LibGuides: History 102: Western Civilization, 1648-1991: Subject Encyclopedias

What's a subject encyclopedia?

Subject encyclopedias are a type of tertiary sources and are excellent starting points! They consist of information synthesized from primary and secondary sources. These resources give you succinct overviews of your topic, explain scholarly arguments, point out interesting questions, and refer you to especially key sources.

Using Subject Encyclopedias

Articles in subject encyclopedias are especially helpful when you are trying to contextualize a primary source. Here's an example:

Suppose your primary source is the trial transcript of a young apprentice arrested in London during the Gordon Riots of 1780. You certainly could look for entries specifically on the Gordon Riots, but you might also consider looking at an article on apprenticeship in The Encyclopedia of Children and Childhood, or an essay on mob violence in The Encyclopedia of European Social History.

Online Subject Encyclopedia Collections

Each collection listed below includes hundreds of volumes of specialized reference resources.

Gale eBooks
Excellent reference resource, especially strong in history and culture.
Literature Resource Center
Bio-critical essays on authors.
Oxford African American Studies Center
Includes subject encyclopedias, selected primary sources, and a collection of scholarly secondary sources.
Oxford Reference
Provides full text access to hundreds of Oxford reference titles, including dictionaries, encyclopedias, and handbooks.
SAGE Knowledge
Provides full-text access to dozens of Sage reference books, with a strong emphasis on the social sciences.

Recommended Subject Encyclopedias

The selection of subject encyclopedias below will give you a sense of the range of titles available to you. If you're not sure where to start, or can't seem to find an entry that helps you contextualize your primary source, ask Peggy for suggestions.

Encyclopedia of European Social History by Peter Stearns (Editor)
Call Number: HN373 .E63 2001, v. 1-6, Print reference (first floor)
Publication Date: 2001
This reference work covers all aspects of European social history from 1350 to 2000. It includes more than 230 articles on everything from serfdom and the economy, to witchcraft and public health. You'll need to come to the library to use it, but it will be well worth your time!
Encyclopedia of the Enlightenment by Alan Charles Kors (Editor)
Call Number: Click on title above for online access.
Publication Date: 2005
Focuses on the entire range of philosophic and social changes engendered by the Enlightenment.
Arts and Humanities through the Eras by Edward Bleiberg
Call Number: Click on the title above for online access.
Publication Date: 2005
Profiling milestones and movements in the arts, literature, music and religion from a specific period, each volume in this five-volume set helps students and researchers understand the various disciplines of the humanities in relation to each other, as well as to history and culture. An overview of the period and a chronology of major world events begin each volume. Nine chapters follow, covering the major branches of the humanities: architecture and design, dance, fashion, literature, music, philosophy, religion, theater and visual arts. Chapters end with significant primary documents from the period.

Volume 3: Medieval Europe (814-1450)
Volume 4: Renaissance Europe (1300-1600)
Volume 5: The age of Baroque and Enlightenment (1600-1800)
Science and Its Times by Neil Schlager (Editor)
Call Number: Click on title above for online access.
Publication Date: 2000
This seven-volume set offers an interdisciplinary approach by integrating science and history. The volumes are chronologically ordered from 2000 B.C. to the present, addressing a variety of scientific developments with explanations of underlying factors and their effects on politics, economics, culture and daily life.
Encyclopedia of Children and Childhood in History and Society by Paula S. Fass, editor
Call Number: Click on title above for online access.
Publication Date: 2004
Presents the social and cultural history of childhood from antiquity to the present through articles on education, parenting, child labor, economics, images of childhood, children's literature, play, toys and games, health, physiology, law, the criminal justice system and social welfare.
The New A-Z of Empire: A Concise Handbook of British Imperial History by C. Brad Faught
Call Number: Click on title for online access
ISBN: 9781845118716
Publication Date: 2011
The British Empire in its late-Victorian heyday spanned the globe and linked a quarter of the world’s population to Britain.
Berkshire Encyclopedia of World History, 2nd ed. by William Hardy McNeill (Editor)
Call Number: Click on title above for online access.
ISBN: 9781933782652
Publication Date: 2010
Provides an integrated view of the history of our global community from a 21st-century perspective, with a focus on environmental and social issues. Examines connections and interactions made over time (and across cultures and locales) through trade, warfare, migration, religion, and diplomacy.

Associate Director for Public Services

Peggy Burge

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Collins Library 119

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Subjects:Asian Studies, Connections, History, Honors, Humanities, Religious Studies, Science, Technology & Society

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Melanie Schaffer '16, Peer Research Advisor

Email: peerresearch@pugetsound.edu

Office: Collins Library Learning Commons

Office Hours: Sundays 8-10 p.m., Tuesdays 8-10 p.m.

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As your Peer Research Advisor, Melanie's primary focus is to help first-year students find resources for research projects in the Seminars in Scholarly Inquiry and other 100-level classes. She also can help with evaluating sources and citation styles.

History 102: Western Civilization, 1648-1991: Subject Encyclopedias