The Transformation of Rural England, c.1580-1800

This book encourages students of historical geography and economic and social history to think about the problems of understanding and explaining the causes of rural change in England at a crucial time in that country's history. It starts from the basic assumption that much work on this subject is descriptive and lacks any explicit theoretical base, and proceeds from a review of existing theories to an analysis of their application in relation to a number of specific topics, including population change, land and land ownership, field systems and enclosure, and innovations. Specific regional examples and case studies are cited in support of general arguments wherever possible. A key feature is the wide range of literature cited from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds. In essence this book is intended for the thinking student who wishes to go beyond traditional modes of explanation to understand rural change in the past.