This course introduces microhistory as a distinctive method of studying the past. Focusing on a single event or object, the microhistorical approach moves between a detailed analysis of source material and broader contextualization. This alternation between small and large scales of analysis allows for an investigation of the rich textures of past societies and takes seriously the expectations and experiences of historical actors.

Through key examples of microhistorical texts along with theoretical discussions of the approach, students in this course will examine the strengths and limitations of microhistory while encouraging critical reflections on historical methods and writing. Because microhistory often weaves research methods into narrative form, students will engage with how historians locate, interpret, and theorize sources, and they will observe how historians communicate their findings in ways accessible to both scholarly and general audiences.