Encyclopedia Britannica: "The Study of History"

Varied Authors. Encyclopedia Britannica, 15^th Ed. “The Study of History.” Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1985.

Given the forum’s interest in orbital learning and being catechetized in divine providence (Reformation theology, WCF, “Divine Providence,” chapter 5), learning is a corollary concern in life; it’s natural. It’s sinful to disregard God’s providential dealings. On the other hand, the study of providence leads to profound humility.  Job asks one question; God puts about 40 questions (more like probing interrogations) to Job.  Rightly schooled in divine providence, Job puts his hand on his mouth in silence and repentance.  We bring you the "The Study of History,” or, varied approaches of historiography.

 

Outline

History of historiography

1. Ancient historiography

1. Greco-Roman era
2. Early Christian era
3. Early China

1. Medieval historiography

1. Europe from the 5^th to the 11^th century
2. Europe from the 12^th to the 14^th century

1. Byzantine historiography
2. Muslim historiography
3. Historiography in the European Renaissance
4. Early modern historiography
5. Historiography in the age of the Enlightenment
6. Historiography in the 19^th and 20^th centuries

Methodology of historiography

1. Source material
2. Using source material

Ancillary Fields

1. Archaeology

1. History of archaeology
2. Fieldwork
3. Interpretation

1. Bibliography

1. Descriptive bibliography
2. Critical bibliography

1. Chronology

1. Chinese
2. Japanese
3. Indian
4. Egyptian
5. Babylonian and Assyrian
6. Jewish
7. Greek
8. Roman
9. Christian
10. Muslim

Diplomatics

1. History of the study of documents
2. Diplomatic method
3. Development and characteristics of chanceries

Epigraphy

1. Materials and techniques
2. Inscriptions as historical source material
3. Inscriptions as social and cultural records
4. The use of inscriptions
5. History of epigraphy

Genealogy

1. History of genealogical study
2. Modern genealogy

Paleography

1. Types of writing materials
2. Analysis of texts

Sigillography

1. Seals in antiquity
2. Medieval European seals
3. Modern use of seals
4. Chinese and Japanese seals

Textual criticism

1. The materials of investigation
2. Critical methods
3. History of textual criticism

Modern history, we are told, is the “reconstructing an accurate record of human activities.”  Further, we are told, this scientific interest dates from the 18^th and early 19^th centuries as the product of professional historians. The “assumption” was that history was the “natural, inevitable kind of human activity.”  History was never, we are further told, a part of regular education, but was mediated by religion, philosophy, poety and imaginative literature.  So, we are told.  More, as the issue is studied.