Profile
An articulate, personable, diversely skilled and adaptable individual with a life-long vocation in historical research, interpretation and public education.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts, Melbourne University,
Classical Studies and Mediaeval History. Conferred April 1993. Incorporating Latin and Greek languages and literatures.
Honours in Classical Studies.
Minor thesis: Byzantine Slavery in the Age of Transformation, sixth to ninth centuries. Passed 2B. Conferred April 1993.
Doctor of Philosophy, University of New England,
Classical Studies. Dissertation: The Forms and Evolution of the Dress and Regalia of the Byzantine Court, c.900 – c.1400.
Approved. Conferred 11th October 2003.
Skills
Accomplished research, text drafting, editing and document preparation.
Advanced computer knowledge: word processing; record keeping; graphics design and manipulation; Internet drafting; multimedia presentations.
Diverse manual crafts. Primarily, dressmaking and tailoring, leatherwork, metalwork and woodwork. (For examples of much of my handcraft work see www.levantia.com.au)
Financial administration skills, with experience of computer accounting packages and manual record keeping.
Languages
Latin, Classical Greek, French to conversational level, Swedish, Spanish and German to elementary reading level.
Employment Details
December 2013 – present:
Self employed in historical crafts and research.
June – August 2011:
Assistant, Mobile Library Services. Clerical duties (Data input, detail checking, route research and planning), deliveries (Driving, client liaison, heavy object movement), customer services, processing library materials.
July 2008 – May 2011:
Technician, Leeds Museums Service. Conservation, restoration, installation, removal and transport of museum artefacts, manufacture of replicas, construction, renovation and removal of museum displays and exhibits, general maintenance, educational presentations and visitor assistance.
November 2007 – December 2007:
Temporary clerical Assistant, Manheim Motor Auctions, Leeds. Customer liaison, updating digital customer records.
February 2007 – September 2007:
Costumed Historical Interpreter, Jorvik Viking Centre, York. Public education presentations, textiles and leatherwork demonstrations, customer service, cash sales.
March 2005 – February 2007:
Casual and temporary office cover contracts. Historical craft work. Job searching. Freelance research.
October 2003 – March 2005:
Editor of Medieval History Magazine and office manager of Hamois UK, Leeds. Editorial duties, journalistic reportage, article writing, picture research, administration of a lean office with two additional full time staff, ultimate responsibility for financial records, customer and contributor liaison, procurement, promotion and recruitment.
Personal Qualities
Diligent.
Adaptable.
Diversely skilled.
Organised and Efficient.
Good team- worker.
Self motivated.
Interests & Hobbies
Historical research and publication.
Historical recreation, representation and interpretation (“Living History” etc.).
European and Near Eastern historical martial arts and horsemanship.
Social and historical dancing and musical performance.
Committee member (Newsletter Editor) of the Medieval Dress and Textile Society.
Member of the Society for the Promotion of Byzantine Studies.
Member of the Leeds Cosplay Group.
Developments in science and contemporary events.
Forthcoming Publications
A Companion to Medieval Fightbook Literature, Brill, 2016 (co-editor)
Squander on your Back: clothing in the Near East, al-Islamiyya and the Western Caucasus, 500–1500.
Books
By the Emperor’s Hand: court regalia and military dress in the Eastern Roman Empire, c.600–1453, Frontline Books, 2015.
Armour Never Wearies: A History of Lamellar and Scale Armour in the West from the Bronze Age to the Nineteenth century, The History Press, 2013.
Byzantine Cavalryman: Eastern Roman Empire, c.900 – 1204, Warrior Series, Osprey Publishing, 2009.
An Annotated and Illustrated Glossary of Medieval Greek Textile and Dress Terminology, Levantia Historical Guides no. 7, 2008.
Byzantine Infantryman: Eastern Roman Empire, c.900 – 1204, Warrior Series, Osprey Publishing 2007.
Everyday Women’s Clothing of the Byzantine Empire: c. 900- c. 1204, Levantia Guides no. 1, 2002.
Everyday Men’s Clothing of the Byzantine Empire: c. 900- c. 1204, Levantia Guides no. 2, 2002.
