Definition and Etymology of History: Int Roduct Ion To History

INT RODUCT ION TO HISTORY

- The origin of the word History is associated with the

Definition and Etymology of history Greek word “historia” which means “information”
or “an enquiry designed to elicit truth”.

History has been defined differently by different scholars. Following are the definitions indicating the meaning and scope of history:
“History is the record of what one age finds wor-
thy of note in another.”
“History, in its broadest sense, is everything that

ever happened.”
“The value and interest of history depend largely

on the degree in which the present is illuminated
by the past.”
“History is a connected account of the course of

events or progress of ideas.”
“History is the scientific study of past happenings

in all their aspects, in the life of a social group, in
the light of present happenings.”
“History is the story of Man’s struggle through

the ages against Nature and the elements;
against wild beasts and the jungle and some of
his own kind who have tried to keep him down
and to exploit him for their own benefit.”
Today, modern history has gone beyond the traditional status of an antiquarian and leisure
time pursuit to a very useful and indispensible part of a man’s education. It is more scientific
and more comprehensive. It has expanded in all directions both vertically and horizontally. It
has become broad-based and attractive. According to modern concept, history does not con-
tain only the history of kings and queens, battles and generals, but the history of the com-
mon man-his house and clothing, his fields and their cultivation, his continued efforts to pro-
tect his home and hearth, and to obtain a just government, his aspirations, achievements,
disappointments, defeats and failures. It is not only the individual but the communities and
the societies are the subject of study of history. Study of history deepens our understanding
of the potentialities and limitations of the present. It has thus become a future-oriented study
related to contemporary problems. For all these reasons, history has assumed the role of a
human science.
ELEMENT S of HISTORY
- what government influenced society
- where money dominates and effects people. Most

social classes are based on money and money is usu-
ally what causes conflict in history.
- a total impact on Europe during the 15th centu-

ry. Religion is important as it affects one’s beliefs
and thoughts.
- how the upper class, middle class and poor class

communicate; and how they interact with each
other.
- intelligence and knowledge that has progress in

history.
- paintings and pictures produced throughout the

course of time.
History as a Social Sciences and Its Relation to Other Fields of Disciplines

As a social science, history has been known as the study of the past. It is unique because it can be
almost effortlessly connected to other academic disciplines.
a. History and Political Science c. History and Sociology
A historian is not merely concerned with the tracing Both history and sociology are concerned with the
of the history of the political process by a narration study of man in society and differed only with re-
of the episodes. But he has to learn the nature of gard to their approach. Max Weber acknowledges
fundamental political principles and basic forms of the initial dependence of sociology upon history.
political institution. Although, history too benefits from the interaction.
History is very helpful to politics because the politi- d. History and Psychology
cal aspects is a part of the whole range of activity
recorded by historian and knowledge of history A historian must have to show some psychological
would enable the politicians to know the politics insights while making an analysis of the motive and
better and play their role effectively. actions of men and societies. Historian work would
be mere fiction unless her uses the discoveries of
b. History and Economics modern psychology. The personal life and the envi-
ronment of a historian has a direct bearing in his
History is closely related to economics as the activi- decision and often import a bias to his account and
ties of man in society are very closely related with renders the much desired objectivity impossible.
the economic matters. Thus, the historian of any
period must possess at least a rudimentary e. History and Geography
knowledge of the economics. In fact, the economic
history of any period is an important branch of his- It would be impossible to study certain branches of
tory and its understanding is absolutely essential for history without rudimentary knowledge of geogra-
the proper understanding of history of any period. phy. Geology is one of the eyes of history, the other
eye being chronology. Time and space factors give
history its correct perspective.
Sources of Historical Data
a. Published documents c. Oral traditions/oral histories
-created for large audiences and were distribut- -provide another way to learn about the past
ed widely. (i.e. books, magazines, newspapers, from people with firsthand knowledge of histor-
government documents, pamphlets, posters, ical events.
laws and court decisions)
b. Unpublished documents d. Visual documents and articles
-personal in nature and may be difficult to find - include photographs, films, paintings and oth-
because of few copies existing. (i.e. diaries, er types of works. Visual documents usually
journals, school report cards and business capture moments in time.
ledgers)
Importance of Studying History

In 1998, an article entitled "Why Study History?", Peter Stearns made the following observa-
tions:
a. History helps us understand people and societies.

