So You’re Dating a Historian

So, you made the mistake of flirting with a historian, and things got serious. What next?

Historians come in many different flavours, I'm the "Loves a museum, and hoards books and shinies" flavour. I would recommend finding out what flavour of historian you are dating early on in the relationship. This will make planning dates and gifts a lot easier.

Every historian has their own area of expertise or specialist interest, and you will need to prepare for info dumping to occur on a regular basis or If you so much as mention their favourite era in passing. I'm pretty sure my boyfriend and housemate have both learned not to mention Anglo-Saxon helmets around me if they plan to get anything done within the next half hour... or hour(... s).

Then there are the topics we have a passing interest in. This list can be as short as one or two things, or it could be as long as your arm. For example, I specialise in Early Medieval Britain and the Classical period, but I also have a fondness for...

• Weaponry throughout history

• Artillery throughout history

• Linguistics

• Mythology and folklore

• Astronomy

• Music

• Poetry

• Palaeontology

• Geology

• Taxonomy

• Taxidermy

• TTRPGs and video games

All of which link into my study of history. These minor interests won't lead to the same level of info dumping as your historian's major interest, but you will likely learn a fair bit about each one.

Which brings us nicely to my next point. There is a high chance that your historian will enjoy quizzes of some kind. Crosswords, a weekly pub quiz, and quiz shows on TV are all ways you can spend some quality time with your historian while also feeding their thirst for knowledge. You can also use this as an opportunity to show off to your historian. Cuddle up under a blanket and work on a crossword together, or watch an episode of University Challenge, QI or Pointless, and you'll get to see your historian light up when they know the answer to a question.

Let's talk dates. Like most humans, your historian will enjoy going out for a meal, to see a film, or any other activity people like to partake in. They will appreciate it if it has a bit of a historical twist, though. Perhaps you could take them to a themed bar or to a restaurant in a historic part of the city. Museums and heritage sites are always a good option, but try to pick something that is a little less well known, or a place your historian hasn't visited yet. Day trips to other towns or cities are also a good option. There's nothing quite like a little adventure around a new place, especially if that place has a rich history. Look out for local lectures or talks about your historian's major or minor interests, which will show them that you're listening when they talk about their passions.

Sometimes it can be difficult to buy gifts for someone, but historians will tell you what they want. Perhaps you're watching a documentary together and your historian says "Oh, Armillary spheres are so cool!" Save that little nugget for when you have the want or need to buy them a gift. Notebooks and nice pens are always a good idea, and depending on what flavour of historian you are dating, things such as crystals, bones, ornaments, and trinkets are all good choices.

But most of all, the greatest gift you can give your historian is your time and presence. Let them info dump, read their social media posts about their favourite topic, join them in museums and let them swoon over their favourite object - even if this is the 50th time you have seen it.

I have dated people who don't have curious minds or don't have that thirst for learning, and those relationships have often left me feeling unfulfilled. I want to share my loves and my passions with my partners, and I believe most historians feel the same. So please, keep that in mind if you are considering dating someone who

This has been your cheat guide to dating Signa... and yes, my boyfriend has read this.