4. Continuity and Change Flashcards
TEST
What is history in relation to continuity and change?
History is more than a list of events. The fact is that there were lots of things going on at any one time in the past.
Always look for change when it appears that there has been none and look continuity where it is assumed things have changed.
What is change?
Historical change refers to the changing of events over the course of time.
What is continuity?
Historical continuity refers to the aspect of life or of a society, event, that has remained the same.
How can change occur?
Change can occur at a slow evolutionary pace that is almost imperceptible or it can come about dramatically and suddenly.
Dramatic changes are often associated with turning points in history.
What three comparisons can be made between historical change and continuity and the present/ past?
(A) Between and among coexisting historical events, people or places (e.g. How did daily life in 1920’s rural Alberta differ from urban life at that time in Montreal?)
(B) Between and among historical periods (e.g. Were popular sports in Canada much different in the 1920’s than they were in the 2000’s?)
(C) Between contemporary society and earlier times (e.g. How is mass communication different now compared to 50 years ago?)
What is Periodization?
Periodization is creating different historical periods as a way of marking change and continuity. These “periods” or eras are defined by continuity in at least ONE dominant aspect.
And the arrival of a new era heralds a significant element of change in at least one “defining manner.”
Does change within a period equal to the end of continuity and a new period/ era?
No, changes are not always sudden; there is much continuity in other ways between historical periods, and there are a great many changes within a period. To identify historical periods depends on issues that are of concern and the right of classification.
Describe change.
Change is a process; with varying paces and patterns. Turning points are moments when the process of change shifts in a direction or pace.
What is progress and decline?
Progress and decline are broad evaluations of change over time. Depending on the impacts of change, progress for one people may decline for another.
