Prompt Cast
The Challenges of Defining and Ending a Historical Podcast Series
TLDR In this episode, the host and guest discuss the decision to end the podcast series on the early modern period, the challenges of defining historical boundaries, and the importance of understanding big shifts in history. They also explore the role of institutions, the roots of productivity and wealth divergence, and the significance of popular violence and revolt in historical events.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
After three years, the host of the podcast has concluded his coverage of the later Middle Ages and the early modern period, and in this episode, he discusses the decision to end the series with a specialist in the early modern period.
04:34
The decision to end the series on the early modern period at around 1570 is justified by the shift in focus from the Mediterranean to Northern Europe in terms of both history and historiography, as well as the economic center of gravity shifting to Northern Europe after 1500.
09:31
The guest and host discuss the challenges of defending their work and the importance of locating big shifts in the European economy and the development of institutions between 1350 and the middle of the 16th century, which can be seen as a distinct period in history.
14:39
The guest and host discuss the challenges of defining the boundaries of the 17th century and whether it should be split in the middle or not, but ultimately agree that there are broad continuities that link together the political conflicts and projects throughout the entire century.
19:30
The 17th century is a coherent period with institutions that carry on throughout the century, and there are significant continuities in political conflicts, such as between England and the Dutch Republic, as well as in ideas like improvement that stretch from the 16th to the 18th century.
24:43
Institutions can persist for a long time, not necessarily because they are efficient or beneficial, but because they benefit those in power, as seen in the example of slavery in the antebellum south.
29:36
The host expresses regret for not covering the 30 Years War, the emergence of joint stock corporations, and the slave trade and plantation economies in the Atlantic, but believes that understanding European colonialism in the Americas is crucial for understanding the current world.
34:46
The guest and host discuss the argument that there was no productivity or wealth divergence between Western Europe and China until around 1800, but the host believes that the roots of divergence can be traced back to at least 1500, and that studying history involves finding connections and different root systems.
39:35
The process of doing history involves making choices about what evidence to include and what to leave out, and as the amount of evidence increases, the choices become more overwhelming, highlighting the division between academic historians and popular understanding of history.
44:46
People in early modern periods expressed their displeasure through rioting and protesting, and while the motivations behind these acts may seem irrational or crude, there is often a deeper and more complex context that needs to be understood in order to fully grasp their significance.
50:43
Popular violence and revolt can have diverse ideological characters, challenging political authority or supporting it, and understanding the role of violence in social orders is crucial for making sense of historical events and the present day.
Categories:
History
Society & Culture
