University of Aberdeen

Aberdeen History and archaeology books

I'm starting History and Archaeology at Aberdeen university in September. I want to get ahead of my lessons and have an idea of what I'll need to buy/read/study for it.

More specifically, for history one of the optimal courses is the 'Renaissances and Reformations (c.1450-c.1750)'.

It would mean alot if anyone who's done these courses could help me out with their recommendations for the first year.

Reply 1

amymcintosh02

Hi! I'm a 4th year Archaeology and History student and I've done the majority of courses you'll be taking. I can list all the textbooks I used for each class for you 🙂

Renaissance and Reformations:
Beat Kümin: The European World 1500-1800 (London and New York: Routledge, 2009, second edition 2014, third edition 2019).
C. Scott Dixon and Beat Kümin (eds): Interpreting Early Modern Europe (3rd Edition Routledge, 2019).

Europe in the Twentieth Century:
Bernard Wasserstein’s Barbarism and Civilization: A History of Europe in Our Time (Oxford, 2009 (2007)).

American Civilisations:
Jill Lepore, These Truths: A History of the United States (2019)
Jill Lepore, Encounters in the New World: A History in Documentsi (2009)

Archaeology in Action: An Introduction:
Renfrew, C. and Bahn, P. (2016 or 2020) Archaeology: Theories, Methods and Practice(7th or 8th edition). London: Thames and Hudson.

Caves to Kingdom: An Introduction to Prehistoric Archaeology:
Scarre, C. 2018. The Human Past: World Prehistory and the Development of Human Societies (4th edition). London: Thames & Hudson. ISBN-10: 0500285314

Death!:
Pearson, M.P. and Pearson, M.P., 1999. The archaeology of death and burial. Phoenix Mill, UK: Sutton
Tarlow, S. and Stutz, L.N. eds., 2013. The Oxford handbook of the archaeology of death and burial. OUP Oxford

Hope this helps!

University of Aberdeen

Reply 2

Raymondoo

Original post by amymcintosh02

Hi! I'm a 4th year Archaeology and History student and I've done the majority of courses you'll be taking. I can list all the textbooks I used for each class for you 🙂
Renaissance and Reformations:
Beat Kümin: The European World 1500-1800 (London and New York: Routledge, 2009, second edition 2014, third edition 2019).
C. Scott Dixon and Beat Kümin (eds): Interpreting Early Modern Europe (3rd Edition Routledge, 2019).
Europe in the Twentieth Century:
Bernard Wasserstein’s Barbarism and Civilization: A History of Europe in Our Time (Oxford, 2009 (2007)).
American Civilisations:
Jill Lepore, These Truths: A History of the United States (2019)
Jill Lepore, Encounters in the New World: A History in Documentsi (2009)
Archaeology in Action: An Introduction:
Renfrew, C. and Bahn, P. (2016 or 2020) Archaeology: Theories, Methods and Practice(7th or 8th edition). London: Thames and Hudson.
Caves to Kingdom: An Introduction to Prehistoric Archaeology:
Scarre, C. 2018. The Human Past: World Prehistory and the Development of Human Societies (4th edition). London: Thames & Hudson. ISBN-10: 0500285314
Death!:
Pearson, M.P. and Pearson, M.P., 1999. The archaeology of death and burial. Phoenix Mill, UK: Sutton
Tarlow, S. and Stutz, L.N. eds., 2013. The Oxford handbook of the archaeology of death and burial. OUP Oxford
Hope this helps!

wow very helpful. Btw for the optional courses for history (e.g American civilizations, renaissance and reformation) how many are we meant to choose? I'm guessing two. And thanks sm for the book examples. In your own personal opinion, is it worth buying them now?