1.
History Defined
To
inquire about the past, present, and
future; A Western Tradition rooted in the Classical Greeks; Herodotus is
recognized as the “Father of History.” A reasonable and rational approach must
be embraced when engaging in the process of inquiring.
2.
“History in its root sense
means to inquire…”
The
stress was on the inquiry as such,
regardless of subject matter, on the search for explanation and understanding. [Humans are] rational beings: if [they] ask rational questions, [they]
can, by the unaided efforts of [their] intellect, discover rational
answers. But first [they] must
discover that about [themselves].
The Classical Greeks did it, in the 7th century B.C. (Insofar as so abstract a notion can be
dated at all), and thereby they established the greatest of their claims to
immortality. Significantly, the
inquiry was first directed to the most universal matters, the nature of being
and the cosmos. Only later was [it]
extended to [humans, their] social relations and [their] past.” Source: The Greek Historians,
The
American experience is primarily rooted in the "Western Tradition," which
includes cultures and nations influenced by societies that developed west of
Ancient Mesopotamia. This
experience, however, does not preempt the existence of non-Western cultures'
(Asian, Native American, African etc.) view on "history.”
3.
You must inquire into the Past, Present, and Future in order to
search for rational answers.
4.
“Historiography” is the process of
understanding how the environment impacts the writing of history. All disciplines undergo changes as the
intellectual climate changes.
Hence, different “schools of thoughts” develop and, in turn, different
approaches to the discipline occur.
5.
Six major historiographical
phases impact the study of history
and other discipline
Heightened
Nationalism (colonial consolidation, independence) – 1700 to 1800:
Expansion
(territorial, industrial, & political) – 1800 to
1890s
Politics (in
search of stability: from Greeks & Romans) – 1890s to
1920s
Economics (boom & bust)
– 1920s to
1930s
Social (history from the “bottom
up”) - Post WWII to 1960s
Computer/Quantitative Age – 1970s to the
Present
6.
Three “methodologies” exist
in the inquiring process:
a.
Linear/Progressive:
1.
History is
studied/researched in “compartments.” Building blocks of knowledge are used to
understand the past, present, and future. Readily accepted by the Western
Tradition and history does not repeat itself. Its objective is to understand the past,
learn from it, and improve (progress) society. In theory, the year 2005 is a far better
world than the year 1805 (in theory!)
b.
Linear/Progressive
repetitive
History is
studied/researched in “compartments.” Building blocks of knowledge are used to
understand the past, present, and future. However, historical forces may
repeat themselves (wars, business cycles, revolutionary concepts,
cultural trends [music, clothes, etc]. The Western Tradition cautiously accepts
this process.
c. cyclical:
Non-Western
approach. All historical
forces/events will repeat themselves.
There is “nothing new beneath the sun.”
