A cosa serve la Storia? Cos'è la Storia?

LaCOOltura

17 Apr 201903:53

Summary

TLDRThe video script delves into the significance of history, challenging the common notion that it serves merely to avoid past mistakes. It introduces Marc Bloch, a key figure in the French historical school 'École des Annales,' who argues that history is not just a memory of horrors but an analysis of the human experience. Bloch's 'Apology for History' suggests that historians should focus on the 'mentalités'—the collective mindsets and emotions of the past—to understand the present. His work, tragically unfinished due to his execution by the Gestapo, emphasizes the importance of history in shaping our cultural legacy and the potential to transform it.

Takeaways

📚 The script discusses the importance of history, challenging the common notion that it's merely to avoid past mistakes.
🧐 It critiques the simplistic view of history as a mere memory of past horrors, suggesting a deeper analytical approach is necessary.
👨‍🏫 Marc Bloch, a leading figure in the French historical school known as 'l'École des Annales,' is highlighted for his innovative approach to history.
📖 Bloch's book 'Apologie pour l'histoire ou métier d'historien' ('The Historian's Craft') is mentioned as a seminal work that redefined the purpose of history.
❓ The script ponders the question 'What is history?' and suggests that it's more than just a record of events; it's about understanding human society and mentalities.
🌟 Bloch's perspective is that history should encompass all aspects of human life, including emotions, thoughts, and societal structures.
🔍 He emphasizes the importance of studying historical mentalities to understand the origins of current societal norms and mindsets.
💡 The script argues that history, when combined with disciplines like anthropology and psychology, can provide insights into the evolution of human thought and behavior.
📚 It points out that traditional history textbooks often fail to capture the complexity of history as understood by scholars like Bloch.
🌱 The script suggests that understanding the historical origins of our current beliefs and practices is crucial for mastering and potentially changing our cultural legacy.

Q & A

What is the common misconception about the purpose of studying history?
-The common misconception is that studying history serves to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.
What does Marc Bloch suggest is the true role of a historian?
-Marc Bloch suggests that historians should not merely judge but analyze the past to understand what history is and its purpose.
What is the significance of Marc Bloch's book 'Apology for History or the Historian's Craft'?
-It is a significant work where Bloch aims to answer the question of what history is and its importance, written during the Second World War.
Why was Marc Bloch unable to complete his book 'Apology for History or the Historian's Craft'?
-Marc Bloch was unable to complete the book because he was executed by the Gestapo as part of the French Resistance.
How does Marc Bloch's approach to history differ from traditional historical studies?
-Bloch's approach focuses on the human aspects such as societies, mentalities, and emotions, rather than just a list of events and facts.
What does Marc Bloch mean when he compares historians to the ogre from fairy tales?
-Bloch uses the comparison to illustrate that historians, like the ogre, are sensitive to the 'flesh' or human aspects of history, extending beyond the traditional boundaries of historical study.
What was Marc Bloch's interest in the study of history?
-Bloch was interested in understanding how people in the past thought, their religious beliefs, their conception of time, and the emotions they experienced.
How does Marc Bloch view the concept of 'love' in historical terms?
-Marc Bloch considers 'love' as a historical phenomenon, similar to significant events like the Second World War, and worthy of central focus in historiography.
What is the importance of understanding historical mentalities according to Marc Bloch?
-Understanding historical mentalities is crucial for comprehending the reality that surrounds us and for recognizing that our current mindsets and ideas have origins and are not static.
How can the study of history help us in the present, as suggested by Marc Bloch?
-Studying history can help us understand our cultural legacy, dominate it, and change it, thus providing a tool for mastering and evolving our current societal structures and mentalities.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Purpose of History

The paragraph discusses the common misconception among students about the purpose of studying history, which is often oversimplified as learning from past mistakes. It challenges this notion by suggesting that history is more than just a memory of past horrors; it's an analysis of the past. The paragraph introduces Marc Bloch, a prominent historian from the French 'École des Annales', who revolutionized historical thinking. Bloch's work, 'Apologie pour l'histoire ou métier d'historien', written during World War II, aims to answer the question of what history serves. He argues that history should not just focus on events but also on the 'mentalités' or mindsets of people in the past, including their emotions, beliefs, and how they perceived time. Bloch's approach to history is interdisciplinary, intertwining with anthropology and psychology, and his ideas are crucial for understanding the present by recognizing the origins of current mental structures.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡History

History, in the context of the video, is presented as more than a mere recitation of past events. It is a discipline that seeks to understand and analyze the past to inform the present. The video emphasizes that history is not just about memorizing facts but about comprehending the evolution of human societies, mentalities, and emotions over time. For instance, the video discusses how historians like Marc Bloch aimed to understand the thoughts, beliefs, and emotions of people in the past, which is crucial for grasping the present reality.

