You look way younger than 17 in that photo, I can't even imagine that child at university, lol.
I hated history all through school, as well, with one notable exception. One of my college professors required us to read, instead of a dusty dry textbook, a slim paperback book about the War of the Roses. And that's when I realized history would be fascinating if it was always told from the perspective of the people involved rather than a succession of dates and events.
To this day, the most interesting things I do as I travel are anything related to what may be considered more anthropological than historical - it's trying to see how people lived. How parents, children and staff coexisted in houses, both large and small. What kinds of routines were followed at home and at work for all classes. Court intrigue, international relationships that led or could lead to war.
First and foremost, it's always about people. They're responsible for everything, after all. My degree is in psychology, so the interest in people was always there. But my interest in history seems to be limited to the UK and Europe. I'm just not interested in anywhere else, not even the US. In fact less the US than anywhere else. And I have no idea why.
I don't think you need a reason for your studies. If you find or conclude even one single thing - or even if you don't - just detailing your efforts will add to the mound of knowledge that others can refer to during their own research. You will be taking steps that they won't have to. And who knows? Your research may help in figuring out future discoveries. We know you're meticulous enough!
It's work worth doing, so there's no reason you shouldn't savor the opportunity and find joy in it.
Thanks Rebecca, you're so right that the way history is written has a huge bearing on how enjoyable it is. I've read papers relating to my research topic that have had me completely gripped, and others that I've found almost too boring to read, even though they should be exciting.
Thanks for the reassurance about the studies - I've got very used to doing work that other people want me to do, so it feels very self-indulgent to focus on stuff I want to focus on. But there comes a point where you can't keep putting it off "for later"!
Actually, I have to thank you, although I suspect you've led me to a couple of extremely deep rabbit holes. One, I've discovered the phrase "social use of space" has opened an entire world of literature about precisely what interests me most. And two, although I've always enjoyed visiting castles and reading fiction about them, my interest has always been more in the period between about 1750 to 1940. But not anymore, lol. It's now social use of space in medieval castles until I become distracted by something else.
You look way younger than 17 in that photo, I can't even imagine that child at university, lol.
I hated history all through school, as well, with one notable exception. One of my college professors required us to read, instead of a dusty dry textbook, a slim paperback book about the War of the Roses. And that's when I realized history would be fascinating if it was always told from the perspective of the people involved rather than a succession of dates and events.
To this day, the most interesting things I do as I travel are anything related to what may be considered more anthropological than historical - it's trying to see how people lived. How parents, children and staff coexisted in houses, both large and small. What kinds of routines were followed at home and at work for all classes. Court intrigue, international relationships that led or could lead to war.
First and foremost, it's always about people. They're responsible for everything, after all. My degree is in psychology, so the interest in people was always there. But my interest in history seems to be limited to the UK and Europe. I'm just not interested in anywhere else, not even the US. In fact less the US than anywhere else. And I have no idea why.
I don't think you need a reason for your studies. If you find or conclude even one single thing - or even if you don't - just detailing your efforts will add to the mound of knowledge that others can refer to during their own research. You will be taking steps that they won't have to. And who knows? Your research may help in figuring out future discoveries. We know you're meticulous enough!
It's work worth doing, so there's no reason you shouldn't savor the opportunity and find joy in it.
Thanks Rebecca, you're so right that the way history is written has a huge bearing on how enjoyable it is. I've read papers relating to my research topic that have had me completely gripped, and others that I've found almost too boring to read, even though they should be exciting.
I love your focus on social history and how people lived. You might like Dr Kate Buchanan's work - she's all about looking at how space was used in smaller Scottish castles and how the various people who lived, worked and stayed there interacted with each other within that space: https://scotichronicast.buzzsprout.com/1146488/8040696-episode-18-dr-kate-buchanan-from-vikings-to-castles-a-journey-to-studying-medieval-scotland
Thanks for the reassurance about the studies - I've got very used to doing work that other people want me to do, so it feels very self-indulgent to focus on stuff I want to focus on. But there comes a point where you can't keep putting it off "for later"!
Actually, I have to thank you, although I suspect you've led me to a couple of extremely deep rabbit holes. One, I've discovered the phrase "social use of space" has opened an entire world of literature about precisely what interests me most. And two, although I've always enjoyed visiting castles and reading fiction about them, my interest has always been more in the period between about 1750 to 1940. But not anymore, lol. It's now social use of space in medieval castles until I become distracted by something else.
Thanks Melanie, I'm really happy to have inspired you. Congratulations too on getting your commonplace book off the ground!