Using Computers in History

"History and Computing" introduces its readers to the history and practice of historical computing. While functioning as a practical introduction to the field, this book is designed also to raise awareness of the use of computers as an important tool for the historian, discussing such topics as the pattern of 19th century emigration from the UK; the performance of the American and German economies in the 1930s; and the Lancashire cotton industry, all of which demonstrate possibilities which computers offer to the historian. Through practical workshop exercises, History and Computing provides a skills-enabling introduction to basic computer terminology. Examining the use of spreadsheets and how historians design and work with them, the book includes spreadsheet exercises based around a range of historical data sets. In addition, the authors explore the use of databases and demonstrate how to construct them. Merging historical exploration and practical instruction, "History and Computing" encourages further study and prompts its readers to apply the skills they have learnt to a number of examples.