This essay delves into the multifaceted definitions of history offered by prominent scholars like E.H. Carr, Collingwood, and Iferneje. It explores history as a dynamic process involving the interaction between historians and historical facts, emphasizing the study of cause and effect in past events.
The subject matter of history is presented as a comprehensive examination of human activities and their impact on societal development, incorporating both objective and subjective elements. The essay highlights the significance of nature in shaping historical events and the historian's role in performing scientific, imaginative, and literary functions.
Transitioning to historiography, the essay defines it as the craft of writing history, encompassing the methodology of historians, the development of history as a discipline, and the body of historical works on specific subjects. It emphasizes the examination of complexities and challenges in historical writing.
The latter part of the essay focuses on the emergence of radical historiography in Southern Africa, driven by themes like tracing the causes of violence, colonial and anti-colonial explanations, and repositioning marginalized voices. The rise of radical historiography is contextualized within the socio-political landscape of Southern Africa, marked by violence and economic crises.
In summary, this essay unravels the intricate dimensions of history and historiography, offering insights into diverse definitions and approaches while specifically exploring Southern Africa's radical historiography within the context of societal upheavals.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction to History and Historiography
2. The Subject Matter and Sources of History
3. Defining Historiography
4. Radical Historiography in Southern Africa
Objectives and Topics
The primary objective of this work is to explore the conceptual definitions of history and historiography, while examining how these disciplines have been applied to analyze violent conflicts and social shifts in Southern Africa. The study explores the evolution of historical narratives, particularly regarding the role of radical historians and their perspectives on colonial and anti-colonial identities.
- Theoretical definitions of history and historiography
- Methodological differences in historical source classification
- The role of subjectivity in historical narratives
- Radical historiography as a response to social and economic crisis
- Marginalized social groups as the focus of modern historical study
Auszug aus dem Buch
This faction-forming has its origin in fear or a feeling of insecurity which leads to violence.
This fear is passed from generation to generation and is ingrained in most Bantu tribes. Despite the influence of the White men, civilisation, religion and Western standards, the tendency to become violent, where tribal differences are involved is practically spontaneous. The ethnologist and Bantu expert, Dr. van Warmelo, stated inter alia, the southern Bantu tribes ... are particularly inclined to become violent and that they even regard fighting as a form of recreation.
The above statement actually shows that the white scholars reduced the violence in Southern Africa as a natural instinct of a black person. This could not have been further from the truth as black societies are known to have been waging war against one another in the quest for territories and the acquiring of new lands. The mfecane wars are therefore a good example.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction to History and Historiography: This chapter establishes the fundamental difficulty in defining history and introduces the basic perspectives of theorists such as Carr and Collingwood.
2. The Subject Matter and Sources of History: This section details how historians collect and interpret data, distinguishing between written and oral sources and addressing the inherent subjectivity in reconstructing the past.
3. Defining Historiography: This chapter clarifies that historiography is more than just historical writing; it is the study of how history itself is researched and formulated as a discipline.
4. Radical Historiography in Southern Africa: This final section examines the rise of radical perspectives in response to 20th-century violence, focusing on how historians began to prioritize the experiences of the marginalized and the oppressed.
Keywords
History, Historiography, Southern Africa, Radical Historiography, Colonialism, Oral Tradition, Methodology, Objectivity, Subjectivity, Social History, Mfecane Wars, Bantu, Evidence-based, Narrative, Marginalization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work focuses on the definitions of history and historiography and analyzes how these frames of reference shaped the radical historiography of violence in Southern Africa.
What are the central thematic fields?
Key fields include the nature of historical evidence, the role of written versus oral sources, the influence of historian bias, and the historical debates regarding violence in Southern African societies.
What is the core research question?
The core research aims to understand how competing definitions of history influence the way historical events, specifically those related to conflicts, are interpreted and recorded.
What scientific methods are utilized?
The author utilizes a comparative and analytical review of historical literature and theories provided by prominent scholars like Carr, Barraclough, and Visser to build a foundation for understanding historiographical shifts.
What does the main body address?
It addresses the transition from "objective" colonial narratives of the 19th century to the "subjective" or "radical" historiography that emerged in the 20th century to tell the stories of the marginalized.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include historiography, social history, radical interpretation, collective violence, and historical methodology.
How does the text define the role of the historian in relation to subjectivity?
The author argues that absolute objectivity is difficult to achieve; therefore, the historian’s aim is to minimize intellectual error while acknowledging the inherent subjective choices made in reconstructing past events.
How is the "radical historiography" movement described in the Southern African context?
It is described as a movement that shifted the focus of historical inquiry toward the oppressed and marginalized, seeking to re-interpret violence as a consequence of systemic factors rather than merely internal tribal instincts.
- Quote paper
- Lwandze Dlamini (Author), 2020, What are History and Historiography?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1436096
