Revolution in History

Fifteen historians examine the interpretative value of ideas of revolution for explaining historical development.

Roy Porter (Edited by), Mikulas Teich (Edited by)

9780521277846, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 9 October 1986

352 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2 cm, 0.52 kg

All serious historical inquiry constantly encounters these major questions: what are the forces of historical change? and are there any general patterns shaping historical development? Theories of revolution have figured large in historians' explanations, yet they have remained deeply controversial, not least because of the complexity - and often ambiguity - of such notions of revolution themselves. In this book fifteen contributors, leading historians and renowned experts in particular fields or periods, examine the interpretative value of ideas of revolution for explaining historical development within their own specialism, assessing the existing historiography and offering their own personal views. The book presents a conspectus of modern historical opinion, provides a sweeping historical overview, and offers students an invaluable introduction to major questions of historiographical interpretation and controversy.

Notes on contributors
Introduction
1. Revolution E. J. Hobsbawn
2. Revolution in antiquity M. I. Finley
3. Social devolution and revolution: Ta Thung and Thai Phing Joseph Needham
4. The bourgeois revolution of 1848–9 in Central Europe Arnost Klíma
5. Socialist revolution in Central Europe, 1917–21 T. Hajdu
6. Imperialism and revolution Victor Kiernan
7. Socio-economic revolution in England and the origin of the modern world Alan MacFarlane
8. Agrarian and industrial revolutions William N. Parker
9. On revolution and the printed word Elizabeth L. Eisenstein
10. Revolution in popular culture Peter Burke
11. Revolution in music - music in revolution Ernest Wangermann
12. Revolution and the visual arts Ronald Paulson
13. Revolution and technology Akos Paulinti
14. The scientific revolution: a spoke in the wheel? Roy Porter
15. The scientific-technical revolution: an historical event in the twentieth century Mikulás Teich
Index.

Subject Areas: General & world history [HBG]