Abstract In this article, the writer offers a comparison of how South African, American, and Czech sources portray national history, art history, world history and personal history. The writer examines a selection of texts to identify to what extent each amplifies linkages between world history, natural history, art history and personal history.
From the Paper "History as a record of events and dates can be a dull affair because it does not necessarily capture the dynamics of personal or even state actions as they were experienced by the people involved. Yet people are what make history and what made up the culture or cultures in which events and actions unfolded. Professional historians, if they are skilled enough, can make an account of an era or a significant set of events lively, but the life's blood of a culture a people a person or ... "
Tags: Personal, history, national, history, world, history, art, history
This paper analyzes the philosophy of renowned historian G.W. Hegel, who is believed to have created the philosophy of history, based on his life experiences and beliefs.
Abstract The writer of this paper presents an intensive examination of G.W. Hegel's philosophy of history. This paper compares and contrasts Hegel's beliefs and theories to those of Karl Marx. This paper discusses the speculation that renowned historian and philosopher Hegel created the philosophy of history based on his own life experiences and personal beliefs. The writer explores the argument that says history and philosophy are two entirely different entities, of which Hegel was deeply involved in both. This paper also touches on the experts who believe that Hegel was a believer in the theory of predestination. According to this school of thought, Hegel believed history to be an already fixed and unchangeable fact, that mankind only watches as a spectator. The writer contends and explains why Hegel's life and work is founded on the belief that history is nothing more than a dialectical progression. This paper also details Hegel's basic philosophy which is steeped in the belief that spirit and reason are fundamentally crucial to the development of history. Hegel believed that history is nothing more than spirit striving to find its own freedom.
Table of Contents:
Abstract
Introduction
Who He Was
His Philosophy
His Life
His Impact
Conclusion
References
From the Paper "GW Hegel took on a most difficult task when he decided to spend his life philosophizing about history and mankind. As a philosopher of history Hegel had to walk a line between rewriting history to fit his philosophical beliefs and changing those beliefs to fit what was actually happening in history. It was a line he walked well though critics have pointed out what they believed to be discrepancies. His life work was based on trying to find the basic truths about history and mankind while at the same time examining the sub-topics that went along with those things by natural progression."
Abstract This essay examines the controversial issue of racism and Eurocentrism present in American history textbooks. The paper further questions how to appropriately teach history through textbooks. Different beliefs about how to teach history are considered as well as a set of new guidelines being proposed for teaching history.
From the Paper "For many years now, students have been taught about different, important historical events that have shaped the free, democratic country in which they live today. It can be agreed that most of the public schools in the United States begin teaching what seem to be the basics of world history at a very early age. For example, ever since kindergarten, children are taught significant events and made to believe in great explorers that seemed to be greater and larger than they actually might have been. Such historical figures are taught to seem like such noble people for being open-minded."
Abstract The paper discusses the conception of 'new history" or 'history from below' and states that it has its foundations in a wide range of connected disciplines and contemporary theoretical trajectories and stances. The paper comments that the foundation of 'history from below' lies in the questioning of the hegemony of old and more elitist views of history and the context of historical reality The paper concludes that the writing of 'history from below' provides a much-needed and important part of historical research and discourse in contemporary scholarship.
Outline:
Introduction and Overview
British Multiculturalism
Conclusion
From the Paper " In conclusion it should be noted that the "new history" and the stance that takes its point of departure from 'below" in Britain owes much to the earlier Marxist historians. These historians are in fact seen as the "progenitors" of contemporary "history from below." (Kaye 182) Given this legacy in the British context it is not surprising that much of the historical research has been focused on the marginalized and disenfranchised cultures and sections of the population.
"For example there has been a great deal of research on the Asian and Pakistan immigration to the country. After the Second World War there was a large scale immigration of Muslims from various counties including North Africa to Britain. The central reason for this was the need in Britain for cheap industrial labor and they "...turned towards their former colonies in South Asia and North Africa to fill labour shortages... (What perspectives for Islam and Muslims in Europe?) Research into this area has produced numerous studies dealing with the prejudice and the alienation that these immigrants experienced. This type of research clearly shows the link and the connection between 'history from below' and multiculturalism and also suggests that these two concepts are inextricably intertwinwed in this new approach to history. While there are many detractors and critics of this new historical approach, there are also many who see 'new history' as advancing the aims of the discipline."
Abstract This paper examines the idea of justification for the notion that military history may in fact be a genre of the discipline of history in its own right. The author finds that there is certainly a lexicon of expressions, terminology and acronyms unique to its study and writing. He sees that military history is unique on many levels, and there are some curious aspects and juxtapositions within the genre that seem to defy the rules of historical scholarship that are applied elsewhere within the history discipline. It is a genre that seems to cross historiographical boundaries and be bound only to its own set of rules and regulations.
