Rethinking Social History

Reflects upon the expansion of English social history from 1550. Using historiographical assessment and case-studies the book re-evaluates the strengths of new approaches and points to fresh directions, discussing how the subject should integrate internally and with political history.

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"Rethinking Social History" seeks to reflect upon the tremendous expansion of English social history, between 1550 and 1990. Ranging over a variety of themes and periods the chapters aim to contribute towards the development of the subject. Through a combination of historiographical assessment and substantive case-studies the book re-evaluates the strengths of new approaches and points forward to fresh directions, discussing how the subject should integrate its various endeavours, both internally and with political history. The great strength of English social history, this book argues, is its breadth and diversity, features exemplified by the contributors to this volume. The subject has incorporated new approaches, absorbed creative influences from other disciplines and expanded into new areas. The contributors highlight how our understanding of the English past has been enriched by this opening up of the discipline, but also offer suggestions as to how the coherence and explanatory power of social history can still be strengthened.