Why History?and

What is History?

Dr Paul Sendziuk

School of History and PoliticsThe University of Adelaide

Session Aims

to consider the importance of History and its function in contemporary society

to investigate: what is History? And what are we doing when we write and/or teach it?

Why History is important…

‘Threshold concepts’ – is History relevant?

History as guide for solving present-day dilemmas:

- Asian and Muslim migrants

- saying ‘sorry’ and making appropriate reparations

- asylum-seeker policy

- nuclear past, nuclear future

E.H. Carr, What is History?

What is empiricism? Do ‘the facts’ speak for themselves? Is it possible to divorce ‘the facts’ of history from interpretation? In what

ways do the historian intrude and shape the story? Is it possible to know all the ‘facts’; i.e. discuss problems with the

historical record…who/what might be excluded? Carr is fond of metaphors drawn from nature - asks us to listen for

‘buzzing bees’ and note where we go fishing. What is he talking about? (pp.17-18)

How might language – the very act of communicating – render the objective telling of history impossible? (p.19)

If the interpretation and selection of facts are subjective, and ‘complete history’ impossible, are all historical interpretations equally valid?

Homework: Primary Source analysis

‘primary’ vs. ‘secondary’ sources

letters, diaries, newspaper articles, novels/poems, parliamentary debates (Hansard), oral testimony, photographs, paintings, cartoons, material culture (objects/artifacts)

National Library of Australia – vast collection of primary sources of historical evidence, much available online:

www.nla.gov.au

State Library of SA: www.slsa.sa.gov.au