The course is designed to familiarize the student of graduate classes with the basic concepts, approaches and techniques used in the discipline of history. The discipline of history emerged and developed in distinct parts of the world uniquely, and got modified, in different epochs, influenced by the varied socio-political factors. Hence, this course attempts at developing the understanding of the student about the techniques, methods and approach the profession historians incorporate into their enterprises.  

Objectives

The outcomes of this course works are:

1. To develop critical understanding of the different frameworks in which historians approach history, and the significance of historiography,
2. To enhance the ability of the student to assimilate a variety of sources and formulate critical opinions on them,
3.  To sharpen an ability to research, structure and complete written work of a specified length, or within a specified time;
4. To make informed contributions to class discussion and give an oral presentation as required;
5. To make the students capable of organizing their own learning, managing their workload, and accomplishing the tasks before deadlines.

Assessment Criteria;

• Sessional Work 20%
• Mid Term Examination: 30%
• Final Term  Examination: 50%

Class Days and Timings:

• Wed (09:30 - 11:00 )
• Thursday (08:00 - 09:30 )

Contents

1. Introduction to History and Historiography
2. Periodization in History
3. History and Axillary Sciences (Philology, Numismatics, Archeology, Geography, Sociology, and Anthropology etc.)
4. Greek Tradition of Historiography
5. Chinese Tradition of Historiography
6. Indian Tradition of History writing
7. Influence of Judaism and Christianity on History Writing
8. Medieval Ages and Religious Conception of History Writing: Saint Augustin  
9. Influence of Islam on Historiography:
   1. Quranic Concept of History,
   2. Sirat and Maghazi Writings
10. Ibn Khaldun: The Father of Sociology and Social History
11. Renaissance and its Impact on History Writing:
    1. Niccolo Machiavelli, Francis Bacn, Rene Descartes and Gam Batista Vico  
12. Hegelian and Marxist Tradition of Historiography
13. Nationalist Historiography
14. The Subaltern Studies
15.  Post-Modernist Trend of Historiography

Suggested Readings

HR Forum, 'The objectivity question and the future of the historical profession,' American Historical Review, Vol. 96 (1991), 675-708

Sarah Barber and C. M. Peniston-Bird, History beyond the Text: a Student's Guide to Approaching Alternative Sources (2009)

Adam Budd, Modern Historiography Reader (2009)

Peter Burke, What Is Cultural History? (2008)

E.H. Carr, What is History? (1961)

Peter Claus, and John Marriott, History: An introduction to theory, method and practice (2012)

Georg Iggers, Edward Wang, Supriya Mukherjee, A Global History of Modern Historiography (2008, 2016)

Alun Munslow, 'Why Should Historians Write about the Nature of History (Rather than just do it)?', in Rethinking History, 11:4 (2007), pp.613-25

John Tosh, Historians on History (2000)

John Tosh, The pursuit of history: aims, methods, and new directions in the study of modern history, 5th edn. (2010)

Toni Weller, History in the Digital Age (2013)

Daniel Woolf, A Global History of History (2011)