Introduction

Relevance of the Theme

Understanding what History is transcends the academic sphere and directly permeates our sense of identity and understanding of the world. History is the key to understanding how the past has shaped our present and can guide us into the future. It is a living record of human experiences, their struggles, triumphs, mistakes, and innovations. By studying what History is, we develop the critical ability to interpret, analyze, and question the narratives of the past.

Contextualization

In the vast field of History discipline, the theme 'What is History' acts as an introductory milestone, serving to establish common ground between teacher and student. This theme is especially relevant in the 3rd year of high school, as it recapitulates the tools and approaches with which students are already familiar, providing a solid foundation for subsequent studies. Furthermore, it reinforces the idea that History is a social and continuous construction, demystifying the belief that it is a set of isolated facts and dates, and encouraging a critical approach to understanding the past.

Theoretical Development

Components

• History as a Social Construction: history is not merely a linear sequence of events, but rather a social construction based on perceptions and interpretations of the past. It is a consequence of the socio-cultural context of each era and can be influenced by factors such as politics, economy, and ideology.

• Historical Sources: these are the materials that allow the study of the past. Sources can be primary, originating from the period in question (e.g. diaries, letters, official documents), or secondary, which interpret or analyze the primary sources (e.g. books, articles, documentaries).

• Historical Time: differs from chronological time, being a subjective notion in which events are organized according to importance and context. Historical time can be cyclical (a common conception in ancient cultures) or linear (a predominant view in Western culture).

• Periodization: is the division of history into periods to facilitate its understanding. Periodization is an academic construction and can vary according to the focus or theory adopted.

• Historical Narratives: are the stories that historians tell about the past. These can vary according to the author's perspective, highlighting the importance of the plurality of views in the construction of history.

Key Terms

• Historiography: is the study of written history or writing about history. It fundamentally deals with the methods, sources, approaches, and theories used by historians.

• Anachronism: is the mistake of placing an event in a period of time in which it could not have occurred. It is a common trap in historical analysis that can lead to false conclusions.

• Otherness: is the understanding of difference and the acceptance of the other as legitimate. In the study of history, otherness is essential to understanding past cultures and societies.

Examples and Cases

• History of Colonial Brazil: the way the history of Brazil is told varies according to perspective. From the colonizer's point of view, the history of colonization is one of progress and civilization. However, from the perspective of indigenous peoples and enslaved individuals, history is one of invasion, resistance, and struggle.

• World War II: the periodization of the war can vary according to the adopted approach. In Western historiography, the war is often divided into phases (e.g. pre-war, war, post-war). In Soviet historiography, however, the war was seen as a single conflict that extended from 1939 to 1945.

• Rereading Historical Narratives: over time, many historical narratives have been reassessed. An example is the reinterpretation of women's participation in the Industrial Revolution, which was long ignored or underestimated.

Detailed Summary

Relevant Points

• The Nature of History: history is not a collection of static facts, but a social and continuous construction that reflects human perceptions and interpretations of the past. History is a product of its time, influenced by political, cultural, economic, and social factors.

• Historical Sources: history is built from sources that can be primary (from the studied period) or secondary (interpreting or analyzing primary sources). Critical analysis of sources is fundamental to the practice of history.

• Time and Periodization: historical time differs from chronological time, being a subjective construction that organizes events according to their importance and context. Periodization is a tool that divides history into periods to facilitate understanding, but it is an academic construction that can vary according to the theory or approach used.

• Historical Narratives: history is told through narratives that can vary according to the author's perspective. The plurality of views allows for a more complete understanding of the past.

Conclusions

• The Importance of Perspective: understanding that history is built from different perspectives allows for a critical look at past events and avoids simplistic conclusions. Otherness is fundamental in this process.

• The Role of the Historian: the historian is not just a mere compiler of facts, but an interpreter of the past. Historiography, the study of the writing of history, is an essential tool in the historian's work.

Exercises

1. Analysis of Sources: Ask students to bring a current news article and an old news article about the same event. Analyze in class the differences in approach and perspective in each.

2. Periodization of a Historical Event: Ask students to divide a historical event of their choice into periods. Compare the periodizations made and discuss the criteria used by each student.

3. Rewriting of a Narrative: Ask students to rewrite a part of history that they consider poorly represented in the traditional perspective. Discuss in class the changes made and the possible impacts of a new approach.