An Emissary from Akbar to ‘Abbās I: Inscriptions, Texts, and the Career of Amīr Muḥammad Ma‘ṣ;ūm al-Bhakkaī

1991 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamsheed K. Choksy ◽  
M. Usman Hasan
Keyword(s):  
Historical Narratives ◽  
Historical Sources ◽  
Objective Reality ◽  
Historical Fact ◽  
Royal Ideology ◽  
Historical Writings

It has been suggested that all historical sources are subjective from their inception and that authors' styles, commitments and views determine the bases of historical writings. Claude Lévi-Strauss has ventured so far as to claim: “Besides, historical fact has no objective reality. It only exists as a result of a retrospective construction undertaken by people who have lived the events they speak of in a purely arbitrative sense.” Indeed, historical narratives are fraught with danger when used as sources of actual information, for factual accuracy often does not extend to validity in representation of events. Formal histories such as dynastic chronicles were particularly vulnerable to misrepresentation. They usually were composed either with the intent of flattering the rulers who served as patrons of the author's efforts - and, hence, reflect royal ideology and imperial propaganda - or as a means of disparaging and vilifying the royal house

Ainsworth's Historical Accuracy Reconsidered

1972 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-28
Author(s):  
Llewellyn Ligocki
Keyword(s):  
Historical Novel ◽  
Sir Walter Scott ◽  
Crucial Importance ◽  
Historical Sources ◽  
The Past ◽  
Waverley Novels ◽  
Literary Figure ◽  
Historical Fact ◽  
The Common ◽  
Failure To Progress

After Sir Walter Scott made the historical novel popular with his Waverley novels, many other writers, including the major novelists Dickens and Thackeray and the minor novelists Ainsworth, G. P. R. James, Bulwer-Lytton, and Reade, took up the form. But while the major novelists are credited with artistry in their use of history, the minor ones are generally regarded as hacks who used history indiscriminately in any way they wished in order to “make saleable novels.” The disparaging criticism of William Harrison Ainsworth's use of history exemplifies this unreflective critical tendency.For several probable reasons, critics have not been inclined to credit Ainsworth with using history responsibly; however, none of the reasons is based on an examination of his sources: his rapid ascension and decline as an important literary figure, his popularity with the common reading public, and his failure to progress artistically after his first few good novels. His artistic growth seems to have ended in 1840, forty-one years before the publication of his last novel. These critics have seen him as a “manufacturer of fiction,” and therefore not responsible in his treatment of historical fact and his use of historical documents, even though time and place are of crucial importance to Ainsworth. One could hardly regard Ainsworth more incorrectly. A close reading of Ainsworth's historical sources demonstrates that Ainsworth's history is extremely reliable in both generalities and particulars; his alterations, usually minor, serve only to adumbrate his concept of history as cycle. Thus, even though he is a novelist and not a historian, the faithful revelation of the past is central to his work. He examines history carefully in order to present truths about life and in order to demonstrate how history reveals these truths.

Violence Against Women in Andalusi Historical Sources (Third/Ninth– Seventh/Thirteenth Centuries)

2015 ◽  
pp. 155-175
Author(s):  
Maribel Fierro
Keyword(s):  
Violence Against Women ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Social Disorder ◽  
Historical Sources ◽  
Historical Basis ◽  
Historical Writings ◽  
Islamic Historiography ◽  
Area Of Study

Episodes of violence in historical writings may reflect the use of topoi – an area of study that has considerably advanced our understanding of both Islamic historiography and history.1 For example, the attribution of unusually cruel behaviour to a particular ruler – notwithstanding the possibility that such behaviour may have a historical basis – is used to justify his deposition, especially when it coincides with dynastic change.2 Narratives of violence against women in medieval writings3 – still a much unexplored topic, especially as regards the Islamic world4 – appear, as indicated by Manuela Marín, in contexts dealing with the relationships linking women in a hierarchy of power to their husbands or masters,5 and also in those of social disorder (wars and armed conflicts).

The Rohingya ‘Origin’ Narrative

2018 ◽  
pp. 73-106
Author(s):  
Anthony Ware ◽  
Costas Laoutides
Keyword(s):  
Historical Record ◽  
Historical Narratives ◽  
Historical Sources ◽  
Muslim Population ◽  
Intractable Conflict ◽  
Sociopolitical Context ◽  
Historical Accounts ◽  
Ethic Identity

Chapters Three and Four articulate the competing historical narratives and representations of memory sustaining Myanmar’s ‘Rohingya’ conflict. This chapter examines what the authors designate the Rohingya ‘Origin’ narrative, and interrogates it against the available historical record; the next chapter considers the Rakhine and Burman perspectives. Drawing on the concept of intractable conflict, this chapter commences with an assessment of ‘Rohingya’ written historical sources and their sociopolitical context, then presents an overview and critique of these historical accounts. The chapter summarizes the key narrative of Rohingya origins, examining their representation of various waves of Muslim migration in the distant past, seeking to establish the Rohingya as a national race with deep historical roots in Arakan—and a people integral to Arakan’s political and socioeconomic life until its 1784 conquest by the Burmans. The chapter then offers an analysis of the pre-colonial Muslim population, and assesses their perspectives about the origins of the contemporary conflict. The chapter thus documents and analyses Rohingya claims that various waves of settlers have been assimilated, over centuries, into what is now a single ethic identity with a strong historical connection to the land, and a distinct language, culture and history which should now be considered indigenous to the region.

“Gendered Narratives,” History, and Identity: Two Centuries Along the Juba River among the Zigula and Shanbara

1995 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
pp. 93-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Declich
Keyword(s):  
Historical Narratives ◽  
Women's Roles ◽  
Historical Sources ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Historical Discourse ◽  
Early Colonial ◽  
Female Voices ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Historical Discourses ◽  
Gender Specific

The argument that a process of “making tribes” has invested Africa from early colonial times has been used to explain the emergence of some ethnicities which appear not to have existed before colonialism. This emergence was often accompanied by the creation of written records of male historical discourse, thus not only giving them undue prominence but also suppressing female historical discourses which were not considered pertinent to “history.”Yet whenever history is recounted orally by either men or women, it contains messages directed to a “gendered” audience (i.e., an audience composed of people of both genders) whose participants perceive messages differently and reproduce separate but interacting discourses. Such diverse perceptions result from certain aspects in oral genres as well as small, coded markers which can evoke immensely potent but gender-specific experiences. Such instances may become public symbols and, along with more obviously historical narratives, greatly influence how people relate to their past. Thus men and women in the same audience, hearing the same story, can make connections between elements of a narrative which are obscure to outside researchers.Recently, it has become quite common for historians of Africa to deconstruct written historical sources on the basis of the agendas of both the original writer and his informants. These agendas are rarely explicit and thus hiddenly selective. Such deconstruction is a legitimate scholarly procedure; however, as female voices have rarely been recorded—the resulting analysis reinforces the omission of women's roles in the process of remaking history and creating identity.

scholarly journals PEMANFAATAN SITUS SINGOSARI DALAM BANGKAN LITERASI SEJARAH PESERTA DIDIK

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 159
Author(s):  
Nur Lailatus Zahroh
Keyword(s):  
National Curriculum ◽  
Practical Aspect ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Historical Sources ◽  
History Of ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Historical Fact ◽  
Historical Literacy ◽  
Historical Sites ◽  
The Right

