What is History?
History is the science responsible for studying past events. This study, however, is not done in any way, as the historian, in his office, must put in practice a critical analysis of its object of study in order to rationalize the conclusion about the events investigated.
The word “history” comes from the Greek language and comes from the word “history", which means “learning”, “wise”. Therefore, it refers to the knowledge obtained from research and study. The importance of History lies in its role of guiding man in space and time, giving him the possibility to understand his own reality.
The concept of History receives different definitions according to different historians. The historian Marc Bloch, for example, considers that History is not the science that studies past events, but the science that studies man and his action in time.|1|. Others understand it as the study of transformations in human society over time.
In this sense, the role of the historian is to carry out a critical analysis that allows him to reach a conclusion about a certain past event based on the investigation of historical sources. The historian should not glorify or demonize a given event, but should critically analyze it, using all the sources at your fingertips and employing analysis methods that help you in your exercise.
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When did history begin?
The emergence of History as a science and field of study was the work of the ancient greeks. Herodotus he is considered the father of history. His work happened through the systematization of events in the history of the Greeks and other ancient peoples, such as the Egyptians. One of the events in Greek history narrated by Herodotus was the Medical Wars, conflict waged during the invasion of Greece by the Persians.
Thucydides he was the first historian to use, in fact, a method of analysis that would allow us to reconstruct and formulate an analysis of a past event. His work was about the Peloponnesian War, conflict between the cities of Athens and Sparta.
Periodization
Over time, historians agreed to organize events into periods. This periodization, of course, followed a chronological organization and used landmark events to determine the end of one period and the beginning of another. The end of a period, however, did not mean the recording of immediate profound changes, but indicated, from that milestone, the occurrence of significant changes over time.
Although many historians question the dating of the landmarks of each period, it remains in force and is used as a mechanism to organize the study of history and facilitate teaching. The historical periods are Prehistory, Old age, Middle Ages, Modern age, Contemporary age.
Prehistory
Period that follows the entire historical evolution of man, starting from its emergence and extending to the moment when the first form of writing was created, around 4000 BC. Ç. Prehistory follows the entire process of human development, from the use of stone and metal for the production of tools to the sedentarization process.
Old age
Its starting point is the creation of the first form of writing developed by man: the cuneiform writing, created by the Sumerians, people who inhabited the Mesopotamia.
This period studies the events that involved different peoples, such as Egyptians, Sumerians, assyrians, Persians, Hittites, greeks, romans, etc. The end of this period is the fall of the Western Roman Empire, when the last Roman emperor was overthrown by the Heruli, in 476 d. Ç.
Middle Ages
It follows the historical events of the period that spans from 476 to 1453. Its starting milestone is the end of the Western Roman Empire, and its ending milestone is the fall of Constantinople To the ottomans.
During this period, the facts that happened in Europe with the emergence of the feudalism and the formation of a society controlled by the Catholic Church. Currently, the study of this period in Brazil has expanded its focus to studies of other peoples, such as Arabs, Asian peoples, Africans and pre-Columbians.
Modern age
It is a shorter period which analyzes the events from 1453 to 1789, with emphasis on the process of colonization of the American continent. The various transformations that Europe faced with the emergence of new ideas during the Rebirth it's the Enlightenment.
The milestone stipulated for the end of this period is the Bastille fall, event that started the French Revolution, in 1789.
Contemporary age
Current period in which we are inserted. It follows events from the end of the 18th century to the present day. Thus, this period encompasses facts that marked great transformations for humanity, such as those caused by the industrial revolutions.
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General history
The organization of History contents in our country stipulates a division into Brazilian History and General History. In the General History, all History matters related to events in places other than Brazil are incorporated, such as those related to history of america, to the Ancient and Middle Ages.
Examples of General History Themes
-Ancient Rome
- History of the Franks
- Great Navigations
- Protestant Reformation
- american revolution
- Independence of Spanish America
- great depression
- Second World War
- Cold War
history of Brazil
In the History of Brazil, all matters relating to the history of the country are listed. Thus, the study and teaching of Brazilian History address events that took place in the Brazilian geographic space or that directly interfered in our country.
Therefore, the pre-Columbian peoples who inhabited the territory that today corresponds to Brazil before the arrival of the Portuguese are part of the history of our country. This is important to mention because many people believe that Brazilian history began with the arrival of the portuguese, in 1500.
Examples of Brazilian History themes
- General Government
- Mining in the Colonial Period
- Bahia Inconfidence
- Joanine Period
- second reign
- Cisplatin War
- Lieutenantism
- Government of João Goulart
|1| BLOCH, Marc. Apology of History or the job of the historian. Rio de Janeiro: Zahar, 2002, p. 55.
By Daniel Neves
Graduated in History