Historical Thinking

Summary

This video lecture introduces key concepts of historical thinking, emphasizing the use of primary and secondary sources to interpret the past. It covers the importance of historical evidence, significance, and the interplay of causes and consequences in shaping events. The lecture also highlights the need to understand historical perspectives by avoiding presentism and recognizing the differences between past and present. Finally, it discusses the coexistence of continuity and change in history, stressing that these concepts can occur simultaneously. The lecture sets the foundation for deeper exploration throughout the year.

Takeaways

• 📝 Take notes on key ideas and questions, but no need to write down everything, as slides are provided.
• 🔍 Historians use evidence, such as primary sources, to interpret and write about the past.
• 📜 Primary sources include diaries, newspapers, videos, music, etc., and are essential for creating historical accounts.
• 📚 Secondary sources, like textbooks, are based on primary sources and serve as interpretations of historical events.
• ⏳ Historical significance is based on deep consequences or how something reveals beliefs or values of a specific time.
• 🔄 Importance and significance of events can change over time and vary between different groups.
• ⚙️ Events have multiple short- and long-term causes and consequences, some of which are unintended.
• 👥 Historical actors often do not foresee all the consequences of their actions, which can have far-reaching impacts.
• 🚫 Presentism should be avoided, meaning we shouldn’t impose our modern beliefs on people from the past.
• ⏱️ Continuity and change can happen simultaneously, with gradual or sudden changes, and turning points shift the pace or direction of history.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the video lecture?

The main purpose of the video lecture is to introduce students to the key concepts of historical thinking, including how historians interpret the past using evidence and sources.

What are primary sources, and why are they important in historical analysis?

Primary sources are direct pieces of evidence from the past, such as diaries, newspapers, videos, or music. They are important because historians use them to draw inferences and create interpretations of historical events.

How do secondary sources differ from primary sources?

Secondary sources are accounts or interpretations of past events created by using primary sources as the foundation. For example, textbooks are secondary sources based on collections of primary sources.

What are the two main criteria for determining historical significance?

Historical significance is determined by two criteria: (1) the event or person had deep consequences for many people over a long period of time, and (2) the event or person reveals something about the values or beliefs of a specific time or place.

Why can historical significance vary over time or between different groups?

Historical significance can vary because different societies or groups may value different events or people. What is important today may not be seen as important 100 years from now, and different groups may have conflicting views on what is significant.

What factors influence why historical events happen and what consequences they have?

Historical events are influenced by multiple causes, including individual actions, group actions, social, political, economic, or cultural forces. These causes lead to various outcomes or consequences, some of which are intended, while others are unintended.

What is 'presentism,' and why should it be avoided when studying history?

Presentism is the act of imposing current values and beliefs on people of the past. It should be avoided because the past is a different world with its own unique context, and historical actors should be understood within their time's political, social, and cultural conditions.

Is it possible to judge the actions of historical figures? If so, how should it be approached?

Yes, it is possible to judge historical figures, but it should be done by considering them in their historical context. We can disagree with their actions without imposing modern values onto them.

How do continuity and change interact in history?

Continuity and change often coexist in history. While some things stay the same, others change, and these processes can occur at different speeds—either gradually or suddenly. They are not mutually exclusive but happen simultaneously.

What is a turning point in history, and why is it significant?

A turning point is a moment when the process of change shifts direction or speed. These moments are significant because they often mark critical changes in historical events, leading to new developments.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Historical Thinking

The lecture begins by encouraging students to take notes and ask questions during the course. It introduces the concept of historical thinking, emphasizing the importance of evidence and primary sources in constructing historical narratives. Primary sources are defined as the tangible remains from the past, such as diaries, newspapers, and digital media, which historians use to draw inferences about past events and people. The lecture also distinguishes between primary and secondary sources, with the latter being accounts or stories based on primary sources, like textbooks. The concept of historical significance is explored, discussing how events or individuals are considered important due to their lasting impact or their ability to reveal the values and beliefs of a particular time or place. The lecture concludes by noting that significance can vary over time and among different groups.

05:02

🔍 Causes, Consequences, and Perspectives in History

This section delves into the complexities of historical causation and consequence, highlighting that events have multiple causes with varying levels of influence, leading to multiple outcomes. It discusses the concept of historical actors and the distinction between intended and unintended consequences. The lecture stresses that many historical events are not inevitable but are the result of human decisions. The concept of historical perspectives is introduced, cautioning against 'presentism'—the imposition of modern beliefs and values onto historical actors. It emphasizes the importance of understanding people in their historical context, considering political, economic, social, and cultural conditions. The lecture also acknowledges the multiplicity of opinions and perspectives that existed in the past, which adds to the complexity of historical study. Finally, the idea of continuity and change is introduced, explaining that both can occur simultaneously, and the concept of turning points, which are pivotal moments that alter the direction or pace of change, is briefly mentioned.

