WHAT IS HISTORY?

THE HISTORY EQUATION

(PAST)

               SELECTED                                                                                           CONTEMPORARY

                     “FACTS”                 +     EVIDENCE/PRIMARY SOURCES           ÷      INTERPRETATION       

                [people                          [newspapers, journals, photographs,             [backgrounds, purposes,

                     places                            state papers, motion pictures, treaties,           perspectives]

                     events]                           speeches, oral accounts, diaries,

                                                           legislation, music]                                                                                        HIDDEN

HISTORY = ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   X    TRANSCRIPTS    =  “TRUTH”

                                                                                                                                         [myth, folklore,        (i.e.,

                    INVESTIGATION/     +     INDIVIDUAL AGENDA &                         ÷       SOCIAL/CULTURAL/                   urban legend,         historical                    

                    RESEARCH                    ANALYSIS                                                       EDUCATIONAL                           collective                interpretation)

               (what are the                  (what is the historian                                        ENVIRONMENT                          popular

                    interests of the                trying to prove?)                                               (how does the historian’s            memory]

                    historian?)                                                                                               background affect his or

                                                                                                                                   her conclusions?)

 

 

 

(PRESENT)