Rural history

Quick Facts: Who was Rural history?

Subject:

Rural history

Known for:

A field of historiographical study examining the history of societies in rural areas.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

In historiography, rural history is a field of study focusing on the history of societies in rural areas. At its inception, the field was based on the economic history of agriculture. Since the 1980s it has become increasingly influenced by social history and has diverged from the economic and technological focuses of "agricultural history". It is a counterpart to urban history. A number of academic journals and learned societies exist to promote rural history.

Career & Major Achievements

Rural history emerged as a distinct discipline from agricultural history in the 1980s and was inspired by the French Annales school which favoured integrating economic, social and political history. Initially focused predominantly on the social history of rural life and later became increasingly interested in cultural history. In Europe, the study of rural history is supported by the European Rural History Organisation (ERHO). Burchardt (2007) evaluates the state of English rural history and focuses on an "orthodox" school dealing chiefly with the economic history of agriculture. The orthodox historians made "impressive progress" in quantifying and explaining the growth of output and productivity since the agricultural revolution.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

A challenge came from a dissident tradition that looked chiefly at the negative social costs of agricultural progress, especially enclosure. In the late 20th century there arose a new school, associated with the journal Rural History. Led by Alun Howkins, it links rural Britain to a wider social history. Burchardt calls for a new countryside history, paying more attention to the cultural and representational aspects that shaped 20th-century rural life. In the U.S. most rural history has focused on the South—overwhelmingly rural until the 1950s—but there is a "new rural history" of the North as well.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 2007: 2007 Milestone — Burchardt (2007) evaluates the state of English rural history and focuses on an "orthodox" school dealing chiefly with the economic history of agriculture.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Rural history

True or False: “The initial focus of rural history was exclusively on social structures, ignoring economic factors entirely.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Initially, the field was based predominantly on the economic history of agriculture before incorporating broader social and cultural elements.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Rural history