History of Bangladesh and World Civilization · Classes 9-10 · Chapter 1
Subject matter of history.
A king's name, the year of a war: is history only that? No. Law, art, religion and philosophy all belong inside it. So the question is a short one: what counts as the subject of history, and why?
1. What history is a record of
In the book's words, history is the evidence and written documents of the chronological changes of human society and civilization. Two ideas carry it: change, and the order in which it came. Not a picture of one moment, but the account of a society changing over time.
2. Vico's view
The historian Vico holds that the origin and growth of human society and its institutions are the subject matter of history. It is the only named view in the book. Flip the two cards and check yourself.
cut from the noteflip to see
Vico
QuestionWho is Vico?
AnswerA historian.
QuestionWhat is the subject matter for Vico?
AnswerThe origin and growth of human society and institutions.
3. What counts as subject matter
Every important human achievement that has helped society and civilization to develop and progress is a matter for history.
The book gives eight examples: art, culture and literature, philosophy, sculpture, politics, warfare, religion, law. Below are ten chips. Recall the eight subjects and drop them in the right box.
sort themrecall the eight subjects
Which is subject matter?
Pick up a chip, then drop it in a box. Recall the book's eight subjects.
Right. Next one.
Not yet. Ask: is this one of the book's eight subjects?
All in place. The eight subjects: art, literature-culture, philosophy, sculpture, politics, warfare, religion, law.
4. The test: influence
Behind the list there is one rule: whatever, taken as a whole, has directly or indirectly influenced the growth of society and civilization is the subject matter of history. Take one subject and walk through it in three steps.
step by stepinfluence is the test
How subject matter is decided
Step 1. Take a subject. For example, law.
Step 2. Look at its influence. What did it do to the growth of society and civilization?
Step 3. The verdict. Directly or indirectly, if it has influence, it is a subject of history.
5. Check yourself
Three questions in the exam's style.
check yourselfpick one answer
Question 1
Who was Vico?
The book calls Vico a historian, not a philosopher.
In the book Vico is a historian, not an economist.
In the book Vico is a historian, not a politician.
Right. The book’s answer: the historian Vico holds that the origin and growth of society and institutions are the subject matter of history.
The second one will make you think.
check yourselfpick one answer
Question 2
Whose subject of discussion are all of man’s progress, victories and failures?
In the book history is its discussant; philosophy is only one subject of history.
Anthropology is not in this chapter; in the book man’s important achievements are history’s subject.
Right. The book’s answer: all of man’s important achievements are the subject of history.
Geography is not in this chapter; in the book these are history’s subject.
In the last one, recall the test for subject matter.
check yourselfpick one answer
Question 3
Which matters count as the subject matter of history?
Right. The book’s answer: whatever directly or indirectly influenced society and civilization is subject matter.
In the book art, religion and law are also subject matter besides politics.
Subject matter is decided by influence, not by being written.
War is one subject; the book lists many more.
The whole note on six cards.
cut from the notetap to turn over
Six cards
QuestionIn the book’s words, what is history?
AnswerThe evidence and written documents of the continuous change of human society and civilization.
QuestionWhat does Vico think is the subject matter of history?
AnswerThe origin and growth of human society and institutions.
QuestionAccording to the EV, which kind of historian is Vico?
AnswerOne of the modern historians.
QuestionWhat is the subject of discussion in history?
AnswerThe important human achievements that contribute to the progress of society and civilization.
QuestionName some examples of the subject matter of history from the book.