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HIST 150: The Family in Premodern Europe (Spring 2025)

Getting Started with Keywords

  1. Start by writing out your question or topic.
  2. identify key terms
  3. identify potential synonyms
  4. Use AND OR NOT to create search phrases. 
  5. Conduct several searches, revising keywords backed on subject terms & commonly used language in the articles/books.

Example questions:

1. Start by writing out your question or topic.

  • concubines and concubinage in pre-modern Europe
  • barbarians in Europe and the family, 5th to 8th centuries
  • the Dati Family
  • Domestic Violence in premodern europe
  • Foundling hospitals
  • Jewish Family life

2.identify key terms

  • concubines and concubinage in pre-modern Europe    
  • barbarians in Europe and the family, 5th to 8th centuries
  • the Dati Family
  • Domestic Violence in premodern europe
  • Foundling hospitals in premodern europe
  • Jewish Family life in premodern europe

3.  identify potential synonyms

  • concubines and concubinage in pre-modern Europe    
    • concubines, concubine, concubinage, harem, harems
    • Will need to be more specific with time period (Ex "middle ages" OR "late antiquity")
  • barbarians in Europe and the family, 5th to 8th centuries
    •  barbarian, barbarians, Franks, vandals, Goths
    • Early middle ages, early medieval period, late antiquity
    • Family, families, tribe
  • Domestic Violence in premodern europe
    • Domestic violence, family abuse
    • Will need to be more specific with time period (Ex "middle ages" OR "late antiquity")
  • Foundling hospitals in premodern europe
    • Foundling hospitals
    • Will need to be more specific with time period (Ex "middle ages" OR "late antiquity")
  • Jewish Family life in premodern europe
    • ​​​​​​​Family Life, families
    • Will need to be more specific with time period (Ex "middle ages" OR "late antiquity") 

4. Use Boolean to make search phrases

  • concubines and concubinage in pre-modern Europe    
    • concubines, concubine, concubinage, harem, harems
    • Will need to be more specific with time period (Ex "middle ages" OR "late antiquity")
      • (Concubin* OR harem*) AND europe* AND ("middle ages" OR medieval)
  • barbarians in Europe and the family, 5th to 8th centuries
    •  barbarian, barbarians, goths, franks, vandals
    • Early middle ages, early medieval period, late antiquity
      • (Barbarian* OR goths OR vandals) AND (late antiquity) AND (family OR familial) 
  • Domestic Violence in premodern europe
    • ​​​​​​​Domestic violence, family abuse, family violence
    • Will need to be more specific with time period (Ex "middle ages" OR "late antiquity")
      • ("Domestic Violence" OR "family violence") AND europ* AND ("middle ages" OR medieval OR "late antiquity")
  • Foundling hospitals in premodern europe
    • ​​​​​​​Foundling hospitals
    • Will need to be more specific with time period (Ex "middle ages" OR "late antiquity" OR medieval)
      • ("​​​​​​​Foundling hospitals" OR orphanage*) AND europ* AND ("middle ages" OR "late antiquity")
  • Jewish Family life in premodern europe
    • ​​​​​​​Family Life, families
    • Will need to be more specific with time period (Ex "middle ages" OR "late antiquity" OR medieval) 
      • jewish AND "family life" AND ("middle ages" OR medieval)