a very short introduction Arnold, John 1969- creator text enk Oxford New York Oxford University Press 2000 monographic eng

print

134 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 18 cm. Do historians reconstruct the truth or simply tell stories? This book suggests that they do both, and the balance between 'truth' and 'story' is tremendously important to history. Taking us from the fabulous tales of ancient Greek historians to the varied approaches of modern professionals, this book illuminates our relationships to the past by making us aware of how 'history' has changed as a subject. Concepts such as periodization and causation are discusses, but not in a dry or abstract fashion. Instead this book works through particular historical examples - including a medieval murderer, a seven-century colonist, and ex-slave women - to illustrate and explain the ways in which we study and understand history, giving the reader a science of the excitement of discovering not only the past, but also ourselves. Machine derived contents note: 1. Questions about murder and history; 2. The history of history; 3. What really happened: truth, archives, and the love of old things; 4. Escapes from the tower; 5. Causation and interpretations; 6. Telling stories, telling tales; 7. Periodization and time; 8. Objectivity, truth, and judgement; 9. The role of the past in the present; Further reading; Index. John H. Arnold. Includes bibliographical references and index. History Philosophy History Methodology Historiography 901 ARH 019285352X (pbk.) 99057694 DLC 000403 20170515090939.0 347949 eng