From the Paper "There is also some level of expected knowledge in much of it, for instance a given familiarity of the grand naval strategy ideas of Alfred Thayer Mahan and Sir Julian Corbett in works of naval history. Overall it also seems expected that one will have read and digested Von Clausewitz (and to have had curiosity to reach back further and read Jomini) as a prelude to any military history written after the 1850s. There certainly seems to be some higher levels of "given" knowledge than in other sub-disciplines of history. There is also perhaps another perception - that much of what is written as military history is simply categorising under accepted and rigid categories of the genre. A perception that analysis only goes as deep as the last great analysis of a particular topic. Yet that may also be true of many other forms of writing history, genres of history and, indeed other disciplines as well. It is perhaps because military activities are some of the most meticulously documented events that are at the same time bound up in human contradiction that makes this so."
Tags: civil, gurkhas, history, marxist, postmodernism, war, whig
Abstract This paper is an in-depth examination of the role that La Malinche played in Mexican history and culture. The author gives the reader an historical overview, including the fact that she was an actual person, whose actions caused her to lose favor in society. This is done through the review and analysis of two pieces of works by historians, one male and one female, Casillo and Paz. The author also points out that La Malinche is not a well-known personality outside of Mexican culture, but her history dates back to the mid-sixteenth century. According to the paper, La Malinche's role in history has been revived by feminists who feel that her tainted past is the result of the chauvinistic nature of Mexican society which has begun to evolve over the years. For many Mexican women she is a symbol of independence and endurance of the Mexican people, and she should be accorded respect and proper recognition in history.
From the Paper "These many complications and elaborations of this essential and essentializing dichotomy about the true nature of woman can be seen to come together in the character of La Malinche, a figure not well known outside of Mexico (except to those whose families originally came from Mexico). This paper explores the figure of La Malinche, a figure who representations have over the years become at least in general more positive as Mexicans have regained a sense of themselves as a people worthy of self-respect ? and as Mexican women have refused to see themselves as meriting only the role of a traitor condemned to silence."
Discusses the position of the author of "Discovering History in China" that American historians need to take a more China-centered approach to studying Chinese history.
1,400 words (approx. 5.6 pages), 1 source, 2002, $ 53.95
Abstract The author of this book emphasizes that a China-centered history is necessary to get a better and more accurate portrayal of Chinese history. Indeed, in his perspective, this will counter-act the ethnocentric approach taken by American historians on the subject. One of the main theses of the book is that a China-centered approach is needed to counter-balance the American distortion of Chinese history.
Abstract The writer of this paper defines the term Orientalism, which comes from the Latin word oriens, as the rising sun, which generally implies, 'the East.' This paper focuses on the culture, religion, art and history of Orientalism. This paper explores the European view of Islam throughout history. The writer explains that during the birth of Christianity and Islam there was a distinct difference between European Christian cultures and those of East and North Africa, which are detailed at length in this paper. During the Middle Ages the European Christians denounced the Islamic people as the enemies of Christendom, due to their lack of knowledge of Eastern culture. This paper discusses how the Enlightenment thinkers of the 18th century viewed the Eastern culture as being superior to that of the Christian west. This paper illustrates that Islamic societies were praised for their religious tolerance when compared with Christian west. This paper also delves into those who opposed the Orientalist culture, such as James Mill, who believed that Eastern civilizations were stagnant and corrupt and Karl Marx who believed that Eastern methods of production were static. Christian evangelists further maligned Eastern traditions as superstitious nonsense. This paper also examines the rich artistic history of the Oriental culture. Depictions of Islamic Moors were found in Medieval and Renaissance art, but it wasn't until the 19th century that Orientalism became recognized in the arts. This paper also details the outspoken views and opinions of political activist and author Edward Said.
Table of Contents:
Definition of Orientalism
History of Orientalism
Orientalism in the Arts
History of Orientalism in the Arts
Edward Said and Orientalism
References
From the Paper "Photography was still in its infancy and did not allow for the capture of the sunlight, the colors and the mood in which a painter could. With the iconoclastic nature of Islam, and the forbidding of the depiction of the prophet Muhammad, there was little representational art in Islam. Most of their artwork was centered on pattern and design. For this reason, the Muslim world had very little visual record of their history, including the people and the cities that existed prior to modern photography. Today, still, the best visual record of exotic cities like Cairo or Damascus, prior to the advent of modern photography, exists in 19th century paintings by Europeans and Americans. In the mid to late 19th century, painters from every country in Europe and from across the oceans in America, came to the East."
This paper examines the lack of female historians, as well as women's accomplishments and contributions documented throughout history, in a primarily male dominated field.
Abstract This paper ponders the argument that the secondary characteristics of a historian has more impact on his or her writing, than gender alone. The writer contends that these secondary characteristics, such as race, socio-economic status, religious and political affiliations are what determine a writer's personal beliefs and biases. This paper explores the contributions of Sarah Bolton, one of America's leading feminist historians, who brought women in history to the forefront. Bolton's writings of history openly advocated the role of women in history and the change in social norms. The writer of this paper contends and explains that historians generally have agendas and that their writings are used to further these agendas. The writer also asserts that if history is written only by men, it is logical to assume that women's contributions to historical events will be lacking. The same holds true for history written by only one particular race.
