How can we concider history correct??

Question

When truth even about last week is lost in politics,speculation and lies to suit the need of the moment.
Are history just a fantasy?

Answer 1

Our view of how historical events unfold changes ever so slightly with newly discovered evidence and sound theories. A historian tends to specialize in one or two periods of antiquity and they will have a considerable background knowledge in respect to their chosen field. They will also be aware of most of the previous academic writing by other historians who research similar avenues. They also have access to valuable primary source evidence which was created during the period in which they are interested and they have the mental tools with which to dissect it fairly. I've lost count of the number of times on here that I've seen the old chestnut, 'History was written by the winners' and is thus one sided, well maybe so, but a proper Historian is aware of this and can find other evidence to compensate or show up the story of the 'other side'.

In the case of the causes of the French Revolution, historians have read and dissected each others work on this subject, poured over thousands of primary sources and have come to some agreement of the probable causes for the revolution. They make informed and educated statements according to the evidence that they have. Nothing is certain but a lot is probable.
The same is relevent for any other decent theories abound

Answer 2

in the post-post- modern era we live in it may be difficult to decide
what should one concider correct or rather a historical fact?

well, one tradtion way many historians do when they study the past is very simmilare to what journalists do today while gatherning informaition: they chek different sources and try to validate thier info. for instance, if one finds a source stating that such and such has accured, he or she will try to find other sources contemporary or later to when it happend. eye witnesses and first hand statements are best, but often bias, second hand sources tend to be inacurate, but do have a cirtain perspective of the outcome.

many times the discution isin't about the facts but rather thier interpertation. this is esspicially true when the evidence is rare or may have multipal meanings, such as archeological findings. once an artifact is recognized (identified and dated), then comes a discustion about it's meaning and function.

what i belive lies at the bottom of your question is that contemparry historians have different questions than their counterparts of the past. the reason for this is that cultural change has accured, and the problems that we are now facing are different from those of 50 and 100 years ago. for example , before the feminist revolution, historical questions regarding gender issues just weren't asked. if up till then one never thought to ask how did wemon live through the ages, it was probably because there wern't many female professors of history.
ancient greece has always been conciderd the origin of the west, and for that glorified, but not until the last 40 years or so have we been aware that it was also quite a difficult place for noncitizens (wemon, children, slaves and forigners).
hope i cleared that up for you, and gave you many more questions

Answer 3

Many times yes, history is fantasy. It is constantly revised.

As you point out contemporary reports of what goes on are usually skewed, biased or at best sloppy.

History is the version of what went on in the past that the people currently running things want you to believe.

If you have ever been involved in events that were later recorded in a history, you will know that it is as much fiction as fact.

Facts and truth are not necessarily the same thing.

Answer 4

One of the best things about studying history is that there is no right answer. Because history is subjective rather than objective, there is no way to say that there is one right answer to any historical question. There is much truth in history-most people and cultures attempt to accurately portray events, but this "truth" is still subjective. Look at history from a variety of perspectives and keep in mind that no one can write everything about any topic.

Answer 5

look at histroy from many angles. From more than one perspective and then decide for yourself what you think is true. Beause of the way the world works we will never have a true written history because as has been said. History is written by the vitctors.

Answer 6

Yes. History is always written by the winners. You need to keep that in mind whenever you read something historical.

Answer 7

History is generally written by winners... so the truth will always be skewed.

Answer 8

The observer writes history. Winners and losers write propoganda.

Answer 9

History is what you make of it, even then it is still left to speculaion. The only one sure thing is God.