'New Perspectives on Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Scotland', ESHSS Annual Conference,

In recent years, the historiography in seventeenth and eighteenth century Scotland has flourished, especially amongst new scholars, bringing insight and nuance into many areas of Scottish life that have long been ignored. Work on Scottish trade and economic development has become increasingly sophisticated; studies of Scottish society, including the consumption of books and goods, how men and women lived and interacted, and the nature and scope of family life have expanded. Similarly, new insight is being brought into Scotland’s religious and political life with greater understandings of religious and political belief, how they interacted and how people’s beliefs and ideas could be complex and even contradictory. The Economic and Social History Society of Scotland seek to bring together scholars offering new perspectives on seventeenth and eighteenth Century Scotland to explore how the field is developing for a two day conference on 7th and 8th May 2010 at the Apex Hotel, Dundee. We are placing a strong emphasis on new research, new researchers, and are especially interested in papers highlighting novel and innovative research methods. The conference will be organised under seven themes: social, economic, gender, cultural, religious, political and diaspora history, which will each be accompanied by a keynote address. This event is preceded by a roundtable on the 8th December 2009, chaired by Professor Bruce Lenman, where Professors Chris Smout, Tom Devine, Chris Whatley and Allan MacInnes will present on their research into Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Scotland and how it has developed during their careers. 

Proposals of around 300 words for 20 minutes papers, and panels (consisting of three 20-minute papers), are invited to be sent by email to Iain Hutchison at: iain@keapub.fsnet.co.uk, or by post to Dr Iain Hutchison, School of Law & Social Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow G4 0BA, by the 16th December 2009.