Routledge The Routledge History of Food

Product Description The history of food is one of the fastest growing areas of historical investigation, incorporating methods and theories from cultural, social, and women’s history while forging a unique perspective on the past. The Routledge History of Food takes a global approach to this topic, focusing on the period from 1500 to the present day. Arranged chronologically, this title contains 17 originally commissioned chapters by experts in food history or related topics. Each chapter focuses on a particular theme, idea or issue in the history of food. The case studies discussed in these essays illuminate the more general trends of the period, providing the reader with insight into the large-scale and dramatic changes in food history through an understanding of how these developments sprang from a specific geographic and historical context. Examining the history of economic, technological, and cultural interactions between cultures and charting the corresponding developments in food history, The Routledge History of Food challenges readers' assumptions about what and how people have eaten, bringing fresh perspectives to well-known historical developments. It is the perfect guide for all students of social and cultural history. Review 'Whether motivated by an interest in history or food, all readers will find much to stimulate their thinking in this book. Carol Helstosky has assembled a collection of essays that reflects how diverse and rich the field of food history has become and establishes it as a research specialisation in its own right that contributes much to the discipline. Focussed on the last 500 years, the collection provides a synthesis of research that charts the direction of the field and reflects the transformation of the world food system within the broader historical context; a valuable resource that will introduce food history to a broad audience and inspire historians to recognise the significance of food for understanding the past and the everyday.' Adele Wessell, Southern Cross University, Australia About the Author Carol Helstosky is Associate Professor of History at Denver University. Her publications include Food Culture in the Mediterranean (2009), Pizza: A Global History (2008) and Garlic and Oil: Food and Politics in Modern Italy (2004).