Overview

Historical Mechanisms argues that scientific method can provide key new insights about events that took place long ago. Taking a fresh approach to historical method and theory, this book contends that there is enough data to show that under certain circumstances societies have behaved, and will continue to behave, in similar ways throughout history. In this book, Andreas D. Boldt discusses the possibility of utilizing natural scientific theories in order to explain historical processes, focusing on the question of how nations and empires rise, succeed, fail and then assume another form in which they begin the cycle again. Scientific methods are utilized metaphorically as a means of establishing connections between events and trends throughout history, and this book argues that these methods can explain historical patterns such as chaos and stability, the relationship between power centres and power vacuums, the necessary conditions for the expansion of empires and the influence of natural and man-made borders. Exploring the ways in which concepts from science can be employed to shed new light on the analysis of historical data, Historical Mechanisms is valuable reading for all scholars of the theory and method of history.

Full Product Details

Author:   Andreas D. Boldt
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Routledge
ISBN:  

9780367337438

ISBN 10:   0367337436
Pages:   252
Publication Date:   31 July 2019
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter 1: `Historical Mechanisms’ – Describing the new method Chapter 2: How to use `Historical Mechanisms’ to analyse the rise and fall of states and empires Chaos in history The relationship of horizontal and vertical power The relationship of the centre of power and the power vacuum Forms of expansion The importance of quantity and quality Borders and the centre Memory, education and the role of languages for modern nationalism The role of terrorism and propaganda control in times of struggle Chapter 3: Auxiliary information: The ideas of Machiavelli and geography Chapter 4: Case studies: Applying the new method to history Germany: Three Empires and a democratic nation state Russia: From Tsarist/Soviet Empire to Putin’s Russia Turkey: From Ottoman Empire to Turkish Republic China: Imperial-national continuities of unity and quantitative growth India: Greater British-India and its successor states USA: Pax Americana and Imperium Americanum England: Rise from the periphery to the British Empire and return to its peripheral state Brazil: From a colony to empire France: A history of royal, imperial and republican empires Greece: Greatness lies in Ancient History and the constant try of the renewal of the Hellenistic Empire Iraq: The road from most powerful empires in history to complete peripheral power-vacuum European Union: A power case based on economic interests Conclusion: The importance of integrating natural scientific aspects of history Appendix Bibliography Index

Reviews

The elocution, the research, the intellectual reach, and breadth of learning is impressive, and scholars and students will drink deep from the author's insights... [this book] will enlighten readers and contribute to the field of intellectual history. -Michael J. Gonzalez, University of San Diego, USA

The elocution, the research, the intellectual reach, and breadth of learning is impressive, and scholars and students will drink deep from the author’s insights… [this book] will enlighten readers and contribute to the field of intellectual history. —Michael J. Gonzalez, University of San Diego, USA

Author Information

Andreas D. Boldt teaches at Maynooth University, Ireland. He studied at the University of Bremen and subsequently completed his PhD, titled `Leopold von Ranke and Ireland’ at Maynooth University in 2005. His publications include The Role of Ireland in the Life of Leopold Von Ranke, (1795–1886): The Historian and Historical Truth (2007) and his research interests lie in the areas of general history, modern European history, historiography, historical theory and environmental history.

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