NORTH SOUTH UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY

HIS 102.8

SUMMER SEMESTER 2021

COURSE TUTOR: DR. ABDUS SAMAD (ABS3)

 WHAT IS HISTORY AND WHY STUDY HISTORY
 History is an unending dialogue between the past and the
present in order to understand the future.
 History helps us understand people and societies, politics,
culture and heritage.
 History offers a storehouse of information about how people and
societies behave.
 History offers the only extensive evidential base for the
contemplation and analysis of how societies function, and
people need to have some sense of how societies function simply
to run their own lives. History helps us understand change and
how the society we live in came to be.
 Only through studying history can we grasp how things change;
only through history can we begin to comprehend the factors
that cause change; and only through history can we understand
what elements of an institution or a society persist despite
change.
History also provides a terrain for moral contemplation.
Studying the stories of individuals and situations in the past
allows a student of history to test his or her own moral sense.
History also helps provide identity, and this is
unquestionably one of the reasons all modern nations
encourage its teaching in some form. Historical data include
evidence about how families, groups, institutions and whole
countries were formed and about how they have evolved
while retaining cohesion.
A study of history is essential for good citizenship. It offers
evidence also about how nations have interacted with other
societies, providing international and comparative
perspectives essential for responsible citizenship. Further,
studying history helps us understand how recent, current,
and prospective changes that affect the lives of citizens are
emerging or may emerge and what causes are involved. 
WHAT SKILLS DOES STUDY OF HISTORY DEVELOP

 The Ability to Assess Evidence.

 The Ability to Assess Conflicting Interpretations.
 Experience in Assessing Past Examples of Change.

Historical study, in short, is crucial to the promotion of

that elusive creature, the well-informed citizen. It provides
basic factual information about the background of our
political institutions and about the values and problems
that affect our social well-being. It also contributes to our
capacity to use evidence, assess interpretations, and
analyze change and continuities.
 SOURCES OF HISTORY WRITING
Archaeological Sources
A. Archaeological remains and Monuments: Ancient ruins,
remains and monuments recovered as a result of excavation
and explorations. This type of source are subjected to
scientific examinations of radio-carbon method for the dates.
Archaeological source gives us an idea of the life of ancient
civilization. Indus Valley Civilization. Mohenjo Daro and
Harappa excavations. Historical monuments like temples,
Stupas, Monasteries, Forts, Palaces and buildings – speak the
story of their time – society, polity and economy and trade.
The earliest history of world is mostly known to us as a result
of archaeological sources.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL REMAINS
B. Inscriptions: Inscriptions supply valuable
historical facts. Study of writings on ancient
inscriptions and records is called paleography.
Inscriptions are seen on rocks, pillars, stones,
slabs, walls of ancient buildings. These convey
information about administrative, religious, and
societal information and major decisions taken
during that time. Ideas of Political,
administrative and religious matters are gathered
from these sources.
INSCRIPTIONS
C. Numismatics: The study of coins is known as
Numismatics. This form another source of historical
information. Ancient coins were mostly made of gold,
silver, copper or lead. However coins excavated from
Indus, were also at times made of burnt clay. Some
coins contain religious or legendary symbols that
throw light on the culture of that time. Coins also
contain figures of Kings and Gods, and at time also of
the local animals, indicating where they originate
from. Coins throw significant light on economic life of
ancient societies. It also indicate trade and commerce
and help us to reconstruct history of that period (links
to other parts of the world).
 ANCIENT COINS FROM
GREECE, INDUS Valley AND
PERSIA
D. Paintings and Figures/Artifacts: Another form
of archaeological sources. Paintings are found in
many ancient Indian/Bengal sites. Some of the
paintings gives evidence of the existence of human
communities dating back to more than 10,000 BC
(Bhimbedka Cave paintings in Madhya Pradesh
India). These throw significant light on the social,
cultural, and economic life of the civilization. (dress,
occupation like hunting or farming, burial ritual, war
etc.) Similarly Artifacts discovered at many sites
across the world throw light on the similar aspects of
the societies (dress, ornaments, customs etc.)
ANCIENT PAINTINGS
PAINTING AT BHIMBEDKA CAVE
ANCIENT EGYPTIAN PAINTINGS
ANCIENT EGYPTIAN PAINTINGS
 Literary Sources:

A. “Religious” Literatures: History is not just about the

records of rulers and Kings only. Many a times it is also an
account of people and their living. The mental and social
conditions of people are known from these literary
sources. Religious literatures around the world is vast. In
the ancient times, it includes Vedas, the Upanishads, and
epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata. Slightly later the
religious writings of Jains and Buddhists. These are mines
of information that throw light on religious beliefs, social
systems, people’s manner and customs, ways of life,
political institutions and conditions of culture.
B. Secular Literatures: Apart from the religious texts
and literatures, there are also many kinds of secular
literatures. The law-books of ancient India known as
Dharmasutras and Smritis belong to this group. These
contain code of duties for Kings, administrators and
people in general. They also contain rules regarding
property, and prescribe punishments for murder, theft
and other crimes. Famous secular literature that is still
considered as the foundation of modern Economics –
Kautilya’s Arthashastra. It not only speaks of the state
and polity but also of the socio-economic system.
Others like Panini wrote the grammar and also
described political events. Kalidasa and Vishakhadutta
provides us information about people and society.
 Accounts and Memoirs of Foreigners

