2.2 Historical Documents
2.2 Historical Documents
How have globalization and imperialism been recorded in contemporary historical records?
How have globalization and imperialism been recorded in contemporary historical records?
Historical Documents
Before we consider the historical growth of globalization and imperialism, it important to consider how we get our information about history. When we inquire into history, we have to keep in mind that history is written by humans, and as a result, it is subject to bias and a limited perspective.
A famous quote states that "history is written by the victors [winners]". But we know there are more perspectives to history. So, how can we track down information to help us understand what really happened?
Historians are faced with this problem, and it is part of their job description to get at the truth behind the stories of history. Sometimes, there can be wildly conflicting tales about the same event. Finding some part of the truth can be a very daunting task. An example is of the "Boston Tea Party," an event leading up to the American Revolution.
A group of people living in Boston wished to demonstrate their displeasure over a series of new taxes levied on their colony. So, they boarded British merchant ships that were loaded with cargoes of tea and dumped the tea overboard into the harbor.
The American perspective of this event paints these people as patriots to the cause. However, on the British side, they were seen as nothing more than rowdy people who vandalized the ships. In this case, the truth seems to depend upon whose side you were on.
There are other examples in history that are even harder to come to terms with, because the records of the event have been erased or destroyed on one side, leaving only one perspective of the event.
Getting at the Truth of Historical Events
Historians have many ways of getting at the "truth" of historical events. One way of uncovering what really happened in history is to look at historical documents, which can take many forms. In written forms, first person accounts of history can be journals, letters, or reports. Illustrations can be diagrams, paintings, cartoons, or photographs. When considered together, these types of documents can be invaluable in helping historians understand historical events. Modern historians rely on several lines of inquiry to help them uncover what really happened.
Artistic Inquiry
What artistic style is used? When might the picture have been painted? What mood did the artist want to create?
How convincing is the work?
Did the artist work from real life, from another text, from the imagination, or from some combination of these?
Historians from the Past Inquiry
When was the document composed? Was it at the time the event occurred, or later?
What details are presented that show the accuracy of the work?
From whose perspective is the work portrayed?
Contemporary Inquiry
Does the work influence how people think about the subject today?
