EH Carr's Contribution to Historical Theory and Practice in His Book What Is History?
What Is History Eh Carr Pdf Downloadgolkes valentina razzo manu
History is one of the most fascinating and rewarding subjects to study. It can help us understand ourselves, our society, and our world better. But what is history exactly? Who is EH Carr and what did he write about history? And where can you find his book and other history books online for free? In this article, we will answer these questions and more. We will also give you some tips on how to read history critically and enjoyably.
What Is History Eh Carr Pdf Downloadgolkes valentina razzo manu
Introduction
What is history?
History is the study of the past. It is not just a collection of facts and dates, but a way of interpreting and explaining what happened and why. History is based on evidence, such as documents, artifacts, testimonies, and other sources that can tell us something about the past. However, history is not objective or neutral. It is always influenced by the historian's point of view, values, assumptions, and biases. Therefore, history is not a single truth, but a multiplicity of perspectives and narratives.
Who is EH Carr?
EH Carr was a British historian, diplomat, and journalist who lived from 1892 to 1982. He is best known for his book What Is History?, which was published in 1961. In this book, he challenged the traditional view of history as a scientific and objective discipline. He argued that history is a social process that depends on the interaction between the historian and the facts. He also emphasized the role of causation, interpretation, and imagination in historical writing.
What is his book about?
What Is History? is a collection of lectures that EH Carr delivered at Cambridge University in 1961. In these lectures, he discussed various aspects of historical theory and practice, such as the nature of historical facts, the relationship between history and morality, the role of society and individuals in history, and the problems of historical objectivity and relativism. He also criticized some of the prominent historians of his time, such as Arnold Toynbee and Herbert Butterfield. His book provoked a lot of debate and controversy among historians and philosophers.
Main body
Why is history important?
History helps us understand the present
One of the main reasons why history is important is that it helps us understand the present. By studying the past, we can learn how our world came to be what it is today. We can see how different events, ideas, movements, cultures, and people shaped our society and influenced our values, beliefs, institutions, and policies. We can also identify the patterns, trends, and cycles that recur in history and how they affect our current situation.
History teaches us valuable lessons
Another reason why history is important is that it teaches us valuable lessons. By studying the past, we can learn from the successes and failures of others. We can see what worked and what didn't, what was right and what was wrong, what was wise and what was foolish. We can also learn from the mistakes and achievements of our ancestors and avoid repeating them or emulate them. History can also teach us how to deal with challenges, conflicts, and changes that we face in our lives.
History inspires us to create a better future
A third reason why history is important is that it inspires us to create a better future. By studying the past, we can discover the heroes and heroines, the leaders and visionaries, the innovators and reformers, who made a positive difference in the world. We can also see the struggles and sacrifices, the hopes and dreams, the courage and resilience, of ordinary people who fought for their rights, freedom, dignity, and happiness. History can motivate us to follow their example and contribute to the common good of humanity.
How to read history critically?
Analyze the sources and evidence
One of the skills that you need to read history critically is to analyze the sources and evidence. Sources are the materials that historians use to reconstruct the past, such as documents, artifacts, testimonies, and other records. Evidence is the information that can be derived from the sources, such as facts, data, arguments, and opinions. To analyze the sources and evidence, you need to ask questions such as: Who created the source and why? When and where was it created? What does it say and how does it say it? What is its reliability and validity? What are its strengths and weaknesses? How does it relate to other sources and evidence?
Consider the context and perspective
Another skill that you need to read history critically is to consider the context and perspective. Context is the background information that helps us understand the sources and evidence better, such as the historical setting, the social and cultural environment, the political and economic situation, and the personal circumstances of the people involved. Perspective is the point of view or angle from which the sources and evidence are presented or interpreted, such as the historian's purpose, audience, values, assumptions, biases, and methods. To consider the context and perspective, you need to ask questions such as: What was happening at the time and place of the source or evidence? What were the conditions and influences that affected the source or evidence? What was the intention or message of the source or evidence? What was the position or stance of the source or evidence?
Compare and contrast different interpretations
A third skill that you need to read history critically is to compare and contrast different interpretations. Interpretations are the explanations or meanings that historians give to the sources and evidence, such as their arguments, claims, hypotheses, theories, narratives, and stories. Interpretations can vary depending on the context and perspective of the historians. To compare and contrast different interpretations, you need to ask questions such as: What are the main points or arguments of each interpretation? How do they support their points or arguments with sources and evidence? How do they differ or agree with each other? What are their strengths and weaknesses? Which interpretation do you find more convincing or persuasive?
Where to find history books online?
The benefits of reading history books online
If you are interested in reading history books online, you are in luck. There are many benefits of reading history books online, such as:
You can access a wide range of history books from different genres, periods, regions, topics, authors, publishers, etc.
You can save money by downloading history books for free or at a low cost.
You can save time by searching for history books quickly and easily.
You can save space by storing history books digitally on your device.
You can enhance your reading experience by using features such as bookmarks, highlights, notes, annotations, etc.
You can share your thoughts and opinions with other readers by joining online communities or forums.
