History of Bangladesh and World Civilization · Classes 9-10 · Chapter 1
Nature of history.
Two people tell the same event in two different ways. Which one is history? The one that rests on information and takes nobody's side. The book lays out four such characteristics, in order.
1. A past that stands on information
History is different from the other branches of knowledge. The way it is formed is different, and so is the way it is presented. The book gives four characteristics of history in order, and we will take them in that order.
First characteristic: history reconstructs the past through authentic information. Reconstructing the past with authentic, truthful information is what marks history out.
Second characteristic: the focus of history is the chronological, information-based progress of human society and civilization.
2. History never stops
Third characteristic: history never stops. It is dynamic and ever-flowing.
So it is difficult to divide history into ancient, medieval and modern periods by dates, and changes do not take place in all countries at the same time. Take two imaginary countries and move the boundary.
two imaginary countriesmove the boundary
One year, two countries
Countries A and B are imaginary, and so are the years. This is a model, not real dates.
3. A neutral account
Fourth characteristic: to uphold a perfect account of events that had taken place to the next generation.
If the presentation of an event is not neutral, it cannot be authentic history.
4. All four together
Now put the four characteristics in the book's order, then separate the real ones from statements the book does not make.
in orderrecall the book's order
First to fourth
Which is the first characteristic? Start with what the description of the past is built on.
Right. And the next?
Not yet. That one has a different number; recall first to fourth.
Right order. First, the past described with information; second, the continuous account of society; third, never stopping; fourth, a neutral and correct account.
Exam items mix true characteristics with invented ones. Pick up each statement, then drop it in the right box.
sort themrecall first to fourth
Which is the book's characteristic?
Pick up a statement, then drop it in a box. One question decides it: is it among the book's four characteristics?
Right. Next one.
Not there. Recall first to fourth: is this in any of the book's four?
All in place. Reconstructing the past with authentic information, never stopping and neutral description are the book's characteristics. “Immortal” and “only about politics” are not in the book.
5. Check yourself
Start with the first question.
check yourselfpick one answer
Question 1
What is one of the characteristics of history?
Telling war stories is not the characteristic; it is reconstructing the past with authentic information.
Right. Closest to the book: the past (reconstructed) on the basis of true information.
‘Only’ is wrong: history also writes contemporary history alongside the past.
‘Only progress’ is wrong: in the book rises and falls are both matter for history.
In the next one, recall the book's own words.
check yourselfpick one answer
Question 2
Why is it difficult to divide history into periods by dates?
Right. The book’s answer: history is dynamic and flowing, and changes do not occur in all countries at once.
The book does not speak of a lack of dates; the difficulty is the flow and the uneven change.
History belongs to many countries; and it is because changes do not happen everywhere at once that dividing it is hard.
The book does not say there are infinite periods; the cause of difficulty is its dynamism.
The last question follows the same pattern.
check yourselfpick one answer
Question 3
What is the third characteristic of history?
In the book the third characteristic is flow; the account of the past is closer to the first.
Right. The book’s answer: thirdly, history never stops; it is dynamic and ever-flowing.
Neutral description belongs to the fourth characteristic.
In the book history covers many subjects beyond politics; this is not a characteristic.
The whole note on seven cards.
cut from the notetap to turn over
Seven cards
QuestionWith the help of what does history describe the past?
AnswerWith the help of facts (authentic information).
QuestionWhat is the second characteristic of history?
AnswerA continuous, information-based account of the progress of society and civilization.
QuestionWhat is the third characteristic of history?
AnswerHistory never stops; it is dynamic and ever-flowing.
QuestionHow many characteristics of history does the book give in order?
AnswerFour: first to fourth.
QuestionWhy is it hard to divide history into ancient, medieval and modern periods by dates?
AnswerHistory never stops and changes do not occur in all countries at the same time.
QuestionWhat is the fourth characteristic of history?
AnswerPresenting a correct account of what happened to the next generation.
QuestionWhen does an account fail to be authentic history?
AnswerWhen the presentation of the event is not neutral.
Source: History of Bangladesh and World Civilization, Classes 9-10 (NCTB), Chapter 1 “Introduction to History”, the “Nature of history” part.