One of the biggest challenges in the study of history is the unreliable nature of traditional archival sources which omit histories of marginalised groups. This book makes the case that quantitative history offers a way to fill these gaps in the archive. Showcasing 13 case studies from the South African past, it applies quantitative sources, tools and methods to social histories from below to uncover the experiences of unchartered peoples. Examining the occupations of slaves, victims of the Spanish flu, health of schoolchildren and more, it shows how quantitative tools can be particularly powerful in regions where historical records are preserved, but questions of bias and prejudice pervade. Applying methods such as GIS mapping, network analysis and algorithmic matching techniques it explores histories of indigenous peoples, women, enslaved peoples and other groups marginalised in South African history. Connecting quantitative sources and new forms of data interpretation with a narrative social history, this book offers a fresh approach to quantitative methods and shows how they can be used to achieve a more complete picture of the past.

A collection that applies quantitative methods to South African histories from below to demonstrate their value in uncovering the experiences of marginalised people.

About the Author
Johan Fourie is Professor of Economic History at Stellenbosch University, South Africa where he teaches quantitative and economic history. He is the principal investigator of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation-funded 'Biography of an Uncharted People' project.


Book Information
ISBN 9781350331143
Author Johan Fourie
Format Paperback
Page Count 384
Imprint Bloomsbury Academic
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC