PREFACE TO HISTORY - Carl Gustavson
What is History?
As we move through the
present world, yesterday
constantly surrounds us.
"A natural curiosity as to what underlies the
surface appearance of any historical event"
(Gustavson 6)
"In studying any present problem, idea, event or
institution, the mind of the historian inevitably
gravitates in the direction of the past, seeking
origins, relationships and comparisons" (Gustavson
6)
"The student of society must try to discern
the shapes and contours of the forces which
are dynamic in society" (Gustavson 6).
"Society is perpetually undergoing a process
of change" (Gustavson 7).
"He must approach his subject in a spirit of
humility, prepared to recognize tenacious
reality rather than what he wishes to find"
(Gustavson 7).
Edward Said (1935-2003)
"Finally, the historian knows that each
situation and event is unique" (Gustavson 7).
Contrary to popular quotes – history does not
repeat itself but human nature does.
CONTINUITY
CHANGE
CAUSATION
SOCIAL FORCES
Look beyond the event to search for patterns,
forces, causes, and continuity
We must dig below the surface to discover
profiles and actions that shaped the event
Events are but one point on a continuum
Society is dynamic – in perpetual change
Shaped by forces that have been building for
some time
Geography is the first
lesson of history
20th century as a
Eurocentric world?
Pablo Picasso- Guernica
Ai Wei Wei (b. 1957)
Political activist
1984 George Orwell
• Thoughtcrime does not entail death; thoughtcrime is death.
• ‘Who controls the past’ (ran the Party slogan), ‘controls the
future; who controls the present controls the past.’
• People simply disappeared, always during the night. Your name
was removed from registers, every record of everything you had
ever done was wiped out, your one-time existence was denied
and then forgotten. You were abolished, annihilated: vaporized
was the usual word.
Social Forces are human energies which originate
as individual motivations that grow and expand to
the point where they are collective manifestations
of power
– Free market economy
Power of the oil economy
New Deal
1980 Olympics
Embargo
• Missionaries
Mohammed / Islam
• Communism in the 20th Century
• Caudillo in Latin America
Gulf War
Printing Press
Handgun
Caravel
Computers
“A revolution is caused by the misery of the
people. A strong and tyrannical government
persists in its misrule until the people can
endure it no longer. Then, moved by
spontaneous zeal and righteous indignation,
the multitudes rise. They assault the citadels
of power and expel the ruling class in a
bloody civil war. As a consequence of the
revolution, liberty is restored.
-Carl Gustavson-
True or False?