Maharashtra Board Class 10 History Chapter 1 Historiography Development in the West PDF Download

Historiography: Development In The West

1.1 Tradition of Historiography

Historical research, writing and studies are carried out with an objective of understanding the chronology of the past events and their interconnections. This is a continuous process.

In the physical and natural sciences the empirical method (laboratory method of experiments and observation) is used to verify the available knowledge. This method allows formulating laws that remain true irrespective of the time and space. Those laws can be tested and proved repeatedly.

In historical research it may not be possible to use the method of laboratory experiments and observation. This is so because we were not present in the historical time and space and the historical events cannot be recreated. Also in history it is not possible to formulate laws that remain true irrespective of the time and space.

To begin, we need an expert who knows the language and script of a historical document in order to read it and understand its meaning. Also, the experts can examine the authenticity of the document by using criteria such as lettering style, author's style of writing, manufacturing date and type of paper, stamps of authority, etc. Such a document is further scrutinised by a historian with the help of relevant historical references.

Historical Research Method

Formulating hypotheses

Formulating relevant questions in view of the historical references

Understanding the references regarding time and space of the given historical events and also various conceptual frameworks used in historical research method

Collecting historical information, highlighting the processes that lead to historical transitions, carrying out comparative analysis

Examining relevant references of the available historical information

Critically examining of various sources of history

Writing of Historical narrative

Teacher's Note

History is not just about remembering dates. It is like detective work where we find clues and understand what really happened. For example, when we study about our school's past, we look at old records and photos to understand the story.

Exam Trick

Remember: Historiography = Critical history writing. It is not just telling stories. Historians must check the facts carefully, just like your teacher checks if your homework is correct before giving marks.

Points to Remember

Historical research cannot use laboratory experiments like science does.
We cannot recreate past events or test them again.
Historians need experts to read old documents and check if they are real.
Historians examine lettering, paper type, and writing style to verify documents.
Historical research is a continuous process of asking questions and finding answers.

1.2 Modern Historiography

Methods of various disciplines are useful in historical research. For example, Archaeology, Archival Science, Manuscriptology, Epigraphy (Study of inscriptions), Analysis of lettering style, Linguistics, Numismatics (Study of coins), Genealogy (Study of lineage), etc.

We have learnt about the historical research method, critically examining the historical sources and writing the historical narrative. The writing of critical historical narrative is known as 'Historiography'. A scholar who writes such a narrative is a historian.

The historian cannot include every past event in his narrative. The inclusion and interpretation of historical events by the historian often depends on the conceptual framework adopted by him. His style of writing is determined by that conceptual framework.

The tradition of writing historical narrative, that is historiography, was not prevalent in the ancient societies of the world. However, that does not mean that they were not aware of the historical time or were not eager to know about it. Ancient people also felt the need of passing on the stories of the life and valour of the ancestors to the next generation. Ancient communities all over the world used various means like cave paintings, story-telling, singing songs and ballads, etc. for this purpose. These traditional means are looked upon as the sources of history in the modern historiography.

Four main characteristics of modern historiography:

Its method is based on scientific principles. It begins with the formation of relevant questions.

These questions are anthropocentric. It means that these questions are about the deeds of the members of ancient human societies of a particular period. History does not suggest any interrelation between the Divine and human deeds.

Teacher's Note

Modern history writing asks questions about what people did, not what gods did. For example, when we study the Taj Mahal, we ask who built it and why, not just that a king ordered it.

Exam Trick

Remember: Anthropocentric = Human-centered. Anthropos = human. So modern historiography focuses on human deeds and actions, not divine or god-related things.

Points to Remember

Historiography is the writing of critical history with proper checking of facts.
A historian is someone who writes history with careful research.
Different historians choose different events based on their ideas about history.
Ancient people also recorded history using cave paintings, songs, and stories.
Modern history study uses many different subjects like archaeology and coins study.

1.3 Development of Scientific Perspective In Europe and Historiography

Till the eighteenth century C.E. Europe had achieved a remarkable progress in the fields of Philosophy and Science. Scholars by then had come to believe in the possibility of studying the social and historical truths by applying scientific methods. Now the philosophical discussions focused more and more on the objectivity in history and historiography.

Prior to the eighteenth century all European universities were interested only in the philosophical discourses revolving around Divine phenomena. However, gradually this scenario began to change. In 1737 C.E. the Gottingen University was founded in Germany. This university for the first time had an independent department of history. Later, other German universities also became centres of historical studies.

Teacher's Note

Scientific thinking changed how history was studied in Europe. Before 1700s, schools only taught about God and religion. After that, history became its own subject. This is like how your school now has separate teachers for different subjects.

Exam Trick

Remember: 1737 = Gottingen University = First independent history department. This year marks when history became a serious subject in Europe, just like how your school has a separate history teacher.

Points to Remember

Before the 1700s, European universities only studied Divine or religious topics.
By the 1700s, scholars believed science methods could also study history.
In 1737, the first history department started in Germany.
Other German universities then also started teaching history as a separate subject.
Scientific thinking helped make history writing more careful and organized.

1.4 Notable Scholars

The contributions of many scholars are important in the development of historiography. Let us have a look at the contributions of the few notable scholars.

René Descartes (1596-1650)

René Descartes was the foremost among scholars who insisted on verifying the reliability of historical documents by critically examining them. Among the rules given by him in his book, 'Discourse on the Method', the following is supposed to have a great impact on the scientific method of research: Never to accept anything for true till all grounds of doubt are excluded.

Voltaire (1694-1778)

Voltaire's original name was François-Marie Arouet. He was French. He opined that along with objective truth and chronology of historical events considering social traditions, trade, economy, agriculture, etc. was also equally important in historiography. It gave rise to the thought that understanding all aspects of human life is important for history writing. Thus, it is said that Voltaire was the founder of modern historiography.

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831)

Hegel was a German philosopher. He insisted that the historical reality should be presented in a logical manner. To him the timeline of historical events was indicative of progress. He also thought that the presentation of history is bound to change over time as new evidence would come forth. With Hegel's philosophy many scholars were convinced that historical methods were not of lesser quality though they differed from scientific methods. The collection of his lectures and articles is published in a book, entitled 'Encyclopaedia of Philosophical Sciences'. His book, 'Reason in History', is well known.

It Is Good To Know This

According to Hegel, grasping the meaning of any event happens in terms of two direct opposites. Human mind cannot understand the true nature of that event, without understanding the opposites, for example, True-False, Good-Bad, etc. In order to understand the true nature of a thing one needs to know both true and false, similarly good and bad. This method of analysis which is based on opposites is known as 'Dialectics'. In this method a theory is proposed at the beginning, which is called, 'Thesis'. Then another theory is proposed, which is contrary to the thesis. It is called, 'Antithesis'. After a thorough logical discussion of the both a new thesis is proposed which includes the gist of both, the thesis and the antithesis. This process of arriving at the new thesis is called, 'Synthesis'.

Teacher's Note

René Descartes taught us to doubt everything until we have proof. This is like when your teacher asks you to show your working before accepting an answer. Voltaire said history is about all parts of life, not just kings and battles.

Exam Trick

Remember: Descartes = Doubt everything. Voltaire = Study all of society (food, trade, farming). Hegel = Everything has opposites (good-bad, true-false). These three thinkers made history a real science.

Points to Remember

Descartes said never believe anything unless you have proof for it.
Voltaire studied trade, farming, and society, not just kings and wars.
Hegel believed history shows progress and follows logical patterns.
Hegel used opposites to understand events, which he called Dialectics.
These scholars helped make history writing scientific and careful.

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