The Broken Spell: A Cultural and Anthropological History of Preindustrial Europe
by Pieter Spierenburg
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Description
Offers a valuable synthesis of the exciting monographs on social history that have appeared during the last twenty years. [Spierenburg's] contribution is particularly welcome since he comes to his generalizations from a background of archival research rather than solely a theoretical framework."ÐÐBarbara Hanawalt, University of Minnesota In this textbook, Pieter Spierenburg deals with the attitudes, emotions, sensibilities, ideas, customs and practices of people. He synthesizes the work show more that has been done in this field, looking at preindustrial Western Europe from the year 1000 until the beginning of the nineteenth century. He also compares developments in England, France, the Netherlands, and Germany, and orders them into an interpretive framework. Spierenburg highlights two central changes in preindustrial Europe: increased privatization as human activities shifted from the public arena to private spaces, and magical beliefs retreated as more impersonal views of the cosmos came to the fore. In his chapters on the family, Spierenburg looks at family formation, the increasing importance of the nuclear family, wedding rituals, marriage patterns, the influence of Christianity on notions of love and sex, increasing restrictions on sexuality, the growth of intimacy between spouses, and the treatment of children. In his chapters on popular culture, Spierenburg writes about magical beliefs, popular customs, the campaign to "civilize" the peasantry, and the decline of community life. This is an informative and accessible book, integrating the work of leading scholars in the field while providing lively examples and discussions. It will interest scholars while working effectively as a college-level textbook on the topic. show lessTags
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This work complements Keith Thomas's Religion and the Decline of Magic.
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Author Information
12 Works 106 Members
Pieter Spierenburg is Professor of Historical Criminology at Erasmus University Rotterdam. His recent publications include A History of Murder: Personal Violence in Europe from the Middle Age to the Present.
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title*
- De verbroken betovering
- Original title
- De verbroken betovering : mentaliteit en cultuur in preïndustrieel Europa
- Original publication date
- 1998
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
Classifications
- Genres
- Anthropology, Nonfiction, History, General Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality
- DDC/MDS
- 391.6 — Society, government, & culture Customs, etiquette & folklore Costume and personal appearance Personal appearance
- LCC
- GT129 .S68 — Geography, Anthropology and Recreation Manners and customs (General) Manners and customs (General)
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 36
- Popularity
- 802,927
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.88)
- Languages
- Dutch, English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 5