10:02

🏁 Conclusion of the Historical Thinking Overview

The final paragraph of the script serves as a conclusion to the introductory video on historical thinking. It summarizes the key points covered in the lecture, including the importance of evidence, primary and secondary sources, historical significance, causes and consequences, and historical perspectives. The lecturer reminds students that these concepts will be revisited throughout the year and encourages them to discuss the video in class. The lecture ends on a note of appreciation for the students' attention and engagement.

Keywords

💡Historical Thinking

Historical thinking refers to the skills and methods historians use to analyze and interpret the past. It involves asking critical questions, examining evidence, and considering different perspectives. In the video, historical thinking is the central theme, as the lecturer encourages students to approach historical accounts with a critical eye, considering the evidence and the questions that historians ask.

💡Evidence

Evidence in historical studies consists of the primary sources and artifacts that remain from the past. These are the tangible pieces that historians use to draw conclusions about past events and people. The video emphasizes the importance of primary sources as the foundation for historical accounts, illustrating how historians use these to interpret the past.

💡Primary Sources

Primary sources are direct, firsthand accounts or pieces of evidence from the time period being studied. They can include diaries, newspapers, videos, music, or theater productions. The video explains that primary sources are crucial for historians as they provide raw material from which inferences about the past are made.

💡Secondary Sources

Secondary sources are interpretations or analyses of primary sources, often created by historians or scholars. They are not firsthand accounts but are based on the examination of primary sources. The video uses the example of a textbook, which is a secondary source that synthesizes information from various primary sources.

💡Historical Significance

Historical significance pertains to the importance or impact of past events, people, or artifacts. The video discusses two main criteria for determining significance: whether something had deep consequences for many people over time or whether it reveals something about the values and beliefs of a particular time or place.

💡Causes and Consequences

Causes and consequences are central to understanding why events happen and their impacts. The video explains that there are multiple causes, both short and long term, which lead to multiple consequences. It also touches on the idea of intended and unintended consequences and the notion that many events are not inevitable but are the result of human decisions.

💡Historical Perspectives

Historical perspectives involve understanding the past in its own context, rather than through the lens of the present. The video warns against presentism, the imposition of modern beliefs and values onto historical actors. It encourages students to consider the political, economic, social, and cultural conditions of the past to better understand historical figures and events.

💡Presentism

Presentism is the act of interpreting past events or actions based on modern-day perspectives and values. The video cautions against presentism, emphasizing the need to understand historical figures within their own historical context and to avoid judging them solely by contemporary standards.

💡Continuity and Change

Continuity and change are concepts used to make sense of the complex flow of history. Continuity refers to elements that remain constant over time, while change signifies alterations or shifts. The video explains that both can coexist and that history is often a mix of ongoing patterns and evolving circumstances.

💡Turning Point

A turning point is a moment when the direction or pace of change shifts significantly. The video mentions turning points as significant historical moments that can alter the course of events. It suggests that these moments are important for understanding the dynamics of historical change.

Highlights

Encouragement for students to take notes on key ideas and record questions for class discussion.

Introduction to the concept of historical thinking and the types of questions historians ask.

Explanation of evidence as the foundation of historical accounts, based on inferences drawn from primary sources.

Definition and examples of primary sources, including diaries, newspapers, and even YouTube videos.

Clarification of secondary sources as accounts created using primary sources, with textbooks as an example.

Discussion of historical significance, emphasizing the importance of events that had deep consequences for many people over time.

Understanding that the significance of historical events can vary over time and between different groups.

Exploration of causes and consequences, noting that events result from multiple short- and long-term causes.

Introduction of the concept of 'trigger events' that initiate significant historical changes.

Distinction between intended and unintended consequences of historical actions.

Explanation of historical perspectives, stressing the importance of understanding the past within its own context.

Warning against 'presentism,' or imposing modern values on historical figures and events.

Acknowledgment that history involves multiple perspectives and disagreements, making it complex and 'messy.'

Introduction to the concept of continuity and change, with the idea that they often coexist in history.

Brief mention of 'turning points' in history, where the process of change shifts in direction or speed.