💡Marc Bloch

Marc Bloch was a prominent historian and a key figure in the Annales School of historical thought. The video mentions him as someone who revolutionized the way history was understood, particularly through his work 'The Historian's Craft' (also known as 'Apology for History'). Bloch's approach to history is highlighted as one that goes beyond political events to encompass the study of mentalities and the everyday lives of people.

💡Annales School

The Annales School refers to a group of French historians in the early 20th century who transformed historical studies by focusing on long-term social and economic structures rather than just political events. The video suggests that this school, with Bloch as a leading figure, shifted the focus of history to include the study of mentalities and the everyday, which was a significant departure from traditional historiography.

💡Mentalités

Mentalités, or mentalities, is a concept central to the Annales School and Bloch's approach to history. It refers to the collective mindset and perceptions of a society at a given time. The video explains that understanding these mentalités is essential for comprehending the beliefs, emotions, and motivations of people in the past, which in turn helps us understand our own society and its assumptions.

💡Cultural Legacy

Cultural legacy is discussed in the video as the inherited beliefs, customs, and practices that shape our current society. It is suggested that by studying history, we can become aware of our cultural legacy, challenge it, and potentially change it. The video implies that history is not static but is a tool for understanding how our present culture has been formed by past societies.

💡Second World War

The Second World War is mentioned in the context of Marc Bloch's life and work. He was writing 'The Historian's Craft' during this time and was actively involved in the French Resistance. His untimely death at the hands of the Gestapo adds a layer of poignancy to his work, as he did not live to see its completion. The war serves as a backdrop that underscores the urgency and relevance of understanding history.

💡Resistence

Resistance, in the video, refers to the opposition against the Nazi occupation during the Second World War. Marc Bloch's involvement in the French Resistance is highlighted, illustrating the personal stakes historians can have in the events they study. It also connects the study of history to the real-world implications and the power of understanding past struggles.

💡Human Experience

Human experience is a recurring theme in the video, emphasizing that history should encompass all aspects of human life, not just the political or the grand. It includes emotions, beliefs, daily life, and cultural practices. The video argues that by studying these elements, historians can provide a more holistic understanding of the past.

💡Anthropology

Anthropology is mentioned as a discipline that intersects with history, particularly in the approach of the Annales School. It involves the study of human societies and cultures, both past and present. The video suggests that by incorporating anthropological methods, historians can better understand the cultural practices and social structures of past societies.

💡Psychology

Psychology is noted as another discipline that can enrich historical studies. It is used to understand the mental states, emotions, and motivations of individuals and groups in the past. The video implies that psychology can help historians delve into the subjective experiences of people, complementing the more objective analysis of events.

💡Stereotypes

Stereotypes are briefly touched upon in the video as preconceived notions about historical periods or cultures that can limit our understanding. By studying history deeply, we can challenge these stereotypes and develop a more nuanced view of the past. The video suggests that a thorough historical analysis can help us move beyond simplistic views of history.

Highlights

The question of the utility of history is often posed by students and is frequently answered with the cliché that it serves to avoid repeating past mistakes.

Studying figures like Pericles or Constantine, or events like the Barbarian invasions, is not just about avoiding past errors but understanding the complexities of history.

The common view of history as a simple memory of past horrors is challenged by the idea that historians should analyze rather than just judge the past.

Marc Bloch, a leading figure in the French historical school known as the Annales School, revolutionized the understanding of history in the early 20th century.

Bloch's book 'The Historian's Craft' ('Apologie pour l'histoire') was written to answer the question of the purpose of history, starting from a simple query from his son.

Bloch's work was unfinished due to his untimely death as a member of the French Resistance, executed by the Gestapo.

The metaphor of the historian as a fairy tale ogre, smelling human flesh, is used by Bloch to illustrate the historian's deep dive into human experience.

Bloch argues that history should not be confined to events but should encompass all aspects of human society and mentality.

The focus of historical study should be on understanding how people in the past thought, their religious beliefs, their conception of time, and their emotions.

The concept of 'love' as a historical phenomenon is introduced, emphasizing that it should be studied as seriously as major historical events.

Bloch's approach to history intertwines with anthropology and psychology, showing the interdisciplinarity of historical study.

Despite the emergence of the 'history of mentalities' in the early 20th century, many history textbooks still present a simplistic view of history.

Understanding the structures that continue to influence our mentality is essential for comprehending contemporary reality.

The idea that something is as it is because 'it has always been so' is a mistake that historical study can help us correct.

Historical study can help us uncover and master the ideas that seem obvious to us but are not necessarily so, allowing us to control and change our cultural legacy.

History is portrayed as incredibly useful for understanding and potentially transforming our cultural inheritance.