Historiography, the History of Writing History. Emily Blanck, Rowan University

Summary

In this video, Professor Emily Blank explores the evolution of historiography, focusing on how epistemology and social-political contexts shape historical writing. From divine interpretation to empiricism, and from Lord Elton's 'bricks of history' to postmodernism's challenge to the concept of truth, the lecture highlights the complexity of understanding history. It emphasizes the importance of context, source analysis, and the emergence of diverse perspectives, such as African-American and women's history, influenced by the broader social movements of the 20th century.

Takeaways

• 📚 The script discusses the history of historiography, focusing on how the writing of history has evolved over time.
• 🧐 Epistemology, the theory of knowledge, plays a crucial role in shaping how historians interpret facts and truths in historical narratives.
• 🏛 Prior to the 19th century, divine interpretation dominated historical explanations, attributing events to God's will.
• 🔍 The 19th century marked the rise of empiricism in history writing, emphasizing the need for tangible evidence and documents to support historical claims.
• 👤 Leopold von Ranke is highlighted as a key figure in developing the empirical methodology for historical research, focusing on documents to reveal truth.
• 🧱 Lord Godfrey Elton's view suggests that historians can only understand a small 'brick' of history due to the vast amount of available information.
• 🌐 The Scientific Revolution and changing social and political contexts influenced the development of more complex understandings of historical truth.
• 📖 The WPA slave narratives exemplify the importance of context in interpreting historical sources, as they were influenced by the Jim Crow South and the Great Depression.
• 🤔 Postmodernism challenges the idea of an attainable historical truth, arguing that documents often focus on elites and are influenced by the historian's social context.
• 🔄 Thomas Kuhn's work on the history of science shows that even in fields valuing impartiality, ideas are shaped by the times, suggesting a paradigm shift in understanding.
• 🌈 Postmodernism also contributed to diversifying history by emphasizing multiple perspectives and encouraging the study of marginalized groups like African Americans and women.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video lecture by Professor Emily Blank?

The video lecture focuses on the history of writing history, discussing how historiography itself has evolved over time.

What are the two key concepts that Professor Blank asks the audience to consider while discussing the history of history writing?

The two key concepts are epistemology, which is the theory of knowledge, and the influence of social and political context on the writing of history.

How did history writing approach the concept of truth before the 19th century?

Before the 19th century, history writing often relied on divine interpretation, attributing events and outcomes to God's will.

What is empiricism in the context of history writing, and how did it emerge?

Empiricism in history writing is the idea that historical understanding should be based on tangible evidence and documents rather than divine interpretation. It emerged during the Enlightenment period, particularly in the 19th century.

Who is Leopold von Ranke, and what is his contribution to the development of history writing?

Leopold von Ranke is a key figure in the development of empiricism as a formal methodology in history writing. He developed a methodology that emphasized the use of documents to reveal the truth about historical events.

How did Lord Godfrey Elton's views on history writing differ from traditional empiricism?

Lord Godfrey Elton believed that historians could only understand a small 'brick' of history due to the vast amount of available documents and information. He emphasized the importance of focusing on a specific time period or subject to gain a deep understanding.

What is the significance of the WPA slave narratives in understanding the context of historical documents?

The WPA slave narratives, collected in the 1930s, demonstrate the importance of understanding the context in which documents are created, including the age and memory of the narrators, the socio-political climate, and the potential biases introduced by the interviewers.

How did the postmodernist perspective challenge the idea of truth in history writing?

Postmodernists argue that the idea of a single, objective truth is flawed, as documents often focus on elites and are influenced by the socio-political context. They believe that history is written from multiple perspectives and is shaped by the writer's own worldview.

What role did Thomas Kuhn's work on the history of science play in the understanding of historiography?

Thomas Kuhn's work highlighted that even scientists, who value impartiality, are influenced by the social and political context of their time, suggesting that the pursuit of truth in any field, including history, is shaped by prevailing paradigms.

How did the postmodernist movement influence the study of African American and women's history?

The postmodernist movement encouraged the diversification of history by emphasizing multiple perspectives. This led to the blossoming of African American and women's history, which combined empiricist methodologies with the understanding that history is influenced by the socio-political context.

What conclusion does Professor Blank draw about the pursuit of truth in history writing?

Professor Blank concludes that historians' approach to studying history has changed with evolving theories of knowledge and socio-political contexts. She prompts the audience to consider whether the truth in history can indeed be found.