Reviews of the previous Edition: This is exactly the kind of book to recommend warmly to any student wanting a general introduction to the discipline of history. It is highly accessible and could as easily be handled by the general reader wanting to know what is happening to history today.' British Book News Tosh provides an excellent introduction to methodology in history which will be read with advantage by historians at any stage of their development.' History ...admirably up-to-date, well-researched and written with the kind of brio which might alone suggest that history is exciting...The judgements are individual and sometimes controversial but there is no better tour d'horizon on the market.' Journal of African History 'Tosh writes clearly and pungently...a very satisfactory as well as stimulating vade-mecum for all who work at history.' Times Higher Education Supplement The revised Third edition of this leading introductory textbook features a new introduction in which John Tosh addresses developments in postmodern and cultural history over the last three years.It offers excellent guidance through topics that are sometimes difficult and controversial, and provides an engaging and accessible introduction to the methods and scope of history today.

Table of Contents

1. Historical awareness 2. The uses of history 3. The raw materials 4. Using the sources 5. The themes of mainstream history 6. Writing and interpretation 7. The limits of historical knowledge 8. History and social theory 9. History by numbers 10. Theories of meaning 11. History by word of mouth

Author Biography

John Tosh is Professor of History at Roehampton University. Sean Lang is a Research Fellow at Anglia Polytechnic University and was formerly a sixth form teacher. He is also Director of the Historical Association Curriculum Project, developing a new type of history curriculum for pupils aged 14-19.