History of Bangladesh and World Civilization · Classes 9-10 · Chapter 1
Definitions of history and the views of historians.
Ask “what is history?” and five historians answer in five different ways, while two of them carry the title “father”. This note sorts out who said which line, and who owns which title.
1. Two definitions: Carr and Johnson
In the words of the historian E. H. Carr, history is an endless conversation between the present and the past. It is not a talk that happens once and ends; it keeps going.
Dr Johnson puts it plainly: history is what has happened; anything that does not happen is not history. So the first test is whether the event really took place.
2. Herodotus and “Historia”
The word “Historia” was first used by the Greek historian Herodotus, in the 5th century BC. He was the first to use it, to name one of his research works. Its dictionary meaning is the search for truth, or research.
Herodotus believed that history is to seek and record what really existed or happened. He examined different aspects of the war between the Greeks and the Persians, and his famous book is “Historis”. In it he recorded the information he collected, important events and the victory of the Greeks. His aim was to inspire later generations to bravery and heroic deeds.
Herodotus was the first to join the two ideas, history and research. As a result history turned into a science and became fully based on information and a subject of research. That is why Herodotus is called the father of history.
in ordera teaching order, not dates
What first, what next?
Work first, name later. What does Herodotus do first?
Right. And then?
Not yet. Without investigation there is nothing to record, the book is named only after the work, and the result comes last.
Right order. Investigate, record, name, then the result: history became a science and Herodotus became the father of history.
3. Rapson and Ranke
The historian Rapson says that history is the continuous and scientific description of events.
The father of modern history is the German historian Leopold von Ranke. In his view, history means the exploration and the true description of what actually took place. The two titles are different: one father is of the beginning, the other of the modern.
two fathersone is the first, one is modern
From Herodotus to Ranke
Herodotus uses the word “Historia”, history and research are joined, and history turns into a science. He is the father of history.
The German historian Ranke is the father of modern history.
History is written by checking the facts and evidence that exist. But when new evidence turns up, or the historical perspective changes, history can be rewritten.
Now match all five together. Tap a name or a phrase.
gridfive people, five statements
Whose statement is this?
historian
the core
E. H. Carr
endless conversation
Dr Johnson
whatever happens
Rapson
scientific and continuous
Ranke
true description of events
Herodotus
seeking what really was
Carr. History is an endless conversation between the present and the past.
Johnson. History is whatever happens; what does not happen is not history.
Rapson. History is the continuous and scientific description of events.
Ranke. History is the exploration and true description of what actually took place.
Herodotus. History is to seek and write what really existed or happened.
4. Check yourself
Three questions in the exam's style. Start with the first.
check yourselfpick one answer
Question 1
“History is an endless conversation between the present and the past”: whose statement is this?
Dr Johnson said that history is whatever has happened; this saying is not his.
Right. The book’s answer: in E. H. Carr’s words history is an endless conversation between the present and the past.
Herodotus is the father of history and the first to use the word ‘Historia’; this saying is not his.
Rapson said history is the continuous and scientific description of events; this saying is not his.
In the second, match the line to the person.
check yourselfpick one answer
Question 2
Who first used the word ‘Historia’?
Right. The book’s answer: the word ‘Historia’ was first used by the Greek historian Herodotus.
Leopold von Ranke is the father of modern history, for whom history is the true description of what actually happened; he did not first use the word ‘Historia’.
Professor Garner is not named in this chapter; the first user of the word is Herodotus.
‘Ragson’ is not a name in the book (probably Rapson); the first user of the word is Herodotus.
In the last one, watch the titles.
check yourselfpick one answer
Question 3
Of which country was the historian Leopold von Ranke?
Right. The right answer is Germany: Leopold von Ranke, the father of modern history, was a German historian.
Herodotus is the Greek historian; Ranke was German.
Not an English historian; in the book von Ranke is German.
Not an American historian; in the book von Ranke is German.
The whole note on eight cards.
cut from the notetap to turn over
Eight cards
QuestionWhich historian said ‘history is an endless conversation between the present and the past’?
AnswerE. H. Carr
QuestionWho first used the word ‘Historia’?
AnswerThe Greek historian Herodotus
QuestionWhat is the dictionary meaning of ‘Historia’?
AnswerSearch for truth, or research
QuestionWhat is the name of Herodotus’s famous book?
Answer‘Historis’
QuestionWho is called the father of history?
AnswerHerodotus
QuestionWho is the father of history, and who the father of modern history?
AnswerFather of history: Herodotus; father of modern history: Leopold von Ranke.
QuestionWhose words are ‘history is the continuous and scientific description of events’?
AnswerRapson’s
QuestionWhen can history be rewritten?
AnswerWhen new evidence appears and historical perspectives change.
Source: History of Bangladesh and World Civilization, Classes 9-10 (NCTB), Chapter 1 “Introduction to History”, the “Definitions of history and the views of historians” part.