What is History? (Part 6 of 6) - 'Drinking an ocean and pissing a cupful’.

Summary

This video script explores the significance and challenges of studying history. It contrasts the ease of heritage with the difficulty of historical research, emphasizing the importance of accuracy and evidence in historical narratives. The script highlights the role of historians in debunking myths and the potential dangers of historical revisionism, particularly in the digital age.

Takeaways

• 📚 **History vs. Heritage**: The script distinguishes between 'Heritage', which selectively uses the past for present purposes, and 'History', which is a more rigorous and methodical study of the past.
• 🎤 **Importance of History**: It emphasizes the importance of history as a discipline that prevents the arbitrary fabrication of the past.
• 🎵 **Cultural References**: The script uses a song by Billy Bragg and references to 'Colonial Williamsburg' to illustrate the concept of heritage.
• 🕵️‍♂️ **The Hard Work of Historians**: It highlights the meticulous and often solitary work historians do, such as detailed archival research and comparison.
• 📖 **Writing History**: The script mentions that writing history is a challenging task akin to 'drinking an ocean and pissing a cupful', indicating the vast amount of research that goes into a small amount of published work.
• 🔍 **Fact-Finding Mission**: It underscores the role of historians in uncovering new truths and the cumulative nature of historical knowledge.
• 🚩 **Challenging Myths**: The script points out that historians often have to challenge popular myths and the narratives constructed by those in power.
• 🏛️ **Authority of the Historian**: It discusses the authority that professional historians have in debunking politically or economically motivated historical narratives.
• 🌐 **Impact of the Internet**: The script addresses the decline in the authority of published books due to the internet, which allows anyone to publish their views on history.
• 📈 **The Role of Evidence**: It stresses the importance of evidence in historical research and the need for historians to provide clear referencing for their claims.
• 🌟 **The Power of History**: Lastly, the script celebrates the power of history to correct heritage and to challenge nationalist myths and political abuses.

Q & A

What is the main argument of the video regarding the importance of history?

The video argues that history is important because it is hard to do properly and requires a lot of work. If historians didn't exist, there would be no one to prevent others from making up history.

What does the video suggest about the nature of Heritage compared to History?

Heritage is described as easy and selective, using the past for present purposes without being concerned with the past itself. In contrast, real history is hard and involves methodical research and a commitment to accuracy.

What role do historians play in challenging popular myths according to the video?

Historians play a crucial role in challenging popular myths by providing evidence-based narratives and interpretations that counter politically or economically motivated stories about the past.

How does the video illustrate the difficulty of historical research?

The video uses the example of American historian William Dunning's work, which involved meticulous archival research and comparison of handwriting to uncover a historical truth about Andrew Jackson's first message to Congress.

What does the video imply about the relationship between history and change?

History teaches that the world has not always been the same and that change has occurred. By implication, it suggests that change can happen again, which is a powerful message.

Why does the video mention the decline in the authority of the published book due to the internet?

The video mentions the decline to highlight how anyone can now publish views on history online, leading to a proliferation of unreliable narratives that challenge the authority of professional historians.

What is the video's stance on the role of historians in providing factual accounts of history?

The video emphasizes that historians are essential in providing factual accounts based on rigorous research and evidence, which is crucial in the face of revisionist and nationalist narratives.

How does the video use the song by Billy Bragg to convey its message?

The video uses the song to underscore the theme of history as a discipline that requires dedication and hard work, much like the lyrics of the song might suggest.

What is the video's view on the role of history in society?

The video posits that history serves as a corrective to Heritage and is crucial for challenging nationalist myths and political abuses of the past.

What does the video suggest about the impact of historians on our understanding of the past?

The video suggests that historians, through their meticulous work, contribute to our understanding of the past by uncovering new truths and providing a more accurate historical record.

How does the video define 'good history'?

Good history is defined as being concerned with facts about real events that actually happened. It cannot invent events that did not occur or alter the chronology of events.