The Historian's Toolbox: A Student's Guide to the Theory and Craft of HistoryWhat is history and how do we learn about it? How has our understanding of history changed and developed over the years? How do historians and students actually go about "doing" history? In an engaging and entertaining style, this accessible "how-to" manual introduces readers to the theory, craft, and methods of history and provides a series of "tools" to help anyone read, research, and understand the past. The first half of the book is a stimulating overview of the key elements of history - evidence, narrative, judgment - that explores how the study and concepts of history have evolved over the centuries. The second half guides readers through the "workshop" of history. Unlocking the historian's "toolbox," it reveals the tricks of the trade, offering concrete examples and practical advice on the study, comprehension, and communication of history. The book covers myriad historical tools, including documents, sources, footnotes, arguments, bibliographies, chronologies, and many other items. It also examines professional ethics and controversial issues, such as plagiarism, historical hoaxes, and conspiracy theories. Brief and illuminating, and filled with fascinating historical information and stories, The Historian's Toolbox will inspire students and teachers alike as it cuts through the jargon and explains simply the "why," "what," and "how" of history. |
Other editions - View all
The Historian's Toolbox: A Student's Guide to the Theory and Craft of History Robert Chadwell Williams No preview available - 2007 |
The Historian's Toolbox: A Student's Guide to the Theory and Craft of History Robert Chadwell Williams No preview available - 2003 |
Common terms and phrases
Ambrose anti-Semitic archives argument artifacts assassination battle Bellesiles Bellesiles's bibliography biography British century chronology Civil claimed Confederate Confederate secret service conspiracy theory conventional wisdom critics culture death Denmark Vesey Devil's Den document example explain fact fiction film fire Fischer footnote forgery gender Gettysburg guns happened historians historical events historiography Holocaust human ideas images imagined Internet interpretation journal Kennedy language Leo Frank Lincoln Maclean Margaret Fuller Martin Guerre Memory metahistory narrative Nazi North notes Oxford University Press paper past Paul Revere photographs Pickett's Charge plagiarism political postmodernism present President primary source provides questions quotation marks reader records research and writing revision Sally Hemings Schama secondary sources selection simply slave slavery social soldier South Soviet speculation Stephen Ambrose story Task tell Thomas Jefferson tion tool topic tory truth understand Union Vesey Wannsee Protocol Wilkomirski William women words World World War II wrote York