<p>SMPI al Ma'arif is truly beneficial since it is located around the site Singosari, however the students in this schools do not know the history of the site Singosari; even they have never visited the historical object at all. In fact, the material about Singosari kingdom is one of the mandates of the national curriculum. To develop historical literacy as an effort to preserve the site and develop a sense of affection among the students towards historical site, the use of the Singosari site is the right step. The author is using qualitative research approach based on naturalistic studies. The research findings show that historical literacy development among the students by utilizing the historical sites have been reflected in the RPP made by the teacher. In practical aspect, some historical literacy index zas developed by a teacher. The development of historical literacy by utilizing the historical siteshas changed the paradigm of historical fact memorization to improve the students' involvement in historical sources.</p><p>Keywords: The Uise of Singosari Site, Literacy Ffistory of Students</p>

scholarly journals The role of Jazzar Pasha in the destruction of the sacral monuments on Kosovo: An example of tradition entering historiography

2018 ◽  
pp. 849-872
Author(s):  
Uros Sesum
Keyword(s):  
19Th Century ◽  
Oral Tradition ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Historical Sources ◽  
Early 19Th Century ◽  
Inaccurate Information ◽  
Historical Fact ◽  
The 19Th Century

lore from Kosovo, regarding systematic destruction of Serbian medieval churches and monasteries, committed by the local and semi-independent Jashar pasha in the early 19th century, was introduced in Serbian historiography by way of Serbian travelogue literature during the second half of 19th and early 20th century. According to lore, Pasha destroyed monasteries Vojsilovica and Burinci, Samodreza church and several other village churches for the purpose of using building materials for his water mills. Allegedly, construction materials of destroyed church in Lipljan and several surrounding village churches were used for construction of the bridge on river Sitnica, while, also allegedly, he took the floor from Gracanica monastery for his hamam. Lead from the monastery roof was used to cover the mosque in Pristina. After a critical analysis of such lore, it can be stated that Pasha did not demolish a singe church or monastery, but in fact, for his projects, he used materials from the already destroyed temples. These writings of lore, combined with the local population?s perception of him as a cruel master, left a historic view of him as being the main destroyer of Serbian medieval churches and monasteries. Release of lore version of Serbian history, made by folklore writers, contributed to the rapid dissemination of inaccurate information. This had an encouraging affect which, as time went on, associated Pasha?s name with the large number of destroyed churches. In Serbian historiography such usage of travelogue literature from the 19th century and further developed oral tradition recorded by ethnologists as relevant historical sources, have led to the adoption of unverified data as historical fact.

Medieval Georgian Historical Literature (VIIth–XVth Centuries)

Traditio ◽  
1943 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 139-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prince Cyril Toumanoff
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Development ◽  
Historical Sources ◽  
The West ◽  
Systematic Account ◽  
Historical Literature ◽  
History Of ◽  
Historical Writings

Georgia was, at the time of the Russian annexation at the beginning of the last century, the only country in Christendom whose socio-political and cultural development dated uninterruptedly from Classical times. Yet hers are perhaps the only important history and culture that are almost totally unknown to the West. Needless to say, this lack of familiarity extends to the Georgian historical writings as well. However, whereas Georgian history and culture are simply little known, regarding the Georgian historical sources there exist also misunderstanding and misinformation. Nevertheless, the value of these sources and their importance, not only for the history of Caucasia, but generally for that of the Christian East, have now found universal recognition among specialists. Therefore, a presentation of a systematic account, based on the latest research, of these monuments of Georgian historical literature, should be of interest to Western scholars. But no such presentation has, to our knowledge, ever been attempted. To do this is the aim of the present study.

Organizational archives and historical narratives

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 280-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amon Barros ◽  
Adéle de Toledo Carneiro ◽  
Sergio Wanderley
Keyword(s):  
Research Process ◽  
Historical Narrative ◽  
Historical Narratives ◽  
Historical Sources ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Socially Constructed ◽  
Contextual Understanding ◽  
Theoretical Assumptions ◽  
Multiple Characteristics

