Sabean’s Power in the Blood, provides a work of social history that highlights these similarities and differences between this approach and microhistory. The author believes that by analyzing a specific moment in history, through social history methodologies, it provides a momentary articulation of social values. While further demonstrates greater tensions of power dynamics. Sabean’s social history revolves around religious events in 1648 curated by Hans Keil of Württemberg Germany. The author believes that by analyzing Keil’s theological vision of an angel - who threatens collective punishment on the community- allows insight to the symbolism of hierarchy, class conflict, and domination of the Württemberg judicial system and power structure. Moreover, in fitting into the metanarrative, this case is argued to demonstrate the ideas of …show more content…
Sabean uses relativism to construct Keil’s perspective of the world and his place within the Herrschaft construction of power. In other words, how Keil, and in such the author, uses the bits and pieces of the world, and sources, around him such as in writings, scriptures, world events, preaching, and social norms to understand and construct the perceived community. The author argues that Keals visions represent a metaphor, one that entwines religions understanding of the time, and the higher power structure of the state and tax laws (92). In Keil representing God as angry and revengeful, he in such reflects his lack of control in his social power structure and tax laws. This metaphor that the author draws his conclusions indicates how abstractions lead to the interpretation of his data. Sabean’s chapter relies on a dense narrative, a common theme in social history, to complete his thesis in showing how this event fits into the metanarrative, of tax revolts and post-Reformation