Introduction to Historiography

This course provides an introduction to the subject of History. Much of the content here was developed by the now defunct Department of Philosophy of History. Students can use these resources to learn about History and its methodologies.

History is the study of systematically collected information about the past. When used as the name of a field of study, history refers to the study and interpretation of the record of humans, families, and societies as preserved primarily through written sources. History is thus usually distinguished from prehistory by the widespread adoption of writing in the area under study. Knowledge of history is often said to encompass both knowledge of past events and historical thinking skills.

Traditionally, the study of history has been considered a part of the humanities. However, in modern academia, history is increasingly classified as a social science, especially when chronology is the focus.

Essays

• Civilization, Cultural Diffusion, and Innovation
• Human Interaction With The Environment
• Values, Beliefs, Political Ideas and Institutions
• Conflict and Cooperation
• Comparative History of Major Developments
• Patterns of Social and Political Interaction
• History's Habits of the Mind
• How to Write History Better
• Schools of History