Introduction to Middle Byzantine Footwear, Levantia Guides no. 3, 2002
European Clothing in the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries, Levantia Historical Guides no. 6, 2002.
One Thousand Years of Lamellar Construction in the Roman World, Levantia Guides no. 8, 2003, 2010.
Referred Journal Articles & Book Chapters
‘Byzantine Dress’, in The Istanbul History, Istanbul Metropolitan Council, 2014.
‘There and Back Again – cross-cultural transmission of clothing and clothing terminology’, Studies in Intercultural Exchange in the Early Medieval Mediterranean, Stephanie Hathaway and David W. Kim (eds.), Continuum Publishing, London, 2012, pp. 203–213.
‘The Monomakhos Crown – A Toward Resolution’, BYZANTINA ΣΥΜΜΕΙΚΤΑ 19 (2009) pp. 183-193. May be downloaded from www.byzsym.org/
‘The Walpurgis Fechtbuch: an inheritance of Constantinople?’, Arms and Armour, Royal Armouries Museum, 2009, pp. 79–92. Pdf available at www.levantia.com.au/publications.html
‘Suntagma Hoplôn: the equipment of regular Byzantine troops, c. 950 – c. 1204’, republished in John Haldon (ed) Byzantine Warfare, Ashgate, Aldershot, 2007.
‘Fit for the Task: Equipment Sizes and the Transmission of Military Lore, sixth to tenth centuries’, Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, 31 (2007) pp. 1–12. Pdf available at www.levantia.com.au/publications.html
‘Propriety, Practicality and Pleasure: the parameters of women’s dress 1000 – 1204’, in Lynda Garland (ed) Byzantine Women: Varieties of Experience 800–1200, Ashgate, 2006, pp. 41–75.
‘Oriental costumes in the Byzantine Court Reconsidered’, Byzantion 75 (2006), pp. 97–114. Pdf available at www.levantia.com.au/publications.html
‘Concerning an unrecognised tunic from eastern Anatolia’, Byzantion, 73/1 (2003), pp. 201-210. Pdf available at www.levantia.com.au/publications.html
‘Suntagma Hoplôn: the equipment of regular Byzantine troops, c. 950 – c. 1204’, in David Nicolle (ed.), Companion to Medieval Arms and Armour, Boydell & Brewer, London, 2002, pp. 81–90.
‘Klivanion revisited: an evolutionary typology and catalogue of middle Byzantine lamellar’, Journal of Roman Military Equipment Studies, 12/13 (2001/2) pp. 11–24. Pdf available at www.levantia.com.au/publications.html
‘Kremasmata, Kabbadion, Klibanion: Some aspects of middle Byzantine military equipment reconsidered’, Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, 22, (1998) pp. 38 – 50. Pdf available at www.levantia.com.au/publications.html
Other Articles
‘Back on the street after 500 years’, Friendsnews, issue 39 (April-June 2009), Museum of London p. 16.
‘Óbidos 2005: Colloquium on Historical Recreation’, Skirmish, no. 37 (June/July 2005), pp. 49-50.
‘Rome II: More than just a sequel’, Skirmish, no. 35 (February/March 2005), pp. 19-20. Pdf available at http://www.levantia.com.au/clothing/Dawson_Rome_II.pdf
‘A Club with an Edge: what did European swords weigh?’, Medieval History Magazine, vol. 2, no. 3 (November 2004), pp. 32-35.
‘Musical instruments and ensembles of the middle Byzantine era’, Varangian Voice, no. 33 (November 1994) pp. 24-6. Revised and republished in the Magazine of the Early Music Society of Victoria, part 1, vol. 19 no. 8 (September 1996) pp. 5-10, part 2 vol. 19 no. 9 (October 1996) pp. 6-9.
‘Some examples of Ayyubid or early Mameluk leatherwork’, Varangian Voice, no.32 (August 1994) pp. 3-6.
