History is the branch of knowledge dealing with past events. The past is neither the present nor the future. The historian’s task is to understand the past by analyzing the evidence given or written in the present. Thus, history as a way of knowing implies cause and effect through time. Another areas of knowledge related here is the human science. The human scientists study and interpret experiences, activities, constructs, and artifacts associated with human beings, attempt to expand and enlighten
The discipline of history and its study can have its origin traced to ancient Greece. Ironically, this detailed, research driven study along with all of its associated research methods had its humble beginnings rooted in story telling and fanciful tales designed for the enjoyment its population, not its education. Gradually, the people of Greece became aware of more than just their geographical and political surroundings, forcing the idea of history and how to understand it to evolved. From these
History is the study of the past, particularly on how it relates to humans. (Anderson, 2014) Traditionally, historians record past events and also attempted to answer historical questions through the study of written documents and oral accounts. In general, the sources of historical knowledge that historians consult can be separated into three distinct categories: what is written, what is said, and what is physically preserved. (Lemon, 1995) However, History does not rest solely on memory but on
The study of history would be incomplete without the use of theoretical approaches, which historians use to analyze documents and present their evidence. How a historian analyzes a document can shift subtly or drastically depending on the theoretical lens. Social history and cultural history are two separate approaches that influenced a wide variety of other sub-theory categories and many historians today. Though the two may seem similar, cultural history was developed as a response to the limitations
importance of history. Modernists, for example, completely reject history and see it as no importance, they believe that ‘if one is committed to the future, then why bother with the past?’ . However, if you were to ask a history student, whether the level GCSE, A-Level or even degree level, the answer would be varied. Just many of the few possible answers could be; that history is to facilitate others, and that studying it is a social responsibility to educate those that don’t. History teaches us empathy
History is an important aspect of life that effects everyday life for everyone, and there are many reasons for why it should be valued. Valuing history allows people to not repeat the same mistakes, and this can be applied in relation to preventing war as well as discrimination against minority groups; ensuring the Earth remains habitable and simply in preventing individual mistakes in everyday life. A common saying that most people would’ve heard before is that, ‘history repeats itself’, and it’s
The Objectivity of History The issues that are raised in this source by Marc Trachtenberg are is whether or not objectivity is still a relevant idea, and if it is not then is history in fact dying. Keith Jenkins' "What is History?," Carl Becker's "What are Historical Facts?" and Richard Evans' "In Defence of History" will be used to discuss and examine these issues. Marc Trachtenberg is questioning if objectivity is possible and desirable in today's society, and this is a question that many
The Truth in History We are all taught essentially the same things in school. We learn of the presidents and what they did and when they did it. But we know, as adults, that we did not get all the facts or even a portion of the correct facts in regards to history. In the essay, "The Historian and His Facts," Edward Hallett Carr shares a bit of insight into the people who record history and write about it. We are given a deeper understanding of historians and just what it is they do and what
The term “public history” is not often a term most people have in their vocabulary. Many everyday citizens would tell you that they don’t even understand the true definition of what public history is. Webster’s dictionary defines “public” as, ‘of or relating to most of the people of a country or state,’ and it defines “history” as, ‘the study of past events.’ So by the dictionary definition, it is the study of past events relating to most of the people of a country or state. One would agree with
Christian released “The Case for ‘Big History’” in 1990 as a response to what he considers the collective inability of historians to strike an effective balance between detail and generality in their work. A leading advocate for Big History, Christian contends historians must explore the past through a variety of scales that date back to the creation of the universe. Such an approach allows historians to better understand how different societies perceive time, frame history as a way to understand humankind’s
While interviewing one of the most popular history teachers on campus at Madera High school, many topics were discussed regarding his job and students today. Mr.Hinton has been a teacher for many years, so he understands the positives and negatives about history and how there are a lot of people that are that are stereotyped and misconcepted a lot in this world. Also, how its not right to treat people of color and non color and as human beings like bad and rude and all the humans beings and a lot
What is history? Should we study history? Who creates history? Is history relevant? The definition of history, is a question which has sparked international debate for centuries between the writers, readers, and the makers of history. It is a vital topic which should be relevant in our lives because it?s important to acknowledge past events that have occurred in our world that deeply influences the present. This essay will discuss what history is, and why we study it. History is the study
methods of collecting evidence and interpreting the past are essential to the study of history. These approaches are not static; they evolve as society and culture evolves, and evolution of approaches and methodology is vital to the continued study of history. The tradition of cataloging and referencing is the foundation of traditional history and this is their legacy to the modern practice.The new approaches of history have seen the value of borrowing from the knowledge, approaches, and concepts of other
“History exists only when it is “made” by the historian.” (Vince, 65). According to R.W. Vince, it is very easy for researchers to get lost between “fact” and “interpretation” when documenting theatre history. Even when scholars uncover identical pieces of information, they may each have their own personal explanations as to why these facts exist. In turn, readers must exercise critical analysis when studying scholar’s research and not fall into the trap of viewing history from the author’s perspective
possibilities.” Subsequently, if Founding Fathers, Sun Tzu wrote documents that fit the definition of being biased, does the document lose its value to historians? Is there a document that does not have bias? History has long been written and interpreted through biased opinions, however, to truly study history, a historian must form an impartial view when
Much of the knowledge we believe as accurate facts today is susceptible to being exchanged for new facts in the future. In history, knowledge is considered historical facts. In the human sciences, knowledge refers to scientific findings from that are considered scientific laws, theories, and behaviors. As time progresses, more research and analysis is conducted in history and the human sciences to ensure that the knowledge we “accept” today are accurate, correct in all details. If experts in each
Study History? History is a critical part of schools all around the world. Year after year students have to learn about topics that they think are trivial. These students believe that history is not important and shouldn’t be studied in school. However these students are misguided in their beliefs about history. History is a vital part of human culture and should be studied in school. History can help humans solve our current problems, help people understand others and societies, and history provides
History is difficult to define since the nature of history is often discussed, debated, and debunked, however the emphasis of the definition history is only confusing, because so many historians themselves question the nature of history as a practice. History holds so many truths; history is one part objective truth, another part of historical philosophy guiding populations into a direction of understanding, and yet another part exists to explain the complexities of human nature; the versatility
The Perspective And The Purpose Of History History is a story told over time. It is a way of recreating the past so it can be studied in the present and re-interpreted for future generations. Since humans are the sole beneficiaries of history, it is important for us to know what the purpose of history is and how historians include their own perspective concerning historical events. The purpose and perspective of history is vital in order for individuals to realise how it would be almost impossible
Oral history is the methodical compilation of contemporary depositions of peoples their and their personal experiences. Simply put by Gerry Albarelli in “The art of oral history”, “ Oral history is the firsthand testimony of people experiences of history (p.14).” Secondary sources are not considered oral history. Oral historians try to confirm their data, analyze them, and place them in an authentic historical text. The process of oral history is putting together and being able to interpret the memories