History and Historians: A Historiographical Introduction

by Mark T. Gilderhus

Surveying historical thinking in the West from ancient times to the present, this very accessible book focuses on historiography, philosophy of history, and historical methodology, introducing the main issues with thorough and balanced discussions. This comprehensive overview examines Greek, Hebrew, and Christian historiography; explores the impacts of the Renaissance, the Reformation, the Scientific Revolution, and the professionalization of history within European universities. Aims and Purposes. The Beginnings of Historical Consciousness. Historical Consciousness in the Modern Age. Philosophy of Speculative Approaches. Philosophy of Analytical Approaches. Reading, Writing, and Research. Professional History in Recent Times. For readers/students of history or anyone who is interested in the development of historical thought.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Textbooks, Academic, Philosophy, School, Education

140 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1991

Reviews

[Erik Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clearly written, something like this would have been useful as the framework for the historiography capstone course I took, then dropped, at Grinnell College. Instead, our ambitious instructor started us off with Thucydides, which was fine, and Augustine, which wasn't. Now, of course, I can appreciate, having actually read, 'The City of God', but then, having the compulsion to never read only selections from a text, I saw Augustine's work as too much craziness to endure. What Gilderhus' history of history does is to put such works in context and in relation to one another. With that I might have finished the history major. Instead I switched to religious studies, itself substantially a field of historical study as it was taught there.

[Lucy Barnhouse · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's lucid enough and... adequate. But I think that Gilderhus, while dismissing teleological views of history, tends towards a teleological view of historiography. The book is dismissive of premodern history-writing, and doesn't really engage with the tendentious nature of the constructed "western tradition" of history-writing. History is generally presented as, ideally, a rational and objective enterprise, scientific and secular. The cursory overview of various historiographical schools might be useful in conjunction with excerpts from the historians themselves, but I don't find it particularly satisfactory as a teaching text.

[Christa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brief guide describing an overview of Western historical thinking. When we read history books or tour a historical museum, we expect to see all of history as it happened-properly. Sometimes, key groups get omitted or a twist is taken on a certain historical account. And not all done with malice. Sometimes, yes. It's just how people tend to relay history according to various factors. This book discusses this at length. And it's no small task.

"Although particularities and divergences of many sorts characterize the craft of history in the present day, one thing seems reasonably clear. History no longer sets forth common stories that presumably speak for the identity and experience of all readers."

So, when you travel to a historical site, think of whether it's based on factual evidence. Or if all players in that historical account are included. It's funny how our history is written, portrayed in books, defined by someone else. Is that person elitist in their portrayal of historical accounts? Have they included all the facts. Did they dilute the facts? These things we take for granted when it comes to history and how it's told. This book is great because it tries to explain why this happens.

[Nick Jones · Rating 1 out of 5]

The worst explanation of the history of historical research imaginable, disconnected individuals and schools of thought being briefly name-dropped with little to no relation or context and then forgotten for the rest of the book. No through-line or point, just digressions and quotations and bloody Marx everywhere.

Central thesis.

Have one.

Chrissakes.

[Sasha (bahareads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

* I did not read the entire book.

History and Historians: A Historiographical Introduction was used in my Historiography class. The study of the history of history is an interesting one. Gilderhus does a decent job bringing it to life and showing the different eras in which historical thought was developed. However, Gilderhus shows a dismissive attitude towards any type of religion and pre-literate societies, he did not even try to hide his biases at all. History and Historians has a lot of good information about historical perspectives and how historical writing was influenced by it but there so much pretentious academic pose that following the narrative can be rather hard. History and Historians is a decent guide for historical thought throughout history.

[John Petersen]

Not only was this book a required text for our "Prelude" class as history majors at Colorado State University. The author was our professor and the department head. Dr. Gilderhus was a great instructor with a passion for the subject of history. This book is meant to serve as an introduction to the study of history.

[Alex Kuchma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chapter seven, the second to last chapter of the book, remains my favourite. Elsewhere, concepts and schools of thought are briefed over with little explaination. Chapter 7 has a more detailed look at a couple key issues in history; mainly the Enola Gay / Smithsonian scandle. I wish the rest of the book handled issues in this way.
I did find the last chapter, on reading and writing history, to be a bit pretentious in nature, and as a history student myself, I understand the need for clear and concise writing, but I can't help but think that there should be room for more liberal writing in academia. Scholars that I've read that have attempted to communicate more freely, I find much more enjoyable. His discouragement of these practices comes off a bit harsh and, as I said, pretentious.
Ultimately, this book is a useful tool, and has helped me formulate my understanding of the history of history. May not read again, but I did take quite a few notes I'll return too.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Especially helpful for its coverage of the history of philosophy from the Early Modern period through the present day, which incidentally is also a history of how historical inquiry has changed. For the most part I thought it was fair. The section on the Israelites and early Christianity was poor in my opinion, but that is pretty common from any secular writer. The last chapter broke into a diatribe about current historical disputes and he had a bone to pick with the other parties.

[Vampire Who Baked · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting introduction to "history" as theory and practice-- definitional challenges, etc.-- but he focuses too much on age-old Eurocentric upper-class-cis-het-white-male dominated narratives. It would have been more interesting if the first few chapters were condensed and more focus was placed on where these traditional practices fail.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

particularly good introduction to historiography. Gilderhus clearly identifies and decribes of the major themes and debates among the more important historical thinkers from Herodotus to the 1960s. Includes good lists of recommended readings for each chapter. As an introductory text it earns 4 stars.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely one of the more readable historiographical texts I've read!

[Pat Reeder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, basic historiography—not a brilliant, but an adequate introduction.

[Dana · Rating 1 out of 5]

it's not personal

[Justin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eurocentric and outdated.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good info, but buried under too much scholarly prose. Remove the academic gobbledygook, and this brief volume would reach a much broader audience. Postmodernism and culture wars need more fleshing out than the brief postscript provides.

[Jay Sandlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The volume is informative, brisk, and keeps an engaging pace that never left my mind wandering or feeling bored. Gilderhus encapsulates a large amount of information in a very approachable and easy-to-understand format in cataloging the various historiographical methods of the world's greatest historians and how they viewed history.

Gilderhus is largely unable to keep his biases hidden, and holds a great contempt for the Enlightenment thinkers, primarily Voltaire. Gilderhus simultaneously criticizes Voltaire for hating and judging the past, and failing to view previous events in their proper historical context. This is ironic, as Gilderhus commits the same "historian's sin" against Voltaire by not considering or acknowledging the context of the Enlightenment era that led Voltaire and his ilk to consider the past a cautionary tale to avoid repeating in matters of theocratic government. Gilderhus also venerates Vico as a man of logic and evidence, while turning a blind eye to his entirely superstitious based Providential schema which viewed the divine will of an invisible being as the ultimate source of all historical events.

[Erika Forth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one goes through all the different schools of historical thought throughout the ages. Actually wasn't too boring or too hard to read, though I know others in my class felt that way. It's good for learning about different historical perspectives and how that influenced the recording of history at that time.

[Kevin Mason · Rating 3 out of 5]

I completed this book because it was assigned in a historical research methods class I am currently enrolled in. It provides a solid background of historical thought throughout recorded history. At times the book become a bit convoluted, but is a serviceable guide for students of history.

[Liz Perez · Rating 4 out of 5]

reading this in my theory and practice of history class