The Politics of Social Conflict: The Peak Country, 1520-1770

by Andy Wood

Overview

This book provides a new approach to the history of social conflict, popular politics and plebeian culture. Based on a close study of the Peak Country of Derbyshire c. 1520-1770, it has implications for understandings of class identity, popular culture, riot, custom and social relations. Important insights are offered into early modern social and gender identities, civil war allegiances, the appeal of radical ideas and the making of the English working class. Above all, the book challenges the claim that early modern England was a hierarchical, "pre-class" society.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521037723
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	07/12/2007
Series:	Cambridge Studies in Early Modern British History
Pages:	376
Product dimensions:	5.94(w) x 8.98(h) x 0.83(d)
Lexile:	1530L (what's this?)

Table of Contents

List of figures; List of tables; List of maps; Preface; List of abbreviations; Introduction - 'terms we did not understand': landscape, place and perceptions; 1. Social relations and popular culture in early modern England; Part I. The Structures of Inequality: 2. Economy and society in the Peak Country, c.1520–70; 3. Industrialization and social change, c.1570–1660; 4. The Peak Country as an industrial region, c.1660–1770; 5. Social conflict and early capitalism; Part II. The Conditions of Community: 6. 'The memory of the people': custom, law and popular culture; 7. The politics of custom; 8. Community, identity and culture; Part III. The Politics of Social Conflict: 9. 'Pyllage uppon the poore mynorz': sources of social conflict, 1500–1600; 10. 'All is hurly burly here': local histories of social conflict, 1600–40; 11. The Peak in context: riot and popular politics in early Stuart England; 12. 'Prerogative hath many proctors': the English Revolution and the plebeian politics of the Peak, 1640–60; 13. The experience of defeat? The defence of custom, 1660–1770; 14. The making of the English working class in the Derbyshire Peak Country; Bibliography; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"...this book stimulates and engages...all students of history." Robert L. Woods, History

"thoroughly researched... a welcome addition to the social history of early modern England." Journal of Interdisciplinary History

"...a major scholarly achievement...inspiring..." Sixteenth Century Journal

"...a richly documented and important book...a very fine example of the too rarely attempted inegration of social and political history and successfully combines a fully realized regional study with a major contribution to our general understanding of early modern England." American Historical Review

"rich and nuanced study." Journl Of Modern History

From the Publisher