History and Material Culture: A Student's Guide to Approaching Alternative Sources (Routledge Guides to Using Historical Sources)

Book Details

• Publisher: Routledge

• Author: Harvey, Karen

• Language: English

• Edition: 2

• ISBN: 9781138928671

• Pages: 262

• Cover: Paperback

• Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches

About the Book

History and Material Culture by Karen Harvey explores the evolving role of material sources in the study of history, offering a fresh perspective on the raw materials that historians use to interpret the past. Traditionally, the written word has been the primary source for historical analysis, but in recent years, historians have increasingly recognized the value of material culture—objects, artifacts, and even everyday items—as essential sources for historical inquiry.

This updated edition expands on these ideas, featuring two new chapters: one on healing objects in East Africa and another on the social significance of the shopping trolley in contemporary society. These additions, along with a revised introduction by Harvey, guide readers through the process of utilizing material culture as a historical tool. Harvey discusses the critical issues historians face when engaging with material sources, particularly in light of "the material turn" in historical methodology, and provides a practical framework for those new to this field of study.

Accessible and interdisciplinary in approach, History and Material Culture demonstrates how objects—ranging from an eighteenth-century bed curtain to a modern shopping trolley—can help historians deepen their understanding of both the distant and recent past. This book is an invaluable resource for students of historical theory and method, offering insights into how material culture enriches historical narratives and opens up new avenues for research.