What is History?

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Questions and Answers

How did the ancient Greek understanding of history's scope evolve as their civilization expanded?

Initially, history was limited to their society and recent events. As they learned of other societies, they realized history was vast and couldn't be captured in one generation's memory.

Explain how the focus of historical writing shifted during the medieval period.

History transitioned from being a record of human deeds to a record of how humans became instrumental in fulfilling a divine plan.

How does Collingwood define self-knowledge in relation to history?

Collingwood suggests self-knowledge comes from knowing what one can do, which is understood through what humans have done, thus emphasizing history's value.

How did positivism influence the approach to historical study, and what limitations did this present?

<p>Positivism emphasized observation and verifiable facts, leading to the mantra 'no document, no history'. This limited history by prioritizing written records and potentially excluding non-literate societies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe how historians broadened the scope of historical sources beyond written documents.

<p>Historians began using oral traditions, artifacts, architecture, and collaborating with fields like archeology and linguistics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Identify the dual meaning of 'history' as presented in the text, emphasizing the meaning most relevant to the module.

<p>History refers to both what happened in the past and a kind of research or inquiry; the module emphasizes history as a discipline and field of study.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did early civilizations before the Ancient Greeks view history?

<p>Early civilizations often viewed history as theocratic, concerning the affairs of nonhuman entities like deities and mythical heroes rather than records of human activities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain the difference between history and historiography.

<p>History is the study of the past events and their causes, while historiography is the study of history itself, including its methods, sources, and interpretations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Leopold von Ranke, what should be the primary goal of a historian?

<p>The task of the historian should be to bring the past back to life, to show &quot;merely to show how things actually were.&quot;</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe at least two ways in which history has been used or distorted for political purposes.

<p>History has been used to unite nations, legitimize regimes, justify atrocious policies, and escape historical accountability.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by the phrase "All History is contemporary History?"

<p>It means that any historical writing is inevitably influenced by the present context and perspectives of the historian.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What contrasting views did Herodotus and Thucydides have on recording history?

<p>Herodotus approached recording history from a humanistic focus, and Thucydides highlighted the importance of the systematic and impartial collection of evidence.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the ancient Greek historians, Herodotus and Thucydides, influence modern historians?

<p>Their works influenced modern historians to call for oral history and to highlight systematic, impartial collection of evidence as essential in writing history.</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what ways has history benefited from incorporating disciplines such as archaeology, linguistics, biology, and genetics?

<p>These disciplines provide tools and data to study past societies and ancient civilizations that were formerly ignored in history due to lack of documents.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the text argue against the impression that history is 'all about listing down events in the past in a chronological manner'?

<p>The text argues that history is more concerned with answering the question of <em>why</em> a particular event took place.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to say history initially 'was recorded for posterity'?

<p>Initially, the point of recording history was so people could look back on the past for reference, should they face similar challenges in the present and future.</p> Signup and view all the answers

If history should not be studied only for the sake of studying the past, what are some other purposes it should serve?

<p>It can provide us with multiple ways to view, interpret, and respond to a particular problem.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Give examples of topics of historical importance that were reflected on official records.

<p>Revolutions, wars, conquests, and crusades.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Summarize the definition of history as it relates to the Greek word 'historia'.

<p>History is derived from Greek word historia meaning 'knowledge acquired through inquiry or investigation'.</p> Signup and view all the answers

For Thucydides, what constituted the most reliable sources of history, and what term do modern historians use to describe his method?

<p>For Thucydides, the most reliable sources of history were testimonies of eyewitnesses, and modern historians would call his method 'oral history.'</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

What is History?

Knowledge acquired through inquiry or investigation; the account of the past of a person or group through written documents and historical evidence.

History's Focus

Focuses on human activities, unlike theology, myths, or legends.

History as Inquiry

Systematic collection of data/evidence interpreted objectively to arrive at rational findings and conclusions.

Historian's Goal

Explains past events/processes against a specific historical background or context.

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Herodotus

Pioneered recording the past through historical sources and established history as a science.

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Thucydides

Highlighted systematic/impartial evidence collection; reliable sources were testimonies of eyewitnesses.

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Positivism in History

Unless written record supports specific historical event, it cannot be considered historical fact.

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Historiography

Examines history itself, and is essential to understanding the context of historical lessons.

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Utility of history

Can provide multiple ways to view, interpret, and respond to specific problem, and also provides an inventory of alternatives.

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Misuse of History

States and governments used this to unite a nation and legitimize regimes by forging a sense of collective identity.

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Study Notes

Definition of History

  • Commonly known as the study of the past
  • Often dreaded due to memorization of dates, names, and events
  • A more complex field than just studying the past
  • Derived from the Greek word "historia," meaning knowledge from inquiry
  • As old as mathematics and philosophy, around 2,400 years

History as a Discipline

  • Can refer to past events or a kind of research/inquiry
  • Primarily concerned with human activities in the past
  • Focus on human activities differentiates it from theology and mythology
  • Ancient civilizations, like Mesopotamian and Sumerian civilizations, viewed history as theocratic

History as Inquiry

  • Aims to answer questions and understand the unknown
  • Uses systematic collection of data and evidence
  • Requires objective interpretation

History and the Past

  • Focuses on the past, unlike other social sciences
  • Seeks to explain past events in context
  • Answers the "why" questions

Evolution of the Historical Discipline

  • Shifted in nature, significance, and purpose over time
  • Ancient Greek civilization first focused on human activities
  • Herodotus, considered the Father of History, aimed to record deeds for posterity
  • Thucydides emphasized systematic evidence collection and eyewitness testimonies

Historical Methods

  • Early Greek historians (Herodotus & Thucydides) concentrated on limited geographic areas and recent historical periods
  • As Greek civilization expanded, history's scope broadened
  • New methods developed to study the remote past with written records
  • Modern history prioritizes written documents

Issues and Questions in History

  • Early historical works focused on elites due to reliance on written sources
  • Traditional topics were revolutions, wars, conquests, and crusades
  • Positivism emerged in the 19th century which held that real knowledge lies in the observation of facts
  • Positivism lead to the motto "no document, no history" which means records must back historical events
  • Reliance on written sources can exclude non-elites

Inclusive History

  • Historians began using non-written sources like oral traditions, artifacts, architecture, and memory
  • Interdisciplinary collaboration emerged with archaeology and linguistics
  • Disciplines like biology and genetics also contributed

Historiography

  • History is a continuously developing discipline shaped by debates
  • Historiography is the history of history, asking questions about historical texts
  • Studying historiography provides a deeper understanding of the past and critical thinking skills

Purpose and Use of History

  • Initially, history was recorded for posterity as a guide
  • During the medieval period, with the rise of Christianity, history focused on divine plans
  • Professional historians advocated studying history for its own sake

Contemporary History

  • Historical writing is always influenced by the historian's present context
  • Sub-disciplines like Women's History and Environmental History emerged
  • History can be used to unite nations and legitimize regimes, but also distorted for agendas
  • Historians should rescue the past from those who seek to distort it
  • History serves as a guide, an "inventory of alternatives," and provides self-knowledge

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