THE UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM

DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY

COURSE NAME: PHILOSOPHIES AND METHODOLOGIES OF HISTORY

NAME: RIZIKI MICHAEL BONIFACE

REG NO: 2020-04-10725

TASK: INDIVIDUAL ASSIGMENT 2

SUBJECT: HI 260

QUESTION NO 02: Attempt the major characterization of history from the Greek to
modern period
The subject matter of history is very wider and not easy to understand. Different scholars has
different views based on history from what is history

E.H.carr in his book (what is history) he said history is the endless dialogue between historians
existing today and historical facts that existing in the past. And for him not everything that
happens in the past is the part of history1.

From a philosophical point of view the past is inaccessible to us or as far as it is accessible it is

at least not available in the same way the present is available to us and its inaccessibility is of a
different kind than that of the feature. The part and feature are in a sense platonic realms of
undeniable reality but of a different kind than that which come to us directly. In other way the
historian attitude to the past is similar to the mathematician attitude to the mathematics this
simply because in both cases we are dealing with something that exists independently of both the
historian and mathematician but which does not come to life until observed and to some extent
created2

The following are the characteristics of history based on different period from the Greek to
modern history

By starting with Ancient historiography (Greek and Roman period) is important not only for its
own sake but also because it has finished an enduring model both in form and subject matter. It's
should be noted that hat during this period history was not regarded as the past and in this period
history was characterized by some of its feature this includes, it's was characterized by the event
that are not related to human being. In other way we can say history was not based with human
relations into society. During this period history was based on inquiring and methodology of
history during this time was observation and the historian of that time includes Herodotus and
Thucydides this use observation method as the main source of history thus is to say the present
what they have seen (observed) history during this time it was used as the cones because it
involves observation method and all in all its involves historian to keep records.

Medieval period it's also called middle age or Dark Age during this period history was writing
to reflect people in the power. It's was the time when the power of the king was given priority
1
Edward Hallett Carr, what is History? (London England 1961
2
Robin George Collingwood, “The idea of History” (London, Oxford University Press 1946)
and it’s was the time Christianity church was dominant. During this time there was no reason
human reason was not allowed and what's happened was related to God action. So what was
writing was the history of the church, sent, and people in the power and in this period history
started to be regarded as the past event and also the narration of those past event. During this
time history comes from two source which was Arnold and chronicles where by Arnolds was
the record of event that's are recorded year by year such events include Institution events and
government events while chronicles referring record of important event of a year such as
pandemic and others. Again it's should be noted that during this period the writing of history was
dominated by church people so they wrote much about Jesus and it's was time when the church
was dominant. The purpose of history during this time was just to justify the state core of the
rulers and people were not allowed to question the rulers and if so the question God and during
this period history started to follow strict law to be produced and free historical narration.

Last but not list the modern period. This was characterized by industrial revolution and
scientific development it also called the age of reasons science help people to survey the world
and explore the universe and to start to question the issue that cannot question during the middle
age. Again it's should be noted that during the modern period the printing technology started as
the results the writing of history be simple and scientist Started to understand the universe such
as Stars and moon also during this period history was characterized by argument rather than
based on revelation as it was in middle age and thus is to say the power of human reason was
given first priority and history was the party of human action in all aspect of life politically ,
economically and socially and the main purpose of history during this time was to show human
agency in control the universe.

To sum up. The variety of classical historiography cannot be easily reduced to formulate the
linear progression for that matter. The writing of history is always dependent on contemporary
concerns and the many historians of antiquity whom created the account of the past were
responding in some measure to the needs of their own time
REFERRENCE

Edward Hallett Carr, what is History? (London England 1961

Robin George Collingwood, “The idea of History” (London, Oxford University Press 1946)