New Ways of History (PDF)

Historians have increasingly thought of new ways to deal with the past. They have sought the best ways to research the past and tried new modes of historical narrative. The 'new ways of history' - the new historical fields and theoretical trends - are not usually combined or examined in one single volume. Specialisation in history is such that historians tend to read, publish and communicate only with historians in their own area or period of study. This volume provides an overview of recent trends in historiography and the changing agenda of questions in several historical fields - chronological, thematic and regional. It further adds to the discussion of how to treat time in history. In this way the comparative perspective is highlighted and further insight is given to the different historical trends and periods under consideration. The chapters can serve as an introduction not only to students but also to researchers specialising in particular fields. They cover a wide variety of historical themes and periods, including Ancient history, Byzantine history, Renaissance history, Ottoman history, political, social, economic and business history, gender history, maritime history, diaspora and landscape history and are all written by experts in their field. The last two chapters offer new perspectives on the study of historiography and consider firstly the concept of 'the present' and its relation to the historian and secondly a new patterning within history with which historians can not only analyse the past but can also consider the relationship of the past to the future as humans in every generation keep rediscovering. 'The New Ways of History' is an indispensable resource for students and scholars engaged in all disciplines of historical research.