Abstract

The review focuses on the birth and evolution of peace history. The article dis¬cusses the historiographical development of peace studies in the United Kingdom and the United States, where a pacifist tradition - both religious and not - contributed to fostering historical and academic interest in the field. After a brief introduction to define the notion of peace history and its conceptual and chronological perimeter, the review highlights the role played by the different generations of peace historians in order to show how, supported by a growing availability of primary sources, the current historical production on peace is making use of comparative analyses, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches, and transnational perspectives: the growth of global environmental concerns and the study of pacifist rhetoric and discourse are among the newest and most promising research threads.