Book Review: The Seascape in Aegean Prehistory
B. Cunliffe
Dec 1, 2011
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Journal
International Journal of Maritime History
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Semantic Scholar
Key Takeaway Key Takeaway: The SNR's special issue on maritime history highlights the need for the field to address marginalization and improve methodology, theory, and writing, while also highlighting the need for a stronger connection between maritime history and the larger historical profession.
Abstract
see it through the next decade, let alone its second century." [16] He wants the SNR's membership to grow. This could happen if maritime historians address issues and ideas that more clearly engage the interest ofthe larger historical profession, but that would not be enough: "[Society] Membership never has been nor will be sustained by professional maritime historians or students." [19] The SNR needs to become the conduit ofmaritime enthusiasts and the general public. Lewis R. Fischer, editor of the International Journal ofMaritime History, ends the volume on a pessimistic note, discussing the same problem as Harding: the marginalization of maritime history. Why do most historians ignore maritime history and how can this situation be changed? Fischer identifies nine problems plaguing the sub-discipline, including the inability to contextualize maritime studies, the lack of an international perspective, ignoring questions that drive debates in other fields, poor methodology, lack oftheory , and poor writing. Fischer is uncertain if these problems can be corrected. Of course, other maritime historians have made similar gloomy statements about the field. Daniel Vickers' 1993 William and Mary Quarterly essay raised many of the same points. However this problem unfolds, the SNR deserves congratulations for publishing these assessments and the other essays in this very special issue.