Alltagsgeschichte

Alltagsgeschichte, or history of everyday life, is a field within historical studies that focuses on the lived experiences of ordinary people in their daily routines, work, family life, leisure, and consumption. It investigates how daily practices are embedded in larger social structures—such as class, gender, institutions, and urban development—and how routines contribute to social change over time.

Researchers examine diverse sources, including diaries, letters, household accounts, parish records, advertisements, photographs, newspapers, and material artefacts. Methodologically, Alltagsgeschichte often employs microhistorical case studies, life-course approaches, and analyses of material culture, supplemented by quantitative data where available. The aim is to reconstruct the texture of everyday life and to uncover pressures and opportunities that shaped ordinary people's lives.

The approach developed out of social history and grew in prominence in German-speaking historiography in the late 20th century, while converging with cultural history and the history of consumption. It encompasses urban and rural settings and topics such as domestic labor, housing, mobility, education, gender roles, and leisure.

Critics note risks of overgeneralization and presentism, as well as the challenge of selecting sources that reliably reflect everyday life. Proponents argue that Alltagsgeschichte provides essential insights into how ordinary people experienced and shaped social change, offering a counterpoint to political or elite-centered narratives.