Chapter 10 Study Guide.docx

UNIDAD EDUCATIVA INTERAMERICANO - CEBI Chapter 10 - Study Guide - CORRECTIONS 1.WHAT IS HISTORY ? is the study of the past. History is the study of present evidence (traces) of the past. 2. EXPLAIN THE 2 PROBLEMS WITH RECONSTRUCTING HISTORY.  EVIDENCE - Distant history -Too little evidence. We misinterpret the evidence that exists, and jump to conclusions that are not justified by it. Recent history - Too much evidence. You would be overwhelmed by a tidal wave of evidence from Newspapers, TV and the internet  SIGNIFICANCE- there are various criteria we might appeal to in order to decide whether or not an event is historically significant 3. WHY STUDY HISTORY?  gives us a sense of identity  is a defense against propanganda  enriches our understanding o human nature 4. HOW CAN THE PAST BE KNOWN? we can know the past only by reconstructing it on the basis of evidence that exists in the present. Since memory Is fallible, evidence ambiguous and prejudice common, we might have serious doubts about the claim that historical knowledge is more objective than scientific knowledge. 5. EXPLAIN THE TYPES OF SOURCES AND THEIR PROBLEMS  Primary source – is written by someone who was there at the time  Second source – is later. Second-hand account of what happened Problems a. Fallible eye witness – since no two individuals see things in the same way their Perceptions are likely to be shaped by such things as their interest, expectations and cultural background b. Social Bias - sometimes reflects the interests of one particular social group rather than society as a whole, and this may give us a distorted picture of things c. Deliberiate manipulation by governments and other interest groups to change the “ facts “ of history. 6. WRITING HISTORY. EXPLAIN THE 3 PROBLEMS OF BIAS.  Topic choice bias – a historian’s choice of topic may be influenced by current preocupations and the questions that he asks – or fails to ask – are likely to influence the answers that he finds  Confirmation bias – a historian may appeal only to evidence that supports his own case and to ignore any counter-evidence.  National bias – influence by pre-existing cultural and political prejudices. 7. WHAT IS PLURALISTIC APPROACH? The ideal might then be a kind of cubist history which, like a painting by Picasso, explores the past from a variety of perspective 1

UNIDAD EDUCATIVA INTERAMERICANO - CEBI 8. WHAT IS THE BASISS OF THE “ GREAT PERSON “ THEORY OF HISTORY? The theory suggests that the course of history is mainly determined by a few great individuals. If one or other great individual had not exited, then the course of history would have been different. 9. WHAT IS THE BASIS OF ECONOMIC DETRMINISM? History is governed by technological and economic factors so we should study great inventions instead of great people. 10. EXPLAIN THE ROLE OF CHANCE. Some people think there is no meaning in history and that it is governed by chance. If Hitler had died In a car accident in 1930, history since then would probably have been very different.

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