International Review of Social History

Table of Contents - December 2011 - Volume 56, Supplement S19 (The Joy and Pain of Work: Global Attitudes and Valuations, 1500–1650)  

Research Article

Studying Attitudes to Work Worldwide, 1500–1650: Concepts, Sources, and Problems of Interpretation*

Marcel van der Lindena1

a1 Internationaal Instituut voor Sociale Geschiedenis E-mail: mvl@iisg.nl

Summary

The period 1500–1650 was characterized by huge global transformations. These had a major impact on a wide range of societal forms and cultures. As a result, different work ethics clashed and formed hybrid combinations, and new work ethics came into being during many-sided confrontations. The question of how the labouring poor in different parts of the world experienced these changes in the context of their work is an extremely difficult one. The present essay attempts to define a number of key concepts (“work”, “attitude”); it evaluates critically the various sources which might give us an insight into attitudes to work; and it reflects on interpretative difficulties. The essay concludes by presenting a few substantive hypotheses.

(Online publication August 26 2011)

Marcel van der Linden, Internationaal Instituut voor Sociale Geschiedenis, Cruquiusweg 31, 1019 AT Amsterdam, The Netherlands; e-mail: mvl@iisg.nl

Footnotes

* I am grateful to Karin Hofmeester and Christine Moll-Murata for their critical remarks on an earlier version of this essay and for alerting me to additional sources. I would also like to thank Josef Ehmer and Alice Mul for their comments on the penultimate draft.