Department Of History

Course Details

Course Title UNDERSTANDING HISTORY
Semester III
Course Type DSC
Course Level 200-299
Course Code KU3DSCHIS206
Credits 4
Total Hours 60
Lecture 4 Hours/Week
Practical / Internship Nil
Tutorial 1 Hour/Week
Continuous Evaluation (CE) 30 Marks
End Semester Examination (ESE) 70 Marks
Total Marks 100
Duration of ESE 2 Hours

Course Description

History is one of the major social science disciplines. This course intends to familiarize students with the fundamental aspects of History as an academic discipline. It explores the meaning, nature and perception of history over time. The course introduces different varieties of history and frameworks in historical writing. It also examines how historians establish historical facts, trace historical contexts from those facts, and use different types of sources for writing history. The relationship between History and other social science disciplines, and how this interdisciplinary interface enriches historical writing, is also discussed.

Course Outcomes

CO No. Expected Outcome Learning Domain
CO1 Understanding the meaning, nature and importance of History by learning the meaning of history over time and identifying its value in the present. U
CO2 Understanding the different types of history by learning the diverse nature of human activities and the development of various branches of history. U
CO3 Analysing the role of sources in historical writing by identifying different types of historical sources and their relevance, and recognizing the need and importance of history in societal development. An / A
CO4 Evaluating fundamental issues in history, including the importance of historical facts, objectivity and causation. E
CO5 Developing a historical sense by equipping students with a historical perspective. C
CO6 Situating History among other social science disciplines and distinguishing the key aspects of their interdisciplinary interface. E

Learning Domains: R – Remember, U – Understand, A – Apply, An – Analyse, E – Evaluate, C – Create.

Course Contents

Contents for Classroom Transaction
Module Title Contents Hours
I Introduction to History
  1. Meaning of History.
  2. Definitions of History.
  3. Nature, Scope and Use of History – Value of History.
  4. Kinds of History – Political, Social, Economic, Intellectual, Gender, Local and Oral History – Changing Perspectives.
13
II Constructing History
  1. Past and History.
  2. Treasures of the Past – Sources and its Categories.
  3. Archaeological, Archival, Literary, Museum, Visual, Memory and Oral Sources.
15
III Issues in History
  1. Facts and Their Significance.
  2. Objectivity in History.
  3. Causation in History.
  4. Interdisciplinary Approach.
16
IV History and Social Sciences
  1. History and Allied Disciplines – Archaeology, Epigraphy, Numismatics, Literature, Folklore and Place Names.
  2. History and Social Sciences.
  3. Development of Social Sciences – History and Economics, Political Science, Sociology, Anthropology, and Geography.
16
V Teacher Specific Module Conduct classroom presentations, discussions, debates, book reviews, and other academic activities for developing students' interest in the course. 5

Essential Readings

Sl. No. Reference
1 E. H. Carr, What is History, Penguin Books, London, 1990.
2 Arthur Marwick, The Nature of History: The New Nature of History, London, 1989.
3 Robert Daniels, Studying History: How and Why, 1981.
4 John Tosh, The Pursuit of History, New Delhi, 2002.
5 Eric Hobsbawm, On History, 1998.
6 Sreedharan E., A Manual of Historical Research Methodology, Trivandrum, 2007.
7 Sheik Ali B., History: Its Theory and Method, Delhi, 1978.
8 R. G. Collingwood, The Idea of History.
9 Alun Munslow, Deconstructing History, Abingdon, 1997.
10 Peter Lambert & Philipp Schofield (Eds.), Making History, Abingdon, 2004.

Suggested Readings

Sl. No. Reference
1 John H. Arnold, History: A Very Short Introduction, New Delhi, 2000.
2 Marc Bloch, The Historian's Craft, 1992.
3 Ludmilla Jordanova, History in Practice, London, 2000.
4 Keith Jenkins, Rethinking History, New York, 1991.
5 Bonnie G. Smith, The Gender of History: Men, Women and Historical Practice, 1998.

Assessment Rubrics

Evaluation Type Marks
End Semester Evaluation (ESE) 70
Continuous Evaluation (CE)
  • Test Paper - 1
  • Test Paper - 2
  • Assignment
  • Seminar
  • Book / Article Review
30
Total 100