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History: Page 301 – 307 Notes
Memory is crucial for humans to function.
What is history?
a. Is the study of the past
b. It is more accurate to say: History is the study of the ‘present traces’ of the past
c. EVIDENCE
i. We can only know the past that we have evidence for
ii. Can be too much or too little evidence
iii. We can misinterpret existing evidence, jump to unjustified conclusions
iv. Modern history too much evidence, from the media, internet, literary works, etc
d. SIGNIFICANCE
i. History is not a record of everything that’s happened
ii. It focuses on significant events
iii. How can we decide what is significant?
1. How many people are affected by the event?
2. To what extent are they affected?
e. EXPLAINING THE PAST
i. We need to be able to describe, explain and understand the past
1. E.g. Why did something happen?
Why study history?
a. It doesn’t have the ‘immediate practical value of science’
b. But it:
ii. Gives humans a sense of identity
1. “a country without a history is like a person without a memory”
2. If you don’t know your history then you cannot begin to make sense of the present or future
3. You can only truly know a country if you know something about its history therefore you can have an informed opinion, your judgements aren’t prejudiced
iii. Is a defence against propaganda
1. Governments are interested in how history is taught at school
2. Patriotism can narrow perception, opinions create one-sided interpretations
3. Regimes can exploit history to justify their actions
4. Can disprove myths
iv. Enriches understanding of human nature
1. Shows us what we have done or thought in different circumstances
2. History focuses on solid/specific things
3. Reminds us that you can’t ever...
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