“The dead don't answer questionnaires”: Researching and writing historical geography

The focus of studies in historical geography upon some time or period in the past rather than in the present means that historical geography is constrained in ways that the practice of contemporary human geography is not. This paper considers some of the general problems encountered in researching and writing historical geography. In relation to research, it examines the identification of a research topic, and discusses the problems associated with making geographical interpretations from historical sources. It then addresses the issues which have to be resolved when writing historical geography. It concludes by affirming both the individual pleasure to be derived from work in historical geography and the mutual benefits to be gained from a dialogue between historical geographers and contemporary human geographers in their common search for historical understanding.