Agora 2025-2 Animals in History

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Animals in History | Agora vol. 60 no. 2 (2025)

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REFLECTION/EDITORIAL	Reflection Elisa Litvin Editorial Guy Nolch

THEMA Reflections on the theme
	The Original Sidekick: How Dogs Helped Build Societies Ben Lawless Dogs aren’t just modern companions: they helped drive the progress that built human civilisation.
	The Mysterious Origins and History of Australia’s Dingo Loukas Koungoulos Australia is known for its marsupial wildlife, but one native placental mammal stands out for its unique and intriguing role in ancient Australian history.
	Ships of the Colonial Deserts Phillip O’Brien The introduction of camels was essential for the expansion and development of Australia's colonial settlements.
	Wojtek the Bear: An Unlikely Wartime Hero Luke O’Meara Saved as a cub by Polish soldiers in Iran, Wojtek the Bear became a valuable member of his unit.
	Heroes with Wings Rowena Morris The most decorated animals in the twentieth century were pigeons, which were an important communications alternative in World War I and World War II.
	Why Every Good Witch Needs a Cat Kara Taylor The cat was revered in ancient civilisations, so why did it become associated with evil?
	Animal Legacies of the Ancient Greek World Bridget Headlam, Tom Harris and Jo Clyne The use of animals in ancient Greece as insignia, allegories, and in association with deities laid the foundation for an enduring historical shorthand that has been carried into the modern-day world.
	Using Archaeology to Investigate the Connections between People and Animals in Australia's History Georgia L. Stannard Archaeology offers a unique perspective on the complex relationship between humans and animals throughout Australia's history, from Deep Time to the colonial era.


PRAKTIKOS Teaching ideas
	Animals in War: Opportunities for Critical Thinking and Empathy Caitlin Arneil Animals open avenues for students to access higher order critical thinking and empathy skills that may not be available through traditional studies of warfare.
	How Animals Permeate Ancient Greco-Roman History Elsie Leask Animals in ancient Greece and Rome were portrayed as loyal companions, heroic rescuers and divine creatures that lent authenticity to the foundation myths of leaders.
	The Contribution of Animals in Human History Jo Leech Activities that require Year 7 and 8 students to research the role of animals in history can capture their imaginations and expand their historical skills.
	How Were Animals Used in World War I? Jo Leech Some weird and wonderful roles played by animals in World War I can add an extra dimension to the Year 9 History investigation 'Australians at War'.
	Teaching the Importance of Animals in Historical Sources Nicholas Drummond Teaching students how to recognise and decipher new symbols, such as animals, can help them develop a stronger understanding of a source.
	PARASITE: A Practical Source Analysis Tool for History Classrooms Jordan Clark Annotation empowers students to respond to visual source questions with more confidence, detail, and accuracy.

SUNGRAPHO Research and analysis
	Images of the Russian Revolution Michael Adcock Art and early photographs provide insightful visual context to the conditions and tensions that led to revolution in Russia.

KRITIKOS Reviews	All reviews are available online