Description
Book SynopsisWhat is our relationship with the past? A quiet revolution has transformed the ways in which History provides us with answers. Indeed, not so long ago the very question might have seemed odd. But in recent decades the solid moorings to which History was seemingly tethered have proved less secure than earlier supposed. That realization has produced some discomfiture, but also many more opportunities for understanding worlds with which we have lost connection. No single book can hope to reflect all the ways in which History has ''changed with the times'' nor can, or should, a volume with numerous contributors speak with one voice. Yet the Companion does range widely, addressing key themes and structures from new areas of enquiry as well as providing fresh treatment of established fields; and it does mark a significant departure in a genre still shaped by stories that are predominantly Western. It reflects a practice of history that seeks global connections and pioneers a sustained dialog
Trade ReviewThe stellar cast of authors... [introduce] the reader to some of the most exciting developments in the field of history over the past three decades.... the book achieves a great deal. * Stefan Berger, Times Literary Supplement *
Ambitious...rich and challenging...makes some significant contributions * Alix Green, Reviews in History *
How has the writing of history changed over the past half century? What are the topics and issues that interest historians today? These questions, and many more, are addressed in the Concise Companion, a pioneering and exceptionally stimulating volume of essays which indicate some of the ways in which the challenges of globalization are forcing historians to rethink their approaches to the past. * Sir John Elliott, Regius Professor Emeritus of Modern History, University of Oxford *
Ulinka Rublack has created a true companion volume for readers of recent and current historical writing. In an astonishing feat of editorship, she brings together some of the best living historians and some insuperable essays on the state and drift of the subject. * Felipe Fernández-Armesto, William P. Reynolds Professor of History, Notre Dame University *
Table of ContentsPreface ; PART I: WRITING HISTORY ; 1. History and World History ; 2. Causation ; 3. The Status of Historical Knowledge ; 4. Historians ; PART II: THEMES AND STRUCTURES ; 5. Commerce ; 6. Power ; 7. Communication ; 8. Population ; 9. Gender ; 10. Culture ; 11. Ethnicity ; 12. Science ; 13. Environmental History ; 14. Religion ; 15. Emotions ; 16. The Power of Ideas ; Acknowledgements ; Index
