The Shropshire Enlightenment : a regional study of intellectual activity in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries
The focus of this study is centred upon intellectual activity in the period from 1750 to c1840 in Shropshire, an area that for a time was synonymous with change and innovation. It examines the importance of personal development and the influence of intellectual communities and networks in the acquisition and dissemination of knowledge. It adds to understanding of how individuals and communities reflected Enlightenment aspirations or carried the mantle of âimprovementâ and thereby contributes to the debate on the establishment of regional Enlightenment. The acquisition of philosophical knowledge merged into the cultural ethos of the period and its utilitarian characteristics were to influence the onset of Industrial Revolution but Shropshire was essentially a rural location. The thesis examines how those progressive tendencies manifested themselves in that local setting. The study therefore explores contemporary knowledge acquisition and dissemination, both within and beyond the industrial environment for which the county has become historically known. Comparisons are made with similar processes in other localities and conclusions drawn on local specificity in the context of economic and agricultural improvement
Bruton, Roger Neil
DA Great Britain ; HC Economic History and Conditions
The Shropshire Enlightenment : a regional study of intellectual activity in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The focus of this study is centred upon intellectual activity in the period from 1750 to c1840 in Shropshire, an area that for a time was synonymous with change and innovation. It examines the importance of personal development and the influence of intellectual communities and networks in the acquisition and dissemination of knowledge. It adds to understanding of how individuals and communities reflected Enlightenment aspirations or carried the mantle of âimprovementâ and thereby contributes to the debate on the establishment of regional Enlightenment. The acquisition of philosophical knowledge merged into the cultural ethos of the period and its utilitarian characteristics were to influence the onset of Industrial Revolution but Shropshire was essentially a rural location. The thesis examines how those progressive tendencies manifested themselves in that local setting. The study therefore explores contemporary knowledge acquisition and dissemination, both within and beyond the industrial environment for which the county has become historically known. Comparisons are made with similar processes in other localities and conclusions drawn on local specificity in the context of economic and agricultural improvement
shropshire enlightenment regional_study intellectual_activity focus study centre_upon intellectual_activity period shropshire area time synonymous change innovation examines importance personal development influence intellectual community network acquisition dissemination knowledge add individual community reflect enlightenment aspiration carry improvement thereby contributes debate establishment regional enlightenment acquisition philosophical knowledge merge cultural ethos period utilitarian characteristic influence onset industrial revolution shropshire essentially rural location examines progressive tendency manifest local setting study_therefore explore contemporary knowledge_acquisition dissemination within beyond industrial environment county become historically know comparisons make similar process locality conclusion_draw local specificity context economic agricultural improvement