Aging in World History

Contemporary concerns about aging societies have stimulated interest in past ways of growing old, and whilst historians have investigated the experience of the aged, cultural representations of old age, and the phenomenon of demographic ageing, however the literature has been overwhelmingly western. This study reviews the world-wide literature on aging and seeks to move beyond received wisdom about attitudes and experiences running from the ancient world to the present.Aging in World History will introduce students and general readers to historical ways of thinking about aging in two senses: the experience of individuals and the transformation of populations. The first section introduces theoretical concerns, understandings of natural" or "traditional"ways of growing old, and diverse cultural prescriptions and representations. The second section covers key issues from the medieval to the early modern era. The third section looks at transitions to modernity, whilst the final part explores the contemporary world, before concluding with an overview of past, present and future"--