Substance History
Final Report Abstract
In the last few years, the history of substances has developed into a very dynamic field of research. Studies have been published on the history of substances as diverse as coal, gold, limestone, rubber, salt, nitrogen, vitamins, psychedelic substances such as cocaine or LSD, and toxic substances such as PCBs, asbestos, or DDT. The research perspectives from which their histories have been analyzed are as diverse as the substances themselves. Although there is no shortage of empirical historical studies that can be categorized as "substance history," there has been no overview of approaches and methods, nor a working definition of substance history to facilitate scholarly exchange. The scientific network "Substance History", which brings together 12 scholars from the fields of economic history, history of technology, environmental history, history of knowledge and medicine, and world history, has for the first time presented a definition of the subject matter of this growing field of research that is suitable for different historical research interests. Accordingly, the field of material history can be characterized by three basic features: 1. Substances are understood as a dynamic category. This means that the changeability of substances is at the center of attention, in contrast to the prevailing understanding in the natural sciences or in everyday knowledge. 2. the materiality of substances is primarily evident in the reciprocal relationship between substances and human agents. This assumption is of paramount importance for historical research, which depends on working with primary sources. 3. The history of substances has the potential to integrate sub-disciplines of historical research. It combines insights from the study of technology, the environment, economics, science, and many other fields that need to be considered together. These three fundamental features provide a solid foundation for future research, as they open up a new way of thinking about history.
Publications
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Perspektiven auf Stoffgeschichte. Histoire.
Haumann, Sebastian; Roelevink, Eva-Maria; Thorade, Nora & Zumbrägel, Christian (Eds.)
