History

Historical Research and Historiography

2,452 Questions

Historical research and historiography analyze how history is written and interpreted. This topic includes primary sources, oral histories, and public history challenges. It is an important section for UPSC and state PSC civil services examinations.

Primary and secondary sourcesPublic history challengesOral history methodsHistorical memory studiesDigital archives in researchBias and empathy in history

Historical Research and Historiography Questions

Multiple choice history applied history preservation of our heritage preserving indian heritage spread and propagation of indian culture

Historical research, writing and studies are carried out with an objective of understanding the chronology of the past events and their interconnections.

  1. True

  2. False
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The primary goal of historical study is to create a coherent narrative of the past by understanding the sequence of events and how they relate to one another.

Multiple choice history what is history? historiography in the west historiography: development in the west historiography: indian tradition

Why historians use timelines?

  1. Historians use timelines to make notes for themselves.

  2. Historians use timelines to put events into the chronological order.

  3. Historians use timelines to study the events in the future.

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

History is all about to study the things happened in past.  Historians use timelines to put the events into the chronological order. Chronology is important because the exact order in which the events occur help us to understand the cause and effect of those events. Timelines explain the full picture of particular era from beginning to end. 

Multiple choice history what is history? historiography in the west historiography: development in the west historiography: indian tradition

What do we learn by studying History ?

  1. How one should behave today in order to shape a good future.

  2. Changes in human civilizations.

  3. Scientists who made many discoveries.

  4. All of the above.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

History mainly provides us with guidelines about how we should behave in order to shape a good future , history also serves to ispire and to motivate us.By studying history , we get to know about the give and take that took place between our own and other civilizations.We also understand how people's way of life went on changing.It tells of the many scientific discoveries that brought about important changes in human civilization and of the scientists who made those discoveries.

Multiple choice history what is history? historiography in the west historiography: development in the west historiography: indian tradition

What is History ?

  1. The science that tries to understand past events is called 'history'.

  2. The science that tries to understand present events is called 'history'.

  3. The science that tries to understand future events is called 'history'.

  4. None of the above.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The science that tries to understand past events is called 'history'. The past includes many events that have already taken place. History attempts to find out answers to many questions by studying the way of thinking of past societies , their actions and the consequences. The study of history makes it possible for us to study what is and what is not favourable for the progress of human society.

Multiple choice history what is history? historiography in the west historiography: development in the west historiography: indian tradition

Historical research method includes collecting historical information, highlighting the processes that lead to historical transitions, carrying out comparative analysis.

  1. True

  2. False
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Historical research involves the systematic collection of data, analysis of transitions, and comparative study to understand past events.

Multiple choice

We can use our knowledge of the past to help us

  1. writemore interesting books.

  2. makedecisions for the future.

  3. learnmore about modern technology.

  4. discoverwho is to blame for starting wars.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Studying history allows us to analyze past events, successes, and failures to make more informed decisions for the future.

Multiple choice

The main job of a historian is to

  1. study causes/reasons for why something occurred in the past.

  2. opennew museums to display a variety of ancient artifacts.

  3. teachhistory and social studies and keep a journal

  4. travelaround the world, finding archaeologists to work with.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Historians analyze primary and secondary sources to understand the causes, effects, and context of past events.

Multiple choice

Secondary sources

  1. include spoken interviews.

  2. are sometimes clothing or tools.

  3. offer a broad view of an entire event.

  4. are firsthand pieces of evidence.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Secondary sources are accounts or interpretations of events created by someone who did not experience them firsthand, often providing a broader perspective.

Multiple choice

Opinion & bias in historical sources shows the need to be aware of

  1. points of view

  2. turning points

  3. human rights

  4. plagiarism
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

When analyzing historical sources, it is essential to recognize that authors have their own perspectives, biases, and motivations. Understanding these 'points of view' is critical for historical accuracy.

Multiple choice

Historians rely on primary sources because these sources

  1. are more detailed than secondary sources

  2. provide eyewitness accounts of events

  3. are approved by religious authorities

  4. establish rules for writing history
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Primary sources are original materials from the time period under study, providing direct, firsthand evidence. Secondary sources interpret or analyze these primary sources, but they are not eyewitness accounts themselves.

Multiple choice

These rules help historians determine the:

  1. reliability of the information

  2. differences in belief systems

  3. popularity of a publication

  4. laws of a civilization
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The question refers to the historical method of source evaluation, often called historical criticism. Historians use these rules to determine if a source is authentic and trustworthy.

Multiple choice

Why are primary sources important to understanding human history?

  1. They provide historians' interpretations of past events.

  2. They are based on secondary sources.

  3. give description of events by a person who lived through it

  4. passed down orally from one generation to the next
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Primary sources are direct, firsthand accounts of events created by people who witnessed or experienced them. They provide invaluable, unvarnished evidence about the past, whereas secondary sources offer later interpretations and analyses.

Multiple choice

Why does historians didn't write much about tribes ?

  1. Because tribals did otallow them to visit their area.

  2. Because they didn't have enough information.

  3. Because they couldn't decode the tribes language.

  4. Because they didn't want to find more about tribes.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Historical sources about tribal communities were limited because tribal societies were often oral cultures without written records, and mainstream historians had limited access to or understanding of tribal areas and customs. This lack of documentation led to fewer historical accounts about tribes.