Presidential Address: The People of Britain and Ireland, 1100–1400, 1.Identities
R. R. Davies
PEOPLES are back on the historian's agenda. Their return to historical limelight, or at least out of shadows, is doubtless in part a response growing awareness power ethnicity our own contemporary world. So it with changes fashion all times. But also no doubt arises from recognition that centrality academic historians have so long given unitary nation state as natural, inevitable and indeed desirable unit human political organisation itself reflection intellectual climate which modern historiography was forged nineteenth century. The linear development longer necessity overarching theme organising principle study past once was. Once gaze could be shifted its institutions seductive appeal prolific archives, other solidarities collectivities come more clearly into focus. Some them seemed great, if not occasionally greater, depth resilience than did state. At very they deserve studied alongside it. Not prominence among such peoples Europe.
Transactions of the Royal Historical Society