Historical Disaster Research. State of Research, Concepts, Methods and Case Studies

Abstract

Disasters have always accompanied human history. Historical research on disasters is, however, a recent trend. After a short review of the engagement with disasters in Europe since antiquity, an outline is given of research approaches, concepts, methods and theories from social sciences and cultural studies, along with recent historical research of primarily natural disasters. The present volume presents the research approach and papers of the DFG's network of young academics 'Historical disaster research with a view to comparative cultural study' (Historische Erforschung von Katastrophen in kulturvergleichender Perspektive), situating them in the history of this field of investigation. It deals with the findings, opportunities and future lines of research into historical disasters with a view to developing a cross-disciplinary and comparative cultural approach.