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present the role of reflexivity in relation to archives and narratives. Design/methodology/approach The authors problematize the concept of “archive,” by engaging with debates in philosophy and the archival theory. The authors also revisit historical theories and debates on the role of the narrative within historiography. Finally, the authors consider reflexivity as a methodological attitude taken by the researcher at all stages of the investigation from challenging theoretical assumptions of empirical materials to questioning the very narrative that is created when looking for alternative ones. Findings This paper poses questions about documents and archives that emerge from reflexivity. The authors claim that reflexivity is an ethos that allows researchers to keep the multiple narratives in which they are entangled in check. The paper brings a framework that allows researchers to use reflexivity to become more conscious of the complexities and ambiguities within the research process that leads to the writing of historical narratives. Research limitations/implications This paper points to the need to enhance the reflexivity at every stage of the research, including “interrogating” the archives and documents, which are compiled under a narrative. Practical implications The authors highlighted the multiple characteristics of archives, their meanings and the possibilities of writing narratives about them through reflexivity. The authors have the historical narrative as one possible reconstruction of a historical object, which is connected to the production conditions of the text. Through reflexivity, the authors discussed the socially constructed nature of the documents and the archives. Finally, the authors believe that debates around the production of this knowledge should continue, focusing especially on building bridges with the field of history. Social implications Historical narratives do not depend on the scientific character of historical sources, but it considers reflexivity by the researcher regarding the search, collection, reading and analysis of historical documents. In addition, it is necessary to think about the use of documents and archives and histories in a reflective way for a writing of history and, indirectly, for a contextual understanding of the time observed and as forged sources – or discarded – and made available. Originality/value Challenging the use of documents and archives in a reflexive way for the writing of historical narratives and for contextual understanding of the past is key to a richer relationship between management and history. This paper points to the role of reflexivity in relation to archives and narratives in the practice of (re)constructing the organizational past from memories and silences. It also highlights how reflexivity can be incorporated in the research process to enrich the writing of the historical narrative.

The Date of Dedication of the Temple of Mars Ultor

1977 ◽  
Vol 67 ◽  
pp. 91-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Simpson
Keyword(s):  
Historical Sources ◽  
Velleius Paterculus ◽  
Direct Bearing ◽  
Historical Fact ◽  
The Temple

For many years now scholars have considered the date of dedication of the temple of Mars Ultor in the Forum of Augustus as a matter beyond dispute. This date, 1 August 2 B.C., is based principally on the evidence supplied by Augustus, Velleius Paterculus and Dio, and has been accepted as an established historical fact at least from the time of Th.Mommsen's discussion in 1893. Nevertheless, certain problems arise from an acceptance of this date; problems, that is, which have a direct bearing on the use of the Res Gestae of Augustus and the Fasti of Ovid as valid historical sources.The year in which the temple was dedicated in the Forum of Augustus has been established beyond all doubt. Velleius Paterculus (11, 100, 2) states that the temple was dedicated during the consulship of Augustus and L. Caninius Gallus, who, as we know from other sources, was suffect consul in 2 B.C. Also Augustus assigns to this year—his thirteenth consulship—the first celebration of Ludi Martiales at Rome. Furthermore, it may be accepted that Ludi Martiales were produced in subsequent years on the anniversary of the dedication of this temple.

The Production of the Past: Early Tamil Film History as a Living Archive

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Putnam Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Expert Knowledge ◽  
Film History ◽  
Historical Research ◽  
Historical Narratives ◽  
Historical Sources ◽  
Archival Material ◽  
Archival Practice ◽  
The Past ◽  
Tamil Cinema ◽  
Living Present

This article considers a series of questions about the relationships between historical sources, archival practice, and the production of film history about Tamil cinema of the 1930s. I review the range of archival material relevant for producing histories of early Tamil film in order to consider how the issue of access to historical sources has produced various kinds of expert knowledge. What kind of limits do these various film archives impose on our historical research? How do these archives constitute their own historical narratives? And, how might we begin to think critically beyond these limitations to write alternative histories of early Tamil film? I argue that these questions are vital in order to remake film history as an ongoing, unfinished, and open-ended project that is part of the living present.

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