Gabriel

Gabriel Salazar Vergara, a Chilean historian, was born 31 January 1936. In Chile, he's famous for his research in the field of social history as well as the understanding of the social movements. This includes recent student demonstrations in 2006 as well as 2011. Salazar was born into a low-income family, he studied history along with sociology and philosophers during his time at Universidad de Chile, and in the past, was an assistant of historian Mario Gongora and classical historian Hector Herrera Cajas. Salazar was one of the Revolutionary Left Movement member from 1973 until 1973. Military tortured him at Villa Grimaldi during that year. After his release from the military prison camp and fleeing to England, he retreated. Here he was granted a scholarship that allowed him to continue studies at University of Hull. The university he attended earned a PhD degree within Economic and Social History in 1984. The following year, he returned to Chile. Salazar was not well-known up until 1985 when he made his debut. His subjects of research have included labourers, peons, proletariats, child Huachos, women and children. Salazar is also the chief founder of Nueva Historia Social which is a historical current. Salazar views history as a tool to promote the social aspect. Interview: Salazar declared that he is a "leftist, critical socio historian" and he opposed the notion of "Marxist".