b. History helps us understand change and how the society we live in came to be.
c. History contributes to moral understanding.
d. History provides identity.
e. Studying history is essential for good citizenship
Whilst, according to Pallavi Talekau, Dr. Jyotrimayee Nayak and Dr.S.Harichandan, the follow-
ing are the other importance/values of history:
a. Disciplinary value: History is quite c. Cultural and social values: I t is essen-

fruitful for mental training. It trains the mental tial that one should understand the importance
faculties such as critical thinking, memory and of his/her own cultural and social values. We
imagination. It quickens and deepens under- should also develop attachment towards our
standing, gives an insight into the working of cultural heritage. History makes us able to un-
social, political, economic, and religious prob- derstand our present culture. It expounds the
lems. culture of the present time by describing the
past. It explains the origin of existing state of
b. Informative value: History is a w onder- things, our customs, our usages, our institu-
ful treasure-house of information and can offer tions. It enables us to understand that the
guidance for the solution to all human prob- transformations in human history were brought
lems pertaining to science and art, language about by change of habits and of innovation.
and literature, social and political life, philo- One of the main motives of history teaching
sophical speculation and economic develop- has been to convey to the pupils the rich herit-
ment. History shows us the roots without up- age of the mankind. It develops an under-
rooting the tree. A mere emotional attachment standing of the different forces which have
to our past can do us little good, unless it is shaped the destiny of man and paved the way
accompanied with a sober, matured and ration- for his development in society.
al assessment of the values involved. History is
a path finder of man’s future.
Importance of Studying History
d. Political values: History is regarded to h. Intellectual value: A large num ber of
be the past politics. According to T.S. Seeley, intellectual values accrue from the teaching of
“The historian is a politician of the political history. It sharpens memory, develops the
group or organization, the state being his power of reasoning, judgment and imagination.
study. To lecture on political science is to lec- It cultivates the qualities of reading, analyzing,
ture on history.” History stands as a beacon of criticizing, and arriving at conclusions. In his-
hope when some nation is overcast with dark torical writings our past is alive and treasured
clouds. History is extremely necessary for com- in the form of chronicles, biographies, stories
pleting the political and social sciences which and other forms of literary tradition. Once the
are still in the making. History supplements pupils’ curiosity is aroused and interest awak-
them by a study of the development of these ened, he can easily browse the vast pastures of
phenomena in time. historical knowledge.
e. Nationalistic value: History teaching i. Ethical value: History is im portant in

renders an effective service in imbibing the the curriculum because it helps in the teaching
young minds with a sense of patriotism. It is of morality. Through it a child comes close to
through history alone that an Indian child the valuable thoughts of saints, reformers,
comes to know of the various deeds performed leaders, important persons and sages. The chil-
by such patriots as great lives and deeds, the dren get inspired by the life stories of these
child can easily be inspired to emulate them. A great leaders. There are other arguments that
proper teaching of history can prepare the way go against this notion that history gives ethical
for sober nationalism. teaching.
f. Internationalist value: History show s j. Vocational value: History has its voca-
the dependence and interdependence of na- tional value. There are several openings for
tions which is the root of internationalism. The persons well qualified in the subject. They can
domain of history is very extensive and wide. get jobs of teachers, librarians, archivists, cura-
Through a survey of world history, the young tors of museums, secretaries of institutions,
learners will come to realize that although dif- social service workers, and political journalists
ferent peoples had and still have different cus- etc.
toms, habits, laws, and institutions; they have
been striving towards the same end. The reali-
zation of essential unity of human race is the
first step towards fostering universal under-
standing based on the virtues of tolerance,
kindliness, love, sympathy, and goodwill.
g. Educational value: History has unique

value and importance because it is the only
school subject which is directly and entirely
concerned with the behavior and action of hu-
man beings. The imagination of the children is
developed through the teaching of history. It is
logical to treat history as a temporal canvas
against which the facts learned in other sub-
jects can be arranged. History is a veritable
mine of stories-stories can illustrate even sub-
ject of curriculum- the only condition is that the
teacher should know enough stories and should
know how to narrate them.

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INT RODUCT ION TO HISTORY

- The origin of the word History is associated with the

“History, in its broadest sense, is everything that

“The value and interest of history depend largely

“History is a connected account of the course of

“History is the scientific study of past happenings

“History is the story of Man’s struggle through

- where money dominates and effects people. Most

- a total impact on Europe during the 15th centu-

- how the upper class, middle class and poor class

- intelligence and knowledge that has progress in

- paintings and pictures produced throughout the

History as a Social Sciences and Its Relation to Other Fields of Disciplines

a. History and Political Science c. History and Sociology

Importance of Studying History

a. History helps us understand people and societies.

a. Disciplinary value: History is quite c. Cultural and social values: I t is essen-

e. Nationalistic value: History teaching i. Ethical value: History is im portant in

g. Educational value: History has unique

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