Foundations of History
A written, oral, or visual reconstruction and interpretation of past human endeavors based on available sources
What is History?
Study of political fortunes of powerful individuals
What is Political History?
The history of ________________; up until recently was excluded from the dominant cultural discourse
What is "History of the minorities/oppressed"?
This history champions one nation over another; elicits demands for retribution to right past injustices
What is Nationalist History?
Theories of the past can help explain and understand the human condition, provide rationality and meaning
What is Purpose of Theories?
Direct evidence about the past; artifacts, diaries, letters, emails
What are Primary Sources?
Reputable publishing houses and university presses that have peer review or similar selection processes
What are Trustworthy Sources?
Damage that changes interpretation of history; done by powerful figures
What is Distortion of Historical Records?
Contradictory versions of the past that contribute to international conflicts
What is History with an Agenda?
Less accurate narratives of the past that influence public opinion
What is Popular History?
Derived from primary sources; oral or written narratives
What are Secondary Sources?
Questions the "scientific truth" of history, examines new evidence to re-frame the past or add depth to previous accounts
What is Revisionist History?
Often glorifies political leaders, praises heroic exploits on the battlefield, or emphasizes a particular group's accomplishments
What is the effect of history written by the victors?
Humans can alter history, events are dependent on random occurrences, and beliefs about past may not actually be applicable to present situations
What are Lessons of History?
People can work to rid society of past wrongs
What is Progressive History?
A history of histories; previous histories become primary sources in this case
What is Historiography?
There are no objective histories; history is a partial depiction of reality
What is Postmodernist History?
They have passed down most of the recorded history in the past.
What is history written by the victors?
Israeli/Palestinian Conflict represents the example of
What is Examples of opposing versions of history?
There are patterns in history that are likely to repeat; conflict is inevitable
What is Cyclical History?
Historians agree on what was a major event and when it took place, but they differ on ...
What is the Question of causation, interpretation, and significance?
Writing history "as it really was"; incorporating the scientific method into the process of writing history
What is Empirical Approach?
Soviet glasnost (openness) exposed falsehoods of the Soviet history that contributed to the collapse of the Soviet System
What is Example of distortion of historical records?
For these people, British presence is seen as imperial conquest, not as settlement
What is Irish Catholic nationalist history?
A higher power operates in the world and determines the course of history
What is Providential History?