Methods of Historical Research

The purpose of writing this book is to provoke thought in history and its relationship with other subjects both for the College and University students. This book is also useful for teachers and researchers interested in the methods of historical research and the new understanding of history. It also deals as to how the historian does his work, its orientation is practical rather than theoretical or philosophical in nature. This small piece of work also embodies an assumption that the study and writing of history are justified in themselves and reflects a suspicion that a philosophic concern with such problems as the reality of historical knowledge or the nature of historical though only hinders the practice of history. It is said that a society without history would be like a human being without a memory. This book describes the nature of history and its place in modern society. In ancient times, the society had bards, the keeper of the records, but the modern society requires more sophisticated techniques to get as close as possible for discovering the objective reality of the past. This book also points out the basic unity of purpose shared by historical writers, despite their difference of opinions. It also analyses the relationships between history and the natural and social sciences and the problems of historical research and writing is exhaustively dealt with. It also explains how good history can be written and the views of famous historians and historical debates are presented with a few references and themes.