FuSEL · FUnerals as public Services in long Eighteenth century London
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2016-07-01 → 2018-06-30
- EU contribution
- €195,455
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF-EF-ST
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Results in brief
FUnerals as public Services in long Eighteenth century London
The research aims to understand the organization and functioning of services for the community in early modern London through a concrete case study, namely the ways in which funerals and burials were managed during the long eighteenth century (1670-1852). Studying burial services, broadly defined, allows a comprehensive perspective on the policies and practices adopted by early modern societies to satisfy an important need of the community. This need is material and immaterial at the same time: in fact, every city faced the attempt to reconcile logistical, economical, juridical, sanitary and spiritual requirements in properly disposing of the dead. Furthermore, since the need for burial was universal and was marked by some kind of ceremony for the entire population without any distinction apart from confession, the topic allows investigation across the whole of society. Finally, funeral services involved a large and diverse number of actors (government, city authorities, Church, corporations, and many individuals such as artisans, tradesmen, etc.), more than any other service for the community. A better knowledge of pre-contemporary services for the community will allow us to identify more clearly which elements the modern public services inherited from them. Funerals and burials administration, in particular, contain a moral component that is very interesting in order to verify how categories such as “just price” and “moral economy” influenced the market and, perhaps, the modern conception of public good. Therefore, the main ambition of the project is to provide a strong historical enquiry on early public services in order to identify innovative and strategic approaches to social welfare reform at various levels.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
The research aims to understand the organization and functioning of services for the community in early modern London through a concrete case study, namely the ways in which funerals and burials were managed during the long eighteenth century (1670-1852). I selected the case of London in order to complete a long-term comparative study that began with my doctoral research. By extending my research to London, I will be able to compare it with Paris and Naples, which I analysed in my previous research experiences. These three capitals were the most populous cities in Europe during the study period. How did these multifaceted societies solve issues of collective interest before the birth of modern public services? Which elements did modern public services inherit from them? In order to ask to these questions, I will make use of an interdisciplinary methodology taking advantage of expertise acquired at Birkbeck, University of London, under the guidance of an excellent supervisor (Professor Vanessa Harding). Working in a large, many-faceted academic entity such as the University of London will be a considerable milestone in my career. I will acquire a strong comparative methodology that is essential for my long-term research purpose. Furthermore, I will attain important competences in both educational and research policies, as well as a better understanding of administrative issues, in English-speaking countries, which still differ considerably from the countries where I worked until now (Italy and France). Parallel to the program of research and training, I will put in place a series outreach activities that will enable me to engage with a wider public and share the relevance of historical research for an understanding of today’s problems and the development of adequate responses to these by decision-makers and those working in our institutions and society.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- BIRKBECK COLLEGE - UNIVERSITY OF LONDON · LONDONCoordinatorUnited Kingdom
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union