Chapter 1 - Introduction to History: Definition, Issues, Sources and Methodology Flashcards
____ is the study of the past
History
History was derived from the Greek word ________ which means “knowledge acquired through inquiry or investigation”.
Historia
What is the history of history?
Historiography
__________ is the school of thought that emerged between the 18th and 19th century. This thought requires empirical and observable evidence before one can claim that a particular knowledge is true. Positivism also entails an objective means of arriving at a conclusion.
Positivism
_______ _______ are those sources produced at the same time as the event, period, or subject being studied.
Primary sources
______________ is a school of thought that emerged in the early 20th century when formerly colonized nations grappled with the idea of creating their identities and understand their societies against the shadows of their colonial past. Postcolonial history looks at two things in writing history: first is to tell the history of their nation that will highlight their identity free from that of colonial discourse and knowledge, and second is to criticize the methods, effects, and idea of colonialism. Postcolonial history is therefore a reaction and an alternative to the colonial history that colonial powers created and taught to their subjects.
Postcolonialism
_________ _______ are those sources, which were produced by an author who used primary sources to produce the material. In other words, secondary sources are historical sources, which studied a certain historical subject.
Secondary sources
__________ _______ is a method of analyzing and interpreting historical texts, documents, and sources to understand the past. It involves evaluating these sources AUTHENTICITY, context, and RELIABILITY to reconstruct events, societies, and cultures from different periods.
Historical criticism
Deals with the authenticity and integrity of the text itself. It asks questions like:
- Is this the real text, written by the person it’s attributed to? (Authorship)
- Is this text complete, or are there missing parts? (Integrity)
- Has the text been altered or corrupted over time? (Textual Transmission)
- When and where was the text written? (Date and Place of Origin)
External criticism
Deals with the content of the text. Once the authenticity and integrity of the text have been established (through external criticism), internal criticism examines what the text says. It asks questions like;
- Is the author an eyewitness or secondhand account?
- Why was it written? What is the author’s purpose?
- What is the meaning of the text? Literal meaning?
- What are the themes and ideas explored in the text?
- What is the historical and cultural context of the text’s content?
- Are there any inconsistencies or contradictions within the text? Internal consistency?
Internal criticism
