Book description
At the beginning of the new millennium, The Future of the Past offers
a fresh interpretation of the issues and developments that have shaped
our world over the last thousand years. By bringing together the
expertise of members of the History Faculty at Cambridge University,
all of them leaders in their chosen fields, a work of history has been
created that is both fascinating and unique. Rather than approaching
history as a chain of past events, this book examines some of the key
issues facing mankind today and places them into a broad historical
context by examining their development throughout the ages.
By viewing history through themes such as religious authority, civil
liberty, political ideology, demographic change and economic cycles,
The Future of the Past challenges many long-held beliefs and
enables the reader to reflect upon the dramatic changes of the past
and the challenges of the future.
As Europe reshapes itself, the question of how it was defined in the
past comes to the fore; as Britain experiences devolution, its
historical contours and identity are being probed afresh; as the
influence of the United States steadily extends across the globe, it
compels a reappraisal of the history and responsiveness of Western
intellectual, cultural and political traditions.
By exploring these issues, The Future of the Past provides an
authoritative yet accessible introduction to the study of history and
demonstrates how the changing present can revitalize our views of the past.
Dr. Peter Martland teaches History at Cambridge University, and is a
Fellow of Corpus Christi College.
