What is Historiography? | Historian Essentials | Casual Historian

Summary

In this episode of 'Historian Essentials,' Grant Hurst introduces historiography, which is the study of how history has been written and interpreted over time. He explains the concept, highlighting how various 'schools of historiography' shape the way historical events, like the American Revolution, are analyzed through different lenses—such as Whig, Marxist, and Imperialist perspectives. Hurst emphasizes the importance of understanding and engaging with differing viewpoints to build a well-rounded understanding of historical narratives. He also encourages viewers to explore opposing ideas to strengthen their own historical perspectives.

Takeaways

• 📜 Historiography is the study of how we have studied and written about history.
• 🧐 It is derived from 'history' and the Greek suffix '-graphia,' meaning 'field of study.'
• 📖 Every historical work is part of historiography, but historians categorize them by subject matter.
• ⚖️ Schools of historiography often reflect political biases or cross-disciplinary approaches, such as economics or women's studies.
• 🇺🇸 The American Revolution has different historiographical schools, such as the Whig school, Marxist school, and Imperialist school.
• 📚 Studying historiography helps understand how various historians have interpreted historical events.
• 💡 It’s important to explore not only the historiographies you agree with but also those you disagree with to broaden your perspective.
• 🔍 Different schools of thought raise unique questions that contribute to a deeper understanding of history.
• 🛡️ Familiarity with opposing historiographical schools helps in defending your own ideas effectively.
• 🙋 Historiography gives intellectual context, helping readers understand the issues addressed and criticisms in historical works.

Q & A

What is the definition of historiography?

Historiography is the study of how we have looked at the past or the history of history. It focuses on how historians have written about and interpreted historical events.

How is the term 'historiography' constructed linguistically?

The word 'historiography' is a compound of the English word 'history' and the Greek suffix 'graphia,' meaning field of study, making it the study of history.

Why is it important to study historiography when writing or studying history?

Studying historiography provides intellectual context, helping historians understand how past historians interpreted a subject. It also allows historians to address previous criticisms and defend their ideas.

What are 'schools of historiography'?

Schools of historiography are groups of historical works that share common elements, such as political biases or cross-disciplinary lenses, like economics or women’s studies.

What is an example of different historiographical schools related to the American Revolution?

For the American Revolution, the 'Whig school' portrays colonists as freedom-loving patriots, while the 'Marxist school' focuses on economic issues, and the 'imperialist school' views the colonists as ungrateful for British protection.

Do all historical subjects have the same schools of historiography?

No, different historical subjects may have unique historiographical schools, especially as the subject becomes more niche. However, more general topics tend to have more common schools.

Why should historians familiarize themselves with historiographies they disagree with?

Historians should familiarize themselves with opposing historiographies to challenge their own ideas, defend their viewpoints, and consider alternative questions that their preferred schools may not address.

What does historiography reveal about historical works?

Historiography reveals the perspectives, biases, and intellectual contexts within which historical works were created, highlighting how interpretations of events have changed over time.

What role do political biases play in historiography?

Political biases often unite works within a specific school of historiography, as different historians may interpret events based on their political or ideological perspectives.

What can historians gain from studying cross-disciplinary lenses in historiography?

Cross-disciplinary lenses, like economics or women’s studies, offer historians new ways of interpreting historical events, helping them see connections between history and other fields.