior Lecturer in Late Medieval and Early Modern History at the University of New England (Armidale, NSW, Australia). From January 2012 until early 2016, he was a Partner Investigator with the ARC Centre of Excellence for the History of Emotions at the University of Adelaide and then an Associate Professor in Late Medieval and Early Modern History at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom between 2015 and 2018.
He has published a number of books and articles, including The Persecution of the Jews and Muslims of Portugal: King Manuel I and the End of Religious Tolerance (1496-7), published in 2007, Popularizing Anti-Semitism in Early Modern Spain and its Empire. Francisco de Torrejoncillo and the Centinela contra Judíos (1674), published in 2014, and most recently, Antisemitic Conspiracy Theories in the Early Modern Iberian World: Narratives of Fear and Hatred, published in 2019.
He is currently working on the origins, development and impact of the Antisemitic Ritual Murder and Blood Libel legends in Spain, focusing especially on the Blood Libel cases of San Dominguito de Val and the Holy Child of La Guardia.
In episode 20 of History Hub’s podcast series – ‘Kingdom, Empire and Plus Ultra: conversations on the history of Portugal and Spain, 1415-1898′ he discusses antisemitism in medieval and early modern Iberia, specifically some forged documents that purported to be communications between Jews in Spain and Constantinople with series host Dr Edward Collins.
Kingdom, Empire and Plus Ultra
‘Antisemitism, Forgeries, and Conspiracy Theories in Early Modern Iberia’, with Dr. Francois Soyer (University of New England).
Francois Soyer’s conversation with series host Dr. Edward Collins is now available as a podcast on Apple, Spotify, and Soundcloud.
Kingdom, Empire and Plus Ultra
This History Hub podcast series features interviews with experts in the areas of Portuguese and Spanish history, from the beginning of the Portuguese discoveries in 1415 to the end of Spanish dominion in America in 1898. The interviews, conducted by historian Dr. Edward Collins, cover a range of topics on the domestic and overseas histories of both nations, which include, among others: the Portuguese explorations of Africa and Asia, Spanish navigation and settlement in America, the church in Portugal and Spain, monarchy and intermarriage in the Iberian kingdoms, natural science and mapping in America, the role of nautical science, Irish historical relations with Portugal and Spain, and imperial competition in Europe and overseas. The interviewees comprise a number of established and renowned academics, as well as up-and-coming researchers from universities and institutions worldwide.
This History Hub series is funded by UCD Seed Funding and supported by UCD School of History. Series editor is Mike Liffey (Real Smart Media).
How to listen
Download series episodes on iTunes, stream on Spotify, or listen via Soundcloud.
Explore the series
Image: ‘Portuguese Conversos scourging a crucifix of Christ in Madrid’ by Francisco de Rojas Nieto.
Since 2011, researchers from a range of disciplines including History, Irish, English, Archaeology and Art History, have presented papers at Tudor and Stuart Ireland conferences. History Hub, in association with Real Smart Media, has produced more than 320 podcasts from these conferences.
UCD offers a variety of study options and entry pathways, ranging from full-time degrees to short-term courses for pure interest. Lifelong Learning offers all adult learners the opportunity to explore a subject of their choice without the pressure of an examination. Open Learning is a flexible way of studying history part-time at UCD. Explore your UCD History options for the coming year.
LGBT Activism in Ireland, 1973-2023: Looking Back, Going Forward is a UCD project which comprised of two workshops which were organised by Dr Mary McAuliffe (Director, UCD Gender Studies), in partnership with the National LGBT Federation (NXF), and funded by a Research Ireland New Foundations award.
The workshops – History of LGBT Activism in Ireland and Where We’re Going – Backlash, Solidarity, and Mobilising took place in UCD Humanities Institute in April 2025. Podcasts from the workshops are now available on History Hub.
Holocaust Education Ireland’s Holocaust Memorial Lecture for 2025 was given by Prof. Anthony McElligott from University of Limerick. A podcast of his lecture – “Surviving Liberation: Jewish Camp Survivors 1945-1948” – is now available on History Hub.
