In response to the E.P. Thompson writing The Moral Economy of the English Crowd in the Eighteen Century, I am now realizing the changes in styles of historical writings....maybe that has something to do with my age, but nevertheless, I will progress with my thoughts.
The 1970's seemed like a very different time for historians - gone were the days of gentlemen historians and their conservative, WASP'y, elitist, and male dominated view of history. Now, we would have New Left/liberal/socialist WASP'y, elitist, and male dominated view of history. E.P. Thompson's work is just that. While focusing on the plight of the poor worker/farmer/proletariat and their struggles against the laze-farie economy that was 18th Century Great Britain - I believe that E.P. missed much of what was going on in the world, but such was the Post-WWII/Cold War he lived in. Long had the daily lives of the peasants and factory workers overlooked to the glories of the Generals and Kings - there was a history there that was not taught our sought until this era.
E.P. obvious sympathies and feelings ooze out of his works but it did fill a long over looked void to historical writing. Now, the common peoples history would be documented for posterity and for the greater good. One thing that is definitely noticeable is the use of sources....like night and day from the previous generations.
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