Modern Historiography

Modern Historiography

      

Readings:

• Georgi Plekhanov, "The Role of the

Individual in History"

• Marc Bloch, Feudal Society

• Arnold Toynbee, "The Disintegration of

Civilizations" and "My View of History"

• R. G. Collingwood, "History as Re-

Enactment of Past Experience".

Approaching Modern Historians…

• Modern historians are engaged in two

levels of debate

– One with their predecessors

– The other with their contemporary

surrounding

– So we will discuss them as “schools” that are

not really necessarily schools

– Today, an outline of what is “modern” in

historiography; then, the “problems” of the

modern and reactions.

Approaching Modern Historians…

• Debate over documentation

– Storytelling replaced with research

– Documentation valorized

• the birth of the footnote

Approaching Modern Historians…

• Debate over “objectivity”

– How to tell a story fairly (Ibn Khaldun)

– How to be scientific in storytelling (Vico)

– How to remove self from story (Ranke)

Minute by the Hon'ble T. B. Macaulay, dated the 2nd February 1835.

Minute by the Hon'ble T. B. Macaulay, dated the 2nd February 1835. 
 
        [1] As it seems to be the opinion of some of the gentlemen who compose the Committee of Public Instruction that the course which they have hitherto pursued was strictly prescribed by the British Parliament in 1813 and as, if that opinion be correct, a legislative act will be necessary to warrant a change, I have thought it right to refrain from taking any part in the preparation of the adverse statements which are.now before us, and to reserve what I had to say on the subject till it should come before me as a Member of the Council of India.

Achievements Of Ancient India

Achievements Of Ancient India

Ancient India can be acredited with many acheivements. Some of them are listed here:

• Earliest known precise celestial calculations: Aryabhata, an Indian Mathematician (c. 500AD) accurately calculated celestial constants like earth's rotation per solar orbit, days per solar orbit, days per lunar orbit.
• Astronomical time spans: Apart from the peoples of the Mayan civilization, the ancient Hindus appear to be the only people who even thought beyond a few thousand years. Hindu scriptures refer to time scales that vary from ordinary earth day and night to the day and night of the Brahma that are a few billion earth years long.

UGC NET E-certificate within 6 days from the Result Date

UGC NET E-certificate within 6 days from the Result Date

Students clearing the National eligibility test (UGC-NET) will now receive an e-certificate in just six days. Presently, it takes at least six to eight months for the University Grants Commission (UGC) to issue the certificate from the day the results are declared, reports the Times of India.The e-certificate will not just reach the candidate in six days, but it can be verified with the UGC in just 24 hours. As of now, the verification process requires at least four months.

Industrial Revolution in Europe.

Question VII-1-10: Study the progress of Industrial Revolution in Europe.
Or
What were the effects Industrial changes on the economic, social, political and intellectual life of the people?

Answer: In the beginning of eighteenth century, the scientific discoveries and technological changes ushered into a new era of machines. With new discoveries and inventions, the machine based industry replaced cottage industry. The scene of production shifted from cottage industry to factories where the production was done on large scale. In this way, in industrial field, a new form of activity emerged. In Marxian terminology a new ' relation of Production' set in. The new form of activity is termed as Industrial Revolution. This revolution first took place in England and then gradually spread over all over the world.

The major changes, which brought up the industrial revolution were-

(i) power driven machines, replaced manual machines, driven by muscular power of man or animal in most of production activities.

(ii) In the beginning, the steam power was widely used to run the machines. Afterwards, the use of electricity and the petroleum fuel became the vital ingredients to run the machines.

(iii) Steel was another vital material in making machines. Hence, numerous iron mills were erected.

(iv) Excessive investment of capital was needed and made.

(v) The nature of agricultural production also underwent changes. The small holdings were merged to form large land holdings. The new and more and more agricultural machinery were used for agricultural production.

(vi) Steam powered rail engines and marine ships revolutionize the transportation.