From the Paper "Take, for example, the different perspectives that could be taken by two writers, both women, about women being granted access to higher education in the 20th Century. The first woman writer is a member of the middle-class, and she and her husband both have to work in order to keep their family in the middle class. That historian may begin her history with women getting equal access to higher education, which led to more women entering the workforce in higher-paying jobs. In addition, that historian could accurately show that, traditionally, as women have entered an occupation, it has become devalued by society, and the members of the occupation have then suffered a relative decline in pay. As a result, the historian could conclude that women's access to higher education has led to a society of families that cannot maintain a middle-class lifestyle without two incomes."
Abstract In this article, a contemporary examination of John Bright's "A History of Israel" reveals significant deficiencies of methodology, as confirmed by recent archaeological "revelations". The writer contends that these discoveries should not impugn the content of Bright's work; rather, his history should be viewed strictly as a religious (and as such, not fact-based) history.
From the Paper "An authoritative history of the Old Testament such as John Bright's 'A History of Israel' must ironically proceed on a degree of faith. This naturally undermines the intent of the work from the outset which is ostensibly to authenticate patriarchal traditions by providing them with a historical basis. Bright, in accepting most Biblical accounts as realities-including the covenant at Sinai, ancient Old Testament claims to monotheism and the Genesis rendering of a personal relation between the individual and his God ultimately masquerades religious dogma as serious history. Bright's thick ... "
Tags: john bright, a history of israel, revisionist history, archaeology, biblical history, old testament, judaism
Abstract This paper is an examination of the recent field cultural history that Robert Darnton used to examine the study of 18th-century France. The author breaks down Darnton's work, "The Great Cat Massacre," by chapter in order to illustrate how his theory was designed to work. Each chapter is discussed in detail, examining both the strengths and weaknesses of the materials discussed. The author looks at methodology, and the inherent flaws that present themselves to the reader. The author looks at the problem of using narration and biography when looking at cultural history, which in their view, contradicts the goal that Darnton set out to accomplish. The author feels that this type of approach is best suited to the investigation of past events in history that are not fresh in our minds.
From the Paper \\\"Understanding a narration poses an entirely distinct set of problems to understanding an event; for one thing, it introduces the problem of reader expectations, which are determined by the previous development of the genre in which the narration is embedded. For this reason, Darnton's analysis seems less compelling than the nature of the bizarre events he would have us believe really took place. Strangely enough, though, his anthropological method is most impressively applied in a chapter, which deals with what would seem to be far more ordinary events.\\\"
Abstract Statues and monuments to great leaders of the past are paid for and maintained by states at a great cost because they are often necessary to justify the legitimacy of the state. In this context, as this essay will argue, our understanding of the past is shaped by the writing of history as "national" history.
Abstract The paper is in the form of a proposal that will address concerns and offer solutions in the form of new approaches based on emphasizing the relevance of history, especially in terms of how learning from history is a responsibility every citizen in a democratic society should take seriously. The paper maintains that today's students must be made to understand that history is not a dry and boring collection of facts and dates; it is a vital tool they can use to improve the society they live in.
From the Paper "Throughout human history, insightful teachers and parents have been deeply troubled by the lack of interest in history so many young people have displayed. They have understood that the lack of historical knowledge in young people and their ignorance of the past inevitably condemns each generation to repeat the mistakes of previous generations. In America today, these same concerns have triggered a contentious debate in the educational community about the content of history courses and the manner in which they should be taught (Hirst 12). This proposal will address these concerns and offer solutions in the form of new approaches based on emphasizing the relevance of history."
Abstract This paper examines how the history of East Asia in the modern period from 1400 to 1900 is commonly viewed through the lens of the Europeans who came to trade, convert, loot, and conquer during this time. It discusses how although it cannot be denied that the arrival and eventual dominance of the Europeans over the international relations of the Sinic world was of great significance in the history of the region, it may be argued that simply by shifting our perspective we may obtain a more accurate analysis of this era in East Asian history.
From the Paper " The history of East Asia in the modern period - from 1400 to 1900 - is commonly viewed through the "lens" of the Europeans who came to trade, convert, loot and conquer during this time. While it cannot be denied that the arrival and eventual dominance of the Europeans over the international relations of the Sinic world was of great significance in the history of the region, it may be argued that simply by shifting our perspective we may obtain a more accurate analysis of this era in East Asian history. "
Abstract The paper discusses how, in the study of history, the "ways of knowing" the past of an object, a culture, or an event is a difficult and highly subjective challenge. The paper examines how the historian's methods are characterized by their own perspectives and objectives, and this quite often occurs in ways that are not consciously recognized by the historian. The paper further examines how this distortion is a highly problematic issue, for the study of history is essential to the understanding of both the past and the present, and also to shed light on many possible futures. This paper approaches the issue of multiple "ways of knowing" as applied to the study of history, with the purpose of clarifying the need for minimized personal perceptions and interpretations within the context of historical research and the teaching of social studies to the next generation.
