The houses of history is a clear, jargon-free introduction to the major theoretical approaches employed by historians. This innovative critical reader provides accessible introductions to fourteen schools of thought, from the empiricist to the postcolonial, including chapters on Marxist history, Freud and psychohistory, the Annales, historical sociology, narrative, gender, public history and the history of the emotions.
Each chapter begins with a succinct description of the ideas integral to a particular theory. The authors then explore the insights and controversies arising from the application of this model, drawing upon debates and examples from around the world. Each chapter concludes with a representative example from a historian writing within this conceptual framework.
This newly revised edition of the highly successful textbook is the ideal basis for an introductory course in history and theory for students of history at all levels.
Table of Content
1. Introduction
2. The empiricists
3. Marxist historians
4. Psychoanalysis and history
5. The Annales
6. Historical sociology
7. Quantitative history
8. Anthropology and ethnohistorians
9. The question of narrative
10. Gender and history
11. The challenge of poststructuralism/postmodernism
12. Postcolonial perspectives
13. Public history
14. Oral history
15. History of emotions
16. Conclusion
Index
About the author
Kathleen Troup is Associate in the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at the University of Melbourne