History: An Introduction to Theory, Method and Practice - Softcover

Claus, Peter

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1138923990 ISBN 13: 9781138923997

Publisher: Routledge, 2017

Synopsis

Demystifying the subject with clarity and verve, History: An Introduction to Theory, Method and Practice familiarizes the reader with the varied spectrum of historical approaches in a balanced, comprehensive and engaging manner. Global in scope, and covering a wide range of topics from the ancient and medieval worlds to the twenty-first century, it explores historical perspectives not only from historiography itself, but from related areas such as literature, sociology, geography and anthropology.

Clearly written, accessible and student-friendly, this second edition is fully updated throughout to include:

• An increased spread of case studies from beyond Europe, especially from American and imperial histories.
• New chapters on important and growing areas of historical inquiry, such as environmental history and digital history
• Expanded sections on political, cultural and social history
• More discussion of non-traditional forms of historical representation and knowledge like film, fiction and video games.

Accompanied by a new companion website (www.routledge.com/cw/claus) containing valuable supporting material for students and instructors such as discussion questions, further reading and web links, this book is an essential introduction for all students of historical theory and method.

About this title

From the Back Cover

Why should history students care about theory? What relevance does it have to the "proper" role of the historian?

Historiography and historical theory are often perceived as complex subjects, which many history students find frustrating and difficult. Philosophical approaches, postmodernism, anthropology, feminism or Marxism can seem arcane and abstract and students often struggle to apply these ideas in practice.

Starting from the premise that historical theory and historiography are fascinating and exciting topics to study, Claus and Marriott guide the student through the various historical theories and approaches in a balanced, comprehensive and engaging way. Packed with intriguing anecdotes from all periods of history and supported by primary extracts from original historical writings, History: An Introduction to Theory, Method and Practice is the student-friendly text which demystifies the subject with clarity and verve.

Key features -

• Written in a clear and witty way.
• Presents a balanced view of the subject, rather than the polemical view of one historian.
• Comprehensive - covers the whole range of topics taught on historiography and historical theory courses in suitable depth.
• Full of examples from different historical approaches - from social, cultural and political history to gender, economic and world history
• Covers a wide chronological breadth of examples from the ancient and medieval worlds to the twentieth century.
• Shows how students can engage with the theories covered in each chapter and apply them to their own studies via the "In Practice" feature at the end of each chapter.
• Includes "Discussion Documents" - numerous extracts from the primary historiographical texts for students to read and reflect upon.

"History: An introduction to theory, method and practice is accessible, interesting and inclusive. At a time when history has come to include so many approaches and sources, this is a also welcome guide to how historians understand their traditions and their roles in contemporary culture."
Professor Miri Rubin, Queen Mary, University of London

"This is a comprehensive introductory guide to the nature of historiography... It will be welcomed both by teachers and by their students."
Steve Rigby, Emeritus Professor of Medieval Social and Economic History, University of Manchester

 "Students (and their teachers) will be grateful for this book. From Herodotus to postmodernism and internet history, Peter Claus and John Marriott's survey of how the human past has been studied and written about is impressive in both its range and its clarity. It can be dipped into when needed, while its totality provides a splendid overview of the richness and diversity that exist within the writing of History."
Dr Bryan Ward-Perkins, Trinity College Oxford
 

About the Author

Dr Peter Claus is Access Fellow and Lecturer in History, Pembroke College, University of Oxford. His doctoral research on the Corporation of London was followed by work on the history of the City and East end of London, which developed into an interest in unofficial forms of urban social investigation in the metropolis along with a commitment to outreach, public history and the democratisation of the archive. This holistic approach to the study, practice and teaching of history has prompted an accessible and comprehensive introduction to historiography which draws on an engagement with diverse historical constituencies.

Professor John Marriott is Senior Associate, also at Pembroke College, Oxford. His research has focused on London and Empire with a particular emphasis on the nexus between East London and India since the eighteenth century. His numerous books include The Culture of Labourism: The East End between the Wars (1991, The Other Empire: Metropolis, India and Progress in the Colonial Imagination (2003), Beyond the Tower: a History of East London (2011) and The Ashgate Research Companion to Modern Imperial Histories (2012), co-edited with Professor Philippa Levine. He is now working on the origins of colonial land reform in the seventeenth century, and the demands of young twins.

 

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 1138923990
• ISBN 13: 9781138923997
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 498