Transcripts

is our first video lecture of the year

and as we or as you

watch and listen to me over the next few

minutes i would encourage you to take

notes of key ideas

to record any questions that you have

things that you want me to go over in

class because i because i will do that

but it's not necessary to record

everything that's written down on the

screen in part because you should have a

copy

of these slots

okay so let's get started historical

thinking so how do we how do historians

think

and what questions do historians ask and

attempt to answer about past individuals

past events etc

so the first thing that we're going to

talk about is evidence okay it's and

that's the stuff that historians use

to

tell or write

their accounts their version of the past

so

historical accounts

stories about the past are only

interpretations of what has come before

and they're based on

inferences um

that are drawn from primary sources and

primary sources are a really important

concept and these are the

bits and pieces of the past that remain

not

everything from the past is capped

okay if you think about everything that

you've produced today

some of it is gone we've lost it to time

but some of it some of it remains okay

um

um

so we've got primary sources those bits

and pieces and we draw historians draw

inferences or conclusions about the past

about the people of the past about a

particular event

using

the evidence using primary sources

so examples of primary sources might be

a diary might be a newspaper might be a

youtube video it might be music

it might be a theater production okay so

the bits and pieces

can be just about anything right lots of

historians are using web-based resources

right now okay when they're writing

about the recent past okay so those are

all examples of primary sources

secondary sources it's worth pausing and

exploring the concept of a secondary

source

a secondary source is basically um an

account a story of something from the

past that is created

using primary sources so

primary sources are like the foundation

of secondary sources

so to use an example

if we had a textbook in this class the

textbook would be a secondary source

and it would be a secondary source

that's based on a collection of primary

sources

okay we're going to move on now and talk

about historical significance um how you

know it's basically about the important

stuff from the past

so when we're looking at

the past and we're thinking about

the

important bits and pieces the important

things that happened in the past we have

two main criteria one is that the thing

the event the person

they're significant

or important

because they had deep consequences for

many people over a long period of time

okay

so

you know your parents might think that

brushing your teeth in the morning is

really important but in the grand scheme

of is it significant maybe we'd say no

right so when we're talking about

significance and we're thinking of

resulting in change these are

bigger things that affected many people

we might also say that something is

significant because it's revealing it

tells us something about the values the

beliefs etc of a particular place at a

particular point in time or of a

particular people at a given time right

so it tells us something it reveals

something

there are two additional though

important points

and that is why something is important

and if it's important could vary over

time just because we think something is

important today

100 years from now

canadian society ontario toronto they

might not think that it's important

and the other thing to keep in mind is

that groups

think different things are important

right there's not necessarily agreement

as to why or what is important

so importance or significance varies

from group to group

okay now we're going to talk about uh

causes and consequences so

why do events happen and what are their

impacts

well the first thing to keep in mind is

that there are always multiple short and

long term causes of things

and these causes these multiple causes

result in multiple consequences or

outcomes

there are

causes that vary in their influence some

are more important than others

some causes are trigger events they

actually

start the ball

rolling

um

events result from the interplay of a

variety of forces or factors so

things happen because of individual

actions because of group actions

because of social political economic or

cultural forces or conditions right so

there's multiple factors at play

historical actors and this is a really

important point um are not necessarily

thinking about all of the consequences

that flow from their action so we talk

sometimes

about

intended and unintended

consequences

and finally

things aren't necessarily inevitable

things happen in large part not all

things but many things happen because we

cause them people cause them to happen

and so we have to keep that in mind that

they only happen because we've made

decisions not all things

but lots of things

okay the next one historical

perspectives so how can we better

understand the people of the past

so historical perspectives

well

there's first thing to keep in mind is

this there's a big difference between

our current world

and the past they're two they're

different places with different values

and different belief systems

and so because of that when we're

studying the past it's important to

avoid what is called presentism you can

see it in bold here on the screen

and that is imposing our own beliefs and

values on actors in the past

that doesn't mean though that we can't

judge the actions of the people in the

past we just can't impose our values on

them

um the people we study in the past are

best

they're best considered in their own

historical context in other words what

were the political conditions what were

the economic conditions what were the

social and cultural conditions at the

time so we best understand the people of

the past by understanding what was going

on politically what was going on

economically etc

it is important to remember though that

we don't need to identify with or

empathize with the people of the past

we can disagree

on their actions we can disagree with

what they did or said okay and it's

important to remember that we're allowed

to be a little bit judgy

and it's also important to remember

that

the past isn't like not everybody in the

past agreed

like people disagree and so there were

always a multitude of opinions and

perspectives in the past

which makes history kind the study of

the past history kind of messy because

we have to wrap our minds around what

different people were saying and doing

and thinking

okay so historical perspectives

now on to our last concept

continuity and change how can we make

sense of the complex flow of the past

so continuity

it is what it sounds like things that

are staying the same

changes okay an alteration

right

and it's important and there's a little

bit i want to add here change it might

be really gradual it might happen at a

snail's pace okay or it could happen

really quickly all of a sudden and so we

have both things though

both continuity and change can coexist

it's not that we've got continuity here

but no change and we've got change but

no continuity here

no what it is is we've got continuity

and change

coexisting happening at the same time

right

although there can be slight slight

variations

and finally and this is just something

we want to add in and we'll come back to

this later in the year is there's this

idea of a turning point

and again we are going to highlight some

of these in canadian history but they

are these moments when the process of

change shifts in direction

or in pace or speed

okay it's just something to keep in mind

okay

so that's it for now um that's the

introductory video on the historical

thinking skills as i said we're gonna be

coming back to these throughout the year

but we're gonna pause and take a few

minutes in class to talk about this to

talk about this video okay folks that's

it thanks a lot