From the ancient times onwards, foreigners visited

Indian subcontinent. Some left valuable accounts of
their travels and visits. Ancient Greek and Roman
historians also wrote about India from their knowledge
and information. These provide important information
of our civilization that relates to the social, political,
economic and culture aspects from a different
perspective. Ptolemy’s Geography and Pliny’s works
gives us information about Bengal and India’s ports and
harbours and also of the trade relations between
Bengal/India and the world.
 Sources of modern history
Government/Official Sources:
These are primarily documents and official correspondences and
records that are kept and maintained by the governments of
individual countries. It contains records and information related to
society, polity and economy – including land records,
demographic information, public service works, diplomatic
relations (Foreign Affairs) military and economic issues.
Newspapers/Periodicals: These sources provide indication of the
nature of a society, polity and economy and on specific aspects of
its culture. It also provides a daily record of events occurring and
analyses the reasons behind such developments. It often provides
an alternative view point that might be missing out from the
Government/official sources.
A GLIMPSE OF THE GOVERNMENT RECORDS IN THE
ARCHIVES
NEWSPAPER REPORTS ON LIBERATION WAR
1971
INDEPENDENCE OF INDIA, 15 AUGUST 1947
REPORTS ON 2ND WORLD
WAR
Private Letters, Diaries and Memoirs:
These sources provide an intimate glimpse into the
effects of historical events and the lives of individuals
experiencing them as eye-witnesses. Also, since these
sources were never intended to be read by a large
audience, its contents are more candid and revealing
in nature, often speaking about issues that the
Government/official sources deny or neglect.
Private letters of Gandhi
Private letters and diary of Anne frank
Oral Source: Interviews and/or interactions with
participants in historical events. It provides a means of
learning about the past from individual with first-hand
knowledge of historical events. It also provides
important historical evidence about people, especially
minority groups, who might have been excluded from
mainstream publications or didn’t leave behind written
primary sources. This is also means of preserving details
of historical legacies that might not have been included
in written accounts.
 LIMITATIONS OF SOURCES
ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL PERIOD

1. The major problem of constructing history of ancient

period is that the precise dates cannot always be located,
and can vary from a few years to a few hundred centuries.
2. Not always the sources give us a complete history of the
period and as a result we may know quite a lot about one
aspect of the period, but not aware of certain other aspects.
Disjointed fragmented history.
3. The authenticity of the sources can not always be verified
and as a result it leaves room for interpretations.
4. Problem of generalization.
 LIMITATION OF SOURCES: MODERN HISTORY

1. Many a times, the Government or Official records are

selected according to the needs of the situation thereby omitting
facts. This often lead to one-sided interpretation of history.
2. If the disclosure of the Government / official documents were
anticipated the facts could have been manipulated, perhaps to
conceal scandalous happenings or illegal maneuverings, or to
maintain the image of the government concerned.
3. Newspaper and Periodicals: A product of the societies in
which they are produced, and therefore offering only a limited
perspective. Also, in a dictatorship, certain details might be
suppressed to preserve the authority of the government in
power- censorship. A newspaper might by primarily an
instrument of propaganda. The often tend to have political
agendas and commercial motives.
4. Private Letters, Diaries and Memoirs:
Such personal documents are inherently limited in their
scope in that they present only one viewpoint, one
interpretation of what happened. Inevitably biased-
molded by the opinions, prejudices, and cultural
standpoint of the author (must be read critically). If the
document is a result of recollections many years after the
period described, the details might have become blurred
with the passing of time, certain aspects consciously or
subconsciously forgotten, and memoirs molded to conform
to views evolved since then (i.e. benefit of hindsight).
Selective by nature.
5. Oral History Source:
If the person being interviewed has aged significantly in the period of
time between the actual experience and the interview, the physical
and mental deterioration of the subjects must be taken into account-
e.g. memory loss, emotional trauma. If the story is being recounted a
significant time after the period of history under scrutiny, details
might have become confused over the passage of time or faded
entirely from memory, and traumatic experiences might have been
deliberately forgotten. Thus, accuracy must be questioned.
Experiences in the present might influence accounts of the past, and a
person with the benefit of hindsight might be compelled to reassess
events and reconstruct their memories accordingly. Personal
opinions, cultural backgrounds, must be taken into account in
interpreting the information conveyed, as well as his/her motives in
sharing memories- the individual might feel more compelled to justify
own actions/inactions and perspectives than to paint an entirely
balanced and accurate account of events and circumstances. Highly
subjective.
THANKS & BEST WISHES