If one wanted to prove that an obscure event in history actually occurred, what steps would they take?

Answer 1

If the person wanted to prove the event, the person would have to know what the event was. In order to know what the event was, the person would have to know something about the background that would lead up to proving the occurrence of the event.]

Second, the person would have to go back to original sources: Persons who left written accounts. The persons may have been writing for other purposes, but they would include evidence that the modern person needs.

To read an entertaining story about how this can be, I recommend "Baudolino" by Umberto Eco. It turns out that there are two stories about how the German emperor Frederick Barbarossa died in Turkey on the Third Crusade. Which is true? How did two stories arise? Is it possible that in some way both are true?

Answer 2

If it's really an obscure event, your best source is contemporary accounts written by people around the event. These might include some mention of it, or you might find it doesn't mention it at all.

A good example is the deaths of the princes in the tower. They supposedly happened during the reign of Richard III, but there were no contemporary mentions of the murders. The princes were undoubtably dead 5 years later, but NO contemporary mention. Later accounts claimed Richard III had them put to death, but there isn't a contemporary account to back that up--and he had no motive since the princes were no longer in the line of succession.

For more info on this, read "The Daughter of Time" by Josephine Tey. It's a fascinating book that actually solves the murders 400 years after they happened.

Answer 3

Find books that were written around the same time and see if they make any reference to the event. Sometimes insignifigant cultural events are reflected in society but are skipped in history books for length.

Answer 4

Find information from books or the Internet on that information. You might try going to your local librarian for assistance as they have a lot of resources at their disposal

Answer 5

Be more specific and repost your question outlining the event in question.