How, When and Where
How, When and Where COMPLETE CHAPTER NOTES By Sahil Swe A. UNDERSTANDING HISTORY AND DATES The Traditional View of Dates There was a time when historians were fascinated with dates. There were heated debates about the dates on which rulers were crowned or battles were fought. · In the common-sense notion, history was synonymous with dates. · You may have heard people say, “I find history boring because it is all about memorising dates.” Is such a conception true? · History is certainly about changes that occur over time. · It is about finding out how things were in the past and how things have changed. · As soon as we compare the past with the present, we refer to time, we talk of “before” and “after”. Common perception: History = memorizing dates of battles, coronations, and events Historical practice: Historians once focused intensely on precise dates of rulers' lives and major events Modern perspective: While dates provide chronology, history is more about u...