Social History

This type of Political History studies the social and cultural structure, gender, class, race, and ethnicity of a particular era, society, or country.

What is social history?

"In its 'golden age,' it was a major growth field in the 1960s and 1970s among scholars, and still is well represented in history departments in Britain, Canada, France, Germany, and the United States."

When did social history experience significant growth?

"In the two decades from 1975 to 1995, the proportion of professors of history in American universities identifying with social history rose from 31% to 41%."

How did the proportion of political historians change during the same period?

"While the proportion of political historians fell from 40% to 30%."

Which countries have a strong representation of social history in their history departments?

"History departments in Britain, Canada, France, Germany, and the United States."

How many faculty members identified themselves with social history in British and Irish universities in 2014?

"Of the 3410 faculty members reporting, 878 (26%) identified themselves with social history."

What was the next most identified field of history in British and Irish universities in 2014?

"Political history came next with 841 (25%)."

What are the tasks of social history according to Charles Tilly?

"'Documenting large structural changes; reconstructing the experiences of ordinary people in the course of those changes; and connecting the two'."

What approach have economists used to study social history since the 1990s?

"Economists have used cliometrics with economic and mathematical models as a quantitative means to study social history."