Mr Briscoe is Santa Sabina College’s new Head of History.
His passion for history has remained unabated since he was a small child learning about dinosaurs. From the spark of paleontology he moved on to prehistory and ultimately ancient and modern history via university and then his teaching career.
His childhood interest had been nurtured by his grandparents who bought him “many, many” fascinating books as time progressed.
The most significant of these were the huge hardback book he still has on history’s great mysteries and Tolkien’s epic novel The Lord of the Rings.
“The Lord of the Rings is fantasy of course but in one sense is deeply historical”, he says. “All of those kings, the mythology and philosophy and the fact that Tolkien himself was a university professor combined with my factual reading to cement my interest in history.”
Mr Briscoe has an Honours degree in History from Macquarie University, a Diploma of Education and is currently working towards a PhD on late antique Rome and its relationship with Persia (Iran) and evolving Roman depictions of Persians. He came to Santa Sabina College from Ravenswood School for Girls where he taught both IBDP and HSC classes and, before that, The Hills Grammar School. He has also taught Latin and Society and Culture.
At SSC he leads the six teachers of the History Department and teaches Year 12 History Extension, Year 12 Ancient History and Modern History and the mandatory Year 8 History.
Mr Briscoe also helps run the History Club, a popular option at last month’s Co-curricular Expo. Plans for 2017 include sessions on Egyptian burial rites (mummification), and the emerging concepts of space archaeology and public history. The general encouragement of new gen Indiana Joneses is the aim.
Mr Briscoe’s favourite historical era? The Roman Republic and Empire, with its cataclysmic events and compelling characters including Caesar, Pompey, Nero and Caligula.
“The characters of history stand out in ways we can understand. We can easily recognise their narratives of ambition, betrayal, love, intrigue and conflict.”
History is absolutely his thing, but when he’s not teaching, reading or analysing it you can find Mr Briscoe watching or playing football and cricket.
