Letter from the Editor

Abstract

As I step into the role of Editor-in-Chief, after five years as medieval Europe section editor, I am amazed at the journal's growth during that time, thanks in large part to the energetic stewardship of my predecessor, Felice Lifshitz. Since its inception in 2003, History Compass has become the go-to resource for scholars and students wanting to catch up on a field or explore a new one, with peer-reviewed survey articles on some of the most pressing issues across the historical discipline. History Compass fills a unique niche in the world of historical journals, offering non-specialists an insider look at up-to-the-minute conversations in the field. Because all aspects of the journal are completely online—from submission, to review, to final publication—, our rapid turn-around time assures readers access to the state of the scholarship, including the most cutting-edge research. History Compass offers truly global coverage, with specialist editors overseeing articles in African, Asian, Australian and Pacific, British and Irish, Caribbean and Latin American, European, Middle and Near Eastern, North American, and World history. Virtual issues, a new feature of the last several years, bring voices from those various areas together in exploration of topics of current historical interest, such as Aspects of the Occult or the Formation of National Culture in Egypt. Through such scholarly juxtapositions, History Compass seeks to engender in its authors and its readers a broad perspective that may serve as the impetus to new historical inquiries. In addition, the journal routinely publishes clusters of articles that address the sort of issues that might come up at a roundtable at a scholarly conference, whether appraisals of a given scholar's career, or overviews of a hot topic within a particular sub-field. We encourage those organizing or presenting at such forums to consider publishing their contributions—essays often difficult to place in other journals—in History Compass. Further, readers routinely utilize the journal for teaching purposes, whether to brush up on a subject for a lecture or to direct students to an indispensable starting point for their own research. Accordingly, History Compass is pleased to offer Teaching and Learning Guides, with suggestions for additional readings along with sample syllabi and assignments, to accompany many of our articles. Video abstracts and podcasts by History Compass authors make natural companions for today's digital classrooms. While many of our readers access History Compass through subscriptions held by their institutions, individual subscriptions are available. Members of the American Historical Association enjoy a substantial discount on individual subscriptions as a benefit of their membership. I encourage you to experience the journal as I love to do: dip in to read an article in your own area of expertise, only to find yourself seduced by something far outside your field. New discoveries, along with boundary-crossing conversations, are only a click away. And when you do log in, let us hear from you, our readers. What sorts of essays would you like to read? In what ways can we better exploit the full possibilities of our online format? How might we best foster the sorts of collaborations and conversations that will lead to exciting historical breakthroughs? I can't wait to see your comments!