History of Bangladesh and World Civilization · Classes 9-10 · Chapter 1
Scope of history.
Many people picture history as kings and battles. The textbook says otherwise: whatever people think, plan and do belongs to it, and that edge keeps moving outward.
1. How far history reaches
History includes every aspect of human life. Human thinking, planning and activity spread into many branches, and the edge of history reaches as far as they do. This reach is the scope of history.
The scope was not always this wide. In the first phase of the pre-historic period, man’s activities were limited to collecting food, so the scope of history was limited to food collection as well.
As time has passed, more scientific methods are followed in the study and research of history. So new branches of history open up and its scope expands.
2. Two turning points
In the nineteenth century history studied only politics. After the spread of Marxism, historians explored the history of economics, society and fine arts, the whole life of the people.
Earlier still, during the fourteenth century, Ibn Khaldun made the group life of human beings, their culture and their production methods subjects of history.
Drag through time and see which subjects history spoke about in each age.
the scope widensdrag the time
A person and the edge of history
So subject after subject is included in history, and its scope and size keep expanding. Follow the path point by point.
wideningeach point adds a subject
The widening path
Food collection. In the first pre-historic phase man’s activities were limited to collecting food, so the scope of history was just as small.
Ibn Khaldun. Around the fourteenth century, group life, culture and production methods became subjects of history.
Marxism. In the nineteenth century history studied only politics. After Marxism spread, economics, society and fine arts were added.
Contemporary history. Events of our own time are now written up too, so the span of history runs from the remote past to the present.
3. From the remote past to the present
Today the events of our own time are also written up, and this is called contemporary history. So the span of history extends from the remote past to the present. Now put five stages in order, from the oldest to today.
which firstoldest to present
What came first?
Begin with the earliest phase: what was man busy with then?
Right. What comes after it?
Not yet. Think of the centuries: fourteenth first, nineteenth later.
Right order. Food collection, Ibn Khaldun in the fourteenth century, only politics in the nineteenth, economics, society and fine arts after Marxism, and now contemporary history. At every stage the scope grew a little.
Last, separate what came before Marxism from what came after.
sort themthink of the 19th century
Before or after?
Pick up a chip, then drop it in a box. What was the subject of history in the nineteenth century?
Right. Next one.
Not yet. Remember that before Marxism history had only one subject.
All in place. First only politics, afterwards economics, society and fine arts.
4. Check yourself
Three questions in the exam’s style. Start with the first.
check yourselfpick one answer
Question 1
After the spread of Marxism, added to the scope of history-
i. Economic history ii. History of art (fine arts) iii. Social history
iii is also true: social history was also written after the spread of Marxism.
ii is also true: the history of fine arts is also in the book’s list.
i is also true: economic history is also in the book’s list.
Right. All three: the histories of economics, society and fine arts were written after the spread of Marxism.
In the second, recall the centuries.
check yourselfpick one answer
Question 2
Because new subjects are being included in history, what is expanding is the-
In the book it is the scope and size of history that expands; the range of knowledge belongs to the need for studying history.
The book says nothing like this; what expands is the scope of history, not of modernity.
Not the scope of science; in the book it is the scope of history that grows.
Right. The book’s answer: as subject after subject joins history, its scope and size expand.
The last one needs the whole path of the scope.
check yourselfpick one answer
Question 3
Analysing the scope of history we find-
i. Scientific methods are followed in history ii. New subjects are included iii. History is limited to politics only
Right. The book’s answer: scientific methods (i) and new subjects being included (ii); iii (only politics) is the opposite of the book’s account.
iii is false: only politics was the nineteenth-century picture; now the scope is wide. ii is left out.
iii is false (only politics); i (scientific methods) is left out.
iii is false: in the book the scope is not limited to politics, it is wide.
The whole note on seven cards.
cut from the notetap to turn over
Seven cards
QuestionHow far does the scope of history extend?
AnswerAs far as human thinking, planning and activities extend.
QuestionIn the first phase of the pre-historic age, to what was the scope of history limited?
AnswerTo the activities of collecting food.
QuestionWhy are the branches of history increasing?
AnswerBecause scientific methods are being followed in the study of history.
QuestionAfter the spread of Marxism, which subjects entered history?
AnswerEconomics, society and fine arts, the whole of public life.
QuestionIn which century did Ibn Khaldun widen the subjects of history?
AnswerThe fourteenth century
QuestionWhat did Ibn Khaldun add to the subjects of history?
AnswerGroup life, culture and production methods.
QuestionWhat is history written about the present time called?
AnswerContemporary history
Source: History of Bangladesh and World Civilization, Classes 9-10 (NCTB), Chapter 1 “Introduction to History”, the “Scope of history” part.