(vii) The large-scale production and many alternative modes of transportation and communication facilitated continuos international trade.

legacy of the French Revolution

Question VI-2-9: Discuss the immediate and permanent results and achievements of the French Revolution.
Or
What was the legacy of the French Revolution of France, Europe and the World?
Or
Give a critical account of the permanent effects of the French Revolution of 1789 on Europe.
Or
Describe the permanent political and social changes in the life of France resulting from the French Revolution.

Answer: The French Revolution is the greatest event of the modern period. It influenced the whole human society. The whole world received the message of liberty, equality, and fraternity. The welfare of the common man became the paramount priority and required changes were made in their constitution by the different countries. A brief description of the effects of the French Revolution is as per the followings.
I. Effect on France
There is no doubt that the French Revolution had far reaching implication for the world. However, it had influenced France the most. The Revolution had left following social, economic and political effects on France.
France – The Representative of Humanity: - France became the representative of the humanity. It gave to the world of humanity three main important messages of Liberty, Fraternity, and Equality. However, it paved the way for Republican governments for rest of the humanity when it became successful in France.
The Empire of France became French Nation: - The French nation was born because of the French Revolution. Since then, there was one France in place of different regions. The thirty million French (three crores) now had the equality of status as a citizens of a nation and equality before law for all of them. They were patriots of their nation in place of loyalty to any dynasty.
End of Despotic Rule: - Before the French Revolution, the Bourbon family was ruling over France. The rulers of this dynasty believed in the theory of divine right of kingship. They ruled as per their own wishes and whims. The French Revolution destroyed their very existence. It established a constitutional form of government and republic in France. They made the French people their own ruler.
Written Constitution: - France got her first written constitution due to the French Revolution. It was also the first written constitution of the European continent. It gave the right of franchise to the citizen of France. There were some shortcomings in the constitution but it had ushered in a new era in France.
Declaration of Human Rights: - The main result of the French Revolution was that the French people acquired many human rights. They were given the right of equality, freedom of expression, etc. They were free to organize their associations. They got the right to property. They got the equality before the law. They could object to illegal actions of the government officials.

causes and effects of Renaissance.

Question: II-1-2: Discuss the circumstances responsible for the rapid growth of Renaissance in Europe. What were its effects?

Or

Write the causes and effects of Renaissance.

Answer: Definition of Renaissance: Rebirth, Reawakening, Intellectual Awareness, Resurgence, Cultural Awakening and Cultural Revivalism are different terms which are used for Renaissance in history. After the thirteenth century, under the changing conditions of the time, man tried to discover the man and the world. It was like awakening to the true realities about the nature and man. This awakening is referred to as Renaissance. It is a French word, which means to wake again from a sleep. Some authorities have called it rebirth. It was not an event, but a distinct phase of epoch making effects, which continued as a parallel movement along with other changes in the European history. It was an intellectual, liberal, and cultural movement. The conquest of Turks over Constantinople is considered as that political event which started it. However, it is considered to have continued from the 14th to 16th century (or from 1350 AD to 1550 AD). It was a phase of changes which were more evident in cultural sphere and not a political event.
The Main Features of Renaissance:
(i) Importance to Humanism: There was stressed on Humanism, which was the distinctive feature of Renaissance.
(ii) Rational Attitude: The rational attitude replaced the superstitious beliefs.
(iii) Importance of Experiment: -Under Renaissance, the facts were accepted true only when authenticated by experiments.

(iv) Worship of Nature in art and philosophy: The worship of the beauty of nature started again under the influence of Renaissance. Such attitudes were not favoured in medieval period of Europe with had followed the Grecian and Roman period. The European considered them blasphemous and faith of heretics. However, during the Renaissance period, the values and attitudes of Ancient Greek and Roman culture were being reestablished. No doubt, some historians prefer to rate the Renaissance only as a cultural awakening or resurgence as it had influenced the culture aspects of Europe the most.