The best websites to download history books for free
There are many websites where you can download history books for free. However, some of them may not be legal or safe. Therefore, you should be careful when choosing which website to use. Here are some of the best websites that offer legal and safe downloads of history books for free:
Project Gutenberg: This is one of the oldest and largest websites that provides free ebooks in various formats. It has over 60,000 history books in its collection.
-profit library that offers free access to millions of books, audio, video, and other media. It has over 20 million history books in its collection.
Open Library: This is a project of the Internet Archive that aims to create a web page for every book ever published. It has over 3 million history books in its collection.
HathiTrust: This is a partnership of academic and research institutions that offers a digital library of over 17 million books. It has over 2 million history books in its collection.
ManyBooks: This is a website that offers free ebooks in various genres and formats. It has over 50,000 history books in its collection.
The most popular history books to read in 2023
If you are looking for some recommendations on what history books to read in 2023, here are some of the most popular ones that you can find online:
The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz by Erik Larson: This is a bestselling book that tells the story of Winston Churchill and his family during the Nazi bombing of London in 1940-1941.
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson: This is a Pulitzer Prize-winning book that explores the hidden system of caste that shapes America and other societies.
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson: This is another Pulitzer Prize-winning book that chronicles the migration of millions of African Americans from the South to the North and West from 1915 to 1970.
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari: This is a global bestseller that traces the evolution of humans from ancient times to the present day.
A Promised Land by Barack Obama: This is a memoir by the former president of the United States that covers his life and political career from his childhood to his first term in office.
Conclusion
Summary of the main points
In this article, we have discussed what history is, who EH Carr is, and what his book What Is History? is about. We have also explained why history is important, how to read history critically, and where to find history books online. We hope that this article has inspired you to read more history books and appreciate the value and beauty of history.
Call to action for the readers
If you want to learn more about history, we invite you to visit our website and download our free ebook The Ultimate Guide to History. This ebook will give you more tips and resources on how to enjoy and master history. You will also get access to our exclusive newsletter and community where you can share your thoughts and opinions with other history lovers. To get your free ebook, just click on the link below and enter your email address. Hurry up, this offer is only valid for a limited time!
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FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about history:
What are some of the best history podcasts?
Some of the best history podcasts are:
Hardcore History: This is a podcast by Dan Carlin that covers various topics and events in history with passion and depth.
In Our Time: History: This is a podcast by BBC Radio 4 that features experts discussing different aspects and periods of history.
History Extra Podcast: This is a podcast by BBC History Magazine that offers interviews, reviews, and features on history.
Revisionist History: This is a podcast by Malcolm Gladwell that revisits and reinterprets some of the overlooked or misunderstood events, people, and ideas in history.
You Must Remember This: This is a podcast by Karina Longworth that explores the secret and forgotten histories of Hollywood's first century.
What are some of the best history movies?
Some of the best history movies are:
Braveheart: This is a movie by Mel Gibson that tells the story of William Wallace, a Scottish warrior who led the rebellion against the English rule in the 13th century.
Gladiator: This is a movie by Ridley Scott that tells the story of Maximus, a Roman general who becomes a gladiator and seeks revenge against the emperor who killed his family.
Schindler's List: This is a movie by Steven Spielberg that tells the story of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved the lives of over a thousand Jews during the Holocaust.
The King's Speech: This is a movie by Tom Hooper that tells the story of King George VI, who overcame his stammer with the help of a speech therapist and led Britain during World War II.
Hidden Figures: This is a movie by Theodore Melfi that tells the story of three African American women who worked as mathematicians and engineers at NASA and contributed to the space program in the 1960s.
What are some of the best history books for kids?
Some of the best history books for kids are:
The Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne: This is a series of books that follows the adventures of Jack and Annie, two siblings who travel through time and space using a magic tree house.
Horrible Histories series by Terry Deary: This is a series of books that presents various periods and topics in history with humor and facts.
I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis: This is a series of books that tells the stories of children who survived some of the most devastating events in history, such as the Titanic, the Holocaust, and Hurricane Katrina.
Who Was? series by various authors: This is a series of books that introduces the biographies of famous people in history, such as Abraham Lincoln, Anne Frank, and Martin Luther King Jr.
A Little History of the World by E.H. Gombrich: This is a book that summarizes the history of humankind from ancient times to modern times in an engaging and accessible way.
What are some of the best history games?
Some of the best history games are:
Civilization: This is a series of games that lets you build and lead your own civilization from ancient times to future times.
Assassin's Creed: This is a series of games that lets you explore and experience different historical settings and events, such as the Crusades, the Renaissance, and the American Revolution.
Total War: This is a series of games that lets you command and fight in various historical wars and battles, such as the Roman Empire, medieval Europe, and feudal Japan.
Age of Empires: This is a series of games that lets you develop and expand your own empire from ancient times to colonial times.
Oregon Trail: This is a game that lets you experience the journey of American pioneers who traveled westward in the 19th century.
What are some of the best history quotes?
Some of the best history quotes are:
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - George Santayana
"History is written by the victors." - Winston Churchill
"The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see." - Winston Churchill
"History is a set of lies agreed upon." - Napoleon Bonaparte
"History will be kind to me for I intend to write it." - Winston Churchill
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