Through interpretation, historians say what they believe the past means. They attempt to explain why and how things happened as they did and why particular elements in the past are important. To Carr, interpretation was the key to writing history.

The correct answer is A) a person’s own idea or explanation about something. The sentence that best describes the idea of interpretation is “a person’s own idea or explanation about something.”

What are interpretations? Historians use facts gathered from primary sources of evidence and then shape them so that their audience can understand and make sense of them. This process whereby the historian makes sense of the past is called an interpretation.

History is the study of the past – specifically the people, societies, events and problems of the past – as well as our attempts to understand them. It is a pursuit common to all human societies.

Historians form conclusions about the past using different methods, emphasising different factors and priorities. As a consequence, their interpretations are often different. The study of historians and how and why they reach different interpretations is called historiography.

Negationists use the term “revisionism” to portray their efforts as legitimate historical inquiry.

The reasons why historians disagree are many and varied, but the following represent some of them: Questions of the selection and relevance of evidence. The method and the techniques of history. The purpose for which history is studied in the first place.

Historians frequently argue about the fairness of general interpretations. Quite often historians produce partial interpretations, in both senses, with no apology. It would be wrong to call such interpretations “biased” because they do not pretend to be comprehensive. So long as they are credible, they are acceptable.

Accounts differ depending on one’s perspective. We rely on evidence to construct accounts of the past. We must question the reliability of each piece of evidence. Any single piece of evidence is insufficient to build a plausible account.

When two sources disagree and there is no other means of evaluation, then historians take the source which seems to accord best with common sense.

The primary goal of historical criticism is to discover the text’s primitive or original meaning in its original historical context and its literal sense or sensus literalis historicus. The secondary goal seeks to establish a reconstruction of the historical situation of the author and recipients of the text.

Academic subjects – such as A levels You can study history, classical civilisation. Related subjects include geography, archaeology, history of art, law, sociology, philosophy, psychology, government and politics, global studies, social biology, economics and religious studies.

If you’re thinking of taking a history degree, you’re probably already planning to study history at A-level. But what are the best subjects to combine it with?…Useful A-levels (or equivalent)

• Economics.
• English literature.
• Politics.
• Philosophy.
• Sociology.
• Theology or religious studies.

Terms in this set (6)

• political. what goes on inside a country, government, leaders, laws.
• diplomatic. relations with other countries, ambassadors & embassies, treaties.
• military. wars, land and sea battles, weapons, generals and admirals.
• economic.
• social.
• cultral.