Definitions [1]
Definition: Historiography
The writing of critical historical narrative is known as ‘Historiography’.
Key Points
Key Points: Development of Historiography
- Historical research studies past events, their order, and connections.
- History cannot use experiments because past events cannot be repeated.
- Authenticity of sources is checked using language, script, paper, and writing style.
- The method includes collecting data, forming questions, and writing history.
- History uses scientific principles and help from other disciplines like archaeology and numismatics.
Key Points: Tradition of Historiography
- Historiography is the critical writing of history by a historian.
- A historian selects and interprets events based on his conceptual framework.
- The style of historical writing depends on the historian’s ideas.
- Ancient societies did not have formal historiography, but were aware of the past.
- Cave paintings, stories, songs, and ballads are considered early sources of history.
Key Points: Modern Historiography
- Modern historiography is based on scientific principles and begins with relevant questions.
- These questions are anthropocentric and focus on human actions, not divine influence.
- The answers in modern historiography are supported by reliable historical evidence.
- History explains the progress of mankind through the study of past human deeds.
- Modern historiography has its roots in ancient Greek writings, especially Herodotus’s The Histories.
Key Points: Scientific Perspective in European History
- By the eighteenth century C.E., Europe had made great progress in philosophy and science.
- Scholars began to believe that social and historical truths could be studied using scientific methods.
- Earlier, European universities focused mainly on divine philosophy, but this approach gradually changed.
- The founding of Gottingen University in 1737 C.E. marked the beginning of independent historical studies in Europe.
Key Points: Notable Scholars
- René Descartes: He stressed critical examination of sources and removing doubt before accepting truth.
- Voltaire: He included social, economic, and cultural aspects in his history writing.
- G. W. F. Hegel: He viewed history as progress and believed interpretations change over time.
- Leopold von Ranké: He emphasised the use of original documents and factual history.
- Karl Marx: He explained history as a struggle between social classes.
- Annales School: It broadened history to include social, economic, and environmental factors.
- Feminist Historiography & Michel Foucault: They expanded history to study women’s lives and historical transitions.
Important Questions [16]
- It may be said that _______ was the founder of modern historiography.
- Identify the wrong pair in the following, correct it and rewrite.Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel - ‘Reason in History’ Leopold von Ranké - ‘The theory and Practice of History’ Herodotus - ‘The Histories
- Why is Voltaire said to be the founder of modern Historiography?
- Identify the wrong pair in the following and rewrite it. James Mill - Feminist Historian, Friedrich Max Muller - Orientalist Scholar, Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade - Nationalistic Historian
- What is feminist historiography?
- Explain Karl Marx’s ‘Class Theory’.
- Write a short note on dialectic.
- Explain the following statement with its reason. It is said that Voltaire was the founder of modern historiography.
- Explain Karl Marx’s ‘Class Theory’.
- Write a short note on Voltaire.
- Identify the wrong pair in the following and rewrite: Thinkers Country Karl Marx England Michel Foucault France Leopold von Ranke Germany Herodotus Greece
- According to ______, 'human history is the history of class struggle'.
- Complete the following concept map: Notable Scholars in Europe
- Write a short note. Feminist historiography
- Explain the following with its reason. Foucault called his method ‘the archaeology of knowledge’.
- Complete the concept chart. Notable Scholars in Europe
