Global historian, speaker and author

I explore how people, ideas and power connect civilisations across history. My work examines the connections between civilisations through diplomacy, travel, conflict and culture from the ancient Mediterranean and early medieval maritime networks to international crises of the twentieth century.

I have spent years studying crises in the Mediterranean, which has informed my interest as this region as a crossroads of the global Cold War. I am the author of ‘Cyprus 1974: Conflict in the Mediterranean, No Control, No Conspiracy’ and Malta ‘The Cold War’s Mediterranean Hotspot: Britain’s Escape 1971-1979’.

This interest has progressed to examine a larger question of how have people, ideas and power connected civilisations across the world’s seas? My current research therefore examines global maritime networks of the early medieval world (400-1000AD). This sits alongside my other research studying the final Cold War battle for the Mediterranean, 1974-76, and how gardening ideas travel between civilisations.

I speak on history, international affairs, leadership lessons from past crises and how history informs today’s world such as Turkey and Greece nearly going to war, the assassination of an American ambassador, the CIA in Cyprus, Britain’s airlift and Kissinger, Wilson and Callaghan.

My record covers history news, features, interviews, articles and profiles with credits like The Times, British Forces Broadcasting Service, JPI Media, Guardian US, Military History Matters, Parliament’s The House magazine, US News, the Commentator, the Foreign Policy Centre, BBC History Today, Saga magazine, LBC radio, The Times Radio, Civil Service World magazine and the Heritage Foundation.

I studied history at Leicester, Oxford and London universities, am an associate fellow of the Royal Historical Society, a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and taught British history and international relations at the University of Buckingham (Foundation Level).

Please read the following pages for full details of my activities.