‘An Islamic Helmet and Some Byzantine Helms from mss C11th to C13th’, Varangian Voice, no.31 (May 1994)
‘Stepping out: Headwear and Mantles for Egyptian and Arab dress in the fifth to seventh centuries Hejri (late 10th to 13th centuries CE). Part I’ Varangian Voice, no.30 (February 1994) pp. 26-29, Part II’, Varangian Voice, no.31 (May 1994) pp. 25-28. Republished at www.levantia.com.au/costume/stepping_out.html.
Academic Papers
‘Transgressions: Is it possible to have Rules, but no enforcement? – The Instance of Sumptuary Rules in Constantinople’, International Medieval Congress, Leeds, July 2012;
‘Rich pickings from a seeming poverty of evidence: cuisine in the Enduring Roman Empire’, International Medieval Congress, Leeds, July 2011;
‘Steppes to Civilisation: Roman assimilation of nomadic military technologies’, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires in World History, World History Association conference, Istanbul, October 2010;
‘Soft Cargo: padded garments and accessories in the Enduring Roman Empire’, Medieval Dress and Textile Society Summer Meeting, London, May 2010;
‘Women in the Halls, Women on the Walls’, Society for the Promotion of Byzantine Studies Spring Symposium, Birmingham, 2010;
‘Wedded to the city: Triumphal entries to Constantinople, tenth to twelfth centuries’, Medieval Dress and Textile Society Spring meeting, London, 2008;
‘Strutting their Stuff: dress related gesture in court and beyond’, 21st International Congress of Byzantine Studies, London, August 2006;
‘Historical Re-enactment and the Academy: Maximising links with the scholarship sector’, Obidos Colloquium on Historical Recreation, Óbidos, Portugal, February 2005;
‘Text to textile’, (costume parade) Feast, Fast or Famine: Food and Drink in Byzantium, Australian Association for Byzantine Studies 13th Conference, Adelaide, Australia, July 2003;
‘Late Antique and Middle Byzantine cookery: methods and utensils’, Feast, Fast or Famine: Food and Drink in Byzantium, Australian Association for Byzantine Studies 13th Conference, Adelaide, Australia, July 2003;
‘Robed in State: The transmission of Aspects of Oriental Dress to Rome and the West’, Australian Society for Classical Studies 22nd Conference, Adelaide, 2001;
‘In Tempestatem: Heavy Weather Clothing in the Roman World, second century BC to sixth century AD’, Australian Society for Classical Studies 24th Conference, Sydney, Australia 2003;
‘Beyond Re-enactment: Rescuing History from Recreation’, History, Text, Culture: Medieval and Early Modern Studies, Interdisciplinary conference, Melbourne University 1999.
Other Presentations
‘An introduction to Byzantine Dress and Regalia’, Workers’ Education Association, Chesterfield, March 2010;
‘An introduction to Byzantine Dress and Regalia’, and ‘An introduction to Byzantine Military Equipment’, Workers’ Education Association, Sheffield, February 2008;
‘Food and Feasting in the Middle Ages’, Gallery presentation, Museum of London, 28th & 29th December 2005.
‘Historical Recreation – Optimising contacts with the scholarship sector’, International Colloquium on Historical Recreation, Óbidos, Portugal, February 2005;
‘Pilos to Fez: 1000 years of clothing in Anatolia and Beyond’, 1453 Commemoration Symposium, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, May 2003.
‘Raiment of Rômania: Dress in the Eastern Roman Empire, sixth to fifteenth centuries’, Armidale, Australia, November 2002;
‘Bricks and mortar: issues in rebuilding History’, Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology Tournament, Brisbane, Australia, July 2001. Republished in two parts at http://www.levantia.com.au/ ➛ theory/;
‘Roman Arms and Armour in the tenth and eleventh centuries’, Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology Tournament, Brisbane, Australia, July 2000;
‘“Squander on your back”: An Outline of Fashion in the Near East from Late Antiquity to the Crusades’, Aspects of Antiquities Lecture 2000, School of Classics, History and Religion in conjunction with Earle Page College, University of New England, Armidale, Australia;
Website
www.levantia.com.au – aspects of material culture and everyday life in the Enduring Roman Empire and Near East.
