Ep.1. Noción de historia

Summary

In this first episode of a video series, the historian explores the evolving definition of history in the 21st century. He examines how history as a discipline has shifted from the positivist approach to the broader influences of Marxism, feminist, and ecological paradigms. He emphasizes that the historian's role in shaping historical narratives is crucial and cannot be overlooked. The video also stresses the importance of continuously revising historical understanding, not only by social movements but also through refined historical methodology. The speaker advocates for a new, more inclusive definition of history that incorporates both objective and subjective elements.

Takeaways

• 😀 History is both the subject and object of knowledge, as it is both what happened in the past and the writing of that past from the present.
• 😀 Historians construct the history they research while discovering it, influenced by the context of their present time.
• 😀 Two influential 20th-century definitions of history come from the Annales School and Marxist historians, both emphasizing the social nature of history.
• 😀 Mark Block defined history as the science of humans in time, while other Marxist historians, like Chekar, defined it as the science of society in time.
• 😀 Chekar introduced the idea that historians actively construct their sources, reshaping their objects of research in the process.
• 😀 A more contemporary definition of history incorporates the feminist and ecological paradigms, recognizing the role of women and the natural environment in historical research.
• 😀 The new definition of history should include the roles of both social and political movements as active contributors to historical processes.
• 😀 Acknowledging the historian’s subjective influence on their work is crucial, as their perspective shapes the history they produce.
• 😀 The history we write evolves continuously through the refinement of methodologies and the questioning of the past from a modern standpoint.
• 😀 While history is a science, the historian’s subjectivity is integral to understanding the past realistically, reflecting a broader recognition of the historian's impact on historical knowledge.

Q & A

What is the central theme of the video?

The central theme of the video is to explore the evolving definition of history and its methods, highlighting the importance of historiography in the 21st century, and how the historian's role shapes the understanding of the past.

How does the video define history in relation to historiography?

The video defines history as both the study of the past and the writing of that past from the present perspective, emphasizing the historian's active role in constructing the historical narrative.

What key difference does the video mention between history as a discipline and other social sciences?

The key difference is that, unlike other social sciences, history involves both the object and the subject of study being the same, meaning historians analyze the past while simultaneously shaping the narrative based on their present context.

What two major historical schools does the video reference?

The video references two major schools of historical thought: the Annales School and Marxist history, both of which brought significant changes to the way history was understood in the 20th century.

How does Mark Block's definition of history differ from that of his contemporaries?

Mark Block defines history as the science of human beings in time, focusing on the collective social experience, which was influenced by Marxist thought, unlike some other definitions that focused more on individual events or data.

What was the contribution of the Marxist historian discussed in the video?

The Marxist historian discussed in the video proposed that historians not only reconstruct the past but also create their sources, highlighting the historian’s role in constructing historical narratives based on available evidence.

What is the updated definition of history proposed in the video?

The updated definition proposed in the video is that history is the science of human beings and women in time and the natural environment, incorporating feminist and ecological perspectives alongside traditional social historical methods.

What is the problem with the current definition of history according to the video?

The video critiques the current definition of history for not fully incorporating the essential role of the historian in the process, which is often overlooked in academic definitions, and for lacking recognition of the subjective influence historians have on their work.

Why is it important to include the historian’s influence in the definition of history?

Including the historian’s influence is crucial because historians shape the narratives of the past, and their subjective views, methodologies, and present-day perspectives play a role in constructing the historical record.

How does the video suggest the science of history should evolve in the 21st century?

The video suggests that the science of history should evolve by incorporating advancements in the history of science, as well as recognizing the influence of feminist and ecological paradigms, and reflecting on the changing nature of how history is written and understood.