2. What is
history? (And
what its not)
Beginning with what its not:
■ It is not the same thing as the past
■ It is not just “facts” about the past
■ It is not just stories about the past
Then what is it ??
■ It is the work of historians: It is argument
and interpretations
■ It is an empirical discipline: Based on the
interpretation of evidence
■ It is complex and continuous: Not one history
but many histories
■ It is the study of the contingent: Context
matters the most
3. What is
historiography?
(Not the same
as history)
■ Two approaches to understanding it:
1) “the history of history”
A narrative account of how the discipline has
evolved
Includes ‘big names’ and sub-fields
A study of the changing interpretations of
the past
2) Historical writing on a particular topic
Includes all the work by historians on a
particular question/topic
Focuses on approaches
Pretty much like a literature review
4. Why Study History?
■ It helps us make sense of the present
■ Builds empathy
■ Can be intensely personal
■ It can feel like solving a puzzle
■ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxMKGi61N_U
■ Everything has a history
■ https://epaper.hindustantimes.com/delhi?eddate=31/07/2025&pageid=916735
6. What do historians do?
■ Asking questions about the past
■ Searching for evidence : Primary and secondary sources
■ Making sense of the evidence
■ Narrativising the past
7. Course structure
Module 1: Historical time and space
Module 2: Historical fact and objectivity
Module 3: Theories of history
Module 4: The methods of historical research
Module 5: Memory, heritage and public history
8. Evaluation components
Type of evaluation Weightage (%)
Midsemester Exam 20
Quiz 2 10
Project 30
End Semester exam 40
TOTAL 100
9. Classroom etiquette
■ Be respectful
■ Be on time
■ Be engaged
■ Pay attention
■ Be inquisitive
■ Ask questions
■ Respect boundaries
■ Be empathetic
■ No laptops allowed
